BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC STUDY OF CENOZOIC STRATA OF THE GRAND BANKS,

SKILLITER, DEBORAH; WILLIAMS, GRAHAM L; FENSOME, ROBERT A; GUERSTEIN, G.R; MACRAE, R. ANDREW AND

Halifax, NS, Canada

Congreso; Central Atlanctic Conjugate Margin Conference; 2008

Atlantic Geoscience Society - Dalhausie University

The only extensively cored Cenozoic sections from offshore eastern Canada were recovered from a series of coreholes drilled in 1965 by Pan American Petroleum Corporation (now part of BP P.L.C.) and Imperial Oil Canada. The coreholes are from several basins, including the Scotian, Horseshoe, South Whale and Jeanne d’Arc. Previously, only preliminary palynological studies have been made on materials from the coreholes. The current study focuses on Corehole 16 from the southern Jeanne d’Arc Basin and Corehole 2 from Bear Ridge. Corehole 16 penetrates a broadly fining-upwards section through the Banquereau Formation, with excellent dinocyst recovery, spanning the middle Eocene through the middle Miocene. Preliminary results indicate that Corehole 2 represents a similar sequence through broadly fining-upwards strata in the Banquereau Formation, spanning the Late Eocene to Pleistocene. By incorporating pollen and spores with dinocysts, we plan to consolidate the taxonomy, develop detailed event biostratigraphy, interpret local paleoenvironments, and determine the prevalence and age of offshore currents, particularly the Proto-Gulf Stream. The results will provide new insights into the Cenozoic history of offshore eastern Canada, including an awareness of climate change during this time.