B. ESKE KOCH Dept. Geology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmar^

Review of Fossil Floras and Nonmarine Deposits of West Greenland

Abstract: The sedimentary area of central West Pautut flora sensu stricto. Furthermore, the Atane Greenland comprises, besides marine sediments, a formation (ordinarily accepted as Cenomanian, al- number of plant-bearing, nonmarine, and transi- though this has never been convincingly proven) tional-facies formations. Mainly because of insuf- and the Pautut formation (Senonian) may be ex- ficient field studies and conclusions based on scanty posures of a continuous Senonian sequence along geological information, the generally accepted the south coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula. The ideas about these formations and their floras have Kmgigtoq constituent of the Pautut flora is a been affected by severe misunderstandings. How- mixture of Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils, which ever, recent geological investigations under the were collected from a landslide. auspices of The Geological Survey of Greenland Recent paleontologic and stratigraphic studies have provided a sounder basis for the stratigraphic are attempts to solve the remaining problems. In interpretations and exposed a number of mistakes, Tertiary stratigraphy, such positive results as de- e.g.: in the Lower Cretaceous Kome formation the fining the age of the classic Upper Atanikerdluk often-cited "oldest" angiosperms are dubious, and floras as early Paleocene have been achieved. Study those of the Upernivik Nses formation may be of the Cretaceous formations has been advanced, younger than assumed by Seward; the Atane flora, especially through the investigation of spores and ordinarily cited as Cenomanian, consists of fossils pollen. These studies have been facilitated by dis- from localities the beds of which are not exactly of coveries of marine zones and new faunal localities. the same age—one collection (Alianaitsunguaq) be- This paper attempts to clarify present knowledge longs to the Coniacian (marine evidence), whereas of the formations mentioned and to correct the another (Pautut: Lower Pautut flora) is at the misinterpretations and possible mistakes that have Santonian-Campaman boundary (marine evidence) been widely accepted. It is not intended to give a and comes from exactly the same level as the complete survey of the formations in question.

CONTENTS

Introduction 535 Conclusions . . 547 Acknowledgments 537 References cited 547 Cretaceous 538 Kome formation 538 Figure Upernivik Naes formation 539 1. Map section of Northwest Greenland .... 536 Pautut formation 540 2. Sketch of the Pautut locality and surroundings 541 Atane formation 542 3. Rough sketch of the south coast of Nugssuaq Tertiary 545 Peninsula 543 General statement 545 Agatdal formation 545 Plate Facing Upper Atanikerdluk formation 545 1. Relief model of Greenland with the inland ice Ifsorisok formation 546 removed 544

was based on observations gathered on oc- INTRODUCTION casional reconnaissance trips. Such observa- Before the great technical developments of tions often have been used in formulating our time, the arctic explorer was confronted theories and speculations of a wider scope than with such difficulties that no geological map- evidence permitted. Much poorly documented ping, in the modern sense, was possible. Knowl- information on the Cretaceous and Tertiary edge of the geology of the huge arctic regions floras of Greenland and their geological setting

Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 75, p. 535-548, 3 figs., 1 pi., June 1964 535

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56' 55' 54' S3' 52' 51° 50' 49'

EGEDESMINDE: 100 20 40 60 80 100km

Figure 1. Map section of Northwest Greenland in question. Numbers refer to geological localities mentioned in the text: 1, Itsako peninsula; 2, Qeqertarssuaq island; 3, Upernivik Naes; 4, Kuk; 5, Pagtorfik; 6, Angiarssuit-Ujarartorssuaq; 7, Agatdalen valley; 8, Qernertuarssuit; 9, Puiagtiinguaq; 10, Qissugssarigsup qorua; 11, Kugssininguaq; 12, Hare0; 13, Alianaitsunguaq; 14, Ata; 15, Pautut; 16, Kingigtoq; 17, Qutdligssat; 18, Atanikerdluk; 19, Ikorfat

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has thus been incorporated into geologic litera- We can thus visualize a huge source area with ture and is a serious source of error in syn- a drainage outlet near the area of late Mesozoic thesizing studies. and early Tertiary sedimentary rocks. This The author presents here a summary of the view is supported by the presence of a "fossil" present geological knowledge of the nonmarine channel several hundred meters deep, eroded formations of central West Greenland and their into older deposits in the area of sedimentation floras based on studies and investigations under- during the regression between Danian and taken in recent years by the Geological Survey Paleocene, which winds its way along the south of Greenland. coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula. During the The sedimentary area of central West Green- early Paleocene this channel was filled with land includes parts of Disko island, Nugssuaq fluviatile sediments (see section on Upper and Svartenhuk peninsulas (Fig. 1), and some Atanikerdluk formation), and may have formed smaller patches on neighboring islands. Cre- a part of the same drainage system as the sup- taceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks, ex- posed Disko Bay outlet; upstream its direction clusively clastic and mostly continental or points at the region of this outlet. This transitional facies, rest upon strongly weathered hypothesis affords an explanation for the for- crystalline rocks. Marine deposits show that mation of the sedimentary area of central west the Coniacian, Senonian, Danian, and Paleo- Greenland. cene transgressions advanced over the borders The Cretaceous and Tertiary formations, of central West Greenland. The geological his- considered chiefly nonmarine, are: tory of these sedimentary rocks has been es- sentially explained by investigations done in Ifsorisoq formation these areas between 1938 and 1958 (except Upper Atanikerdluk formation during World War II) under the direction of (lower Paleocene) Prof. A. Rosenkrantz of the University of Tertiary: < Agatdalen formation (lower Copenhagen. Paleocene) (contains transi- The great thickness of the clastic sedimen- tional facies with fossil plants tary rocks, as well as paleontologic and other and marine zoo-fossils) geologic evidence, shows that the relevant area Atane formation (Upper Cre- of central West Greenland during the late taceous) Mesozoic and at the beginning of the Tertiary Pautut formation (at least partly was a coastal zone adjacent to a high potential Cretaceous: ( Senonian) source area of erosional debris. Recent in- Upernivik Nass formation vestigation of the inland ice (Bauer and Korne formation (Lower Cre- Holtzscherer, 1954) has revealed, in broadest taceous) outline, the great relief of the ice-covered land. The dominant topographical feature is an Plant fossils, i.e. fossil woods (Danian), from enormous, central depression rimmed by almost the Nugssuaq Peninsula (Mathiesen, 1961) and continuous mountain chains and highlands in leaf impressions from Umivik, Svartenhuk which the most distinctive gap is in the central Peninsula (Coniacian) (Unpub. ms., Mineral- west coast facing Disko Bay. The central part ogical Museum coll., Copenhagen), have also of this basin, divided into a northern and a been found in other facies (i.e. marine shales). southern second-order basin by high, distinc- tive east-west ridges pointing toward Disko ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Bay (PI. 1), attains extraordinary depths. The author wishes to express his gratitude to These basins reach Disko Bay and join into a the Mineralogical Museum, University of common outlet. A valley between the two main Copenhagen, for economic support; to Prof. east-west ridges points to the same outlet. A. Rosenkrantz and Mr. K. Raunsgaard Hence, some primary geomorphological fea- Pedersen for information on their field work tures, at present concealed by ice, converge at and for stimulating discussions; to Prof. Erling this outlet and may have carried pre-Quater- Dorf (Princeton University), Mr. Brian nary drainage from the basins. Independent of Whindley (Geol. Surv. Greenland), and Mr. the rate of isostatic movements of the Central Ivan Madirazza (University of Aarhus) for aid Greenland shield caused by the inland ice, in translation; and to Mr. F. H. R0hling (Geol. these secondary basins with their common out- Surv. Greenland) for cartographic and Mrs. let may have acted as source areas for the sedi- Bente Soltau (Mineralogical Museum, Copen- ments deposited in Central West Greenland. hagen) for photographic contributions.

