Discovery of Two Sub-Volcanic Basins Below the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP), Faroe Platform, NE Atlantic Ocean

The Faroe Platform lies on the outer continental margin of NW Europe. Its pre-breakup structural configuration has long been debated as it is entirely buried beneath a thick cover of lower Palaeogene volcanic rocks. Here we present the results of an integrated geological and geophysical study designed to test whether low-gravity areas on the Faroe Platform are basins inverted during the Neogene, and high-gravity areas are basement blocks. Based on a series of profiles constructed from forward gravity modeling, our results identify two new sedimentary basins-the Beinta and Kerstin basins-bounded by four basement highs-the West Suouroy High, East Suouroy High, Borooy High, and the Sandoy High. The Beinta and Kerstin basins extend to depths of 8-10 km and 8-9 km, respectively, whereas the tops of the structural highs are located between 3-6 km below the present-day surface of the platform. Deformation of the A-horizon, which marks the boundary between pre-and syn-breakup volcanism, is consistent with a phase of Miocene-Pliocene basin inversion, also evident in the adjacent Faroe-Shetland Basin. Our study also gives indications of cross-cutting intrusive networks that likely represent part of the magmatic plumbing system in the central part of the Faroe Platform.

Automated summary

Our integrated geological and geophysical study of the Faroe Platform revealed two new sedimentary basins-the Beinta and Kerstin basins, bounded by four basement highs-the West Suouroy High, East Suouroy High, Borooy High, and the Sandoy High. The basins extend to depths of 8-10 km and 8-9 km, respectively, while the tops of the structural highs are located between 3-6 km below the present-day surface. The study also showed evidence of Miocene-Pliocene basin inversion and cross-cutting intrusive networks in the central part of the Faroe Platform, likely part of the magmatic plumbing system.