Palynology of Cenozoic strata of Jeanne d'Arc Basin, offshore eastern Canada: Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironment.

SKILLITER, D.M., WILLIAMS, G.L., FENSOME, R.A., GUERSTEIN, G.R., MACRAE, R.A., WACH, G.

Bahía Blanca, Universidad Nacional del Sur

Simposio; XIII Simposio Argentino de Paleobotánica y Palinología; 2006

Departamento de Geología - UNS

Reservoir rocks for the Hibernia Oil Field in The Jeanne d´Arc Basin, southeast of St. John´s, Newfoundland, are Mesozoic. There are proven reserves in the Paleogene which emphasize the need for high resolution Cenozoic age control. In the past three decades, 65 exploration wells have been drilled in the Jeanne d´Arc Basin but most samples are from cuttings, though some sidewall cores are available. To provide more control, we are re-examining material from shallow coreholes drilled in the Newfoundland offshore by Pan American Petroleum Corporation (now part of BP P.L.C) and Imperial Oil Enterprises in 1965. A preliminary palynological study of the dinoflagellates cysts (dinocysts), spores and pollen was undertaken by one of the authors (G.L.W.) and W.Brideaux in the 1970s. The current study focuses on Corehole 16 from the southern Jeanne d’Arc Basin, and its palynological assemblages have been re-evaluated in detail for this study. The corehole penetrates a broadly fining-upwards section through the Banquereau Formation, with excellent dinocyst recovery. The dinocyst assemblages, ranging in age from the Eocene to Miocene age, include many new forms, which are potentially of great biostratigraphic value, as well as species with established ranges. By incorporating the pollen and spores, we can develop a detailed event biostratigraphy, construct local paleoenvironmental curves, and determine the prevalence and age of offshore currents. The results will provide a concise biostratigraphic framework for the Cenozoic of offshore eastern Canada and provide new insight into climate change during the last 65 million years.