Tectonostratigraphic framework and depositional history of the Cretaceous–Danian succession of the Danish Central Graben (North Sea) – new light on a mature area

Buchem, F. S. P.; Smit, Florian; Buijs, Govert; Trudgill, Bruce D.; Larsen, Poul-Henrik

doi:10.1144/pgc8.24

Cited by 37 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Although punctuated by pulses of increased activity, inversion was continuous in the DCG throughout the Late Cretaceous and Danian (Vejbaek and Andersen, 1987;. Around the beginning of the Campanian, it became a major influence on the basin morphology, forming a prominent unconformity above earlier rift depocentres (van Buchem et al, 2018). The relative uplift caused by inversion occurred on a background of post-rift thermal subsidence, meaning that erosion was limited in comparison to other inverted basins in the southern North Sea.…”

Section: Cretaceous and Cenozoicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thick- and thin-skinned basin inversion in the Danish Central Graben, North Sea – the role of deep evaporites and basement kinematics

Hansen¹,

Clausen²,

Andresen³

2020

Preprint

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Abstract. Using 3D reflection-seismic data constrained by wells, we address the kinematic connections between Permian Zechstein evaporites, basin-inversion structures in the sedimentary units above, and reactivated structures in the sub-salt basement in the Danish Central Graben. The Danish Central Graben is part of the failed North Sea rift system. Where present, mobile Zechstein evaporites have played a significant role in its structural development since the Triassic, while tectonic shortening caused mild inversion in the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene. Shortening was accommodated mainly by reverse reactivation of older normal faults (i.e. fault inversion) along with folding and uplift of their hangingwalls. Within the study area, rifting generated two major W-SW-dipping basement faults with several kilometres of normal offset. The larger Coffee Soil Fault delineate the eastern boundary of the rift basins. Within its hangingwall, a broad zone is characterised by inversion-related uplift and deformation. Along the fault, buttressed growth folds in the immediate hangingwall indicate thick-skinned inversion, i.e. coupled deformation between the basement and cover units. The opposite margin of the inverted zones follows the westwards pinch-out of the Zechstein salt. Here, thin-skinned folds and faults sole out into Zechstein units on the half-graben dip slopes. The most pronounced inversion occurred directly above and in extension of salt ridges and –rollers that localized shortening in the cover above. With no apparent links to underlying basement faults, we balance thin-skinned shortening to the sub-salt basement via a triangle-zone concept. This implies that thin Zechstein units on the half-graben dip slopes formed thrust detachments during inversion, and that basement shortening was mainly accommodated by reactivation of the major rift faults further east. Ductile deformation at seismic scales accounts for thin-skinned shortening of the cover units where such a detachment did not develop. We discuss the related mechanisms. The documented structural styles are similar to those found in other inverted basins in the region, and to those produced from physical-model experiments. Our results indicate that Zechstein units imposed a strong control on structural style and kinematics during basin inversion in large parts of the Danish Central Graben. We emphasize that even thin evaporite units may act as detachments during tectonic extension and contraction if favourably orientated. Salt ridges and diapiric structures can localise shortening and generate thin-skinned faults and folds in the cover above. In mildly inverted rifts, extensive mobile salt may mask the effects of basin inversion if shortening is accommodated by salt structures without the formation of clearly defined inversion structures at the surface or significant uplift.

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Section: Cretaceous and Cenozoicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thick- and thin-skinned basin inversion in the Danish Central Graben, North Sea – the role of deep evaporites and basement kinematics

Hansen¹,

Clausen²,

Andresen³

2020

Preprint

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“…They have an important role in the development of dissolutionally enlarged conduit systems, forming potential inception horizons along which dissolution is focused (Lowe & Gunn, 1995;Lowe, 2000). Hardgrounds, marl seams and sheet flints constitute beds with low permeability compared to other parts of the succession (Saïag, 2016;Saïag et al, 2019), hence they represent permeability barriers within the Chalk aquifer (Van Buchem et al, 2017;Gaillard et al, 2018). These barriers are mainly sub-horizontal due to the relative little effect of the Alpine/Pyrenean deformation in the Anglo-Paris Basin.…”

Section: Chalk Stratigraphymentioning

confidence: 99%

Stratigraphical influence on chalk cave development in Upper Normandy, France: implications for chalk hydrogeology

