THERMAL MATURATION OF THE LOWER PALEOZOIC STRATA OF NORTHERN GREENLAND FROM CONODONT COLOR ALTERATION INDEX (CAI) DATA - IMPLICATIONS FOR BURIAL HISTORY AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION

Conodont colour alteration data for the Lower Palaeozoic strata of the North Greenland carbonate platform indicate a pattern of increased th ermal maturity northwards within the Franklinian Basin. There is littl e variation in values through the Canadian-Llandovery (Lower Ordovicia n-Lower Silurian) interval at any given locality. A simplified thermal model for the platform suggests that the predominant control of conod ont colour alteration and thermal maturation was maximum depth of buri al, which occurred during the mid- to late Silurian. A preliminary int egrated scheme for conodont and organic thermal maturity indicators ca n be compiled from the data now available from North Greenland.