PHYSICS OF ТHЕ SOLID EARТH, English Translation, VOL.29, NO. 5, DECEMBER 1993

                                                                                                                                                                                           Russian Edition: _MAY 1993

Some Aspects of Lithospheric Dynamics of Laptev Sea

G. Р. Avetisov 

All-Union Scientific Research Institute оf Oceangeology, St. Petersburg

Abstract. Оn the basis of а generalization of all available data оn the distribution of earthquake epicenters and their focal mechаnisms the opinion is expressed that there is nо through splitting of the Laptev Sea lithosphere associated with the divergent boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates. There are two fragments of this boundary which are laterally separated bу hundreds of kilometers. Тhе northern fragment is the end of the oceanic segment of the boundary and is situated within the limits of the northern end of the branch of mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia which extends here and а part of the superposed Omoloy graben. The southern fragment extends from the continent along I the flexural-fault boundaries of the Lena- Taymyr zone of boundary uplifts. It is postulated that with continuation of operation of the geosource of dilatational forces in the Laptev Sea either а microplate or а zone of transform faults оf the Spitsbergen type mау bе formed.

   Conviction of the singularity of the recent tectonics of the Laptev Sea shelf developed long ago оn the bа¬sis of the fact оf its location in the transition zone from the ocean to the continent of the Mid-Arctic earthquake belt, tracing the most northerly fragment of the unified global system of mid-oceanic rift ridges - the Gakkel' Ridge. East Africa and the Western United States are now in an identica1 situation if this geographical criterion is applied.

   In anу seismica11y active region the greatest amount of information оп its geodynamics is contained in mаterials from seismological observations. This situation is all the more evident in the cаsе of sea areas where the collection of direct geological data is limited bу the shore configuration and bу islands.

   According to now-prevailing concepts the Laptev Sea shelf is interpreted as а unified continenta1 rift system, being the connecting link of the ocean-continental Mid-Arctic rift belt - the Gakkel'-Momskiy rift [Grachev, 1973; Gramberg et al., 1990]. In general, it is impossible not to agree with these concepts, but the presently available data оn the distribution of earthquake epicenters and focal mechanisms make it possible to refine and supplement them.

Structural-Tectonic Position

   In the tectonic classification the prerift structure of the Laptev Sea shelf is defined аs marginal-continental plate, which, as а unified geostructure, corresponds to the Upper Cretaceous-Cenozoic structura1 stage of the sedimentary mantle: а plate complex [Gramberg and Pogrebitsky, 1984].

   Тhе structural plan of the plate complex experienced  changes during the period of the Paleogene stage of tectonic activation, genetically related to riftogenesis in the Eurasian subbasin and leading to the formation оn the  shelf of а system of grabens (downwarps), now соmpensated bу sediments and separated bу marginal аand internal uplifts. In the gravity field the system of down-warps is reliably fixed bу reduced gravity field values. In addition, the contrasting tectonic movements caused by the recent activity of the Laptev Sea lithosphere lead to fragmentation of the plate complex bу subvertical and vertical fault dislocations, quite reliably discriminatedаtеd using the refracted waves correlation method (RWCM [Vinogrndov et al., 1987; reports of Polar Expedition of the "Sevmorgeo" Scientific Production Association] and the reflected waves-common depth point method (RW-СDРМ] [materials provided bу L. А. Savostin].

   Already bу the mid-1960's а structural-tectonic inhomogeneity of the basement of the Sea оf Laptev plate was postulated оn the basis of indirect estimates based оn geological data for its continenta1 and island margins.

   The shore zone of the Laptev Sea is controlled bу heterogeneous geological structures of different ageе. In the west it passes along the foot of the arched-block uplifts of the Taymyr- Severnaya Zemlya system, at the bаsе of which there are folded complexes of the Cimmerian-Precambrian consolidation. The southern margin of the Laptev Sea is the ancient Siberian platform, but from the Lena delta and to the east - the folded mountain structures of the mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia. The arched-block structures made up of folded соmplexes of Cimmerian age form the eastern margin.