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specimen is truly of dicotyledonous affinities. CRETACEOUS So far, we cannot rule out the possibility that Kome formation (Nordenskjold, 1870) it may derive from a nonangiospermous species with similar leaves. The existence of plants like Tvpelocality: Ku\ (syn: Koo\, Kome), Nugssuaq the recent Gnetum justifies this hesitation. Peninsula (north coast opposite Umanal() Whether White and Schuchert's dicoty- This formation is a sequence of clastic sedi- ledonous fossils (Laurus? sp.) from Kuk have mentary rocks with coal-bearing zones. Plant been collected from the outcrops or as loose fossils are found in black, bituminous shales. specimens is not evident from their publica- The fossils obtained from the localities of Kuk, tion. The information (White and Schuchert, Pagtorfik, and Mt. Slibestensfjaeldet, all on 1898, p. 348) that all the fossils were collected the north coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula, less than "100 feet stratigraphically above the were first studied by Heer (1868; 1874a; 1880; lowest bed seen at tide level" makes the first 1882), who regarded the flora as Early Cre- possibility seem more likely, but, because the taceous. The Cretaceous age has never been lauraceous shaped leaf impressions may be doubted, but conflicting opinions have been merely poorly preserved impressions of ferns, advanced regarding the position within the the specimen in question should be thoroughly Cretaceous (Heim, 1910; Seward, 1924; White re-examined. and Schuchert, 1898). In the discussion of this White and Schuchert's (1898) Angiarssuit problem one observation has remained a focal collection contains fossil plants from three dif- point: Heer's record of a single shale specimen ferent localities of different ages and seems to with "angiospermous" leaf remains (Populus have come from actual cliff-forming outcrops. primaeva Heer, 1874a) (Seward, 1926: Dicot- A fault reaches the coast and cuts the outcrop ylophyllum) from Pagtorfik. Of these leaf in the cliff, so that White and Schuchert's lo- remains only one may originate in an angio- cality A falls east of the fault, B falls within the spermous plant. Heer's figures (Heer, 1874a, fault zone, and C falls west of it. Kome plants PI. XXIV, fig. 6, a, b, c) are unfortunately were recorded from A and angiospermous not reliable, so this statement is a deduction floras from B and C. White and Schuchert's from the author's study of the original speci- sketch of the cliff with the fault zone seems to men. White and Schuchert (1898) found differ somewhat from the recent conditions, badly preserved leaves which may also be but it seems not to affect the value of their dicotyledonous (Laurus? sp.). These supposedly conclusions. White and Schuchert, (1898, p. dicotyledonous leaves have provided the main 354) compared the plant fossils from locality B argument supporting Seward's conception of with the Atane flora and regarded the plant the rise of the angiosperms in the Arctic. fossils from locality C as "plainly not older However, when the necessary data concern- than the Atane"; as the author does not accept ing the specimens are not available, the old col- the Atane flora as a natural unit this opinion lections should be used with caution. A first- should not be interpreted as more specific than hand knowledge of the geology of the localities "Upper Cretaceous" (see section on Atane is necessary, but not always sufficient, for the formation). White and Schuchert were well correct sorting of these collections. Most of the aware of the fault and its consequences regard- fossils which Heer described are not adequately ing the age relations, but Seward apparently labelled, and loose samples collected from the ignored it and regarded the whole collection as slopes have been treated as a unit with those a Kome flora with angiosperms in spite of the from the outcropping rocks, so that fossils from high percentage of Atane species (e.g., Upper different levels may have been mixed. It is pos- Cretaceous fossils). There is a distinct differ- sible that Populus primaeva Heer was a loose ence between angiosperm content of the fossil sample and might have come from a higher flora of Angiarssuit and that of the true Kome level, i.e. from the Upper Cretaceous beds. A flora, even if, like Seward, one accepts P. younger formation with a dicotyledonous flora primaeva Heer and Laurus? sp. (Gry in Rosenkrantz and others, 1940) uncon- New evidence from a study of fresh-water formably overlies the Kome formation at Mt. mollusks (Yen, 1958) from White and Schu- Vesterfjasld on the same coast; therefore only chert's locality C at Angiarssuit has been new discoveries of the same species can prove added. Though no precise age determination that it is a valid Kome fossil. Also, further evi- was possible, these mollusks indicate a Late dence is needed to determine whether the leaf Cretaceous age, as did the flora in the opinion

