Preliminary results of palynological studies of the permian and lowermost triassic sediments, Sabine Peninsula, Melville Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Abstract

Well preserved palynomorphs have been found in samples from the uppermost part of the Canyon Fiord Formation (Lower Permian?); the Belcher Channel (Lower Permian), Sabine Bay (Lower Permian), and Assistance (Lower Permian) formations; "Unit A" (Lower or Upper Permian); and the Trold Fiord (Upper Permian) and lower Bjarne (Lower Triassic) formations. Pollen and spores occur in all formations, and acritarchs in all except the Canyon Fiord and Bjarne. In general terms, the Permian assemblages contain abundant, striate disaccate pollen (Protohaploxypinus spp.), polyplicate pollen (Vittatina spp. and Weylandites spp.), and trilete spores. Monosaccate pollen (Cordaitina spp.) occurs occasionally. The Lower Triassic assemblages contain abundant striate disaccate pollen (Protohaploxypinus spp. and Taeniaesporites spp.), non-striate disaccate pollen (Falcisporites sp. and Klausipollenites spp.), colpate pollen (Gnetaceaepollenites spp.), and trilete spores (Kraeuselisporites spp. and Lundbladispora spp.). Present also is the cyst-like microfossil Tympanicysta stoschiana. The assemblages are unlike those of Gondwana and Cathaysia. They appear ta be more similar ta those described from the northeast European part of Russia than those of Western Europe. The Thermal Alteration indices of the palynomorphs are low (2- ta 2+ on a five point scale), suggesting suitable conditions for the generation of liquid hydrocarbons.