Deformation of soft sediments and evaporites in a tectonically active basin: Bay St. George sub-basin, Newfoundland, Canada

The Bay St. George sub-basin of SW Newfoundland, part the larger late Paleozoic Maritimes basin, formed under influence strike-slip faulting and movement evaporites. New stratigraphic correlations between Newfoundland other sub-basins illustrate effects both basement salt movement. Coastal outcrops show complex combinations synsedimentary, salt-related, tectonic structures. Map relationships dramatic thickness contrasts in Tournaisian Anguille Group indicate that a large, concealed, NE–striking normal growth fault (Ship Cove fault) controlled sedimentation; exposed Snakes Bight originated as hanging-wall splay. Structures during, or soon after deposition include soft-sediment folds, boudins, clastic dykes, millimetre-scale diapiric bulb structures, by overpressuring liquidization sediment. These suggest was tectonically active throughout deposition. Evaporite-related deformation is recorded Visean Codroy overlying strata. Comparisons outcrop subsurface suggests significant amounts evaporite were removed from sections halokinesis solution. Complex welds, units upper Barachois groups represent fills minibasins subsided into thick Field inversion related to E-W dextral strike slip motion affected entire basin Serpukhovian, producing reverse-sense offsets contractional folds. Many structures sub-basin, previously interpreted post-depositional purely tectonic, unlithified sediment ductile evaporites during development.