Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.2,
No.1, pp. 11-21, 1979
©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press,
Ltd.
THE PROVENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
OF THE PALAEOCENE SANDS OF THE CENTRAL NORTH SEA
Andrew C. Morton*
*Institute of Geological Sciences,
Ring Road, Halton, Leeds LS15 8TQ.
Abstract
A study of the detrital heavy minerals from
Palaeocene sandstones of the central North Sea basins has
revealed that variations exist which cannot be explained in terms
of varying conditions either during or after deposition, and
therefore reflect the influence of distinct source areas. Four
sand bodies have been defined on a mineralogical basis, two of
which occur in the Central Graben and southern Viking Graben,
derived from the E. Shetland Platform, the other two being
developed in the Moray Firth area, derived from the Scottish
landmass. These sand bodies, when related to the existing
lithostratigraphic framework, define four phases of basin
subsidence, with the sand depocentre alternating between the
Central Graben and the Moray Firth basin. This oscillation in
basin subsidence, the association with volcanogenic sediments and
the apparent basement control on distribution of sands in the
Moray Firth indicate a degree of tectonic control hitherto
undescribed for the Palaeocene of the area.
