Late Triassic (early Carnian) palynology of shallow stratigraphical core 7830/5-U-1, offshore Kong Karls Land, Norwegian Arctic

ABSTRACTPalynostratigraphical and palynofacies data are presented from a shallow stratigraphical core (7830/5-U-1) drilled in the northern Barents Sea, offshore Kong Karls Land, Arctic Norway. The core spans approximately 127 m of the Snadd Formation (De Geerdalen Formation equivalent). Samples from core 7830/5-U-1 yielded a well-preserved and taxonomically diverse palynomorph association indicative of an earliest Late Triassic (Carnian) age, consistent with previously published Rhenium-Osmium (Re-Os) dates from other cores drilled in the area. The rare occurrence of angiosperm-like pollen confirms previous observations in the Triassic of the Barents Sea area. Palynofacies evidence and the occurrence of marine microplankton and macrofossils indicate that deposition occurred in an offshore marine environment which became increasingly proximal during latter stages of deposition. Variations in the relative abundance of terrestrial organic matter, rhythmic pulses in amorphous organic matter (AOM) content, and...