Preliminary report on geology along Atlantic continental margin of northeastern United States

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin
By: , and 

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting a geologic and geophysical study of the northeastern United States outer continental shelf and the adjacent slope from Georges Bank to Cape Hatteras. The study also includes the adjacent coastal plain because it is a more accessible extension of the shelf. The total study area is about 324,000 sq km, of which the shelf and slope constitute about 181,000 sq km and the coastal plain constitutes 143,000 sq km. The shelf width ranges from about 30 km at Cape Hatteras to about 195 km off Raritan Bay and on Georges Bank. Analyses of bottom samples make if possible to construct a preliminary geologic map of the shelf and slope to a water depth of 2,000 m. The oldest beds cropping out in the submarine canyons and on the slope are of early Late Cretaceous age. Beds of Early Cretaceous and Jurassic age are present in deep wells onshore and probably are present beneath the shelf in the area of this study. Such beds are reported beneath the Scotian shelf on the northeast where they include limestone, salt, and anhydrite. Preliminary conclusions suggest a considerably thicker Mesozoic sedimentary sequence than has been described previously. The region is large; the sedimentary wedge is thick; structures seem favorable; and the hydrocarbon potential may be considerable.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Preliminary report on geology along Atlantic continental margin of northeastern United States
Series title American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin
DOI 10.1306/83D9163C-16C7-11D7-8645000102C1865D
Volume 58
Issue 6
Year Published 1974
Language English
Publisher American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Description 10 p.
First page 1169
Last page 1178
Country United States
Other Geospatial Atlantic continental margin
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