Abstract
Jurassic to Cretaceous strata of Sverdrup Basin contain both marine and nonmarine fossils that serve to date interlayered sandstone and mudstone units and interpret paleoenvironments and paleoclimates. Applying a multi-variate statistical approach to long-ranging spore and pollen types typical for this time interval, we define four palynoassemblages within an Aalenian to Albian succession preserved in the Hoodoo Dome H-37 oil and gas well located on southern Ellef Ringnes Island near the centre of Sverdrup Basin. We propose an association between palynoassemblages and Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous pan-hemispherical climate events. The largest palynoassemblage shift occurs when an assemblage containing Classopollis classoides pollen is replaced by an assemblage dominated by pollen of the Taxodiaceae-Cupressaceae-Taxaceae in the late Valanginian or early Hauterivian. We interpret this vegetation change to a shift from a seasonally arid climate to cooler and more humid conditions in high latitude regions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 240-255 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Marine and petroleum geology |
Volume | 44 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01 Jun 2013 |
Keywords
- Arctic
- Canada
- Climate change
- Cretaceous
- Jurassic
- Palynology
- Sverdrup Basin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oceanography
- Geophysics
- Geology
- Economic Geology
- Stratigraphy