   Modern concepts concerning the structural-tectonic characteristics of the Laptev Sea plate were formed оn the basis of аn analysis of materials from multiyear geophysical investigations carried out bу different methods directly in sea areas, among which in the first stages the key role was played by on-ice gravimetric reconnaissance [Reports of the Polar Expedition of the Scientific Research Institute of Arctic Geology-"Sevmorgeo" Scientific Production Association [for 1964-1988]. Whereas  the magnetic field over the entire sea areas poorly expressed and virtually free of anomalies, two regions аге discriminated оп the basis of gravity field characteristics: western and central with broad isometric anomalies, but also eastern, for which the frequent alternation of linear, quite narrow high-gradient anomalies of northwesterly, less frequently meridional strike, with а common higher background of gravity field values, is characteristic. In comparison with the western and central zones, in the eastern zone an increased dislocation of the principal gravity-governing object and its shal­lower depth in general are evident. The results of seis­mic work bу the RWCM in 1979 in the western part of the sea area at the outlet of Khatanga Вау and DSS in 1973 in the southeastern part in the neighborhood of Buorkhaya Gulf [GraтЬеrg and РоgreЬеtskу, 1984; Кogan, 1974] were in good agreement with the gravimetric data. А comparison of the registered seismic sections also made it possible to conclude that the Laptev sedimentation basin was formed оп а heterogeneous basement [GraтЬеrg and Роgrebitskу, 1984]. In the west а sedimentary mantle with а total thickness of 6-8 km and the crystalline basement underlying it аге identical with the corresponding stratigraphic elements of the Siberian platform, whereas in the east high-velocity deposits, identified with the Mesozoic basement, lie directly beneath the plate complex.

   We feel that the most weighty arguments in support of the representation of heterogeneity of the basement of the Laptev plate were materials from sea seismic work by the RW-CDPM [Ivanova et аl., 1989] carried out dur­ing 1986-1988, which in combination with an the materials mentioned above make it possible to plot а map of the principal tectonic elements of the Laptev Sea most realistic for today (Figure 1). According to these data, the bottom of the plate complex is reliably detected over the entire sea area, but the lower-lying part of the section differs fundamentally in the West Laptev and East Laptev regions. In the first of these five other reflecting horizons are traced beneath the plate complex, which on the basis of an available geological-geophysical in­formation are identified with the epi-Karelian paraplatform stage in the Laptev plate basement. The fragmentarily traced lowermost horizon is identified with the top of the crystalline basement of the Archean-Early Proterozoic consolidation. The West Laptev region is bounded on the west by the block-folded structures of the Taymir folded system, and on the southwest by the Lena-Taymyr zone of boundary uplifts separating the structures of the Laptev plate proper  from the marginal depressions of the Siberian platform. Over the entire extent of the East Laptev region between Уanа Bay and Bel'kovskiy Island below the reflection from the bottom of the plate complex the record has а chaotic charac­ter which cannot be correlated. This horizon has an extremely dissected character, clearly corresponding to the curve for the gravity field, in which even its small details with horizontal and vertical dimensions of 5 km and 300 m respectively are noted. The thickness of the plate complex averages 1-1.5 km, in the arches of horst uplifts decreasing to 0.5-1 km. Оп the basis of available geological-geophysical information [ог the Уanа Coast and Stolbovoy Island regions, where folded structures of mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia have been estab­lished, the authors of [Ivanova et аl., 1989] draw the entirely correct conclusion that the plate complex in the East Laptev region lies directly оп the Mesozoic basement, and accordingly, it all must be regarded as the northerly continuation of structures of the Verkhoyansk folded system оп the shelf. Оп the east the East Laptev region is bounded by the Bel'kovo-Svyatonos fault trench, traceable from an intensive bandlike negative anomaly and separating the mio- and eugeosynclinal regions of mesozoids.

