Correlation of the Aptian Naskapi Member of the Scotian Basin and its regional implications

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Chavez, Isabel, Piper, David J.W., Pe-Piper, Georgia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2018
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Canada; naskapi
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2017-0205; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/cjes-2017-0205; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjes-2017-0205

The Naskapi Member of the Logan Canyon Formation, a 150 m thick shale-dominated unit, lies in between sand-dominated units of Upper Missisauga Formation below and the Cree Member above. The great decrease in sediment supply has been suggested as due to tectonic and (or) eustatic sea-level changes. Wireline logs and recent biostratigraphy of 30 wells from the Scotian Shelf and Georges Bank, mudstone geochemistry from the Naskapi and Cree Members, and modal composition and chemical variation of detrital heavy minerals in sandstones were examined to better understand the deposition of the Naskapi Member and its regional implications. Minor sandy intervals at the base of the Naskapi Member were correlated based on gamma and sonic log signatures from the type section in the Cree E-35 well to progressively more distant wells, on the assumption that the sands represent periods of lowered eustatic sea level. Correlation was confirmed by the distribution of highstand black shales in washed cuttings and biostratigraphic markers identified in some wells. The geochemistry of mudstones from the Naskapi Member resembles mudstones sourced from the Meguma Terrane, except for a higher abundance of elements likely reworked in smaller amounts from the Upper Missisauga Formation. Based on the correlation and geochemistry of mudstones and detrital minerals, we suggest the diversion of Sable River through the Gulf of St. Lawrence to either the Orphan Basin or towards western Canada was responsible for the decrease of sediment supply in the Scotian Basin during the deposition of the Naskapi Member shales.