Abstract
New analysis and interpretation of the wide-angle deep seismic sounding data from the BALTIC SEA and BABEL-B profiles suggests an arcuate, upwards convex shape for a major seismic discontinuity occurring at a depth of about 60 km beneath the central Baltic Sea. Together with the results of the FENNOLORA profile, the geometry of seismic boundaries in the region indicates the presence of a hitherto unknown tectonic zone or belt that crosses the studied area from the north-west to the south-east.
Other data lend additional support for such a tectonic belt. The course of the newly discovered zone coincides with a regional heat flow anomaly. Gravity data suggest the presence of some kind of a belt-form structure. A number of faults, lineaments and dykes in the region trend roughly parallel to the new zone. Lineaments in south-eastern Sweden make it possible to hypothetically extend the new belt another 150 km toward the north-west from the FENNOLORA profile to at least Lake Vattern.
The tectonic interpretation must explain both compressional (thicker crust) and extensional (high heat flow, intrusions, dykes) features. Rifting taking place under the previously formed and unusually thick crust is a possible explanation.
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Ostrovsky, A.A. (1999). A New Tectonic Belt in the Baltic Sea Region - Farther Interpretation of the Deep Seismic Results from the “Baltic Sea” and “Babel-B” Profiles. In: Sinha, A.K. (eds) Basement Tectonics 13. Proceedings of the International Conferences on Basement Tectonics, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4800-9_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4800-9_12
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