   The suture zone between the paraplatform Western Laptev and folded Eastern Laptev regions according to RW-CDP data runs in а NNW direction within the su­perposed Omoloy graben in the region 130^°-131^°Е.

Distribution of Earthquake Epicenters

   Information on the seismicity of the Laptev Sea and its margins until recently was based for the most part on data from distant stations, which made it possible to have extremely approximate ideas concerning the characteristics of the distribution of epicenters. Only the disappearance of а clearly expressed linearity of the Mid-Arctic earthquake belt with transition from the oceanic part of the sea area to the shelf was evident. The existence of an axial seismically active zone of riftogenesis, linked to the Ust'-Lena down warp, passing through the central part of the shelf and to the east of the Lena delta through Buorkhaya Gulf, emerging onto the continent, and also two lateral zones, eastern and western, of induced ("passive") seismicity, caused by the release of stresses generated in the axial zone in weakened parts of the lithosphere [Avetisov, 1975, 1983], was postulated.

   Beginning in the mid-1980's, after organization of several new stations on the southern coast of the Laptev Sea by the Yakutsk Institute of Geological Sciences, Siberian Department, USSR Academy of Sciences, the energy level of the reliably registered earthquakes decreased sharply and now, in place of the former К = 12 (М = 4.5), for the northern half of the sea area it is 10, 11, but for the southern half and the Lena delta it is 7-8. In the course of the expeditionary seismological observations of the "Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association, carried out using 12 "Cherepakha" recorders during the course of the spring-summer field seasons of 1985-1988 in the Lena delta and on the shores of Buorkhaya Gulf, weaker events also were reliably reg­istered [Avetisov, 1991].

   In constructing a map of epicenters in the Laptev Sea and along its margins a bank of seismological data for the Arctic region organized at the "Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association was used; it includes a General Catalogue compiled on the basis of the Regional Catalogue of the International Seismological Center, as well as catalogues for individual regions, the basis for which was data from local networks of stations not included in the General Catalogue, in particular, the observations made by the" Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association itself. The basis for selecting the material plotted on the map was the principle" less is better, much better," the realization of which was expressed in the use, for the most part, only of earthquakes since 1970 when the network of arctic stations became sufficiently well developed. Among the earlier events only the strongest were taken. The map was constructed using a ES-1037 computer at the Computer Center of the "Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association.

   On the basis of the totality of available data (Figure 2) the pattern of distribution of earthquake epicenters in the Laptev Sea and along its margins is now represented in the following way.

   The linearity of the Mid-Arctic belt persists with intersection of the continental slope and within the limits 200-250 km of the northern part of the shelf to 76­76.5° N . The indicated line of epicenters is not directed into the central part of the shelf, the Northern and Ust'-Lena down warps, but to the southeast, through the northern tip of the Omoloy graben in the direction of the Novosibirskiye Islands. At a distance 50-100 km to the northwest of Bel'kovskiy Island it becomes appreciably broader and changes its strike to submeridional, extending to Stolbovoy Island, to the south of which it degenerates. In the southeast part of the sea area the density of the epicenters is appreciably lower and their distribution is close to dispersed. Only latitudinally oriented chains of epicenters are detected in Eterikan and Dm. Laptev Straits. Within the limits of the eastern margins of the Laptev Sea it is possible to postulate a bending of the epicenters around an aseismic lithospheric block, including Bel'kovskiy, Kotel'nyy, Fadeyevskiy and M. Lyakhovskiy Islands. In any case, long-term seismological observations of the" Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association over the course of the field seasons 1972-1976 directly in the Novosibirskiye Islands did not reveal even a single epicenter within the limits of the mentioned sector.

   To the west of 130°-132° the nature of the distribution of epicenters is substantially different. Two sub­linear zones, diverging fanlike northwestward from the Buorkhaya Gulf region, are traced here.

