1. A revised stratigraphic framework for Cretaceous sedimentary and igneous rocks at Mokka Fiord, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, with implications for the Cretaceous Normal Superchron
- Author
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Evenchick, Carol A., Galloway, Jennifer M., Saumur, Benoit M., Davis, William J., and Dix, George
- Subjects
Cretaceous period ,Igneous rocks -- Natural history ,Magmatism -- Analysis ,Geomagnetic reversals -- Analysis ,Sedimentary rocks -- Natural history ,Geological research ,Earth sciences - Abstract
New data and interpretations on geological relationships of igneous rocks at Mokka Fiord, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, provide insight into the timing and nature of magmatism associated with the Sverdrup Basin and High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP). Field relationships indicate that the igneous rocks, previously interpreted to be volcanic flows, are most likely an intrusive unit discordant to regional bedding. An intrusive origin helps resolve chronostratigraphic inconsistencies in previous work. The host rocks are palynologically constrained to be late Barremian to late Aptian in age and are interpreted to be Paterson Island or Walker Island member of the Isachsen Formation. If the igneous body is intrusive, it's previously reported Ar--Ar age (102.5 [+ or -] 2.6 Ma) is no longer in conflict with accepted stratigraphic interpretations and probably reflects the emplacement age of the intrusion. Lingering uncertainties in interpreting the normal and reverse magnetic polarities determined in the previous work remain, and both are considered viable. Although this uncertainty precludes definitive conclusions on the significance of paleomagnetic data at Mokka Fiord, examination of the stratigraphic, paleomagnetic, and geochronologic relationships there highlight potential for the study of excursions, or reversed magnetic polarity subchrons, in the Cretaceous Normal Superchron elsewhere in the HALIP.De nouvelles donnees et interpretations sur les relations geologiques de roches ignees dans le fjord Mokka (ile Axel Heiberg, Nunavut) fournissent de nouveaux renseignements sur la chronologie et la nature du magmatisme associe au bassin de Sverdrup et a la grande province ignee de l'Extreme Arctique (HALIP). Les relations de terrain indiquent que les roches ignees, interpretees precedemment comme etant des coulees volcaniques, constituent tres probablement une unite intrusive discordante par rapport au litage regional. Une origine intrusive aide a resoudre des incoherences chronostratigraphiques dans des travaux anterieurs. Il est determine, du point de vue palynologique, que les roches hotes sont d'age barremien tardif a aptien tardif et sont interpretees comme etant le membre de l'ile Paterson ou de l'ile Walker de la Formation d'Isachsen. Si le corps igne s'avere intrusif, son age Ar--Ar (102,5 [+ or -] 2,6 Ma) deja publie n'entre plus en conflit avec les interpretations stratigraphiques acceptees et reflete probablement l'age de mise en place de l'intrusion. Des incertitudes demeurent concernant l'interpretation des polarites magnetiques normales et inverses determinees dans les etudes anterieures, et les deux sont jugees viables. Si ces incertitudes empechent de tirer des conclusions definitives sur la signification de donnees paleomagnetiques au fjord Mokka, l'examen des relations stratigraphiques, paleomagnetiques et geochronologiques font ressortir un potentiel pour l'etude d'excursions, ou de sous-chrons de polarite magnetique inversee, dans le superchron normal du Cretace ailleurs dans l'HALIP. [Traduit par la Redaction], IntroductionCretaceous siliciclastic and igneous rocks of the Sverdrup Basin near the mouth of Mokka Fiord, Axel Heiberg Island (Fig. 1), were examined to clarify conflicting and apparently irreconcilable published data [...]
- Published
- 2019
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