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of White and Schuchert. So we must not con- Pagtorfik, and two critical occurrences of fuse the Angiarssuit dicotyledons with the Angiarssuit and Upernivik Nass [see preceeding Kome flora. discussion] and the consequently increased Consequently, no remnants of angiosperms similarity between the Kome and Atane floras. have with certainty been found in the Kome for- Since he characterised the Cretaceous floras of mation. Future investigations must discredit or Greenland from such a standpoint, the results confirm the derivation from the Kome forma- he arrived at cannot be used directly in de- tion of the few angiosperm specimens cited in scribing these floras and especially not the the past. The author must disagree with Axel- Kome flora, although its Early Cretaceous age rod's (1959) assumption that the angiosperms is supported by the points of resemblance with make up 10 per cent of the fossil flora of Kuk the Wealden floras to which Seward calls at- (Kome) in contrast to the zero percentage of tention and which he, better than anyone else, Pagtorfik (Axelrod, 1959). Axelrod's con- could judge. clusion, which compares the beds of Kuk and Pending further investigations concerning Pagtorfik with the Albian and Aptian respec- the Kome angiosperms, we must keep the tively, is also doubtful. None of the few angio- Kome flora as a natural unit: even including spermous fossils can be accepted without the doubtful angiosperms, it is sufficiently dif- reservation unless investigations, unknown to ferent from the Upper Cretaceous flora of the author, have been conducted recently. The Western Greenland to justify its independent angiosperm leaf of Heer (see P. primaeva Heer) biostratigraphical status. This view was comes from Pagtorfik and makes Axelrod's zero strengthened by the discovery of a younger percentage doubtful: this species must at least formation with true angiospermous flora which represent the same percentage value as the unconformably overlies the Kome formation Laurus? sp. of Kuk, the only basis for Axelrod's in Mt. Vesterfjsld, and may be identical with 10 per cent angiosperms estimate from the the younger formation which unconformably latter locality which the author has been able overlies the Kome formation at Ikorfat. to detect. Misinterpretations of the older litera- As here defined, the Kome formation occurs ture are partly to blame in such cases. For in- almost continously along the north coast of the stance, Heim (1910, p. 188) writes that White Nugssuaq Peninsula from Kuk (syn: Kook, and Schuchert found P. primaeva Heer and Kome) in the east to Ikorfat (syn: Ekorfat) in other dicotyledonous leaves at Kuk (Kome, the west, interrupted only by a younger down- Kook). A check of his reference to White and faulted deposit (Upper Cretaceous) between Schuchert (1898, p. 347) shows that they Angiarssuit and Ujarartorssuaq: it thus con- sought in vain for P. primaeva Heer, their only tains the localities Kuk, Pagtorfik, Qaersut specimens of dicotyledons being the Laurus? (syn: Kaersut), Qarsuarsuk (syn: Kaersuarsuk), sp. heretofore mentioned. As a matter of prin- Angiarssuit (east of the fault), and Ikorfat ciple, the author cannot accept numerical con- (syn: Ekorfat), all of which have been cited in siderations on this dubious basis. the literature. The younger deposits which are The fossil plants do not justify Axelrod's exposed along the coast between Angiarssuit conclusion that the Kuk and Pagtorfik floras and Ujarartorssuaq are probably identical with are different in age. On the contrary, the fossil those which at Mt. Vesterfjasld and Ikorfat floras from different localities of the Kome for- unconformably overlie the Kome formation. mation are very uniform as far as the dominant Besides the classic localities of the north groups (i.e., Pteridophytes and Gymno- coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula the Kome for- spermae) are concerned. mation was also recorded from Itsako on The Kome flora, according to Seward (1926), Svartenhuk Peninsula by Gry (in Rosenkrantz apart from the doubtful and rare angiospermous and others, 1942). Gry cites a few species of remains, consists essentially of about 20 species Kome plants (Mathiesen det.). of ferns and four species of cycadophytes. The flora is of Wealden type; among the ferns the Upernivi/( Nces Formation (Steenstrup, 1883) Gleicheniaceae occupy a prominent position, as they do in the Rhaeto-Liassic flora of Green- Type locality: Upernivil^Nas, Upernivil( Island land. Seward treated the Cretaceous flora of The sedimentary sequence of Upernivik Greenland as an entity, influenced by his be- Island and the small occurrence on the neigh- lief in the reliability of the angiospermous con- bouring island of Qeqertarssuaq (0dum and tent of the Kome formation (from Kuk, Koch, 1955) occupies a unique position. It con-

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sists of clastic sediments with fossil plants giv- tion) (Heer, 1883a: Patootschichten) consists ing the impression that the same formation is of about 800 meters of alternating sandstone represented at the two localities. and shale extending from about sea level to the This fossil flora is difficult to interpret. It overlying basalts (pillow lava). The shales have consists mainly of remnants of ferns, cycads, a variable bituminous content; they range from and gymnosperms, and one species of sycamore gray to black. Numerous coal seams are present. which is quantitatively important. The syca- No natural lateral limits have been observed more (Platanus latiloba Newb.), as well as for this formation which crops out along the Pseudocycas DicJ^soni and some other species, is central part of the south coast of the Nugssuaq also found with the Atane flora, but the Peninsula. The author believes that it passes Gleicheniaceae is the dominant fern family. directly into the Atane formation toward the The ferns and cycads tempted Seward to com- northwest and southeast and grades strati- pare the Upernivik Nass flora with that of the graphically upward and downward into the Kome formation; hence, in his opinion, the Atane formation; in other words, that it is an Kome flora contained another angiosperm, P. artificial unit, a random section of sedimentary latiloba Newb., supporting his theory of an rocks taken out of a Continous Cretaceous se- arctic origin for this group. quence of the south coast of the Nugssuaq But the ferns and cycads do not appear to Peninsula, of which the northwestern and be exclusive indicators of the antiquity of the southeastern parts have been determined to be Upernivik Kass flora since all the Cretaceous Atane beds. Thus Heer records the Atane for- floras of Greenland resemble each other in this mation (i.e., beds with the Atane flora) on this respect (the Gleicheniaceae occupying a prom- coast to both the northwest (Ata) and south- inent position, less so in the Atane flora). The east (Atanikerdluk) of the Pautut formation Wealden element, which occurs here together outcrop. with P. latiloba Newb., may just as well have Since Quaternary landslides have taken been a relic in this area, as the angiosperms place, accompanied by ignition of the bitumin- may have developed early here. ous Cretaceous shales, hard red and yellow In this case the fossil angiosperm really be- shales are a prominent feature of the landscape longs to the sediments from which it is re- of Pautut. Although the landslides are young corded, but its relation to the Kome formation and do not concern the geology of the Cre- is uncertain. It is just as reasonable to accept a taceous sequence, this burned "fades" at- comparison of the Upernivik Naes flora with tracted the attention of the early explorers so those of the Upper Cretaceous formations (e.g. that it has commanded a prominent position in Atane formation), or (and this seems more the original descriptions of the sequence of likely) to assign it an intermediate position— Pautut. Most of the fossils (marine inverte- i.e. between the Kome and Atane formations. brates [Ravn, 1918; Rosenkrantz, 1951] and This problem awaits solution by future geo- land plants [Heer, 1883a]) have been collected logical and paleontological investigations. Be- from these displaced and burned rocks. The fore a thorough revision of the Cretaceous floras fossil plants from Kingigtoq from similar land- of Greenland, including detailed geological in- slides were originally described together with vestigations, can be undertaken, the Upernivik fossils from Pautut (Heer, 1883a) and included Nass flora must be eliminated from the discus- in that portion of the Pautut flora which was sion on the age of the Kome and Atane forma- held to be diagnostic of the Senonian. The tions and treated as an independent problem. burned rocks appear then to have been in- It is to be hoped that the investigation of the terpreted as having stratigraphical significance. fossil sporomorphs from the Cretaceous forma- During recent investigations, Raunsgaard tions of Northwest Greenland, being con- Pedersen (unpub.) found that the marine zoo- ducted at the Aarhus University by K. fossils originate in a zone in the central part of Raunsgaard Pedersen, will contribute to its the undislocated sequence. The age of this zone solution. has been accurately determined as Santonian- early Campanian (Rosenkrantz, 1951). Pautut Formation (Heer, 1883) As defined, the Pautut formation contains (in Heer's opinion) two floras of distinctly dif- Type locality: Pautut (syn: Patooi), Nugssuaq ferent age. The bulk of the Pautut flora was Peninsula collected both below and above the marine The Pautut formation (syn: Patoot forma- zone from the burned shales and sandstones

