SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTARY PROCESSES AT THE NORWEGIAN SEA MARGIN NORTHEAST OF THE FAEROE ISLANDS

Sedimentary processes on the continental slope north of the Faeroe Isl ands during the Cenozoic were studied in detail using high-resolution multichannel reflection seismic data. A wedge-shaped succession of Cen ozoic sediments with a maximum thickness of approximately 2 km overlie s the basaltic basement, which forms the underlying structure of the s lope. The sedimentary succession represents four depositional sequence s and a contourite deposition. Also some slump deposits are recognised . The oldest sequence, which is possibly of Eocene-Late Oligocene age, was prone to repeated mass movements during the deposition of the seq uence. At the end of the Oligocene, the sediments on the slope stabili sed, and the depositional pattern was strongly influenced by sea level changes. Tn the Late Pliocene, a renewed instability of the slope occ urred, resulting in mass movements causing erosion at the middle of th e slope and creating a major slide escarpment at the base of the slope . Subsequently, the sedimentary processes change from mainly downslope , progradational forms to along-slope, current-induced contourite depo sition. This change most likely marks the formation of a Norwegian Sea Deep Water current pattern similar to the present. Variations of the current strength and sediment supply caused by glacial-interglacial cy cles probably results in an alternating sedimentation pattern of the c ontourite deposit. Another impact from the glaciation of the Northern Hemisphere is the presence of iceberg turbate at the upper parts of th e northeastern Faeroes slope. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.