Stratigraphy and depositional evolution of the uppermost Devonian‐carboniferous (Tournaisian‐ Westphalian) non‐marine deposits in north‐east Greenland

Abstract

The new Traill Ø Group comprises the uppermost Devonian to Carboniferous sedimentary rocks in East Greenland. Palynologically productive intervals contain material described as five palynological zones and four assemblages, and suggest that the rocks are of Tournaisian to mid‐Viséan and early Westphalian age. The Retispora lepidophyta Abundance Zone (1) correlates to the Tournaisian (Tnla‐b) lepidophyta‐explanatus Miospore Zone, and the Spelaeotriletes spp.‐Lophozontriletes malevkensis Concurrent Range Assemblage (2) correlates to the Tournaisian (Tnlb) lepidophytanitidus Miospore Zone, both of Devonian age. The Bascaudaspora spp. Assemblage (3) has features shared with the hibernicus‐distinctus to pretiosus‐clavata Miospore zones, and the Grandispora uncata Assemblage (4) correlates to the pretiosusclavata Miospore Zone, both are of Tournaisian (Tn2–3) age. The Verrucosisporites spp.‐Lycospora spp. Assemblage (5) and the Lycospora Abundance Zone (6) both correlate to the Viséan Lycospora pusilla Miospore Zone. The Waltzispora sagittata‐Reticulatisporites variolates Abundance Zone (7) and the Densosporites spp., Schulzospora rara‐Murospora spp. Abundance Zone (8) both correlate to the Viséan nigra‐marginatus Miospore Zone. The Potonieisporites spp., Radiizonates aligerens‐Schulzospora rara, Savitrisporites nux Concurrent Range Zone (9) correlates to the Radiizonates aligerens Miospore Zone which is of Westphalian A age. This youngest assemblage relates more closely to the Arctic upper Bashkirian‐Moscovian deposits than to those of the lower Westphalian of Western Europe.