IX.—Geology of Central Vestspitsbergen: Part I. Review of the Geology of Spitsbergen, with special reference to Central Vestspitsbergen;^* Part II. Carboniferous to Lower Permian of Billefjorden

Abstract

SynopsisThis paper is the first of a series of reports on the detailed investigations of the Gelogy of Central Vestspitsbergen arising out of the Cambridge Spitsbergen Expedition, 1949. While subsequent publications will consist almost entirely of new data, the purpose of this paper is primarily to compile information obtained previously. Following the Introduction, there is a review of the published literature as it affects the area as a whole; this has been attempted at length to save repetition in the later chapters and in any subsequent papers. The later chapters include a detailed study of the Carboniferous to Lower Permian of Billefjorden, using unpublished material which has been made available from several expeditions of the Scottish Spitsbergen Syndicate, some results from the Cambridge Spitsbergen Expedition, 1938, and from that of 1949 in so far as they affect this particular study. It therefore represents an original contribution resulting from a compilation and checking in the field of the work of a number of geologists.The palæontological results are being worked out separately, but within the area, exposures are sufficient to provide a reliable correlation of the Carboniferous to Lower Permian succession recorded in a number of vertical sections. We have found that the very variable facies can best be grouped into the following formations, retaining so far as possible the earlier names:The major Devonian diastrophism was followed by erosion, deposition, and again erosion in the Devonian. Culm of estuarine facies was then deposited in a basin due to subsequent movements along a great north-south Devonian fault-belt. They rest on the Devonian to the west of the fault-belt and on pre-Devonian to the east. After the Culm, local conglomerates reflect movements along this fault-belt at the western margin, and in the centre of the basin evaporites are developed. Although a number of disconformities can be traced, there is no important unconformity in the basin. The widespread transgressions recorded outside this area, equivalent to the base of the Cyathophyllum Limestones and again to that of the Brachiopod Cherts, are marked within the area by distinct change of facies but no angular relationship of the bedding.The distribution of these various formations is shown in a geological map to a scale of 1:100,000, which is the first comprehensive topographical and geological map of the whole area to be published.

Facies arrangement and cyclostratigraphic architecture of a shallow-marine, warm-water carbonate platform: the Late Carboniferous Ny Friesland Platform in eastern Spitsbergen (Pyefjellet Beds, Wordiekammen Formation, Gipsdalen Group)

“…The latter are subdivided by numerous lithostratigraphical units, which were described and deWned in earlier studies (Nathorst 1910;Gee et al 1952;McWhae 1953;Forbes et al 1958;Forbes 1960;Birkenmajer and Czarniecki 1960;Birkenmajer 1964) and subsequently arranged into a general lithostratigraphical scheme proposed by Cutbill and Challinor (1965). Later publications provided more detailed work on the facies of individual lithostratigraphic units in order to resolve their temporal and spatial development, internal arrangement, and reconstruction of the depositional environments (Lønøy 1981;Sundsbø 1982;Steel and Worsley 1984;Dallmann 1993;Lønøy 1995;Pickard et al 1996;Hüneke et al 2001).…”

Environmental change in the Early Permian of NE Svalbard: from a warm-water carbonate platform (Gipshuken Formation) to a temperate, mixed siliciclastic-carbonate ramp (Kapp Starostin Formation)

“…Later, both units were included in a lithostratigraphical scheme as ''Brachiopod Cherts'' and ''Limestone A'' by Gee et al (1952) and Forbes et al (1958) and finally termed Kapp Starostin Formation and Vøringen Member by Cutbill and Challinor (1965). Publications on the Kapp Starostin Formation including the Vøringen Member mainly comprise paleontological studies focusing on taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and ecology of the varied faunal assemblage.…”

Palaeontological Evidence for the Age of the Carboniferous and Permian Rocks of Central Vestspitsbergen

“…The bulk of the material was collected on the Cambridge Spitsbergen Expedition, 1949(Harland, 1952 by Dr. O. P. Singleton. In 1951 Dr. M. H. P. Bott collected some marine fossils from Chydeniusbreen (Harland and Hollin, 1953), and one of us (W. B. H.) collected further plants from either side of Austfjorden in 1951and 1953 small faunas were collected on Nathorst, 1910Gee, et al, 1952 Some modification of the stratigraphical scheme of Gee, Harland, and McWhae, 1952, has been adopted and this is shown in Table I. The fossils are grouped by stratigraphical units lettered II (a) to (/) under which all stratigraphical detail is from the same paper.…”