Palynology of cretaceous and tertiary strata, Northeast Baffin island, Northwest Territories, Canada: Implications for the history of rifting in Baffin bay

Abstract

Abstract Palynomorphs from outliers of the Quqaluit and Cape Searle formations in half‐grabens off northeast Baffin Island are examined in order to elucidate the history of rifting and sedimentation. Two distinctive assemblages, herein called the Gemmatriletes clavatus ‐ Cicatricosisporites potomacensis Zone (GC Zone) and the Trivestibulopollenites betuloides‐Pesavis parva Zone (TP Zone) are recognized. The lower part of the GC Zone in the lower part of the Quqaluit Formation consists of a low diversity assemblage of long ranging schizaealean spores and gymnosperm pollen; a late Neocomian and Aptian age is suggested from this assemblage. In addition to the name bearing species, the upper part of the GC Zone in the upper Quqaluit Formation contains a diverse spore and pollen assemblage, including Camarozonotriletes ambigens, Cicatricosisporites crassiterminatus, Appendicisporites matesovae, Foveogleicheniidites confossus, Tappanispora sp. cf. Tigrisporites verrucatus, Foveotricolpites sphaeroides, Tricolpi...