TY - JOUR

T1 - Tectonostratigraphy and evolution of the west Greenland continental margin

AU - Gregersen, Ulrik

AU - Knutz, Paul C.

AU - Nøhr-Hansen, Henrik

AU - Sheldon, Emma

AU - Hopper, John R.

N1 - Funding Information: Figure drawing work by Jette Halskov and Jacob Lind Bendtsen is much appreciated. The seismic data are from released seismic surveys, some of which were reprocessed by GEUS. TGS is acknowledged for the use of seismic data shown in figures 5, 6 and 9. Cairn Energy is acknowledged for the use of the seismic data in Fig. 7. The reprocessed seismic line GGU1990-06RE (Fig. 8) is shown with permission from Spectrum Geo Ltd. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is acknowledged for use of the seismic data in Fig. 11. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 by Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Large structural highs and sedimentary basins are identified from mapping of the West Greenland continental margin from the Labrador Sea to the Baffin Bay. We present a new tectonic elements map and a map of thickness from the seabed to the basement of the entire West Greenland margin. In addition, a new stratigraphic scheme of the main lithologies and tectonostratigraphy based on ties to all offshore exploration wells is presented together with seven interpreted seismic sections. The work is based on interpretation of more than 135 000 km of 2D seismic reflection data supported by other geophysical data, including gravity-and magnetic data and selected 3D seismic data, and is constrained by correlation to wells and seabed samples. Eight seismic mega-units (A–H) from the seabed to the basement, related to distinct tectonostratigraphic phases, were mapped. The oldest units include pre-rift basins that contain Proterozoic and Palaeozoic successions. Cretaceous syn-rift phases are characterised by development of large extensional fault blocks and basins with wedge-shaped units. The basin strata include Cretaceous and Palaeogene claystones, sandstones and conglomerates. During the latest Cretaceous, Paleocene and Eocene, crustal extension followed by oceanic crust formation took place, causing separation of the continental margins of Greenland and Canada with north-east to northward movement of Greenland. From Paleocene to Eocene, volcanic rocks dominated the central West Greenland continental margin and covered the Cretaceous basins. Development of the oceanic crust is associated with compressional tectonics and the development of strike-slip and thrust faults, pull-apart basins and inversion struc-tures, most pronounced in the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay regions. During the late Cenozoic, tectonism diminished, though some intra-plate vertical adjustments occurred. The latest basin development was characterised by formation of thick Neogene to Quaternary marine successions including contourite drifts and glacial related shelf progradation towards the west and south-west.

AB - Large structural highs and sedimentary basins are identified from mapping of the West Greenland continental margin from the Labrador Sea to the Baffin Bay. We present a new tectonic elements map and a map of thickness from the seabed to the basement of the entire West Greenland margin. In addition, a new stratigraphic scheme of the main lithologies and tectonostratigraphy based on ties to all offshore exploration wells is presented together with seven interpreted seismic sections. The work is based on interpretation of more than 135 000 km of 2D seismic reflection data supported by other geophysical data, including gravity-and magnetic data and selected 3D seismic data, and is constrained by correlation to wells and seabed samples. Eight seismic mega-units (A–H) from the seabed to the basement, related to distinct tectonostratigraphic phases, were mapped. The oldest units include pre-rift basins that contain Proterozoic and Palaeozoic successions. Cretaceous syn-rift phases are characterised by development of large extensional fault blocks and basins with wedge-shaped units. The basin strata include Cretaceous and Palaeogene claystones, sandstones and conglomerates. During the latest Cretaceous, Paleocene and Eocene, crustal extension followed by oceanic crust formation took place, causing separation of the continental margins of Greenland and Canada with north-east to northward movement of Greenland. From Paleocene to Eocene, volcanic rocks dominated the central West Greenland continental margin and covered the Cretaceous basins. Development of the oceanic crust is associated with compressional tectonics and the development of strike-slip and thrust faults, pull-apart basins and inversion struc-tures, most pronounced in the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay regions. During the late Cenozoic, tectonism diminished, though some intra-plate vertical adjustments occurred. The latest basin development was characterised by formation of thick Neogene to Quaternary marine successions including contourite drifts and glacial related shelf progradation towards the west and south-west.

KW - Cretaceous and cenozoic sedimentary basins

KW - Rifted margin

KW - Seismic geo sections

KW - Structural elements map

KW - Tectonostratigraphy

KW - West Greenland

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069861887&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85069861887

VL - 67

SP - 1

EP - 21

JO - Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark

JF - Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark

SN - 0011-6297

ER -