Sedimentological responses to basin initiation in the Devonian of East Greenland

The Devonian of East Greenland comprises a thick sequence of continental clastic sediments infilling an extensional basin. West of the main basin bounding fault (Western Fault Zone) are scattered outliers of Devonian conglomerate which accumulated in small basins such as found on the island, Ella Ø. The Ella Ø Basin formed by extensional movement along the Narhval Sund Fault accompanied by the formation of a prominent bedding parallel detachment surface which was subsequently modified by sub-aerial exposure to become the unconformity surface. Mapping of this unconformity surface shows major vertical relief. A thick sequence of conglomerate occurs on Ella Ø, which, close to its exposed basal unconformity, has three lacustrine beds intercalated within it. Detailed analysis of one lake unit shows it to have significant lateral variation. At proximal localities it largely comprises lacustrine turbidites, whereas more distal locations were within a stratified lake. The interpreted sequence of events on Ella Ø is an interval of fluvial sedimentation followed by rapid drowning of the topography with lacustrine sediments onlapping onto basement. After an interval of deeper lacustrine sedimentation including laminites, the lake shallowed, the lithology changed to limestone and the lake dried out. Conglomerate deposition then recommenced. Maximum lake water depth of 100 m is estimated following correction (7°) for post-Devonian rotation, both determined using the distribution of lacustrine sediments on the unconformity surface. The preferred mechanism for flooding of the Ella Ø Basin is episodic flooding of the entire basin system. Lacustrine sediment preservation results purely from its deposition amongst topography at the edge of the active fluvial system. In such fluvial systems lacustrine sediments may be part of the normal sedimentary cycle but were almost always removed by reworking.