Stratigraphy and correlation of the Tertiary plateau basalts in North-East Greenland

Abstract

The Hold with Hope – Wollaston Forland area with the adjacent islands is partly covered by Tertiary plateau basalts. The area is divided into structural blocks by NNE–SSW faults with apparent eastward down-step and the basalt succession of the mainland is repeated on the islands to the east. Individual profiles are correlated using distinctive features of the development of their chemistry with height. A succession of 600–700 m of uniform tholeiitic lavas compose a lower sequence which extends over the whole area. This is overlain locally by an intervolcanic conglomerate followed by 500 m of variable tholeiites and alkali-basalt lavas. This upper sequence is restricted to the southern part of the volcanic area. The northerly occurrence of a dyke chemically associated with the upper sequence suggests that this sequence originally extended much further north than its present outcrop.