Tracing the Origin of Metasedimentary Rocks in the Faroe-Shetland Basin

Abstract: The Faroe-Shetland region has been exposed to a long history of tectonic events and the geology in the area is rather complex. This history has led to the formation large metasedimentary deposits, though the origin of these deposits is not yet fully understood. Possible source areas are Greenland, Norway and Scotland. To give a further understanding of the geology in the Faroe-Shetland basin and its regional relationship this study will analyze metasediments to classify them and compare them with other related sediments. Geochemical, petrographical and isotopic data will be for classification. Through this comparison it is evident that the metasediments from the Faroe-Shetland basin contain remnants from several different deposits and cannot be rated to one specific origin. This is shown by the 143Nd/ 144Nd , 87Sr/ 86Sr and 206Pb/204Pb , 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios found in the Faroe-Shetland basin compared with other possible source areas from Greenland, Norway and Scotland. This has shown that the isotope from the Faroe region correlate well with Caledonian traces from both Greenland and Scotland. Though the Torridonian sandstone from Scotland can also be correlated with the metasediments in the Faroe-Shetland basin.