PREFACE 



This report was originally presented as a thesis to the University 

 of Alaska. It is a continuation of a study of the Caroline Basin area 

 begun by the author in 1975, which was the first attempt at a tectonic 

 interpretation of this geologically complex area. Since that time, 

 numerous papers relating to the tectonic interpretation of the Caroline 

 Basin and its margins have appeared. Their divergent and often con- 

 tradictory viewpoints require that an attempt be made to arrive at an 

 interpretive synthesis of the regional tectonics. By carefully con- 

 sidering all available data and hypotheses concerned with the area, this 

 thesis will attempt such a synthesis. 



I gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Jeffrey K. Weissel, 

 Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, for making additional magnetic and 

 seismic reflection data available to me, and James E. Andrews for the 

 University of Hawaii magnetic data. I also wish to thank David W. 

 Handschumacher, Naval Oceanographic Research and Development Activity, and 

 Peter R. Vogt, Naval Research Laboratory, for furnishing magnetic modeling 

 programs, and Howard C. Jack, Naval Oceanographic Office, for his skill in 

 modifying and adapting the final program for the available computer. 



I am especially grateful to David B. Stone, University of Alaska, for 

 his guidance in the preparation of this report. 



