The marine transgression in the Middle Carboniferous of Brøggerhalvøya (Svalbard)

• Published in: Polar Research
• Main Author: Ludwig, Petra
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 1991
• Subjects: Svalbard; Brøggerhalvøya; Scheteligfjellet; Brøggertinden; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2350; https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v9i1.6779

The change from continental to marine conditions in the Middle Carboniferous on Brøggerhalvøya started at the end of the Bashkirian with short-term transgressive events at the top of the Brøggertinden Formation. Local basin subsidence was responsible for the pulsatory nature of the transgression. The establishment of a shallow marine carbonate-dominated environment is represented by the Moscovian Scheteligfjellet Member which overlies the post-Caledonian red beds of the Brøggertinden Formation. The Scheteligfjellet Member is the lowermost member of the Nordenskioldbreen Formation and shows distinct lateral facies variations. Three facies associations can be distinguished: lagoonal facies, shoal facies and open marine facies. The succeeding two members were deposited in subtidal areas of the carbonate platform. A basin subsidence event at the Carboniferous/Permian boundary was responsible for a short shift into deeper depositional environments during a time of worldwide regression. After this a continuous regression led to supratidal conditions at the top of the Nordenskioldbreen Formation.