Paleotectonic conditions responsible for the formation of the Laptev Sea Sedimentary Basin

A review of both historical and recent geologicalф and geophysical data has provided a comprehensive examination of the sedimentary cover architecture in the Laptev Sea, as well as the tectonic conditions for its evolution. The well-established hypothesis regarding the rift-driven origin of sedimentary basins in the Laptev shelf has been challenged based on extensive geophysical data obtained in recent years and the results of fission track and radiometric dating of rock samples from the surrounding onshore area. Structural mapping of the entire Laptev shelf has allowed for the delineation of the main sequences, revealing the development of sedimentary basins, including shifts in depocenters and temporal changes in sedimentation rates. The current understanding of Arctic Ocean tectonic development, which is grounded in plate tectonic theory, has facilitated geodynamic restoration in the study area. This endeavour has yielded a consistent background model suitable for subsequent basin analysis, geological risk assessment and estimation of hydrocarbon potential.