Early Cretaceous sand supply to offshore SW Nova Scotia : tectonic diversion of the Sable River during Naskapi Member deposition

Abstract

The hypothesis of sediment supply to the SW Scotian Basin from the diversion of the Sable River through the Fundy Basin was tested based on sand provenance of the COST G-2 well and regional correlation of the Naskapi Member. Lower Cretaceous sands from the COST G-2 wells showed the continuous but diluted supply from Maine rivers and minor supply from the Sable River and ophiolites from Quebec. The correlation of wireline logs from wells across the Scotian and Georges Bank basins showed similarities in both basins and the lack of thick sands within the Naskapi Member in the western Shelburne Subbasin and the Georges Bank Basin. The reservoir quality based on sand availability is not encouraging in these areas.