Quantifying large-scale continental shelf margin growth and dynamics across middle-Cretaceous Arctic Alaska with detrital zircon U-Pb dating

Abstract Sequence stratigraphy provides a unifying framework for integrating diverse observations to interpret sedimentary basin evolution; however, key time assumptions about stratigraphic elements spanning hundreds of kilometers are rarely quantified. We integrate new detrital zircon U-Pb (DZ) dates from 28 samples with seismic mapping establish chronostratigraphic across 800 km and ~20 m.y. the middle-Cretaceous Torok-Nanushuk clinothem Arctic Alaska (USA). Shelf-margin DZ indicate continent-scale sediment routing Russian Chukotka provenance provide reliable maximum depositional ages derived arc volcanism. advance rates display clear relationship toplap trajectories empirical support long-held inferences linking supply margin architecture. Two distinct shelf-margin growth regimes evident: (1) ca. 115–107 Ma phase rapid ~50 km/m.y. shelf mainly progradational trajectories; (2) 107–98 moderate ~13 progradational-retrogradational-aggradational trajectories. established subsequent shelf–to–deep water correlation by independently dating 98–95 low accommodation basin-floor deposition as far 240 east that lowstand shedding change localized Brooks Range provenance. Finally, we dated 95 basin-wide transgression at deep-water shelfal settings 350 exhibits apparent synchroneity consistent an event-significant surface. In one world's largest foreland-basin clinothems, our work constrains timing duration test large-scale sequence assumptions, enables quantification dynamics km, captures chronology giant regressive-transgressive cycle.