ABSTRACT

Microfossils consisting of foraminifers, calcispheres, and ostracodes have been found in cores from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) Leduc Formation of the Woodbend Group in the Redwater and South Sturgeon Lake reefs, Alberta, Canada. The Foraminifera have been studied in detail.

From 32 Redwater and South Sturgeon Lake thin-sections a microfauna of 307 randomly oriented Upper Devonian Foraminifera have been studied and described. Tikhinellid foraminifers dominate the assemblage. Distribution patterns of the most important foraminiferal elements, i.e., tikhinellids and parathuramminids, show an interesting relationship to biota and lithology in the Redwater reef. The tikhinellids are restricted to the margin of the reef, where grainstone is the characteristic textural type. Conversely, the parathuramminids are distributed centerward two miles or more from the margin, in association with calcispheres, where pelletoidal wackestone is the characteristic textural type. Rare occurrences of other foraminiferal types are noted, and the specimens are described and illustrated. Foraminifera are rare from the South Sturgeon Lake cores. Hence, no distribution pattern could be determined.

A brief discussion of other known Devonian foraminiferal horizons in North America is given. Future stratigraphic and ecologic potentiality of Devonian Foraminifera is briefly reviewed.