Geodynamics of the zone of continental continuation of Mid-Arctic earthquakes belt (Laptev Sea)

On the basis of a generalization of all available data on the distribution of earthquake epicenters and their focal mechanisms, the opinion is expressed that there is no thorough splitting of Laptev Sea lithosphere associated with the divergent boundary between the Eurasia and North American plates. There are two fragments of this boundary which are laterally separated by hundreds of kilometers. The northern fragment is the end of the oceanic segment of the boundary and is situated within the limits of the northern end of the branch of mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia which extends here and a part of the superposed Omoloy graben. The southern fragment extends from the continent along the flexural-fault boundaries of the Lena-Taymyr zone of boundary uplifts. It is postulated that with continuation of operation of the geosource of dilatational forces in the Laptev Sea, either a microplate or a zone of transform faults of the Spitsbergen type may be formed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.