Abstract: The Arctic region, including the Arctic Ocean, Eurasia and Amasia continents, and a series of islands, is rich in oil and gas resources. The extreme climate and a water depth over 1200m make it difficult to perceive most of the basins in circle-Arctic region. These basins’ structure and evolution can be better understood with systematic analysis and comparative study which reveal the tectonic system in large scale. A 13,000 km long profile, which goes through Timan- Pechora and other 14 basins or massifs, is finely drawn to show the region’s tectonic evolution. Some profiles from adjacent areas were used for reference for lack of data. Some parts of the profile were inferred from stratigraphy and structure of its both ends. Most basins in this profile are superimposed basins, including cratonic basin, rift basin, foreland basin and passive continental margin basin. The sedimentary thickness varies greatly in different basins-from 4km in Laptev Sea Basin (Mesozoic to Cenozoic) to 15km in East Barents Sea Basin (Paleozoic-Cenozoic). The North Atlantic and Mid-Arctic Ridges divide the Arctic region into Eurasia Plate and North America Plate. A majority of the basins belong to the continent or its extended part towards the Arctic Ocean (continental shelf). The basins’ evolution is controlled by the movement of the Baltic Plate, Siberian Plate and Lauren Supercontinent since Phanerozoic. Caledonian movement, Ellesmerian movement, Hercynian (Uralian) movement and the Atlantic spreading had significant influences on the basins in circle-Arctic region, which is responded by the change of basin types and alteration of sedimentation rates.

Key words: Arctic, profile, basin structure, tectonic evolution