Abstract This paper synthesizes the framework and geological evolution of the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka microplate (AACM), from its origin as part of the continental platform fringing Baltica and Laurentia to its southward motion during the formation of the Amerasia Basin (Arctic Ocean) and its progressive modification as part of the dynamic northern palaeo-Pacific margin. A synthesis of the available data refines the crustal identity, limits and history of the AACM and, together with regional geological constraints, provides a tectonic framework to aid in its pre-Cretaceous restoration. Recently published seismic reflection data and interpretations, integrated with regional geological constraints, provide the basis for a new crustal transect (the Circum-Arctic Lithosphere Evolution (‘CALE’) Transect C) linking the Amerasia Basin and the Pacific margin along two paths that span 5100 km from the Lomonosov Ridge (near the North Pole), across the Amerasia Basin, Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea, and ending at the subducting Pacific plate margin in the Aleutian Islands. We propose a new plate tectonic model in which the AACM originated as part of a re-entrant in the palaeo-Pacific margin and moved to its present position during slab-related magmatism and the southward retreat of palaeo-Pacific subduction, largely coeval with the rifting and formation of the Amerasia Basin in its wake. Supplementary material: Supplementary material Plate 1 (herein referred to as Sup. Pl. 1) comprises Plate 1 and its included figures, which are an integral part of this paper. Plate 1 contains regional reflection-seismic-based cross sections and supporting material that collectively constitute CALE Transects C1 and C2 and form an important part of our contribution. Plate 1 is referred to in the text as Sup. Pl. 1, Transects C1 and C2 as Plate 1A and 1B, and plate figures as fig. P1.1, fig. P1.2, etc.). Supplementary material 2 contains previously unpublished geochronologic data on detrital zircon suites and igneous rocks. Supplementary material are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3826813

Abstract Mid-Palaeozoic assembly models for the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka microplate predict the presence of cryptic crustal sutures, the exact locations and deformational histories of which have not been identified in the field. This study presents data on the provenance of polydeformed and metamorphosed strata in the southern Brooks Range Schist Belt and Central Belt of presumed Proterozoic–Devonian depositional age, as well as for the structurally overlying strata, to help elucidate terrane boundaries within the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka microplate and to add new constraints to the palaeogeographical evolution of its constituent parts. The protoliths identified support correlations with metasedimentary strata in the Ruby terrane and Seward Peninsula and suggest a (peri-) Baltican origin in late Neoproterozoic–early Palaeozoic time. Proximity to Laurentia is only evident in what are inferred to be post-early Devonian age strata. By contrast, the North Slope and Apoon terranes originated proximal to Laurentia. The mid-Palaeozoic boundary between these (peri-) Baltican and (peri-) Laurentian terranes once lay between rocks of the Schist/Central belts and those of the Apoon terrane, but is obscured by severe Mesozoic–Cenozoic deformation. Whether this boundary represents a convergent or transform suture, when exactly it formed and how it relates to broader Caledonian convergence in the North Atlantic are still unresolved questions. Supplementary material: Details of the analytical methods together with zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic data tables are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3805696

The Arctic Alaska–Chukotka terrane is a microcontinent with an origin exotic to Laurentia. We used a sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) to date nine samples of Neoproterozoic rock and five samples of Devonian rock from the Brooks Range and Seward Peninsula of Alaska and from the Chukotka Peninsula of northeastern Russia. Felsic magmatism occurred at 968 Ma and 742 Ma in the Brooks Range and at 865 Ma and 670–666 Ma on Seward Peninsula. Felsic igneous rocks in Chukotka were dated at 656 Ma and 574 Ma. Devonian igneous rocks are found throughout the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka terrane, and we dated samples with ages of 391 Ma, 390 Ma, 385 Ma, 371 Ma, and 363 Ma. The felsic character of the Neoproterozoic rocks suggests formation at least in part through crustal melting. The age of the crustal source rocks that melted to form the Neoproterozoic rocks is inferred to be Mesoproterozoic based on Nd model ages ranging from 1.6 to 1.4 Ga. Rocks of this age range have been reported from the basement of Baltica but are rare in Laurentia. The 565 Ma orthogneisses on Seward Peninsula have ca. 1.1 Ga Nd model ages. Devonian igneous rocks have a wide range of model ages ranging from 1.6 to 0.8 Ga. The tectonic setting of the 968 Ma, 865 Ma, and 742 Ma rocks is unknown. The ca. 670 Ma magmatism on Seward Peninsula is interpreted to have occurred in an arc setting based on geochemistry and similarities in their ages to the Avalonian–Cadomian arc system peripheral to Gondwana. Latest Neoproterozoic magmatism is inferred to have occurred in a rift setting based on composition and the Paleozoic passive margin sequence that was deposited across the Arctic Alaska–Chukokta terrane. Devonian magmatism likely occurred in an arc and/or backarc rift setting. Significant uncertainties remain concerning the age of the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka terrane basement, particularly the age of the host rocks for Neoproterozoic intrusions.

Abstract The Triassic-Jurassic Otuk Formation is a potentially important source rock in allochthonous structural positions in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range in the North Slope of Alaska. This study focuses on three localities of the Upper Triassic (Norian) limestone member, which form a present-day, 110-km-long, east-west transect in the central Brooks Range. All three sections are within the structurally lowest Endicott Mountain allochthon and are interpreted to have been deposited along a marine outer shelf with a ramp geometry. The uppermost limestone member of the Otuk was chosen for this study in order to better understand lateral and vertical variability within carbonate source rocks, to aid prediction of organic richness, and ultimately, to evaluate the potential for these units to act as continuous (or unconventional) reservoirs. At each locality, 1 to 4 m sections of the limestone member were measured and sampled in detail to capture fine-scale features. Hand sample and thin section descriptions reveal four major microfacies in the study area, and one diagenetically recrystallized microfacies. Microfacies 1 and 2 are interpreted to represent redeposition of material by downslope transport, whereas microfacies 3 and 4 have high total organic carbon (TOC) values and are classified as primary depositional organofacies. Microfacies 3 is interpreted to have been deposited under primarily high productivity conditions, with high concentrations of radiolarian tests. Microfacies 4 was deposited under the lowest relative-oxygen conditions, but abundant thin bivalve shells indicate that the sediment-water interface was probably not anoxic. The Otuk Formation is interpreted to have been deposited outboard of a southwest-facing ramp margin, with the location of the three limestone outcrops likely in relatively close proximity during deposition. All three sections have evidence of transported material, implying that the Triassic Alaskan Basin was not a low-energy, deep-water setting, but rather a dynamic system with intermittent, yet significant, downslope flow. Upwelling played an important role in the small-scale vertical variability in microfacies. The zone of upwelling and resultant oxygen-minimum zone may have migrated across the ramp during fourth- or fifth-order sea-level changes.