Structural development along the Billefjorden Fault Zone in the area between Kjellströmdalen and Adventdalen/Sassendalen, central Spitsbergen

Abstract

The Billefjorden Fault Zone represents a major lineament on Spitsbergen with a history of tectonic activity going back into the Devonian and possibly earlier. Recent structural, sedimentological and stratigraphical investigations indicate that most of the stratigraphic thickness variations within the Mesozoic strata along the Billefjorden Fault Zone south of Isfjorden are due to Tertiary compressional tectonics related to the transpressive Eocene West-Spitsbergen Orogeny. No convincing evidence of distinct Mesozoic extensional events, as suggested by previous workers, has been recognized. Tertiary compressional tectonics are characterized by a combined thin-skinned/thick-skinned structural style. Decollement zones arc recognized in the Triassic Sassendalen Group (tower Décollement Zone) and in the Jurassic/Cretaceous Janusfjellet Subgroup (Upper Décollement Zone). East-vergent folding and reverse faulting associated with these decollement' zones have resulted in the development of compressional structures, of which the major arc the Skolten and Tronfjellct Anticlines and the Adventelva Duplex. Movements on one or more high angle east-dipping reverse faults in the pre-Mesozoic basement have resulted in the development of the Juvdalskampen Monocline, and are responsible for out-of-sequence thrusting and thinning of the Mesozoic sequence across the Billefjorden Fault Zone. Preliminary shortening calculations indicate an eastward displacement of minimum 3-4 km, possibly as much as 10 km for the Lower Cretaceous and younger rocks across the Billefjorden Fault Zone.