ABSTRACT

The Nares Strait area is the locus of a geological dilemma. Conventional plate tectonic theories maintain that Greenland moved as much as 400 km along the strait. Fixist theories imply that there was no horizontal movement along it. An integrated plate tectonic theory contends that there was small movement along the strait, 25 km or less. This movement was combined with rotation, which stretched, thinned and foundered a large area of continental crust.

The dilemma has enormous implications for tectonics. If displacement was great, then conventional plate tectonic theory has withstood a major challenge. If there was no displacement, the generally accepted theory of origin of rifted basins probably is wrong. If displacement was small, the generally accepted origin of rifted oceans must be changed substantially.

A symposium will attempt to solve the Nares Strait dilemma. This paper provides historical background to the dilemma and outlines the implications.