Sedimentology of the Late Cretaceous Judith River Formation, "Cathedral" area, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta

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dc.contributor.advisorThomas, Richard G.
dc.contributor.authorWood, James M.
dc.coverage.spatial200000139en
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-21T21:20:07Z
dc.date.available2005-07-21T21:20:07Z
dc.date.issued1985
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 200-213.en
dc.description.abstractVirtually continuous, three-dimensional exposure of the Late Cretaceous, Judith River Formation in "The Cathedral" area of the Dinosaur Provincial Park badlands provides a rare opportunity to analyse the sedimentological architecture of an ancient coastal plain succession. Four major lithofacies have been recognized in this 60 m thick sequence, namely: 1) an erosionally-based, 2.5-11 m thick, trough cross-bedded sandstone facies (TX); 2) large-scale inclined heterolithic strata (IHS) with original dips of 1-21°. This facies is 3-13 m thick and is comprised of decimetre-scale thick interbeds of either sandstone and mudstone , or intraformational conglomerate and sandstone; 3) a 1-5 m thick sandstone facies (IBS) with large-scale inclined bedding showing original dips of 1-200, and (4) a 0.1-12 m thick, massive shale facies (SH). The study sequence has been divided into six erosionally-based, coarse-to-fine rhythms. Three rhythms have the upward lithofacies sequence TX-IHS-SH, one has TX-IBS-SH, and another has IHS-SH. The sixth rhythm is incompletely preserved . Trough axes indicate unidirectional palaeoflow sub-parallel to the strike of associated IHS or IBS bedding planes. The coarse member of each rhythm (comprised of one or more of TX, IHS or IBS) is interpreted to be a product of iii the lateral migration of a single, fluvially-dominated, meandering channel. TX sequences are regarded as channel bottom and lower point bar deposits, and IHS and IBS sequences are interpreted to be products of contemporaneous point bar lateral accretion. SH sequences are considered to be floodplain deposits laid down during, or after, associated active-channel migration. Palaeochannel reconstructions suggest bankfull depths of 7 m to 25 m and widths of 56 m to over 120 m. An upper delta plain or distal alluvial plain physiographic setting is envisaged for these palaeochannels. Occasional marine influence in the palaeochannels, as suggested by previously reported fossil occurrences, is considered to have resulted from infrequent hydraulic backwater effects rather than daily tidal cycles. Heterolithic point bar sequences (IHS) were deposited under conditions of fluctuating discharge, whereas the sand-dominated point bar sequence (IBS) was laid down in a more steady, generally higher-energy hydrological regime. The spatial and temporal distribution of these different discharge regimes was probably controlled by the combined effects of autocyclic and tectonic mechanisms. Taphonomic modes of occurrence of vertebrate and plant fossils are readily explained in te~ms of the meandering channel models proposed. The first volcanic ash bed reported from Dinosaur Provincial Park strata was discovered during this study.
dc.description.notesThis title is not available online. Access options are: - consulting the copy from Archives in our reading room in person - https://asc.ucalgary.ca/visiting/ - borrowing a circulating copy from the Library catalogue – https://ucalgary.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01UCALG_INST:UCALGARY&lang=en
dc.format.extentxiii, 215 leaves : ill., maps ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationWood, J. M. (1985). Sedimentology of the Late Cretaceous Judith River Formation, "Cathedral" area, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/11958en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/11958
dc.identifier.lccQE 688 W66 1987en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/23518
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.relationAdditional Copy: QE 688 W66 1985en
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccQE 688 W66 1987en
dc.subject.lcshGeology, Stratigraphic - Cretaceous
dc.subject.lcshGeology - Alberta - Dinosaur Provincial Park
dc.subject.lcshGeology - Alberta - Judith River Formation
dc.titleSedimentology of the Late Cretaceous Judith River Formation, "Cathedral" area, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineGeology and Geophysics
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 566 215772169
ucalgary.thesis.additionalcopyQE 688 W66 1985en
ucalgary.thesis.notesoffsiteen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleasenoen
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