Sequence stratigraphy of Miocene sequences Kw2a and m5.4, New Jersey: onshore to offshore correlations

I evaluated the upper lower Miocene Kw2a sequence in onshore New Jersey coastal plain coreholes and nearshore wells and its relationship to composite sequence m5.4 on the New Jersey continental shelf. I used Ocean Drilling Program Leg 174AX Cape May Zoo (CMZ) and Ocean View (OV) corehole and well log data to construct the anatomy of composite Kw2a sequence by integrating lithologic changes, grain size data, gamma ray logs, and benthic foraminiferal biofacies and paleodepths in a sequence stratigraphic framework. I identified 3 higher order sequences (Kw2a1, Kw2a2, and Kw2a3) and stratal boundaries (transgressive surfaces [TS] and maximum flooding surfaces [MFS]) within the composite Kw2a sequence. A thin, deepening upward LST is tentatively identified only at the base of the Kw2a1 higher order sequence at both sites. Mud dominant, deepening and fining upward TST's are found in all 3 higher order sequences. MFS are associated with mud and Uvigerinaspp. peaks and are overlain by, sandy coarsening and shallowing upward HST's. To test the physical correlation between onshore-nearshore and middle shelf systems, I identified Kw2a and higher order sequences in other ODP Leg 150A, 174AX, and U.S.G.S onshore and nearshore wells using gamma ray logs. I correlated gamma ray logs of the composite Kw2a sequence to onshore [Atlantic City (AC)] and nearshore wells (ACOW-1, 2, AMCOR-6011) and traced the Kw2a sequence on seismic profiles crossing these sites. I projected other onshore cores and logs to nearby seismic profiles. I traced the composite Kw2a sequence on seismic profiles directly to IODP Expedition 313 coreholes where I demonstrate that the composite Kw2a sequence is physically equivalent to composite m5.4 sequence.