ABSTRACT

There are significant variations in the mineralogical components of Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group formations. Source rock is the dominant factor controlling the mineralogical distribution of Mannville Group sediments. The Lower Mannville sediments were derived either 1) from igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Canadian Shield followed by an influx of sediments from a western source, or 2) from sediments covering the Canadian Shield followed by material derived from the Shield itself when the younger sediment cover was removed.

Plagioclase, biotite and montmorillonite first appeared and chlorite content increased in the sediments deposited toward the end of Lower Mannville time. Upper Mannville sediments have larger amounts of volcanic rock fragments, plagioclase, potash feldspar, chlorite and montmorillonite throughout Upper Mannville time, which indicates a different source material.

Source rock, basin configuration, sea-level movements, depositional environments, diagenesis, and penecontemporaneous and post-burial leaching all affected the mineralogy of the Mannville sediments.

Special emphasis in this study has been placed on the identification and abundance of the clay minerals, as these are important not only in a geological context but also with regard to the effective recovery of bitumen from the oil sands.