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Marine pisolites from Upper Proterozoic carbonates of East Greenland and SpitsbergenUpper Proterozoic carbonate successions from central East Greenland (the Limestone-Dolomite 'Series' of the Eleonore Bay Group) and Svalbard (the Backlundtoppen Formation of the Akademikerbreen) Group, Spitsbergen, and the Upper Russo Formation of the Raoldtoppen Group, Nordaustlandet) contain thick sequences dominated by pisolites. These rocks were generated in shallow marine environments, and the pisoids are essentially oversized ooids. A marine environment is supported by the thickness and lateral extent of the carbonates; by a sedimentary association of pisolites with stromatolites, flake-conglomerates, calcarenites, calcilutites, microphytolites, and ooids similar to that found in numerous other Proterozoic carbonate successions; by sedimentary structures, including cross-beds and megaripples that characterize the pisolitic beds; and by microorganisms that inhabit modern marine ooids of the Bahama Banks. Petrographic features and strontium abundances suggest that the pisoids were originally aragonitic, but neomorphism, silicification, calcitization, and dolomitization have extensively modified original mineralogies and fabrics. The East Greenland and Svalbard pisolitic carbonates reflect similar depositional environments and diagenetic histories, reinforcing previous bio-, litho-, and chemostratigraphic interpretations that the two sequences accumulated contiguously in a coastal zone of pisoid genesis which extended for at least 600, and probably 1000 or more, kilometres.
Document ID
20040089051
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Swett, K.
(The University of Iowa Iowa City 52242, United States)
Knoll, A. H.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Sedimentology
Volume: 36
ISSN: 0037-0746
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DPP 801998
CONTRACT_GRANT: DPP 801999
CONTRACT_GRANT: DPP 8301226
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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