Cardium Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: | |
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Alberta Group, Colorado Group, Smoky Group |
Sub-units | Sturrock Member, Leyland Member, Cardinal Member, Kiska Member, Moosehound Member, Ram Member. |
Underlies | Wapiabi Formation |
Overlies | Blackstone Formation, Kaskapau Formation |
Thickness | 22 metres (70 ft) to 109 metres (360 ft)[1] |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Shale |
Location | |
Coordinates | 51°08′28″N 114°59′40″W / 51.14101°N 114.99446°W |
Region | Western Alberta, and northeastern British Columbia |
Country | Canada |
Type section | |
Named for | Cardium shells |
Named by | James Hector, 1895[2] |
The Cardium Formation is a stratigraphic unit of Late Cretaceous age in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. It takes the name from the fossilized heart-shaped cockle shells in the family Cardiidae (from Greek καρδίᾱ kardiā, "heart") present. It was first described along the Bow River banks by James Hector in 1895.[2] It is present throughout western Alberta and in northeastern British Columbia, and it is a major source of petroleum and natural gas.[3][4]
AGS
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).