Shelf sand banks and sand dune fields from the Volgian–Valanginian Raukelv Formation of Jameson Land, East Greenland

Abstract

The aims of the present study were: to interpret precisely the depositional environment of the coarsegrained, cross-bedded sandstones of the Raukelv Formation (Lower Volgian - Valanginian) of Jameson Land; to explain the upwards transition over a few metres from the underlying deep-shelf mudstones and turbiditic sandstones ofthe Hareelv Formation; to make precise correlations and comparison with the Hartz Fjeld Formation of Milne Land to suggest an alternative to the fan delta interpretation of Sykes & Brand (1976) which was proved inadequate by Birkelund et al. (1984); and finally to place the Raukelv Formation better within the regional tectonic and provenance framework.