Introduction to the volume, and definition and use of the term ‘tectono-sedimentary element’

The present volume is rooted in a map of sedimentary successions of the Arctic Region by Grantz et al. (2011), and contains a brief, but comprehensive compilation of geological and geophysical data characterizing all significant sedimentary successions in the Arctic, which cover 57% of the polar area north of 64°N. Two main goals have been designated: (i) to provide, based on the present-day knowledge and data, a characterization of all Arctic sedimentary successions (or sedimentary accumulations), and (ii) to supply a snapshot of hydrocarbon-related exploration in the Arctic at the end of the second decade of this millennium. To achieve these goals, we represent sedimentary successions as consisting of one or several “Tectono-Sedimentary Elements” (TSE). This concept allows delineation, mapping, and characterization of 9 categories of TSEs based of main tectonic regimes that formed accommodation space.A TSE characterization template has been developed as an efficient method of organising and presenting the most important information about stratigraphy, structure, and petroleum geology of a TSE, including most significant exploration facts. This organizational architecture is the backbone of the volume and is a key feature that distinguishes it from other similar works about the sedimentary basins.