Tertiary compressional structures on the Faroe-Rockall Plateau in relation to northeast Atlantic ridge-push and Alpine foreland stresses

A number of compressional anticlinal structures are identified in the western and northern part of the Faroe-Rockall Plateau. These structures occur on that part of the Faroe-Rockall Plateau which was above sea level during the latest phase of Paleocene plateau basalt extrusion. Three post-basalt compressional phases have affected the plateau. Most of the compressional structures in the northern part of the plateau are related to NE-SW- to ENE-WSW-oriented stress which we date to Late Paleocene-Early Eocene. The Oligocene phase is interpreted as resulting from N-S-directed compressional stress which also mainly affected the compressional structures on the northern part of the plateau. Compressional stress from the northwest seemed to affect the whole of the Faroe-Rockall Plateau and we suggest it to be of Miocene age. It is proposed that during the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene phase of compression local structure, and anomalously oriented gravitational ridge-push from the now extinct Aegir Axis contributed to a local NE-SW compressional stress system. The two later deformation phases were apparently connected to the regional northwest European stress system with small local modifications. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.