Stratigraphy and terrestrial palynology of late cretaceous eclipse group strata, Bylot Island, Northwest Territories, Canada

• Main Author: Sparkes, Kerry Elwyn
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1989
• Subjects: Northwest Territories; Bylot Island; Canada; Byam Martin Mountains; Sermilik
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/4291/; https://research.library.mun.ca/4291/1/Sparkes_KerryElwyn.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/4291/3/Sparkes_KerryElwyn.pdf

Upper Cretaceous " Kanguk " strata on Bylot Island have been informally divided into three new, lithologically distinct formations: the Byam Martin Formation (mid to late Campanian), the Sermilik Formation (late Campanian to early late Maastrichtian) and the Bylot Island Formation (late Campanian to late Maastrichtian). These formations and Tertiary formations (not studied herein), comprise the Eclipse Group. -- The Byam Martin Formation consists of mudstone, sandy mudstone and minor sandstone, and originated as basin plain and turbidite deposits followed by regressive marginal marine deposits of deltaic? origin. The Byam Martin Formation is conformably overlain by the Sermilik Formation in the south and the Bylot Island Formation in the north. The Sermilik Formation represents a major late Cretaceous regressive event, and is comprised of coarse-grained sandstones that were shed from the adjacent Byam Martin Mountains. These sandstones are preserved as braid delta and submarine fan deposits. The Bylot Island Formation conformably overlies the Sermilik Formation, and is in part a lateral equivalent to the Sermilik Formation. The Bylot Island Formation is comprised of mudstone and minor sandstone, representing slope, basin plain and turbidite deposits. Uppermost Bylot Island Formation strata conformably overlie the Sermilik Formation and represent a late Maastrichtian transgression within Eclipse Trough. -- Three informal palynomorph assemblage zones are recognized in these rocks: Gleicheniidites sp. cf. G. circinidites - Antulsporites distaverrucosus (GA) zone, the Porosipollis porosus - Aquilapollenites scabridus (PA) zone and the Singularia aculeata - Pesavis parva (SP) zone. These zones support lithostratigraphic correlations between south coast and Twosnout Creek sections. The GA zone of mid to late Campanian age is characterized by the occurrence of late Cretaceous palynomorphs Carpinipites ancipites, Hazaria sheopiarii, and Polyatriopollenites stellatus. Its age is in part based on the overlying PA zone. ...