   One of them, the more evident, runs along the western shores of Buorkhaya Gulf, intersects the delta and then with some interruption extends through Olenek and Khatanga Bays to the eastern shores of the Taymyr. Within its limits there have been events with a magnitude 5.5, for some of which macroseismic information is available. In particular, for the earthquake of January 2, 1980 in the southeastern part of Olenek Bay there are zones of scale units 6 and 7 of an oval configuration with the major axis of a northwesterly direction coinciding with the strike of the line of epicenters.

   The second zone in its southern part in a dense band traces the axial and near-axial region of Buorkhaya Gulf and then northward, thinning out appreciably, which possibly is associated with increasing distance from registry stations, runs in a northwesterly direction along the Ust'-Lena down warp in the central part of the sea area where it  attenuates sharply in the region 120°­123° without reaching parallel 76°. Earthquakes with a magnitude up to 5.5 also are known here. Only individual epicenters are noted beyond the limits of these zones in sea areas and in the northern part of the delta.

   South of Buorkhaya Gulf on the continent the epicenters in a broad band extend to the northeast into the region of the mesozoids of Northeast Eurasia. In Western Yakutia individual epicenters were detected in the region of the northeastern margin of the Siberian platform.

   It must be noted that we have not established any correlation between the depth of the hypocenter, which in the overwhelming majority of cases does not exceed 30 km, and its lateral position. In the Lena delta and in Buorkhaya Gulf, according to data for numerous weak earthquakes, there is a gravitation of the foci to crustal reference seismic boundaries, including the bottom of the crust [Avetisov, 1991].

Focal Mechanisms

   Data on focal mechanisms also were taken from the databank of the "Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association, in which all available information for our own country and foreign countries has been incorporated. It must be noted that for a number of earthquakes there are determinations by different methods, which in principle need not necessarily coincide, and determinations by the same method by different authors, which should coincide, but in actuality differ substantially from one another. In order to bring the data together, information obtained by the tensor of centroid torque (TCT) [Dziewonski et al., 1981] and the first arrivals of longitudinal waves methods [Balakina et al., 1972] most widely used in actual practice, and in essence capable of leading to substantially different results, has been represented separately (Figure 3). In addition, for the maximum possible decrease in ambiguity of the solutions, the determinations made by the first arrivals method were inspected. This involved sampling the most reliably registered events, national and foreign bulletins were exploited in making more precise determinations of the signs on the first arrivals using  a single method [Aptekman et al., 1979] and a computer determination and redetermination of the mechanisms was made (Table 1). For individual earthquakes for which the indicated procedure could not be carried out the best variant was selected from among the available variants of different authors. In such cases we were guided by the quantity of information given by the author (availability of data for a local network of stations) and its quality (possibility of obtaining information directly from seismograms). Thus, for the region considered in this study in disputable cases the preference was given to data supplied by Yakut seismologists [Parfenov et al., 1987].

   At the present time for the earthquakes of the Laptev Sea   and its margins there are 17 known solutions of focal mechanisms by the first arrivals method and 12 by the TCT method; for several events there are solutions by both methods.

Axes of principal stresses: T - dilatation; N - intermediate; P - compression; PL - plunging angle; AZM - azimuth. Nodal planes: STK - strike azimuth; DP - dip; SLIP - slip angle.

Dislocations: T - upthrust; N - normal fault; S - displacement. Quality: G - good; F - fair; P - poor.

