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Early Aptian black laminated organic mudstones, including the Selli Level, are recognized over large areas of Tethys and western European basins. This interval was investigated in a 75 m-thick continuously cored section of varicoloured shale in the lower Naskapi Member from the Panuke B-90 well in the Scotian Basin, offshore eastern Canada. This study complements the palaeogeographic range of correlatable Selli black shales and provides information on their relationship to sea-level change and palaeoclimate. Total organic carbon (TOC) was measured on 127 discrete samples, chemical environmental proxies (Th/K, Mn/Ti, K/Ti, Th/Ti, V/Ti) were measured with a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer, and colour parameters L*a*b* were measured by spectrophotometer. Several black shale levels are recognized and correlated with similar shales in Europe between the Barremian Aptian boundary and the Selli Level. The Th/K ratio proxy for hinterland humid or arid climate conditions shows no systematic variation with black shale levels. Several sea-level lowstands are inferred from condensed sandy intervals with some brackish water biota and tidal sedimentary structures. Black shale intervals are found in highstand intervals, with no systematic relationship to inferred transgressions. The formation of black shales is related to palaeoceanographic changes that may be driven by conditions remote from the Scotian Basin. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.