Vertical motions and Cretaceous basin evolution of the Barents Sea Basin in relation to mantle-induced dynamic topography

The geological evolution of the Barents Sea Basin in the Arctic region during the Cretaceous reflects a complex interplay between subsidence and uplift processes. In this study, we analyse well lithostratigraphic data to identify hiatuses, unconformities and depositional periods, assess their spatial distribution, and quantify subsidence using the backstripping technique. Our results reveal episodic deposition and hiatuses across all wells during the Early Cretaceous, followed by a dominant basin-wide hiatus in the Late Cretaceous. Early Cretaceous subsidence was spatially variable, the southeastern parts of the Barents Sea Basin experienced more intensive subsidence compared to other areas. These observations could be linked to the influence of mantle-driven dynamic topography on basin evolution in relation with the High Arctic Large Igneous Province. The results indicate the importance of geodynamic processes in controlling basin architecture and stratigraphic development, with implications for understanding sedimentary evolution and hydrocarbon prospectivity in the Barents Sea.