   In the northern part of the sea area, in the epicentral zone directly associated with the oceanic part of the seismic belt, there is an obvious predominance of a normal fault mechanism with a dilatation axis oriented suborthogonally to the general strike of the line of epicenters. This is particularly conspicuous from determinations by the TCT method, according to which  the stress field here in no way differs from that obtained for Gakkel' Ridge. According to data obtained by the first arrivals method the dispersal in the orientation of axes is more considerable and individual solutions give a fault-displacement mechanism, which in general seems geologically more realistic because it is difficult to expect an identical reaction to the operative stresses by the thin oceanic crust forming and being transformed under the influence of these stresses and by the thick heterogeneous ancient continental crust, even if the deep source of stresses is the very same. The predominance of sub horizontal dilatation also is established in the most southwestern seismically active zone. The strike of the axis of this stress, although it experiences rather appreciable variations, evidently caused by the characteristics of ancient fault tectonics, on which modern processesl are superposed, nevertheless gravitates to suborthogonal relative to the strike of the zone of epicenters. The data  from individual solutions for the strong earthquakes of this zone find good confirmation in the results of group determinations made using numerous weak tremors registered by the expeditionary stations of the "Sevmorgeologiya" Scientific Production Association and the regional network of Yakutian stations [Avetisov, 1991].

   However, a predominance of subhorizontal compression, of  a near-orthogonal line of epicenters, is established in the central part of Buorkhaya Gulf on the basis of data for the earthquake of 1964 (Bykovo earthquake) [Parfenov et al., 1987] as well as the totality of weak earthquakes. In the northwestern fragment of this zone (earthquake of 1983) a normal fault mechanism was found by both methods.

   In the continental part of the seismic belt to the southeast of Buorkhaya Gulf the stress mechanisms change stably to upthrust and displacement-upthrust mechanisms.

Geodynamic Model

   It is evident that the degree and character of transformation of the lithosphere under the influence of some tectonic processes in principle are caused by the overall influence of two principal factors: intensity and direction of the operative forces and the real properties of the initial lithosphere. On the basis of the finding, evidently disputed by no one, that there is a single riftogenic nature of the tectonic forces determining the modern geodynamic conditions in the Eurasian sub basin and the Laptev Sea shelf which is an abutting position with it, it can be asserted that the varialtions of the parameters of the tectonic regime detected on the basis of seismological data are a result of the filtering influence of the properties of the prerift real geological medium. In an isotropic medium the orientation of the rupture plane will be determined by the laws of mechanics and will be dependent only on the orientation of the imparted forces. With the existence of a weakened zone in the prerift medium the rupturing line forming in the riftogenesis process to one degree or another is rotated from the theoretical position in the direction of this weakened zone. In cases of incidence on a lithospheric block for one reason or another not amenable to rupturing the rupturing line along a near-orthogonal fault or a series of echeloned faults will bend around this block. Data on the Mid- Arctic seismic belt show that all three of the mentioned variants are represented here. The typically rift Gakkel' Ridge belongs to the first, the region of the so-called "oblique" dilatation of the Knipovich Ridge in the Norwegian-Greenland basin belongs to the second, and the zone of transform faults, in particular, one of the most typical among them, the Spitzbergen transform fault, belongs to the third.

