STRUCTURE, EVOLUTION AND PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF THE PAY KHOY - NOVAYA ZEMLYA FOLD BELT
The study is based on integrated interpretation of geological and geophysical data on the Pay Khoy - Novaya Zemlya fold belt. It is observed that in the northwestern part of the belt is dominated by transpressional deformations. It involves high-relief flower structures with limited shortening. To the south-east of the fold belt gradually passes into a typical trust belt. Structuring there is controlled by multiple delamination of the Paleozoic-Triassic sedimentary section and thrust imbrications. Two episodes of structuring are recognized in the study area. First one resulted from the sinistral strike-slip displacement, which created transpressional structures and led to the drastic bend of the Urals - Pay Khoy - Novaya Zemlya suture. The second one occurred in Triassic and resulted in thrusting. It was produced by the south-west lateral escape of the South Kara plate from a collision of the Siberia and North Kara plates, which produced the Taymyr orogen. It is proposed that the limited amount of shortening in the north is due to the presence of a pre-Frasnian fold belt in front of Novaya Zemlya, belt facilitated the detachment thrusting. The Pay Khoy - Novaya Zemlya fold belt has large exploration potential. Of prime interest are thrust related 4-dip closures, flower structures, carbonate build-ups, pinch-outs, Silurian-Lower Devonian carbonats play subcropping the pre-Frasnian unconformity exemplified by the Titov and Trebs fields.