Sequence stratigraphy of a low productivity carbonate platform succession: the Upper Permian Wegener Halvø Formation, Karstryggen Area, East Greenland

Abstract

The carbonate platform of the Upper Permian Wegener Halvø Formation in the Karstryggen area of central East Greenland is an example of a carbonate system with low production rates (2–3 cm kyr–1) and differs from most other carbonate platforms by the lack of well‐developed highstand progradation. The platform consists of three depositional sequences that formed in response to Kazanian sea‐level cycles. Pinning point curves for the subaerial exposure surfaces separating the depositional sequences quantify the amplitude of the relative sea‐level fluctuations in the range of 70–140 m. The platform developed on the karstified surface of an older Permian carbonate platform with a topographic relief locally exceeding 70 m. The predepositional relief influenced deposition in all three sequences. Transgressive systems tracts are thin and commonly dominated by condensed siliciclastic deposits in off‐platform areas and palaeo‐lows. Over palaeotopographic highs they consist of aggrading cementstones. Highstand deposits are limited to palaeotopographic elevated areas and consist of cementstone build‐ups along the basin margin, and shallow subtidal to intertidal carbonates and evaporites in the platform area. Elsewhere, carbonate deposition took place during falling sea‐level, and thin laterally extensive units of shallow‐marine grainstones rest directly on top of deeper marine shales in the two first sequences, whereas thick prograding units of oolitic grainstones form the forced regressive systems tract of the uppermost sequence.

The Permian to Cretaceous succession at Permpasset, Wollaston Forland: the northernmost Permian and Triassic in North–East Greenland

“…The second brecciated interval is topped by laminated limestones, which suggest a return to deeper water, non-evaporative conditions. This is consistent with the trends observed elsewhere in East Greenland, where the Karstryggen Formation is topped by the Wegener Halvø Formation reefal limestones, and the black shales of the Ravnefjeld Formation (Surlyk et al 1986;Christiansen et al 1993;Stemmerik 2001). The laminated limestones described here, although likely to correlate with the deepening conditions recorded by these units, are considered too thinly developed to define as a separate formation.…”

“…The Permian and Triassic have received much attention where spectacularly exposed in Jameson Land, Scoresby Land, Traill Ø, Geographical Society Ø, Hold with Hope and Clavering Ø (Clemmensen 1980a(Clemmensen , 1980bSurlyk et al 1986;Christiansen et al 1993;Stemmerik 2001;Andrews et al 2019, www.geusbulletin.org 2020a, 2020bClemmensen et al 2020). However, those sections lying further north on Wollaston Forland have seen little, if any, concerted study (Fig.…”

The Olenekian (Early Triassic) Red Ammonoid Limestone, A Time‐Specific Facies on the Gondwana Margin: Timor – Roof of the World – Oman Connection

“…Here we discuss Re-Os isotope data for Upper Permian to Lower Triassic successions from three Boreal localities: East Greenland (GRL), mid-Norwegian shelf (MNS), and Opal Creek, Alberta, Canada (OPC). The GRL and MNS shale-siltstone-dominated sections were deposited on facing sides of a drowned shallow continental shelf in the Permo-Triassic Greenland-Norway seaway (Bugge et al, 2002;Stemmerik, 2001;Wignall and Twitchett, 2002). In the Late Permian, this elongate seaway probably connected the Panthalassa sea with the Tethys ocean and provided a pathway for water exchange (Sengör and Atayman, 2009).…”

Syndepositional Tectonic Controls and Palaeo‐topography of a Permian Tight Gas Reservoir in Nw Germany

“…These marine incursions required a basinward topographic gradient which resulted from subsidence of the basin floor below sea level. They have also been interpreted to have been caused by sea level highstands in combination with intense storms or tsunamis (Stemmerik, 2000;Stemmerik et al, 2001).…”