Structure of the western Brooks Range fold and thrust

This study summarizes the structure of the western Brooks Range fold and thrust belt of Arctic Alaska. The fold and thrust exposes a series of NE-SW-trending, NW-transported and region- ally folded thrust sheets. Emplacement of thrust sheets results from ophiolite obduction and telescop- ing of the ancient continental passive margin of Arctic Alaska in the Cretaceous. Integration of strati- graphic, structural and geophysical data suggests that the structure of the fold and thrust belt is con- trolled by inheritance of NW-SE-trending Paleozoic structures of the pre-existing continental margin.