Ballesteros¹,

Farrant²,

Nehmé³

et al. 2020

IJS

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Classically, the Upper Cretaceous Chalk Group aquifer of northwest Europe is conceptualized as a homogenous dual-porosity aquifer, with high porosity related to its fine-grained porous matrix, and intermediate hydraulic conductivity associated with fractures. However, an increasing number of hydrological studies visualize the Chalk as a heterogeneous karst aquifer due to the localised presence of dissolutionally enlarged conduits. Field investigation suggests that cave development is guided by distinct stratigraphical and tectonic discontinuities within the rock mass. Identifying which potential inception horizons within the Chalk aquifer are favoured, and why, is important for developing future robust conceptual models of groundwater behaviour. This study focusses on the Chalk of the Upper Normandy region in France where karstic conduits are common and are linked to major sources of groundwater for public water supply. We analyse the geometry and geomorphology of six chalk caves exposed in the Seine Valley with an aggregated length of over 5.7 km, along with other caves in southern England, and identify the key inception horizons associated with their development. The data shows that prominent Turonian, Coniacian and Santonian hardgrounds have influenced the development of 68% of the studied caves length, with sheet-flints and marl seams also playing a prominent role. Caves developed on or between hardgrounds typically display a complex interlinked anastomotic passage network, whereas passages subjected to paragenetic conditions caused by a high sediment flux tend to be concentrated into fewer, larger conduits. The new evidence from Normandy and Southern England demonstrates the role of lithostratigraphy, and in particular stratigraphical discontinuities on conduit development. The data reinforces the idea that the Chalk aquifer should be viewed as a heterogeneous triple porosity karstic aquifer, in which conduit development is influenced by key stratigraphical discontinuities. This improved conceptual model can be used to develop better groundwater flow models and improved catchment delineation.

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“…The unconformity best recognized on seismic in the Danish sector of the North Sea is likely of intra-Campanian age (Megson & Tygesen, 2005) and most likely comparable to the Late Campanian un-conformity in the United Kingdom (Errat et al 1999). Van Buchem et al (2017) proposed the first formal lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Chalk Group in the Danish Central Graben, introducing two new formations: Kraka and Gorm.…”

Section: A Denmark (Columns 6 To 11 In Fig 2)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Geological evolution of the Chalk Group in the northern Dutch North Sea: inversion, sedimentation and redeposition

Voet

Heijnen²,

Reijmer

2018

Geol. Mag.

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In contrast to the Norwegian and Danish sectors, where significant hydrocarbon reserves were found in chalk reservoirs, limited studies exist analysing the chalk evolution in the Dutch part of the North Sea. To provide a better understanding of this evolution, a tectono-sedimentary study of the Late Cretaceous to Early Palaeogene Chalk Group in the northern Dutch North Sea was performed, facilitated by a relatively new 3D seismic survey. Integrating seismic and biostratigraphic well data, seven chronostratigraphic units were mapped, allowing a reconstruction of intra-chalk geological events.The southwestward thickening of the Turonian sequence is interpreted to result from tilting, and the absence of Coniacian and Santonian sediments in the western part of the study area is probably the result of non-deposition. Seismic truncations show evidence of a widespread inversion phase, the timing of which differs between the structural elements. It started at the end of the Campanian followed by a second pulse during the Maastrichtian, a new finding not reported before. After subsidence during the Maastrichtian and Danian, renewed inversion and erosion occurred at the end of the Danian. Halokinesis processes resulted in thickness variations of chalk units of different ages.In summary, variations in sedimentation patterns in the northern Dutch North Sea relate to the Sub-Hercynian inversion phase during the Campanian and Maastrichtian, the Laramide inversion phase at the end of the Danian, and halokinesis processes. Additionally, the Late Cretaceous sea floor was characterized by erosion through contour bottom currents at different scales and resedimentation by slope failures.

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Tectonostratigraphic framework and depositional history of the Cretaceous–Danian succession of the Danish Central Graben (North Sea) – new light on a mature area

Cited by 37 publications

References 86 publications

Thick- and thin-skinned basin inversion in the Danish Central Graben, North Sea – the role of deep evaporites and basement kinematics

Thick- and thin-skinned basin inversion in the Danish Central Graben, North Sea – the role of deep evaporites and basement kinematics

Stratigraphical influence on chalk cave development in Upper Normandy, France: implications for chalk hydrogeology

Geological evolution of the Chalk Group in the northern Dutch North Sea: inversion, sedimentation and redeposition

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