Fort Simpson Formation
Encyclopedia
The Fort Simpson Formation is a stratigraphical
unit of Devonian
age
in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
.
It takes the name from the settlement of Fort Simpson
, and was first described in well Briggs Turkey Lake No. 1 (located south-east of Fort Simpson) by A.E. Cameron in 1918.
and mudstone
.
The shale can be calcareous, silty or sandy.
plain. It extends from northern Alberta
to south-western northwest Territories
and in north-eastern British Columbia (north of Peace River Arch).
in its eastern reaches, and progressively by the Kakisa Formation
, Trout River Formation
or Tetcho Formation
towards the west. It is conformably underlain by the Muskwa Member of the Horn River Formation
.
It is replaced by the Besa River Formation
in the Liard River
area. It is equivalent to the Imperial Formation to the north, the Tathlina Formation, Twin Falls Formation and Hay River Formation to the east, and the Woodbend Group
in Alberta
.
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
unit of Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
age
Geochronology
Geochronology is the science of determining the age of rocks, fossils, and sediments, within a certain degree of uncertainty inherent to the method used. A variety of dating methods are used by geologists to achieve this, and schemes of classification and terminology have been proposed...
in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin is a vast sedimentary basin underlying of Western Canada including southwestern Manitoba, southern Saskatchewan, Alberta, northeastern British Columbia and the southwest corner of the Northwest Territories. It consists of a massive wedge of sedimentary rock...
.
It takes the name from the settlement of Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories
Fort Simpson is a village in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers...
, and was first described in well Briggs Turkey Lake No. 1 (located south-east of Fort Simpson) by A.E. Cameron in 1918.
Lithology
The Fort Simpson Formation is composed of grey shaleShale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
and mudstone
Mudstone
Mudstone is a fine grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Grain size is up to 0.0625 mm with individual grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope. With increased pressure over time the platey clay minerals may become aligned, with the...
.
The shale can be calcareous, silty or sandy.
Distribution
The Fort Simpson Formation reaches a thickness of over 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft) in the sub-surface of the Mackenzie RiverMackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
plain. It extends from northern Alberta
Northern Alberta
Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...
to south-western northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
and in north-eastern British Columbia (north of Peace River Arch).
Relationship to other units
The Fort Simpson Formation is overlain by the Jean Marie Member of the Redknife FormationRedknife Formation
The Redknife Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Devonian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from Redknife River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River, and was first described in the banks of the Trout River, north of Trout Lake, Northwest Territories, at Table Rock...
in its eastern reaches, and progressively by the Kakisa Formation
Kakisa Formation
The Kakisa Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Frasnian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from the Kakisa River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River, and was first described in outcrop on the banks of the Trout River by H.R. Belyea and D.J...
, Trout River Formation
Trout River Formation
The Trout River Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Late Devonian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from the Trout River, and was first described on the banks of the river, upstream from the Mackenzie River, by C.H...
or Tetcho Formation
Tetcho Formation
The Tetcho Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Famennian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from Tetcho Lake, and was first described in the Imperial Island River No. 1 well The Tetcho Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Famennian age in the Western Canadian...
towards the west. It is conformably underlain by the Muskwa Member of the Horn River Formation
Horn River Formation
The Horn River Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Devonian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from the Horn River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River, and was first described in outrop on the banks of Horn River in the Northwest Territories by Whittaker in 1922...
.
It is replaced by the Besa River Formation
Besa River Formation
The Besa River Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Devonian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from Besa River, a tributary of the Prophet River, and was first described in outcrop near the Muskwa River, in the Muskwa Ranges by F.A. Kidd in 1963.-Lithology:The Besa...
in the Liard River
Liard River
The Liard River flows through Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Saint Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains in southeastern Yukon, it flows southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back...
area. It is equivalent to the Imperial Formation to the north, the Tathlina Formation, Twin Falls Formation and Hay River Formation to the east, and the Woodbend Group
Woodbend Group
The Woodbend Group is a stratigraphical unit of Frasnian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It was first described in the British American Pyrcz No...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.