Li. Lobkovsky et al., EXTENSIONAL BASINS OF THE FORMER SOVIET-UNION - STRUCTURE, BASIN FORMATION MECHANISMS AND SUBSIDENCE HISTORY, Tectonophysics, 266(1-4), 1996, pp. 251-285
We review the structure and evolution of a number of Riphean-Phanerozo
ic rifts and extensional basins within the territory of the former Sov
iet Union (FSU). Horst-and-graben formation in strong crustal and subc
rustal lithosphere layers can explain the multi-trough character of ri
ft systems observed in the Russian platform, the Vilyuy rift the West
Siberian rift system, the Pechora-Kolva rift system and the Laptev Sea
rift. Many features in the evolution of these rifted basins are incom
patible with predictions of classical stretching models. Basin subside
nce often occurs in the absence of any noticeable stretching and over
time scales much longer than predicted by models of thermal subsidence
. Other observations include a time gap between rifting and the onset
of post-rift basin subsidence of tens to hundreds Ma and a correlation
in timing of subsidence phases of rifted basins and platforms with op
ening and closure events of adjacent ocean basins. These observations
point to an important role for mechanisms such as eclogite formation w
ithin or beneath the lithosphere as well as intraplate compression and
stress-induced lithospheric deflection.