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situated above the foothills, which reach a sult of the flexure means that the fossils orig- height of about 200 m. Sparse plant fossils inate from a level quite near the marine zone make up the Lower Pautut flora, compared by (Fig- 2). Heer with the Atane flora, which occurs at a Either of these possible fossil plant localities considerably lower altitude and nearer to the would place the Lower Pautut flora near the coast than the outcrops of the marine zone. It marine zone of the Patut formation. Hence, is not determinable whether these fossils orig- the author must disagree with Heer's concept of a inated in rocks which have taken part in the distinct Lower Pautut flora. slide(s) or in the undislocated sequence. Heer Recent collections of fossil plants from the writes that they originate in the ravines up to marine zone and the sequence around it have an altitude of 470 feet (about 157 m). This also contributed toward minimizing the dif- ferences between the Pautut and Atane flora as they appear in the old studies. More intimate acquaintance indicates that these classic studies are a very unsafe foundation for separating units within the Upper Cretaceous of North- west Greenland. Heer's Pautut flora consists of fossils from two distinct localities: Pautut and Kingigtoq (about 10 km SE of Pautut). When considering the stratigraphical relation between the Pautut and Atane formations the two localities are so remote that their floras must be treated sepa- rately (contrary to what was done by Heer). At both places landslides with red and yellow Figure 2. Sketch of the Pautut locality and burned shales are prominent features. This surroundings after a photograph taken from may be why Heer incorporated the Kingigtoq a plane (4000 m). 1, Pautut Valley; 2, 3, fossils in the Pautut flora, while the Lower small ravines at the foothills; 4, the big Pautut flora of eight species was excluded, ravine of Igpigarssuk showing a seaward although it could just as well fit into the bending of the Cretaceous beds. Above assemblage. So the sequence of Kingigtoq was them the lower Paleocene sequence is included in Heer's "Patootschichten" ( = separated from the Cretaceous by an Pautut formation). The author treats the angular disconformity. The ice-capped mountain in the background is 1900 m high. Cretaceous sequence of Kingigtoq under the Atane formation (Koch, 1959), but this is done mainly by definition. could mean the small ravines of the foothills. At Kingigtoq a series of landslides in the Because of their high content of red burned form of a "staircase" reach down to the coast, shales and their irregular topography, the foot- each step containing a section of the Cretaceous hills can be interpreted as resulting from a land- sequence, except for at least six of the upper- slide. In outcrops in the foothill ravines the most steps where the basal Tertiary (Naujat author found specimens of Inoceramus which member of the Upper Atanikerdluk forma- may support this view. But if the foothills are tion) also occurs. In the undislocated sequence made up of rocks in situ, the conclusion may be this basal Tertiary is separated from the identical with that of the second possibility: Cretaceous by an angular unconformity (Koch, the Lower Pautut flora could have been col- 1959). Nearly the entire Kingigtoq element of lected from the sequence at the outlet of either Heer's Pautut flora seems to have come from of the two large ravines at Pautut, where the the Cretaceous beds, especially the landslide rock seems unaffected by slides and burning. designated 7 by the author (1959). Only one Here, however, in the undislocated sequence Tertiary specimen (with Sequoia Langsdorfii) of the ravines, a strong flexure is seen to in- from Kingigtoq was mistakenly introduced into fluence the regional dip over a wide coastal Heer's Pautut flora (Heer, 1883 a, PI. LIII, zone of approximately 1 km changing an inland fig. 8). During his field collecting Seward dip (the regional dip) to a seaward dip. If the reached higher levels and got a mixed flora of Lower Pautut plant fossils come from these a few Cretaceous and a majority of Tertiary ravines the seaward bending of the beds as a re- fossils from landslide 6. As he did not know

