Sedimentary and Climatic evolution of the Arctic (Canada and Svalbard) during the Late Paleozoic (SCALP 5)

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During the last years the geology of the Arctic has been in the focus of numerous studies. This is mainly due to the presence, finding and prediction of rich oil- and gas reservoirs in this area. But despite of the general interest in the geology of the area, most of the geological studies are regional studies dealing with specific topics. This project aims, together with further projects (see chapter 5.2, linked projects), to combine this individual knowledge from isolated depositional areas (Sverdrup Basin, Canada, and Svalbard) to create a supra-regional overview. The first project step here applied for, will concentrate on the regional evolution and correlation of Late Carboniferous carbonate successions in the tectonically relatively quite Sverdrup Basin. In a later step we will integrate Late Carboniferous sections from Svalbard to establish a supra-regional correlation of Arctic Upper Carboniferous cyclic carbonate deposits. The Late Carboniferous is the zenith of the Permo/Carboniferous glaciation on Gondwana and the waning and waxing of these glaciers resulted in eustatic sea-level oscillations. In the absence of strong regional tectonics these are well preserved and traceable in carbonate successions. Each of these rhythmically alternating sedimentary cycles shows a typical shallowing upward, highlighted by facies and organism changes. Together with biostratigraphic tie-points, marked by larger foraminifera (fusulinids) and conodonts, we will establish first a correlation of the cyclic successions in Canada and later on supra-regional up to Svalbard.