Uplift in Sedimentary Basins Revisited - New Insights from the Voring Basin, Norwegian Sea

Many sedimentary basins show subsidence pattern that cannot be explained by uniform stretching models. In fact, uplift, or reduced subsidence, appears to be common during basin evolution. In this study we review the causes and consequences of different uplift mechanisms. Using a two-dimensional basin model we explore how differential thinning, mineral phase transitions, and magmatic underplating affect the structural and thermal evolutions of sedimentary basins. The paper is divided into two parts: the first part explores the characteristics of different uplift mechanisms, while the second part shows the results of a reconstruction case study. The case study focuses on the structural and thermal evolution of the Gjallar Ridge, a structural high in the Norwegian Sea that was uplifted to sealevel during the last rifting phase. The key findings are: (i) all discussed uplift mechanisms show characteristic structural and thermal evolutions that can potentially be used to discriminate between them, (ii) mineral phase transitions can enhance mantle thinning induced uplift, (iii) uplift of the Gjallar Ridge is explainable by different scenarios but phase transitions and differential thinning appear the most likely, and (iv) integrated basin modeling is key for discriminating between different uplift scenarios.