Crowsnest Formation

Crowsnest Formation
Stratigraphic range: Mid to Upper Albian
The west end of the type section of the Crowsnest Formation, on the Crowsnest Highway west of Coleman, Alberta.
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofBlairmore Group[1]
UnderliesBlackstone Formation
OverliesMa Butte Formation
ThicknessUp to 488 metres (1,600 ft)[2]
Lithology
PrimaryVolcanic rocks, pyroclastic breccia
OtherSandstone
Location
Coordinates49°38′51″N 114°31′48″W / 49.64750°N 114.53000°W / 49.64750; -114.53000 (Crowsnest Formation)
Region Alberta
Country Canada
ExtentWestern Canadian Sedimentary Basin
Type section
Named forCrowsnest Pass
Named byG.M. Dawson[3]
Crowsnest Formation is located in Canada
Crowsnest Formation
Crowsnest Formation (Canada)

The Crowsnest Formation, also called the Crowsnest Volcanics, is a geological formation in southwestern Alberta, Canada, on the southwestern margin of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin.[4] It was named for the Crowsnest Pass near Coleman, Alberta. The formation consists mostly of pyroclastic rocks that were laid down in a series of explosive eruptions about 100 million years ago during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous epoch. It contains unusual minerals such as melanite (a variety of andradite garnet) and analcime (a variety of zeolite).[2]

  1. ^ Glass, D.J. (editor) 1997. Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, vol. 4, Western Canada including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Calgary, 1423 p. on CD-ROM. ISBN 0-920230-23-7.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Leckie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Dawson, G.M. 1886a. Preliminary report on the physical and geological features of that portion of the Rocky Mountains, between latitudes 49 and 51 30'. Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada, Annual Report, v. 1, p. 1B-169B.
  4. ^ Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I. (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Alberta Geological Survey (1994). "The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 19: Cretaceous Mannville Group of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin". Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)