Eastend Formation

Eastend Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
Type Geological formation
Underlies Frenchman Formation
Whitemud Formation
Overlies Bearpaw Formation
Thickness up to 30 metres (100 ft)[1]
Lithology
Primary Sandstone
Other Shale
Location
Coordinates 49°30′17″N 108°50′15″W / 49.50461°N 108.83756°W / 49.50461; -108.83756 (Eastend Formation)Coordinates: 49°30′17″N 108°50′15″W / 49.50461°N 108.83756°W / 49.50461; -108.83756 (Eastend Formation)
Region WCSB
Country  Canada
Type section
Named for Eastend, Saskatchewan
Named by L.S. Russell, 1932

The Eastend Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Maastrichtian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

It takes the name from the town of Eastend, and was first described in outcrop around the settlement by L.S. Russell in 1932.[2] The type locality was later defined south-west of the town by W.O. Kupsch in 1956.[3]

Lithology

The Eastend Formation is composed lithic sandstone with volcanic grains, concretionary layers and green-grey shale beds. [1] Coal beds are found in southern Alberta.

Distribution

The Eastend Formation reaches a thickness of 30 metres (100 ft) near the town of Eastend.[1] It is eroded to the north and east, where the Frenchman Formation lies directly over the Bearpaw Formation.

Relationship to other units

The Eastend Formation is conformably overlain by the Whitemud Formation and gradually overlies the Bearpaw Formation.[1] In the Frenchman River valley, the Eastend Formation is erosionally overlain by the Frenchman Formation.

It is equivalent to St. Mary River Formation and Horseshoe Canyon Formation in southern Alberta, as well as the Fox Hills Formation in Montana and North Dakota.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Formation". Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  2. Russell, L.S., 1932. The Cretaceous-Tertiary transition of Alberta. Trans. Royal Society of Canada, Ser 3, v. 26, s. 4, p. 121-156.
  3. Kupsch, W.O., 1956. Frenchman Formation of eastern Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada. Geological Society of America Bull. v. 6a, p. 413-420.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/18/2010. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.