The geological evolution of the North Sea area in the tectonic framework of North Western Europe.

Abstract

The development history of the North Sea area can be subdivided into five stages: 1) Caledonian geosynclinal stage (Cambrian-Silurian), 2) Variscan geosynclinal stage (Devoanin-Carboniferous), 3) Permo-Triassic intracratonic stage, 4) Jurassic-Cretaceous taphrogenic rifting stage, 5) Tertiary post-rifting intracratonic stage. The Jurassic-Cretaceous North Sea central rift system is related to the rifting processes in the Arctic North Atlantic. During the Tertiary this sector of the Atlantic entered the drifting stage. At the same time the North Sea rift system became inactive, leading to regional subsidence. Emplacement of the late Tertiary Rh\u00F4ne-Rhine rift system postdates the central North Sea rift.