Geological setting

The Central region described here is located west of the Sable Subbasin, above the heavily faulted nose of the LaHave Platform, extending onto the central Scotian Slope (Figure 1.1, 2.1, 3.1).  This area is dominated by two main geologic features - extensional, locally salt-bearing rift basins that formed as Nova Scotia rifted and ultimately broke apart from Morocco, and a widespread Middle to Upper Jurassic carbonate platform that aggraded above these rift basins after continental break-up.  Recent efforts have focused on more careful mapping of the top of the crystalline basement and the distribution and character of synrift strata.  This work provides a clearer view of basement architecture as well as the structural development of rift basins.  Several important structural and stratigraphic elements characterize this region, and are described in more detail below to provide geological context for NS15-1 Call for Bids Parcels 5, 6, and 7.