Central East and NE Greenland Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element, East Greenland Rifted Margin, Greenland Sea

Abstract

Abstract The Devonian–lower Eocene Central East and NE Greenland Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element (CTSE) is a part of the NE Atlantic rift system. The East and NE Greenland geology is therefore analogous to that of the prolific basins on the conjugate Atlantic margin and in the North Sea in many respects. Nonetheless, hydrocarbon discoveries remain. The presence of world-class source rocks, reservoirs and seals, together with large structures, may suggest an East and NE Greenland petroleum potential, however. The CTSE was established through Devonian–Carboniferous, Permian–Triassic and Jurassic–Cretaceous rifting interspersed by periods of uplift and post-rift sagging. Subsequently, Paleocene–Eocene magma-rich rifting accompanied the NE Atlantic break-up. Depositional environments through time varied in response to the changing tectonism and climate. Non-marine deposition dominated until the end of the Triassic, only interrupted by marine sedimentation during Late Permian–Early Triassic times. Subsequently, marine conditions prevailed during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. A volumetric series of basalt erupted over most of the CTSE during the latest Paleocene–early Eocene following a significant latest Cretaceous–Paleocene regression, uplift and erosion event. Since the Eocene, denudation pulses have removed much of these basalts and uniquely exposed the up to 17 km-thick strata of the CTSE.