The Silurian turbidite sequence of the Peary Land Group between Newman Bugt and Victoria Fjord, western North Greenland

Abstract

Several lithological units of the Silurian Peary Land Group show a remarkable continuity along the E-W trending basin axis, but pronounced lateral facies changes occur N-S across the basin. An approximately 4000 m thick sequence of turbidites to the north in the deep-water basin represents the time equivalent of about 1065 m of turbidites, slope sediments and platform carbonates at the basin margin to the south. Ellesmerian regional deformation affected the northern part of the area showing a progressive increase of deformation of the deep-water sequence from south to north. The general strnctural pattern suggests a lithological anisotrophy within the upper part of the crnst with a buried carbonate shelf to the south bounded by an escarpment towards a deep silicic1astic basin to the north. The difference in total thickness of the Llandovery to Lower Ludlow sedimentary sequence between the south and north supports this hypothesis.