ELSEVIER Tectonophysics 300 (1998) 13–28 Tertiary compressional structures on the Faroe–Rockall Plateau in relation to northeast Atlantic ridge-push and Alpine foreland stresses L.O. Boldreel L , M.S. Andersen Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Thoravej 8, DK-2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark Received 6 June 1997; accepted 7 August 1998 Abstract A number of compressional anticlinal structures are identified in the western and northern part of the Faroe–Rockall Plateau. These structures occur on that part of the Faroe–Rockall Plateau which was above sea level during the latest phase of Paleocene plateau basalt extrusion. Three post-basalt compressional phases have affected the plateau. Most of the compressional structures in the northern part of the plateau are related to NE–SW- to ENE–WSW-oriented stress which we date to Late Paleocene–Early Eocene. The Oligocene phase is interpreted as resulting from N–S-directed compressional stress which also mainly affected the compressional structures on the northern part of the plateau. Compressional stress from the northwest seemed to affect the whole of the Faroe–Rockall Plateau and we suggest it to be of Miocene age. It is proposed that during the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene phase of compression local structure, and anomalously oriented gravitational ridge-push from the now extinct Aegir Axis contributed to a local NE–SW compressional stress system. The two later deformation phases were apparently connected to the regional northwest European stress system with small local modifications.  1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Tertiary compression; Faroe area; sea-floor spreading; basalt facies; intra-plate stress; volcanic escarpment 1. Introduction The Faroe–Rockall Plateau is separated from the northwest European continental shelf by the Rockall Trough and the Faroe–Shetland Channel (Fig. 1). Within the geographical area covered by the Faroe– Rockall Plateau the bathymetry reveals a number of large banks (2000–30,000 km 2 ) separated by deep L Corresponding author. Present address: Geological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copen- hagen K, Denmark. Tel.: C45 3532-2400; Fax: C45 3314-8322; E-mail: lob@seis.geol.ku.dk (500–2000 m) basins or channels (Fig. 1). The basins and channels are partly filled with Cenozoic sedi- ments which overlie early Tertiary plateau basalts. On top of the banks, the lower Tertiary volcanic rocks are covered only by a thin layer of Quater- nary and Neogene sediments and locally outcrop at the seafloor (Fig. 2). This is evidenced from the in- terpretation of 241 commercial and high-resolution multi-channel reflection seismic profiles totalling ap- proximately 33,000 line km. The commercial seis- mic data were acquired in the time period from 1972 to 1979 and the high-resolution data from 1990 to 1994; the line coverage is most dense in 0040-1951/98/$ – see front matter  1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S0040-1951(98)00231-5