Gravelbourg Formation

Gravelbourg Formation Stratigraphic range: Bajocian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Sub-units	Upper Gravelbourg Lower Gravelbourg
Underlies	Shaunavon Formation
Overlies	Watrous Formation Madison Group
Thickness	up to 60 metres (200 ft)^[1]
Lithology
Primary	Shale, limestone
Other	Chert, anhydrite, sandstone
Location
Coordinates	49°27′50″N 108°35′34″W / 49.4638°N 108.5927°W / 49.4638; -108.5927 (Gravelbourg Formation)Coordinates: 49°27′50″N 108°35′34″W / 49.4638°N 108.5927°W / 49.4638; -108.5927 (Gravelbourg Formation)
Region	WCSB
Country	Canada
Type section
Named for	Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
Named by	R.L. Milner and G.E. Thomas, 1954

The Gravelbourg Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Bajocian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

It takes the name from the town of Gravelbourg, and was first described in well Tidewater Eastend Crown No. 1 by R.L. Milner and G.E. Thomas in 1954.^[2]

Lithology

The Gravelbourg Formation is divided in two members, Lower and Upper Gravelbourg. The lower member is composed of dolomitic limestone with green shale laminations in the upper part, chalcedonic chert and anhydrite in the lower part and a basal shale bed with fish scales and anhydrite. The upper Gravelbourg consists of dark shale with sandstone and argillaceous limestone stringers and a tan mudstone bed at the top. ^[1]

Distribution

The Gravelbourg Formation reaches a maximum thickness of 60 metres (200 ft) in the Williston Basin. At its type locality in southwestern Saskatchewan, it is 27 metres (90 ft) thick.^[1] It thins out westwards at the eastern flank of the Sweetgrass Arch in southern Alberta and eastwards into southwestern Manitoba.

Relationship to other units

The Gravelbourg Formation is conformably overlain by the Shaunavon Formation. It conformably overlies the Watrous Formation in Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan, and unconformably overlays the Madison Group in south-eastern Alberta.^[1]

The Lower Gravelbourg is equivalent to the Reston Formation in Manitoba and parts of the Nesson Formation in North Dakota and Montana, while the Upper Gravelbourg is equivalent to the lower Melita Formation in southeastern Manitoba and the Tampico Shale of the Piper Formation in North Dakota and Montana.

References

1 2 3 4 Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Gravelbourg Formation". Retrieved 2010-01-31.
↑ Milner, R.L. and Thomas, G E., 1954. Jurassic System in Saskatchewan. In: Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, p. 250-267

Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

Hydrocarbon history	Oil sands and heavy oil Frontier exploration and development Natural gas liquids Natural gas

Depositional regions	Southern Alberta Central Alberta Northwestern Alberta Plains South-central Canadian Rockies foothills North-east Plains North-central foothills Liard River Fort Nelson Northern Rocky Mountains Fort St. John Saskatchewan Western Manitoba

Saskatchewan	Cypress Hills FM Ravenscrag FM Frenchman FM Whitemud FM Eastend FM Bearpaw FM Judith River GRP Belly River FM Oldman FM Foremost FM Lea Park FM Pakowki FM Milk River FM Colorado GRP Viking FM Mannville GRP Pense FM Cantuar FM Success FM Vanguard FM Ellis GRP Swift FM Rierdon FM Sawtooth FM Shaunavon FM Piper FM Gravelbourg FM Gypsum Springs FM Watrous FM Big Snowy GRP Madison GRP Charles FM Poplar Ratcliffe Midale Mission Canyon FM Kisbey SS Alida Tilston Lodgepole FM Souris Valley Three Forks GRP Bakken FM Big Valley FM Torquay FM Saskatchewan GRP Birdbear FM Duperow FM Manitoba GRP Souris River FM Elk Point GRP Davson Bay FM Prairie FM Winnipegosis FM Ashern FM Interlake FM Stonewall FM Stony Mountain FM Herald FM Yeoman FM Winnipeg FM Deadwood FM Canadian Shield

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