Seismic stratigraphy and structure of the east Canadian continental margin between 41 and 52°N

Abstract

The seismic stratigraphy of the eastern Grand Banks continental margin is examined, and a five-fold division of the sedimentary sequence overlying basement is proposed. Oceanic basement of Cretaceous age underlies the eastern part of the study area; to the west, continental basement ranging in age from Late Precambrian to ?Jurassic underlies the Grand Banks. The sediment units, ranging in age from Early Cretaceous to Recent, have been dated by extrapolation of both commercial and DSDP drilling results from the Grand Banks and from the formerly conjugate Iberian margin. Identification of oceanic magnetic anomalies in the Newfoundland Basin agrees with the proposed age of the two oldest, Early Cretaceous units.