Geological Framework

The alternation of limestone and island-wide terra-rossa paleosols has formed the principal basis for subdivision of the stratigraphic column. However, Pleistocene sea level oscillations of finer time and elevation scale have resulted in intercalation of marine and eolian grainstones, and in some cases, formation of poorly developed, brownish soil horizons of local extent ( accretionary soils ). These latter stratigraphic features and their interpretation are to some extent the reason for the differences in stratigraphic subdivisions shown in Table 7.3. 

McGall s soil Somerset eolianite Signal Hill soil Warwick eolianite St. George s soil 

Pembroke eolianite Harrington soil Devonshire limestone Shore Hills soil Belmont limestone 

George s Soil Spencer s Point Fm Pembroke Formation Harrington Formation Devonshire Formation, Shore Hills Soil Belmont Formation 

Devonshire Member Shore Hills Geosol f Belmont Formation Ord Road Geosol Town Hill Formation Upper T.H.Member Harbour Road Geosol Lower T.H. Member Castle Harbour Geosol Walsingham Formation 

The western Saharan syncline was subjected to rapid subsidence during the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic. This resulted in the formation of a large basin (7-8 km deep) of Paleozoic sediments. The central and eastern Saharan synclines in the Paleozoic were areas of slower subsidence (in individual periods of the Paleozoic), and marine sediments are comparatively thin (from 2 to 4 km) (Fig. 6.13). During the early Mesozoic, the eastern Saharan syncline, including the Trias, Oued el-Mya, and Ghadames Basins (Figs. 6.12 6.13a,b), subsided rapidly. This resulted in the accumulation of up to 4 km of marine and, in places, continental Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous sediments. 

At the beginning of the Paleozoic, the South Pole was located just north of Africa in the lapetus Ocean (Petters 1991). Quartz-rich sandstones began to accumulate in 

QUARTERNARY TERTIARY CRETACEOUS JURASSIC TRIASSIC CARBONIFEROUS 

Approx, time (Ma) Tectonic elements Tectonic movements Trangression/regression Sedimentation type Hiatus/erosion References 

570-515 lapetus Ocean Drift over north Africa Transgression Detrital, marine, and continental - Fetters 1991 Klitzsch 1990 Burollet 1989 

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Soller, D. R. and Berg, R. C., 1992, A Model for the Assessment of Aquifer Contamination Potential Based on Regional Geologic Framework Environmental Geology and Water Science, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 205-213. 

Fig. 2. Geological framework of the basement to the eastern Athabasca Basin, including the location of the major unconformity-type uranium deposits, from Annesley et al. (2005).

Roen J. B. (1984) Geologic framework and hydrocarbon evaluation of Devonian and Mississippian black shales in the Appalachian Basin. AAPG Eastern Seetion meeting. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 68, 1927. 

Riggs S. R., Snyder S. W., Hine A. C., Ellington M. D., and Mallette P. M. (1985) Geological framework of phosphate resources in Onslow Bay. North Carolina continental shelf. Econ. Geol 80, 716-738. 

Small, T. A., Hanson, J. A., and Hauwert, N. M., 1996, Geologic framework and hydrogeologic characteristics of the Edwards aquifer outcrop (Barton Springs segment), NE Hays and SW Travis Co., Texas, United States Geological Survey, WRl 96-4306. 

Maher, J.C., 1971. Geological framework and petroleum potential of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Continental Shelf. U.S. Geol. Surv., Prof. Pap. 659, 98 pp., 17 plates. 

Ross M et al. (2004) 3D geologic framework models for regional hydrogeology and land use management. Hydrogeol J, vol 1, pp 7-14... 

Robb, L.J. and Meyer, F.M., 1995. The Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa geological framework and... 

Ponte, F.C. Asmus, H.E. (1978) Geological framework of the Brazilian continental margin. Geol. Rundsch., 68, 201-235. 

Callaway (1971) provides an excellent review of the geological framework of the San Joaquin basin... 

Grant, A.C., McAlpine, K.D. Wade, J.A. (1986) The continental margin of eastern Canada—geological framework and petroleum potential. In Future Petroleum Provinces of the World (Ed. Halbouty, M.T.). Mem. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol., Tulsa, 40, 177-205. 

Sinclair, I.K., McAlpine, K.D., Sherwin, D.F. McMillan, N.J. (1992) Petroleum resources of the Jeanne d Arc Basin and environs. Grand Banks, Newfoundland. Part I Geological framework. Geol. Surv. Ganada Paper, 92-8, 1-38. 

Edgell HS (1997) Aquifers of Saudi Arabia and their geological framework. Arab JSci Engg 22(1C) 4-31... 

Michie, U. M. 1996. The geological framework of the Sellafield area and its relationship to hydrogeology. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 29, SI3-28... 

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