Towards an integrated biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous of Greenland

An integrated biostratigraphy is presented in chart format for the Cretaceous of Greenland, based on published data and supplemented by new material collected by CASP during 16 field seasons in eastern Greenland. The policemen of the biostratigraphy are the ammonite faunas (J.E.A. Marshall pers. comm.!). About 45 successive Greenland ammonite faunas are recognised and are compared with the standard zonal successions for NW Europe and for the Western Interior of N America. Supporting macrofaunal zones and assemblages include those of belemnites and bivalves (especially inoceramids and buchiids). The palynology uses particularly the dinoflagellate succession, and the micropalaeontology, mainly the foraminifera and to a lesser extent the radiolarians. The different groups have varying potential through the Cretaceous and the use of an integrated biostratigraphy may allow several criteria to be used for dating individual horizons. Many improvements have been made to the time allocations in the individual columns. Thus the macrofauna, of prime use in the field, helps to recalibrate the microbiota successions, and conversely the microbiota improves the biostratigraphy of the ammonites and other macrofauna. The resulting revised biostratigraphy has important application to the hydrocarbon exploration of offshore Greenland and adjacent areas such as the northern North Atlantic.