Jeanne d'Arc Basin, Sedimentary basin off Newfoundland, Canada
The Jeanne d'Arc Basin is a sedimentary basin on the continental shelf east of Newfoundland, containing marine sediments and rock formations stacked in layers. The structure holds major petroleum deposits within its geological framework.
The basin formed during the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea through geological processes spanning the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous periods. This extended timeframe shaped the development of the North Atlantic Ocean.
The name originates from a former nautical chart marking showing 'Ste Jeanne d'Arc' shoal, representing local underwater rock formations in the Grand Banks region.
The basin is accessible by ship and research vessels departing from St. John's, requiring several hours to reach. Visitors should expect rough ocean conditions and limited observational opportunities from the water surface.
Salt deposits from the Argo Formation created structural traps that enclosed large quantities of hydrocarbons in the sedimentary layers. These geological structures enabled the formation of the major oil fields exploited today.
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