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that the Cretaceous-Tertiary unconformity which are common to the Kome as well as the cuts landslide 6 and assumed that all the fossil Atane formation. Many of the gymnosperms plants from Kingigtoq were a natural assem- are also found in the Atane formation, fewer blage and since he recognized its two elements, in the Kome formation; some are endemic. The his further conclusions are not reliable. Hence, angiosperms are dominant and the author's his mixed flora must not, without sorting, enter assumption is that, although at least half of this circle of problems (Koch, 1959, p. 91-93). these are also found in the Atane formation, If the problem of the Pautut formation is to a relatively high proportion, including some have a sound solution, its fossils must be dis- remarkable species, are endemic for the locality. cussed separately from those of Kingigtoq. In a fossil flora from an equivalent Senonian When the modern revisions of Seward's works marine deposit in the Central Nugssuaq Pen- and the survey by the author are taken into insula (Rosenkrantz, 1951), briefly studied by account, the Cretaceous plant fossils from the author, the ferns and gymnosperms are Kingigtoq concern about 20 species. Consider- rare, and the angiosperms, especially the syca- ing their distribution, one group of fossils is mores, are dominant, as in the Pautut flora. In prominent for its frequency and because it addition, there are a number of distinct contains many species common to both the angiospermous species. As could be expected, Atane formation and Pautut formation; of the resemblance to the Pautut flora is obvious, these a smaller number of species are also com- except that the gymnosperms are rare. mon to the Kome and/or Upernivik Naes The author concludes that the Senonian formation. Next is a group of species endemic Pautut flora is impossible to utilize in a strati- for the locality but which contains the more graphic interpretation before a modern re- doubtful remnants and rare species. The group vision has been completed. With only leaf of species shared only with either the Pautut impressions available from Pautut we cannot or the Atane formation is smaller and of the expect it to be very useful for this purpose. It same order of magnitude. Because of the small seems to the author that this fossil flora does number of species, such an analysis cannot be not exclude the possibility that the Pautut conclusive but presents a rough picture of the formation is an artificial unit cut out of a conditions. continuous Senonian sequence of the south Heer described 117 species from the Pautut coast of Nugssuaq Peninsula. This idea is flora (in sensu Heeri) of which the author further explained in the next section (Atane estimates that 86 Gymnospermae and Angio- formation). An attempt to tackle the problem spermae may be reduced to 38. Of these nearly of stratigraphic interrelation between the half are species shared with the Atane flora Cretaceous formations of the area in question and this half comprises most of the common by means of a sporomorph analysis is being and characteristic species of the Pautut flora. conducted at Aarhus University by K. Rauns- The other half contains species endemic for gaard Pedersen. Pautut and rare (i.e. represented by single specimens) or problematical species, but also Atane Formation (Nordens^iold, 1870) some very characteristic and common ones (e.g., belonging to the genera Quercus and Type locality: The gorge of Kugssinerssuaq river Viburnum, according to Heer's determina- at Ata, Nugssuaq Peninsula tions). As Seward stated (Seward 1924; 1926), The Atane formation consists of clastic Heer's number of species was greatly exag- sedimentary rocks—alternating shales and sand- gerated and stratigraphic conclusions based on stones—containing coal bands which are mined comparative studies will remain unreliable until at Qutdligssat (about 30 000 tons per year) on a thorough revision has been made. To rein- Disko island. terpret the genera and to consider the possi- The Atane formation (originally "Atanela- bilities of specific revisions has been the author's gren" [Swedish] i.e. Atane beds) occurs along only way to glimpse the truth. It is estimated the south coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula and that between two thirds and half of the species along the east and south coasts of Disko island, found in the Pautut formation are also found where the lower portion of the formation is in the Atane flora and the number of species concealed below sea level. It is assumed that (in sensu Heeri) will be reduced to less than those beds which unconformably overlie the half. Kome formation on the north coast of the The Pautut flora consists in part of ferns Nugssuaq Peninsula are equivalent to the Atane

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formation, but, alternatively, they may well be more the present author finds agreement in equivalent to the Upernivik Nass formation. broadest outline with the profile of Norden- Also the beds at Angiarssuit, west of the fault, skiold's type section. So we must accept the may be correlative to the mentioned beds type locality as it was defined in accordance overlying the Kome formation. The oldest with the author of priority, as has already been beds which unconformably overlie the Atane done in Lexique Stratigraphique International formation are shales at Ata belonging to the (Troelsen, 1956). Danian. Along the south coast of the Nugssuaq It is difficult to adjust the information Peninsula the formation shows a uniform supplied by the pioneer investigators to modern regional dip. Since the appearance of Steen- nomenclature but to a certain degree this strup's and Heer's studies, the beds of a section stratigraphic unit must be redefined according of the coastal mountains, containing a marine

pttTooT aevs ATMS &EVS St t*t ft! Art HtoL^ex, nw> X (nee*) Figure 3. Rough sketch of the south coast of Nugssuaq Peninsula showing the position of units as interpreted by the 19th century investigators. The ages assigned to these units until now are shown. The dashed vertical lines mark theoretical faults implied by these age de- terminations. The locality of Alianaitsiinguaq is also shown. Heer studied Atane plant fos- sils from this locality, and recently Rosenkrantz (Personal communication), on marine evidence, referred these beds to Senonian (Coniacian).

to modern ideas. Nordenskiold (1870) de- zone (Upper Santonian-Lower Campanian), scribed these deposits as occurring along the have been excluded from the Atane formation south coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula between and defined as the Pautut formation. An Atane (syn: Ata, according to his map) and investigation of these deposits is in progress. Atanikerdluk. Today we must include the In accordance with the correlation of the facies in question on the whole south coast of Pautut formation with the Senonian (strong the Nugssuaq Peninsula (exclusive of the marine faunal support) and Heer's correlation Pautut formation, as long as we are to keep of the Atane floras with the Cenomanian (?), this unit) and the corresponding sediments of the inference could be made theoretically that Disko. Nordenskiold (1870) described a gener- the Pautut formation is separated from the alized and incomplete section from the gorge surrounding Atane formation by faulting and near Ata. This has been accepted as the type represents a downfaulted block (Fig. 3). The locality of the Atane formation (Troelsen, fossil flora of the Pautut formation (the Pautut 1956). Steenstrup (1883a) has questioned this flora in sensu Heeri) differs to a certain degree position of the type section as he failed to from the Atane flora, a difference regarded by rediscover it at the said locality; he refers it Heer as a consequence of a difference in age to a more southeasterly position (? near between Cenomanian and Senonian respec- Pautut). He finds his support in Nordenskiold's tively. astronomical determination of the site of Ata, Heer's correlation of the Atane formation which does not agree with its actual position. with the Cenomanian must be regarded with In fact, however, Nordenskiold's map does reservation. Heer (1883a, p. 186) himself was show "Atane" in a position which agrees with cautious in stating: ". . . that this flora belongs the actual site of Ata in relation to distinct to the time interval between Gault and geographical features of the country. Further- Senonian and probably must be placed in the

