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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

CSPG Bulletin

Abstract


Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology
Vol. 38 (1990), No. 1. (March), Pages 181-181

C.S.P.G. 1990 Convention, "Basin Perspectives"

Cambrian Strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin [Abstract]

Slind, O.L.1, Tawadros, E.2, Andrews, G.D.3, Salas, C.J.3, Murray, D.L.4, Norford, B.S.5, Paterson, D.F.6

ABSTRACT

The Cambrian succession is subdivided, correlated, and mapped in the subsurface from the Foothills of Alberta east through the Plains to its edge in Manitoba. An attempt is also made to correlate stratigraphic sections exposed in the Front and Main ranges with the subsurface.

The Cambrian and Lower Ordovician carbonate succession exposed in the Front and Main ranges forms a carbonate facies belt of cyclic peritidal dolomite and limestone. The succession extends eastward into the Foothills of Alberta and to some distance in the subsurface of the Plains before gradually changing facies, within Alberta, to shallow basin clastics. To the west, within the Main Ranges, the carbonate facies belt, with the exception of the Mural-Badshot and Ottertail Formations, abruptly changes along an ocean-facing submarine escarpment to dark, deep-water, fine-grained basinal clastics and carbonates.

In the subsurface of the Plains, the Cambrian rests unconformably on the Precambrian. It covers most of southern Alberta, as far north as Township 75, and southern Saskatchewan as far north as Township 65. North of these areas, the Sub-Devonian unconformity rests on the Precambrian. It is only present in Manitoba over a small area in the extreme southwest. A remnant of Cambrian strata is preserved in the Fort Nelson area of British Columbia.

In eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan, the Cambrian and Lower Ordovician are represented by the Middle Cambrian Basal Sandstone unit, clastics of the Earlie Formation, and Upper Cambrian - Lower Ordovician clastics of the Deadwood Formation. The Cambrian section is overlain unconformably by Upper Ordovician carbonates in the east-central part of southern Alberta and western Saskatchewan. In eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, only the Deadwood persists and is overlain by the clastic Winnipeg Formation (Middle Ordovician). Where the Ordovician is eroded, the Cambrian is overlain by either Middle or Upper Devonian sediments.

In the western subsurface of the Plains and Foothills of Alberta, and in the Front and eastern Main ranges, the succession is composed of the Middle Cambrian Basal Sandstone unit (except for the Windsor Mountain, not observed in the Foothills, or mountains), Mount Whyte clastics, Cathedral carbonates, Stephen clastics, Eldon carbonates, Pika carbonates and clastics, and Arctomys clastics, and is overlain by the Upper Cambrian Waterfowl carbonates, Sullivan clastics, Upper Lynx carbonates and Lower Ordovician Survey Peak and Outram carbonates.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FOOTNOTES

1 Consultant, Cochrane T0L 0W0

2 Shawa Geoconsultants Ltd., Calgary T3A 2G6

3 Shell Canada Limited, Calgary T2P 2H5

4 Petro-Canada, Calgary T2P 3E3

5 Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary T2L 2A7

6 Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Regina S4N 4G3

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