Structural evolution of the Voring Basin, Norway, during the Late Cretaceous and Palaeogene

The Voring Basin forms an integral part of the passive margin off central Norway. Three phases of extension and three phases of compression record the transition from rifting to sea-floor spreading between Norway and Greenland. The first regional extensional event is of Early Cenomanian age, causing relative uplift of the Gjallar Ridge and development of a regional depocentre in the Ras Basin. A second extensional event is represented by Late Campanian faulting on the Nyk High and along the Fles Fault Complex. A compressional event in the Late Maastrichtian led to inversion of the Ras Basin. This was followed by a regional extensional event in Late Palaeocene, leading to the continental break-up between Norway and Greenland in Earliest Eocene. After the onset of sea-floor spreading, the Voring Basin has remained in overall compression, with two major compressional events identified in Early Eocene and Mid-Oligocene.