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Cenomanian" (translated by the author). To Greenland during Cretaceous and Tertiary justify our doubt we have only to remember times. The lower Paleocene alone has a thick- Heer's Miocene age determination of the ness of several hundred meters. It must be Upper Atanikerdluk floras which we today understood that before the completion of the with a high degree of probability correlate stratigraphical investigations now in progress with the lower Paleocene. in the area, the age of the different collections of Neither the older investigations nor those fossil plants from the south coast of Nugssuaq in which the author has participated have re- Peninsula, except those of Pautut (Senonian: vealed faults which could limit the Pautut Santonian-early Campaman) and Alianaitsiin- formation laterally. Thus the cited theory of guaq (Coniacian) cannot be determined with the structural relation between the Pautut and certainty. In the author's opinion they are more Atane formations is doubtful. The alternative lively to be Senonian than Cenomanian. Heer's is to regard the clastic, Cretaceous sequence Cenomanian age determination of the Atane along the south coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula flora must be regarded as doubtful, especially as as a continuous one containing a central marine the Atane flora seems not to be a syncronous zone at Pautut. The geological observations unit. The Pautut and Atane floras have a high support this idea. First, it was not possible to degree of resemblance; this is contrary to find the postulated faults limiting the Pautut previous supposition based on wrong interpre- formation. Next, the same northeasterly dip tation of the geological interdependence be- (10°-15° toward N. 50°) is maintained all tween the localities of the Pautut flora in sensu along the coast and is the regional dip of this Heeri and the establishment of far too many clastic sequence (at least on the Nugssuaq "species" in each of the floras. Peninsula). The apparent dip in the direction Also, the treatment of the earlier collections of the south coast of the peninsula varies in of fossil plants from the Atane formation accordance with the course of the coast; except demands great care as the collections are in- on the northwestern flank and on the south- sufficiently labelled. Exceptions are the fossils eastern, east of Atanikerdluk (where the direc- from the "Bregnelaget" (translation: the fern tion of the coast—the same as that of the bed) on the Atanikerdluk Peninsula and the outcrops—makes a wide angle with the regional "Liriodendronlaget" (translation: the Lirio- strike), it is usually small compared to the dendron bed) in the mountains just north of northeasterly regional dip. On the southeastern Atanikerdluk. These "beds" are well defined flank northwest of Atanikerdluk it becomes and represent nearly the same stratigraphic negligible, as the coast here has a direction level. Hence they need no more than the which is near to the regional strike. The author actual labels to be stratigraphically fixed. estimated the thickness of the total sequence Although the differences between the Pautut of the south coast of Nugssuaq Peninsula to be flora and the Atane flora have diminished dur- 1000-1500 m. The westernmost localities (west ing the last 10 years of studies, there exists a of Pautut) must be regarded as older than the difference expressed by the total number of Pautut formation (due to the dip) with the age species and genera of which each of these floras increasing relative to the distance from Pautut. consists, as well as by the frequency of the Thus at one of these northwesterly localities individual genera and species. Furthermore, (Alianaitsiinguaq) a marine zone is correctly there is a high number of endemic species found referred to an older zone (Coniacian) by in the Pautut flora. In the author's opinion this Rosenkrantz (Univ. of Copenhagen) (Personal may be explained as the sum of several inter- communication). The easternmost localities acting factors of which the most important are e.g., Atanikerdluk, with the richest of the mechanical sedimentary sorting owing to differ- Atane floras, will be regarded as being younger ences in the milieu of deposition; possible eco- Senonian than the Pautut formation. Since a logical changes in the drainage area; and the distinct unconformity separates these deposits slight difference in age of an order which is from the Danian sequence observed at Ata determined by the difference in stratigraphical they cannot be younger than Senonian. Con- zones. Here the author utilizes his experience sequently the thickness of the Coniacian- on mechanical sorting of plant remains in rela- Senonian along the south coast of the Nugssuaq tion to sedimentary fades gathered during the Peninsula is 1000-1500 m, not astonishing study of the Paleocene flora of the area, but the since this area may have derived its sediments opinion has only weak support and must be from the great area of denudation in central regarded as theory.

Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/75/6/535/3417068/i0016-7606-75-6-535.pdf by guest on 25 September 2021 RELIEF MODEL OF GREENLAND WITH THE INLAND ICE REMOVED The distribution of the inland ice is shown by white paint. The model, compiled in 1960 by Mr. A. Weidick (Geol. Survey Greenland) on the basis of recent evidence, was made for the Mineralogical Museum, Copenhagen, for exhibition purposes. It shows only the great relief, and must not be interpreted in any detail. The relief is very much exaggerated. B. Bang Soltau photograph

KOCH, PLATE 1 Geological Society of America Bulletin, volume 75

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In the Atane flora, as in the normal Upper kerdluk A" flora (Heer, 1883 a; 1883 b). A Cretaceous floras, angiosperms occupy a promi- provisional floral list was published by the nent position. The author, however, believes author (Koch, 1959), and a description of the that the Atane flora is an artificial group which Paleocene flora of Agatdalen has just appeared geological investigations have taught us to (Koch, 1963). Furthermore, the Abraham suspect. The localities of this flora do not seem member can be compared with at least the to be of exactly the same age. The old floral basal part of Naujat member of the Upper lists give no conclusive evidence. A complete Atanikerdluk formation, which means that the restudy of the fossil flora is necessary for judge- latter member also belongs to lower Paleocene. ment; hence no attempt will be made here to characterize this flora. Upper Atanikerdluk^ Formation (Nordenskjold, 1870) TERTIARY Type locality: Quikavsaup l$a at Atanikerdluk^ General Statement Nugssuaq Peninsula Lower Paleocene deposits, consisting of The Upper Atanikerdluk formation, crop- marine, transitional, and fluviatile facies, un- ping out in the mountains behind the peninsula conformably overlie the Atane and Pautut of Atanikerdluk, shows the thickest of the pre- formations, as well as marine Danian units. basaltic Tertiary sediments (more than 500 meters) and comprises the following members: Agatdal Formation (A. Rosenkrantz, p. 75-78, Point 976 member in Koch, 7959) Aussivik member Umiussat member Type locality: Interior of the Agatdalen valley, Naujat member Central Nugssuaq Peninsula Quikavsak member. This formation consists of marine and transi- The Quikavsak member (Koch, 1959; syn: tional facies: the former mainly comprise Lower Fluviatile Series, Koch, 1955) (type bituminous shales, and the latter range from locality: Western slope of Quikavsaup kua shale to conglomerate in marked alternation ravine near Atanikerdluk) consists of fluviatile characteristic of delta deposits. One can picture and estuarine sediments which during the delta deposits (the Sonja and Andreas mem- Paleocene transgression were deposited in a bers) stretching into the sea where the terres- river channel up to 200 m deep eroded in older trial sediments interfinger with marine deposits sediments and entirely filled during this trans- (Turritellakl0ft member). These equivalent gression. A chain of outcrops along the south members make up the bulk of the formation. coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula, from Sarqaq- They are followed by shale alternating with dalen valley via Atanikerdluk to Pautut, Ata, coarse tuffs (Abraham member) and overlain and a few more westerly localities where oyster by pillow lavas ("basalt breccias"). A fuller banks indicate marine infiltration characterize description of the Agatdal formation by Rosen- this deposit, the source of Heer's Upper Atani- krantz has been published (Koch, 1959, p. kerdluk A flora. 75-78). By means of an extensive marine This same transgression is represented by the fauna the age of this formation was determined Agatdal formation (Rosenkrantz, 1951) with as early Paleocene (Rosenkrantz, 1951). The the extensive marine fauna and a fossil flora of delta deposits (especially the Sonja member) "Upper Atanikerdluk A" type. The Quikavsak contain fossil-plant impressions in prediagenetic member has been directly equated with these and perhaps partly syndiagenetic iron oxide marine beds of the Central Nugssuaq Peninsula precipitates which involve relatively good (Koch, 1959). conditions for preservation. The Agatdal for- Fluviatile deposits corresponding to the mation, because of these exceptional conditions, Quikavsak member are also known from Disko is the basis for age comparisons of other island. Tertiary deposits of West Greenland. The Naujat member (type locality: Naujat According to the author's investigations the at Sarqaqdalen valley) (Koch, 1959; syn: delta deposits (Sonja and Andreas members) Lower Shale Series, Koch, 1955) consists of are comparable to the Quikavsak member of up to 200 m of black, bituminous shales with the Upper Atanikerdluk formation and the individual tuff bands which, within the lowest flora is an equivalent of Heer's "Upper Atani- 10 meters of the section, contain Heer's Upper

