- Nahanni Formation
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Nahanni Formation
Stratigraphic range: GivetianType Geological formation Underlies Fort Simpson Formation
Horn River FormationOverlies Headless Formation Thickness up to 137 metres (450 ft)[1] Lithology Primary Limestone Location Named for Nahanni Butte Named by C.O. Hage, 1945 Coordinates 61°03′0″N 123°37′0″W / 61.05°N 123.616667°WCoordinates: 61°03′0″N 123°37′0″W / 61.05°N 123.616667°W Region WCSB Country Canada
The Nahanni Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Givetian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.
It takes the name from Nahanni Butte, a proeminent ridge at the confluence of the South Nahanni River and Liard River, and was first described in outcrop on the south face of the mountain by C.O. Hage in 1945.[2]
Contents
Lithology
The Nahanni Formation is composed of dolomitic limestone. [1]
Hydrocarbon production
gas is produced from the Nahanni Formation in the Mackenzie River Valley.
Paleontology
The Nahanni Formation contains paleofauna compose of corals, brachiopods and trilobites.
Distribution
The Nahanni Formation reaches a maximum thickness of 137 metres (450 ft) at Nahanni Butte, and has typical thickness of 60 metres (200 ft). It occurs from the Franklin Mountains in the north to north-eastern British Columbia in the south.[1]
Relationship to other units
The Nahanni Formation is conformably overlain by the Fort Simpson Formation in the west and by the Horn River Formation in the east. It overlays the Headless Formation diachronically and transitionally, with younger deposits occurring in the west.[1]
It is equivalent to the upper part of the Hume Formation in the Mackenzie River area, as well as the Lonely Bay Formation, Pine Point Formation and Little Buffalo Formation in the Great Slave Lake area. In northern Alberta it corresponds to the Keg River Formation.
References
- ^ a b c d Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Formation". http://cgkn1.cgkn.net/weblex/weblex_litho_detail_e.pl?00053:010486. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ Hage, C.O., 1945. Geological reconnaissance along the lower Liard River, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Geol. Surv. Can., Paper 45-22.
Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin Hydrocarbon history Depositional Regions Southern Alberta · Central Alberta · Northwestern Alberta Plains · South-central Canadian Rockies foothills · North-east Plains · North-central foothills · Liard River · Fort Nelson · Northern Rocky Mountains · Fort St. John · Saskatchewan · Western ManitobaLiard River Area Wapiti GRP (Kotaneelee FM · Dunvegan FM) · Ft. St. John GRP (Sully FM · SikanniFM · Lepine FM · Buckinghorse FM · Scatter FM · Garbutt FM) · Liard FM · Toad FM · Grayling FM · Ishbel GRP (Fantasque FM · Kindle FM) · Mattson FM · Golata FM · Debolt FM · Prophet FM · Besa River FM · Dunedin FM · Stone FM · Wokpash FM · Muncho-McConnell FM · Nonda FM · Kechica FM · Atan FM · Canadian ShieldCategories:- Stratigraphy of British Columbia
- Stratigraphy of the Northwest Territories
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