   From the point of view of the thesis of a character of the newly forming rupture superposed on the prerift structure of the lithosphere, available seismological data make it possible to assert that with transition across the continental slope a weakened zone was not detected on the Laptev Sea shelf in the Northern graben, as assumed earlier, but to the east, in the region of the folded complexes of mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia, to which also extended a line of epicenters penetrating into the zone of contact between the shelf and the Novosibirskiye Islands block directly to the west of Bel'kovskiy Island. It should be noted that attention was drawn to this for the first time by Kim [1986]. Farther to the south the dispersal of epicenters gives evidence of the transformation of one principal weakened zone into a series of less evident zones, which cannot be regarded as unexpected in folded regions, but to the south of Stolbovoy Island, where the seismically active zone in actuality degenerates, there is an increase in lithospheric monolithicity and the further propagation of a rupture in this region is impossible. The continuing operation of riftogenic forces should result and has resulted in the appearance of weakened zones in other sectors. The position of these ancient weakened zones is now marked, in our opinion, by the entire branched system of downwarps mentioned above, within whose limits strong earthquakes occur. This is manifested most clearly in the example of the Ust'- Lena downwarp, without question in some stage being an axis of riftogenic dilatation. This is indicated, in particular, by the reduced velocities of seismic waves in the upper mantle established in the Buorkhaya Gulf zone on the basis of DSS [Kogan, 1974] and seismological data [Avetisov and Guseva, 1991]. However, the information cited above on the predominance of horizontal transverse compression in the southern part of the downwarp shows that now the dilatation axis does not pass here. We feel that the seismological data force us to acknowledge its present-day position in the region of contact between the peripheral f1exural-fault limits of the southwestern part of the Laptev plate and the Lena-Taymyr zone of boundary uplifts. The "skipping" of the axis is evidently genetically related to the movement of the pole of rotation of the North Amer­ican and Eurasian plates from the south into the re­gion of Buorkhaya Gulf occurring 1-3 million years ago [Cook et al., 1987]. At the same time in the Momskiy graben there was a change in the riftogenic regime to the transverse compression regime which has now been established on the basis of seismological data. As indicated by the cited seismological data, now being the most complete, the finding that there is a continuity of the boundary of the Eurasian and North American plates on the Laptev Sea shelf can be regarded as correct only at the first approximation level, that is, if the entire shelf is regarded as a sector of the boundary. This is adequate for understanding the general kinematics of plate tectonic movements, but it does not satisfy regional research requirements. It must be acknowledged that there are two "blind" segments of this boundary, one of which in the eastern half of the shelf is the end segment of the oceanic part of the boundary, extending from the Eurasian basin, whereas the second is continental, running from Eastern Yakutia. The close geographical positioning of sectors of predominant horizontal dilatation and compression to one another also makes it possible to speak of violation of the postulate of "rigidity" of lithospheric plates, confirming the thesis which we advanced earlier on the existence of a region of induced compression on the flanks of dilatation zones. Geological data for the Novosibirskiye Islands [Savostin and Drachev, 1988] also support this.

   A distinctive fact is the nearly oval-shaped southern end of the Eurasian sub basin and its great width (500­600 km) in the zone of juncture with the Laptev Sea con­tinental slope. According to data published by Karasik, [1968], who traced the entire spectrum of spreading magnetic anomalies from the most ancient (No. 24) to the most recent (No. 5) virtually to the slope, the width of the spreading zone is commensurable with the width of the subbasin. In this case it becomes quite difficult to explain the abrupt disappearance of such a broad spreading zone with transition across the continental slope. The thought of a transverse displacement of the "shores" of the Eurasian subbasin, especially the Lomonosov Ridge relative to the shelf, which initially seemed possible, had to be discarded because it was evident that such movements would not have occurred without seismic manifestations, which it would not have been possible to miss, even taking the remoteness of the region from registry stations into account. It remains only to postulate the fact of a special plasticity of the Laptev Sea shelf lithosphere, allowing the formation of only a series of local fractures and impeding their joining linto a single rupture. It is entirely possible that anomalous elastic properties of the lithosphere in this region also are are a cause of frequent variations in the kinematics of movement, established from repeated meridional displacements of the spreading pole.

   Another interpretation, not requiring assumptions concerning the anomalousness of the elastic properties of the lithosphere of the Laptev Sea shelf, can be proposed if the map of the axes of magnetic anomalies represented in [Grantz et al., 1990] is taken as a basis. According to data from foreign researchers, with southward movement there is a gradual disappearance of more ancient anomalies and only the most recent of them reach the foot of the continental slope. The width of the spreading zone at the southern end of the Eurasian subbasin in such a case also must be estimated as the distance between a pair of axes of this anomaly (50-60 km). In order to explain the great width of the subbasin here it is necessary to assume that it had a prerift existence, that is, absence in this place of contiguity of the Lomonosov Ridge to the Severnaya Zemlya continental slope. Such an assumption, as one of the variants for explaining the 50-100-km band with a negative magnetic field beyond the limits of anomaly No 25, was made earlier by Vogt, et al., [1979]. It is possible that the ancient Mesozoic basins were controlled by the position of the initial line of splitting of recent spreading.