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Atanikerdluk B flora (referred to lower Paleo- coal-bearing, but the misinformation from cene [Koch, 1959]). Plant fossils have also been Heer's first publication (about a century old), recorded from a higher stratigraphic level in that the coal of Northwest Greenland belongs the shales (Upper Atanikerdluk C flora [Koch, to the Tertiary, persists in the textbooks. For 1955]). A preliminary determination of the example, Francis (1954; 1961), quoting Lewis fossils does not show significant changes from (1922), refers this coal to the Miocene. How- those at the lower levels. A corresponding ever, it belongs to Lower as well as Upper deposit has been discovered at Qutdligssat on Cretaceous. Disko island. The lower Paleocene flora in the beds of the The Umiussat member (type locality: Mt. Quikavsak member of the south coast of the Umiussat) (Koch, 1959; syn: tipper Fluviatile Nugssuaq Peninsula and in the delta deposits Series, Koch, 1955) consists of clastic sediments, (Sonja member of the Agatdal formation) of predominantly sandstones. Intercalated are beds the central Nugssuaq Peninsula is essentially of black, sandy shale. Only scattered single the well known Arcto-Tertiary flora. The plant fossils were found, and they are insufficient angiosperms, including several modern genera, for dating. The maximum thickness of the are dominant. A few conifers, among which member is 100 m. deciduous Metasequoia occidentalis (Newb.) The Aussivik member (type locality: Aus- Chaney is dominant, have been recorded. The siviup kua at Tartunaq) (Koch, 1959; syn: early Tertiary character is due to the survival Upper Shale Series, Koch, 1955) consists of of some typical Cretaceous genera (for instance black and gray shales and comprises a zone with a crednerian species) and to the occurrence of the three initial lava covers (basalts) which some old groups, such as Cerddiphyllaceae, reached the area around Atanikerdluk and Trochodendraceae, Platanaceae, Hamamelida- which at this locality represent the beginning ceae, and Metasequoia, now monotypic or of an eruptive period that has produced poor on genera and species. thousands of meters of basalts in Northwest Greenland. The thickness of the Aussivik mem- Ifsoriso\ Formation (Nordenskiold, 1870) ber is 130-150 m; about 80 m of it is basalt. Individual tuff bands occur in the shales. At Type locality: Ivssorigsoq = Ifsoriso\ = Qis- Ipeqarfiunge, plant fossils have been found at sugssarigsup qorua = Kulelv, western Nugssuaq an altitude of 1260 m but have not yet been Peninsula identified. Shales which may be equivalant to This formation is made up of intrabasaltic this member occur above "basalt breccias" sedimentary rocks, among which tuffs play an (pillow lavas) of great thickness at Qutdligssat important role, occurring on the westernmost on Disko island. Fossil plants have also been part of the Nugssuaq Peninsula in the youngest found in these sedimentary rocks. (feldspar-porphyritic) basalt series. The sedi- The Point 976 member (type locality: Moun- mentary rocks crop out at Kugssininguaq tain point 976 above Iluara [Atanikerdluk]) (= Netluarsuk [Nordenskiold, 1870] = Kug- (Koch, 1959; syn: Top Fluviatile Series, Koch, sinek [Heer, 1883a; 1883b]), Ivssorigsoq ( = 1955) consists of a sequence of clastic sediments, Ifsorisok = Qissugssarigsup qorua = Kulelv mainly sandstones, up to 60 m thick. Plant fos- [Koch, 1959]), Qernertuarssuit, Puiagtunguaq, sils are rare, hence the exact age is uncertain. and Hareo island ( = Qeqertarssuatsiaq). Some The sequence consisting of the above men- less important occurrences have also been ob- tioned members increases laterally (toward served. The two first-mentioned outcrops northwest) downward because of a complemen- represent probably the same stratigraphic level tary increased extent upward from the adjacent as those of Qernertuarssuit and Puiagtunguaq. volcanic eruptive units (basalts and "basalt The precise stratigraphic position of the occur- breccia" [pillow lava]) from the Atanikerdluk rences on the east coast of Hareo island in rela- area and west along the south coast of the tion to the outcrops of Nugssuaq Peninsula is Nugssuaq Peninsula. Some of these members not known. were also recorded from Disko island, where Fossil plants collected from Hareo island no detailed studies of the Tertiary have been and from Ivssorigsoq have been treated by made, but where geological reconnaissance sug- Heer (1874b; 1883a; 1883b). Considering the gests the same sequence in the eastern, and climatic trend of the Tertiary, the fossil plants perhaps in the southern, part of the island. can only be assumed to be pre-Miocene. The Upper Atanikerdluk formation is not Cercidiphyllum arcticum (Heer) Brown var.

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Richardsoni (Heer) Seward and Edwards from In order to obtain the best geological founda- Hare0 and Ivssorigsoq, in accordance with tion for the studies of the fossil floras a sporo- recent evidence, seems to place the upper limit morph analysis (conducted by K. Raunsgaard toward the end of the Eocene (Seward and Pedersen, Aarhus University) on the basis of Edwards, 1941; Brown, 1939). coals and shales from the Cretaceous formations rnwri TKTOMS is in Pr°Sress- ^uiM^Luaiu.Mo ^s to ^ Tertiary, geological investigations Knowledge of the sedimentary sequences of have increased our knowledge of these sedimen- Northwest Greenland, especially in the field tary rocks and the author hopes that his studies of stratigraphy, has been advanced by recent of the fossil flora of the lower Paleocene delta geological investigations; recent contributions deposits in the Agatdalen valley, Central to the knowledge of Cretaceous floras of this Nugssuaq Peninsula, has contributed to it area are indirectly a result of these geological (Koch, 1963). The most significant result in investigations more than of paleobotanical recent years was the dating of the classic work. It may seem that this result is negative Tertiary floras of Atanikerdluk as early Paleo- in the sense that much of the older work has cene on the basis of comparison of the Tertiary been invalidated; however, this is necessary to sediments of Atanikerdluk with the marine provide a sounder basis for future studies. The lower Paleocene deposits of the Agatdalen Arctic region still presents many difficulties for valley. Paleontological study then verified the scientific fieldwork. Many years may yet pass identity of the fossil floras of these localities, before representative collections become availa- New zones with fossil plants have been dis- ble although extensive collecting has been covered and collections containing samples for undertaken during the investigations con- spore-pollen analysis made available, ducted by the Geological Survey of Greenland.

