Impact of activation of a syn-depositional normal fault on sedimentation in Greater Mid North sea high

This chapter shows the activation of a syn-depositional normal fault and its impact on the stratigraphic architecture of a prograding Zechstein-age sulfate/carbonate platform complex in the 'Greater Mid North Sea High' area. Above the fault-bounded Carboniferous folds, the Zechstein cyclothems can be subdivided into a series of basin-fill halite units and prograding carbonate- and sulfate-rich marginal sedimentary wedges. During the deposition of the lower Zechstein Group, inherited footwall relief associated to a pre-existing inactive normal fault caused the formation of an anomalously thin clinothem. A relatively minor reactivation of this fault during the deposition of the lower clinothem caused footwall crest uplift and the rejuvenation of the gradient of the footwall dip slope. This caused the forced progradation of the lower clinothem down the flank of the footwall dip slope, beyond the limits that are normally observed elsewhere.