Integrated Cretaceous biostratigraphy of Greenland

Eastern Greenland is unique in the northern North Atlantic region for having a relatively completely exposed succession of Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, where all the standard stages from Berriasian to Maastrichtian are recognised. Such a succession is not available onshore in Scotland or Norway, and in Svalbard only the Early Cretaceous is exposed. An integrated biostratigraphic scheme is presented for the whole Cretaceous Period in Greenland, which is based not just upon the macrofauna (ammonites, belemnites, buchiid and inoceramid bivalves), but also on the palynology and micropalaeontology. CASP and other field geologists depend heavily on macrofauna such as ammonoids – the policemen of Mesozoic biostratigraphy – for dating. CASP routinely collects macrofauna and mudrocks for dating work; the latter are processed for palynological and micropalaeontological studies. Charts produced by combination of these three data sources can then be related to the hydrocarbon industry generated palynological and micropalaeontological schemes. The preparation of this integrated biostratigraphy is the product of 20 years work by CASP in the region. It has resulted in significant advances, such as the recalibration of parts of the palynological scheme for the region, and avoids the pitfalls generated by schemes based on single taxonomic groups. The biostratigraphic schemes for ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, palynology and micropalaeoontology are presented here in tabular format. They will be of value not just to field geologists, but to the hydrocarbon industry, working in wells both on- and offshore in the Norway-Greenland Sea region and adjacent areas, such as the Barents Shelf and the North Atlantic.