About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

CSPG Bulletin

Abstract


Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology
Vol. 12 (1964), No. 4. (December), Pages 922-922

Sedimentary Petrology of the Cardium Formation, West-Central Alberta [Abstract]

R. M. McMullen

Samples of the Cardium Formation from the Pembina area and the Central Foothills belt of Alberta were examined in hand specimen and thin section. They were also analysed for clay mineral and heavy mineral content, and particle size distribution.

The main source of the clastic material was Mesozoic sedimentary rocks lying to the west of the Foothills belt in the vicinity of the present central and western Rocky Mountains. A relatively minor uplift in that area caused the retreat of the sea and produced the coarser clastic material. A secondary source was the metasedimentary and igneous rocks lying to the west of the present Rocky Mountain Trench in the vicinity of the Selkirk Mountains. A much more minor source was volcanism. The Pembina area may have had an additional source, probably to the north in the Peace River area.

Of special interest was the discovery of what is considered to be naturally etched, detrital spessartite garnet.

The Cardium Formation at Pembina was deposited under relatively shallow water, wholly marine conditions, at times subject to wave action. This is shown by the excellent sorting (sorting coefficient of about 1.24) and the very fine grained nature of the deposit.

Subsequent to deposition, there was some circulation of intrastratal solutions which etched the garnet, deposited the silica cement and may have removed some accessory heavy minerals from the Foothills Cardium. Involvement in the Rocky Mountain uplift caused reversal of the original dip.

End_of_Record - Last_Page 922-------

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FOOTNOTES

1959, M.Sc., University of Alberta

Copyright © 2004 by The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists. All Rights Reserved.