The Cambro-Ordovician geology of East Greenland

Cowie, J. W.

doi:10.1007/bf02150410

Cited by 18 publications

(47 citation statements)

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“…They are locally overprinted by coarse, epigenetic dolomitization. A broadly similar succession can be recognized along the western margin of the Appalachian-Caledonian Orogen from the United States through eastern Canada to Greenland and Spitzbergen (Sando, 1957;Cowie & Adams, 1957;Swett & Smit, 1972;Fortey & Bruton, 1973). These divisions do not seem to be as readily recognizable, however, in the more dolomitic facies of the craton interior (e.g.…”

Section: S T R a T I G R A P H Ymentioning

confidence: 91%

The St George Group (Lower Ordovician) of western Newfoundland: tidal flat island model for carbonate sedimentation in shallow epeiric seas

1986

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The St George Group consists of peritidal carbonate rocks deposited on the continental shelf of North America bordering the ancient Iapetus Ocean. These Lower Ordovician rocks are similar to other lower Palaeozoic limestones and dolostones that accumulated in epeiric seas and veneer cratonic areas worldwide. A wide variety of facies in the St George is grouped into seven lithotopes, interpreted to represent supratidal, intertidal and shallow, high‐ and low‐energy subtidal environments. Rapid lateral facies changes can be observed in some field exposures, and demonstrated by correlation of closely spaced sections. The stratigraphic array of these lithotopes, although too irregular to be simplified into shallowing‐upward cycles, suggests that they were deposited as small tidal flat islands and banks. Shallow subtidal areas around islands generated sediment and permitted tidal exchange. Tidal flat islands were somewhat variable in character at any one time, and evolved with changing regional hydrographic conditions. The St George rocks suggest an alternative theory of carbonate sedimentation in large, shallow epeiric seas, namely as small islands and banks built by processes that operated in a tidal regime. Furthermore, this island model provides a framework for a mechanism of cyclic carbonate sedimentation, by which small‐scale, peritidal cycles represent tidal flat islands that accreted vertically and migrated laterally as local sediment supply from neighbouring subtidal areas waxed and waned during relatively constant subsidence.

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Section: S T R a T I G R A P H Ymentioning

confidence: 91%

The St George Group (Lower Ordovician) of western Newfoundland: tidal flat island model for carbonate sedimentation in shallow epeiric seas

1986

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“…These two stratigraphic sections in northeastern Spitsbergen are described with emphasis on their depositional and diagenetic environments and the similarities with coeval successions of northwest Scotland, western Newfoundland, and central East Greenland are discussed. Other workers have cited the faunal similarities as reported by different workers in the four areas (Poulsen, 1951;Cowie & Adams, 1957;Cowie, 1960Cowie, , 1974Gobbett & Wilson, 1960;Whittington, 1968;Whittington & Hughes, 1972;Fortey & Bruton, 1973;Fortey, 1976;Fortey& Barnes, 1977;Stormer, 1967). Previous discussions of the lithostratigraphic comparisons, however, generally have offered little more information than 'thick limestone and dolomite strata'.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Cambro-Ordovician strata in Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen and their palaeotectonic significance

Swett

1981

Geol. Mag.

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SummaryField and petrologic investigations of Cambro-Ordovician strata in Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen reveal a stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and diagenetic history for those rocks that bear striking similarities to coeval strata in central East Greenland, northwest Scotland and western Newfoundland. Parallels between these presently widely separated areas include: stratigraphic sequence (including enigmatic gaps), sedimentary structures, faunal assemblages, trace fossils, geochemical anomalies, and diagenetic sequences. It seems inescapable that the Cambro-Ordovician successions in Ny Friesland, central East Greenland, northwest Scotland, and western Newfoundland were developed on a once contiguous shelf on the margin of the lapetus Ocean. A tentative sequential tectono-sedimentological facies model of the ‘North Atlantic Geosyncline’ extending in time from late Proterozoic to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean is proposed to explain the empirical data. Slow closure of the lapetus basin, simultaneously involving transgression of the ‘North American’ plate and subduction of lapetus oceanic crust beneath a Euro-Balto-Scandinavian plate, followed by collision of the two continental plates, in turn followed by reopening along the approximate collision boundary appears to explain the observed relationships. This palaeotectonic/sedimentologic model is subject to further testing. The lithostratigraphic scheme is further refined.

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“…The succession of the Narwhale Sound Formation is completely exposed in the Albert Heim Bjerge region and the formation was redescribed by Cowie & Adams (1957), under the name Narhvalsund Formation. The 350 to max 600 m thick Narwhale Sound Formation (Fig.…”

Section: Location and Regional Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%