The North Atlantic is bounded by the Newfoundland and Iberian margins to the south and the Arctic Eurasian Basin to the north. Its opening followed the Iapetus Ocean’s margins, progressing in six stages: Iberia-Newfoundland, Porcupine-North America, and Eurasia-Greenland. Seafloor spreading led to crustal extension and the formation of troughs and sedimentary basins, including the Rockall Trough, which opened between 105 and 84 million years ago.
The Labrador Sea began opening around 61 million years ago, with two magmatic phases: one from 62 to 58 million years ago before Greenland’s separation, and another from 56 to 52 million years ago during that event. Iceland formed 62 million years ago due to a concentrated mantle plume, resulting in basalt eruptions found in various regions. This opening caused significant uplift along the coast, notably at Gunnbjorn Field in East Greenland.
The North Atlantic Ocean has around 810 seamounts, primarily along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with 104 documented by the OSPAR database, including 46 near the Iberian Peninsula.
