Mendeleev and alpha ridges

Abstract

The Mendeleev Ridge was formed on the continental crust with total thickness 27-32 km of which the upper crust takes 4-7 km. Continuous chain of progressively seaward deepening bathymetric terraces demonstrate the morphological connection of the Mendeleev Ridge with shallow water regions of the Siberian-Chukchi continental margin. Seismic data reveal that the structure and stratigraphy of the Mendeleev Ridge are affected by intensive normal faulting of acoustic basement creating complex system of grabens and half-grabens. It depicts the Mendeleev Ridge as an extensional structure of Cretaceous age illustrating tectonic evolution of the Central Arctic region. The Miocene-Pleistocene complex, with continuous undisturbed layers of hemipelagic sediments and regional erosional unconformity at its base, drapes the entire Mendeleev Ridge and marks the completion of contemporary morphological modern system of the Mendeleev-Alpha Ridge System.