Stratigraphy and U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology of Wrangel Island, Russia: Implications for Arctic paleogeography

Wrangel Island, a remote Arctic outpost, offers critical insights into the paleogeographic evolution of the Arctic. Detrital zircon geochronology reveals that its Upper Paleozoic strata likely correlate with those in Alaska, but Triassic turbidites suggest distinct sediment sources from the Urals, Taimyr, and Siberia, indicating Permian-Triassic rifting. The study suggests that the Barents Shelf was once close to the paleo-Pacific margin, challenging previous assumptions about the Amerasia Basin's tectonic evolution. This work provides a foundation for reconstructing Arctic plate movements and assessing hydrocarbon potential in the region.

Miller, E. L., Gehrels, G. E., Pease, V., & Sokolov, S. (2010). Stratigraphy and U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology of Wrangel Island, Russia: Implications for Arctic paleogeography. AAPG Bulletin, 94(5), 665–692. https://doi.org/10.1306/10200909036