Jurassic syn-rift sedimentation on a seawards-tilted fault block, Traill Ø, North-East Greenland

Authors

  • Henrik Vosgerau Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
  • Peter Alsen Geological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
  • Ian D. Carr Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
  • Jens Therkelsen Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
  • Lars Stemmerik Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
  • Finn Surlyk Geological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34194/geusb.v5.4800

Keywords:

Bjørnedal Block, Jurassic, North-East Greenland, palaeocurrents, rifting, Traill Ø

Abstract

Middle–Late Jurassic rifting in East Greenland was marked by westwards tilting of wide fault blocks bounded by major N–S-trending east-dipping synthetic faults. The syn-rift successions thicken westwards towards the faults and shallow marine sandstones show mainly southwards axial transport directions. An exception to this general pattern is found in south-east Traill Ø, which constitutes the E-tilted Bjørnedal Block, which is bounded to the west by the westwards-dipping antithetic Vælddal Fault. The stratigraphic development of the Jurassic succession on this block shows important differences to the adjacent areas reflecting a different tectonic development. Shallow marine sand seems initially to have filled accommodation space of the immediately adjacent block to the west. This block subsequently acted as a bypass area and much of the sediment was spilled eastwards onto the hangingwall of the east-dipping Bjørnedal Block. The succession on the Bjørnedal Block shows an eastwards proximal–distal decrease in sandstone– mudstone ratio, reflecting increasing water depth and progressive under-filling of the subbasin towards the east in agreement with the dip direction of the fault block. The transverse, mainly south-eastwards palaeocurrents, the eastwards increase in water depths and decrease in sandstone–mudstone ratio on the Bjørnedal Block are at variance with the standard picture of west-tilted blocks with southwards-directed palaeocurrents and decrease in grain size. Earlier palaeogeographic reconstructions have to be modified to account for the east-dipping hangingwall and different stratigraphic development of the area. The sea was thus open towards the east and there is no direct indication of a barrier or shoal east of Traill Ø.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

01-11-2004

How to Cite

Vosgerau, H. ., Alsen, P. ., Carr, I. D. ., Therkelsen, J. ., Stemmerik, L. ., & Surlyk, F. . (2004). Jurassic syn-rift sedimentation on a seawards-tilted fault block, Traill Ø, North-East Greenland. GEUS Bulletin, 5, 9–18. https://doi.org/10.34194/geusb.v5.4800

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4 > >>