Examination of a lower Paleozoic carbonate unit exposed along the northern coast of the Seward Peninsula revealed an undeformed section at Cape Deceit, greater than 160 m (525 ft) thick, that represents part of a prograding carbonate submarine-fan sequence. The top 60 m (200 ft) of the sequence is a massive, disorganized, carbonate conglomerate interpreted to be debris flows deposited in large feeder channels of an inner-fan complex. Stratigraphically below this interval are channelized conglomerates and calcarenites, 40-50 m (131-165 ft) thick. Overall, this section thickens and coarsens upward but is composed of many thinning- and fining-upward cycles, 2-8 m (7-26 ft) thick. This section probably represents channel deposits of the midfan complex. The bottom part of the equence consists of a coarsely crystalline, thinly bedded limestone section overlying a calcareous shale section. The beds within this section are laterally extensive and represent outer-fan, fan-fringe, and basin-plain deposits.

Although no recognizable megafossils were found in the Cape Deceit section, Silurian conodonts have been reported by other workers. Rugose coral fragments of indeterminate age were found in an undeformed section, 19 km (10 mi) to the east, which appears to be correlative with the Cape Deceit section.

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