A SEDIMENTARY BASIN IN THE NORTHERN LABRADOR SEA

Seismic reflection profiles and bathymetric data obtained during a survey of the northern Labrador Sea delineate the structure and morphology of a sedimentary basin in the eastern part of the survey area. The sedimentary column of the basin reaches a thickness of at least 1.5 km. Within this sequence an unconformity with horizontal layers overlying eastward dipping strata is observed. Evidence is presented which suggests that the sediments of the basin are mainly Mesozoic and Lower Tertiary in age. The data suggest that the basin may be a down faulted portion of the original Greenland continental block. The presence of the un-conformity might thus be explained by rapid subsidence during the early rifting history of the continental margin. A N to NW trending basement high in the northern Labrador Sea may represent the ancient spreading axis