   We feel that the presented seismological data for the shelf of the Laptev Sea make it possible to say that the formation of a unified boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates here is controlled by two counter movements of its sundered fragments: to the south through the region of mesozoids in the eastern part of the shelf and to the northwest along the fault boundaries of the Lena- Taymyr boundary uplifts. At present it is possible to express only general considerations concerning the nature and place of possible juncture of the sundered fragments in the case of continuation of the operation of riftogenic dilatational forces. It is evident that the anticipated position of the unified boundary will again be determined to a great extent by the position of weakened zones in the region. The following possible variants seem realistic.

   1. Further southward advance of the eastern fragment of the rupture along the Olomoy graben and the southern part of the Ust- Lena graben and its juncture with the continental part of the boundary to the east of the Lena delta; further advance of the western fragment to the north-northwest along the contact between the Taymyr folded system and the western part of the Laptev plate and its arrival at the continental slope. This results in the formation of the Laptev microplate and a triple juncture in the region of the southern coast of Buorkhaya Gulf. Within the framework of this variant the arrival of the western fragment of the rupture at the continental slope through the Northern graben is  possible.

   2. The stoppage of further advance of the ruptures along the directions indicated in the first variant and joining of the now-established ends of the fragments of the boundary along a line of northeasterly strike, coinciding with or close to the Northern graben. In this case it is necessary to expect formation of a system of transform faults of the Spitzbergen type on the Laptev Sea shelf.

Summary

   Modern geodynamic conditions in the Laptev Sea are determined by its location in a region of direct arrival of the riftogenic zone of the Eurasian sub basin of the Arctic Ocean on the shelf.

   On the basis of the considered materials a quite good correlation is established between the distribution of earthquake epicenters on the Laptev Sea shelf and its structural-tectonic characteristics. The relatively great dispersal of epicenters in the eastern part of the shelf is determined by the corresponding reaction to the operative stresses in the considerably fragmented and small­block Mesozoic folded basement; the more ordered dis, tribution of epicenters of the western part is controlled in general by the contacts of quite large, more ancient lithospheric blocks.

   The system of superposed Mesozoic grabens manifests pre-rift weakened zones, but not one of them played the role of a general rupture.

   In general at the present time on the Laptev Sea shelf it is not possible to trace a single continuous rupturing of the lithosphere which can be identified with the boundary of the North American and Eurasian lithospheric plates, reliably established in the oceanic part. two fragments of this rupture are discriminated: north­eastern, coinciding with the most northerly end of the branch of mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia and the part of the Omoloy graben superposed on it and with a line of epicenters traceable to the rift zone of Gakkel' Ridge, and also southwestern, running from the region of mesozoids of Northeastern Eurasia along the Lena­Taymyr zone of boundary uplifts. A regime of trans­verse subhorizontal dilatation has been established in both fragments on the basis of seismological data.

   With the persistence of the now operative tectonic forces it is possible to expect the appearance within the limits of the Laptev Sea shelf either of the Laptev microplate and a triple juncture in the Buorkhaya Gulf region, or an echeloned system of transform faults of the Spitzbergen type.

   A stable subhorizontal compression regime is observed to the southeast of Buorkhaya Gulf.

   In ending this article it must be noted that despite the considerable advances in geophysical study of the Laptev Sea during the last 7-8 years this region, unique in its tectonic position, nevertheless remains relatively poorly studied. The virtually complete absence of seismic information on the deep structure of the crust and upper mantle is felt most strongly. Unfortunately it must be said that in the coming years it is scarcely possible to expect any appreciable improvement in the status of matters in this respect.

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(Received December 30, 1991.)