REFERENCES CITED Axelrod, D. I., 1959, Poleward migration of early angiosperm flora: Science, v. 130, no. 3369, p. 203-207 Bauer, A., and Holtzscherer, J. J., 1954, Contribution a la connaissance de 1'Indlandsis de Groenland: Repr. Exped. Polaires Francaises 1954 Brown, R. W., 1939, Fossil leaves, fruits and seeds of Cercidiphyllum: Jour. Paleontology, v. 13, p. 485- 499 Francis, W., 1954; 1961 (2. ed.), Coal—its formation and composition, London, 806 p. Heer, O., 1868, Flora Fossilis Arctica, v. 1: Die fossile flora der Polarlander: Ziirich, 192 p. 1874a, Flora Fossilis Arctica, v. 3, no. 1: Die Kreideflora der Arctischen Zone: Kgl. Svenska Vet. Akad. Handl., v. 12, no. 6, 138 p. 1874b, Flora Fossilis Arctica, v. 3, no. 3: Nachtrage zur Miocenen Flora Gronlands: Kgl. Svenska Vet. Akad. Handl., v. 13, no. 2, 29 p. 1880, Flora Fossilis Arctica, v. 6, no. 1: Nachtrage zur fossilen Flora Gronlands: Kgl. Svenska Vet. Akad. Handl., v. 18, no. 2, 17 p. 1882, Flora Fossilis Arctica, v. 6, no. 2: Flora Fossilis Groenlandica 1: Zurich, 112 p. 1883a, Flora Fossilis Arctica, v. 7: Flora Fossilis Groenlandica 2: Zurich, 275 p. 1883b, Oversigt over Gronlands fossile flora: Medd. om Gr0nland, v. 5, no. 3, p. 79-202 Heim, A., 1910, Uber die Petrographie und Geologic der Umgebungen von Karsuarsuk, Nordseite der Halbinsel Nugssuaq, W. Griinland: Medd. om Gronland, v. 47, no 3, 57 p. Koch, B. E., 1955, Geological observations on the Tertiary sequence of the area around Atanikerdluk, West Greenland: Medd. om Gr0nland, v. 135, no. 5, 50 p. 1959, Contribution to the stratigraphy of the non-marine Tertiary deposits on the south coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula, northwest Greenland: Medd. om Gronland, v. 162, no. 1, 100 p. 1963, Fossil plants from the lower Paleocene of the Agatdalen (Angmartusut) area, central Nugssuaq Peninsula, northwest Greenland: Medd. om Gr0nland, v. 172, no. 5, 120 p. Lewis, H. P., 1922, Fuel, v. 1, p. 74 Mathiesen, F. J., 1961, On two specimens of fossil wood with adhering bark from the Nugssuaq Peninsula: Medd. om Gronland, v. 167, no. 2, 54 p.

Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/75/6/535/3417068/i0016-7606-75-6-535.pdf by guest on 25 September 2021 548 B. E. KOCH—FOSSIL FLORAS AND NONMARINE DEPOSITS OF WEST GREENLAND

Nordenskiold, A. E., 1870, Redogorelse for en expedition till Gronland ar 1870, Kgl. Svensk. Vetensk. Akad. Ofversikt 10, p. 923-1082 0dum, H., and Koch, B. E., 1955, The Mesozoic sediments of Qeqertarssuaq, Umanak district, West Greenland: Medd. om Gronland, v. 135, no. 2, 14 p. Ravn, J. P. J., 1918, De marine Kridtanejringer i Vest Gronland og deres Fauna: Medd. om Gronland, v. 56, no. 9, p. 313-366 Rosenkrantz, A., 1951, Oversigt over Kridt- og Tertiaerformationens stratigrafiske Forhold i Vest- grenland: Proc. 5th Convention Scandinavian Geologists, Denmark 1951: Medd. Dansk Geol. Foren., v. 12, p. 155-158 Rosenkrantz, A., Noe-Nygaard, A., Gry, H., Munck, S., and Laursen, D., 1940, Den danske Nugssuaq- expedition 1939: Medd. Dansk Geol. Foren., v. 9, p. 653-663 1942, A geological reconnaissance of the southern part of the Svartenhuk Peninsula, west Green- land: Medd. om Gronland, v. 135, no. 3, 72 p. Seward, A. C., 1924, Notes sur la flore cretacique du Greenland: Soc. Geol. du Belgique. Seme anni- versaire Livre Jubilaire, t. 1, fasc. 1, p. 228-263 1926, The Cretaceous plant-bearing rocks of western Greenland: Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, Ser. B, v. 215, p. 57-175 Seward, A. C., and Conway, V. M., 1935, Additional Cretaceous plants from western Greenland: Kgl. Svenska Vetsk. Akad. Handl., 3. ser., v. 15, no. 3, 51 p. 1939, Fossil plants from Kingigtoq and Kagdlunguaq, West Greenland: Medd. om Granland, v. 93, no. 5, 41 p. Seward, A. C., and Edwards, W.N. 1941, Fossil plants from East Greenland: Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 11, v. 8, p. 169-176 Steenstrup, K. J. V., 1883a, Om Forekomsten af Forsteninger i de kulforende Dannelser i Nordgronland: Medd. om Gronland, v. 5, no. 1 (Translation to Danish of the paper following just below), p. 43-77 1883b, Uber die Lagerungsverhaltnisse der Kohlen und Versteinerungen fiihrende Bildungen auf der Westkiiste von Gronland zwischen 69°15' n.Br., p. 228-260 in Heer, O., Flora Fossilis Groen- landica, 1883 Troelsen, J., 1956, Lexique stratigraphique international, v. 1, fasc. la: Greenland (Greenland) White, D., and Schuchert, C., 1898, Cretaceous series of the west coast of Greenland: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 9, p. 343-368

Yen. J. T. C.; 1958, A Cretaceous non-marine molluscan fauna of West Greenland: Medd. om Grenland, v. 162, no. 6, 13 p.

MANUSCRIPT RECEIVED BY THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, 1963

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