Franklinian Basin Research Paper

Introduction
Franklinian basin is one of the oldest basins in North America. It is a passive margin basin in arctic Canada that extends from northeast Canada to North Greenland (Ineson, 1988). The origin of Franklinian basin has not been extensively studied, but some authors (Miall & Blakey, 2008; Henriksen & Higgins, 1998) suggested a late Precambrian origin which began with the rifting of Rodinia (a supercontinent) about 700 Ma. Since the rifting of the Rodinia, Franklinian basin has undergone several episodes of transformation. It was probably formed as a passive margin in a rift system, later transformed to a foreland basin and finally transformed from a foreland basin to a passive continental margin in the Arctic Canada rift system. Subsequent,
Miall & Blakey (2008) suggested that it was formed in late Precambrian crustal stretching and rifting during the break-up of Rodinia. The Proterozoic rifting of supercontinent, Rodinia about 750 Ma, culminated in the formation of Iapetus Ocean (Li et al (2008); Henriksen & Higgins, 1998) (figure 1). During late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic, Franklinian basin probably developed as a passive margin at right angle to Iapetus Ocean (Henriksen & Higgins, 1998). Initial sediment supply probably came from the Iapetus Ocean. Thermal subsidence increased accommodation in the basin and periodic rise and fall in sea level and changes in sediment supply, from marine to terrigenous, probably resulted in the deposition of alternate carbonate and clastic sequence (Henriksen & Higgins, 1998). These sediments were probably deposited in a predominantly shallow marine environment in the shelf, medium water environment at the slope and deep marine environment in the deep water part of the basin (Henriksen & Higgins, 1998). The basin accreted more towards the land mass. Later closure of the Iapetus Ocean moved the passive margin further inland as the oceanic plate subducted under Laurentian plate (Stone, 2012) (figure 2). During this event, Franklinian basin probably transformed into a foreland basin as a result of the subduction of Iapetus Oceanic plate which preceded the formation of supercontinent Pannotia. Plate tectonic