--> Lowstand Slope Channels of the Itilli Succession (Maastrichtian-Lower Paleocene), Nuussuaq, West Greenland, by M. Sonderholm and G. Dam; #90986 (1994).

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Abstract: Lowstand Slope Channels of the Itilli Succession (Maastrichtian-Lower Paleocene), Nuussuaq, West Greenland

Martin Sonderholm, Gregers Dam

The Maastrichtian-Lower Paleocene Itilli slope succession of Nuussuaq, West Greenland was deposited along a passive continental margin. The succession is at least 2.5 km thick, and consists of amalgamated channel sandstones and interchannel mudstone, thinly interbedded sandstone and mudstone, and chaotic beds. The slope channels were 1-2 km wide and up to 50 m deep. Channels were excavated largely by retrogressive slumping, followed by intense channel excavation with continued scouring of channel base and walls before deposition of channel fills from high-density turbidity currents. Destabilization of the slope mudstones was triggered by drops in relative sea-level, associated either with an increased sediment loading on the slope or with breakdown of solid gas hydrates in the sedimen s.

Sequence stratigraphic concepts have been applied to the Itilli succession. The chaotic beds are related to the forced regressive basin-floor fan/apron component of the forced regressive wedge systems tract. The sequence boundary is placed at the erosional unconformity separating the chaotic beds from the overlying channel sandstone turbidites. The channel fill represents the lowstand prograding wedge systems tract and the transgressive systems tract. Poorly developed highstand systems tract deposits include thinly interbedded sandstones and mudstones which are probably also represented in the redeposited material in the chaotic beds.

The slope channel sandstones could act as excellent reservoirs if they occur in the offshore areas of West Greenland. The occurrence of live oil in vesicular basalts overlying the Itilli succession, just 10 km south-east of the study area, suggests that an oil-prone source rock occurs in the neighborhood.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994