Unit Name: Muskeg Formation
Unit Type: Lithostratigraphic
Rank: Formation
Status: Formal
Usage: Currently in use
Age Interval: Givetian (391.8 - 385.3 ma)
Province/Territory: Alberta; Northwest Territories
Originator: Law, J., 1955; re-defined or subdivided into members by Belyea, H.R. and Norris, A.W., 1962; Hriskevich, M.E., 1966; McCamis and Griffith, 1969; Klingspor, A., 1969.
Type Locality:
California Standard Steen River 2-22-117-5W6M, in Alberta, between 1,377 and 1,589 m (4,513-5,210 ft); cored.
Distribution:
212 m (640 ft) in type well, maximum thickness about 270 m (825 ft). Occurs throughout the northern half of the Elk Point Basin in western Canada.
Lithology:
A sequence of interbedded and interfingering evaporite and carbonate rocks including salt, anhydrite, dolomite and limestone.
Relationship:
The Muskeg Formation overlies the Keg River Formation with gradational contact, as originally defined (and still accepted by many geologists). It is disconformably overlain by the Watt Mountain Formation. Equivalent to the Prairie Evaporite Formation to the south and to the Middle Devonian barrier complex to the north (all or parts of the Pine Point, Presqu'ile and Sulphur Point formations). In the northern part of the Elk Point Basin the upper part of the Muskeg Formation is entirely dolomite or limestone (Bistcho Member of McCamis and Griffith, 1967); this was placed in the Sulphur Point Formation by Belyea and Norris (1962). Belyea (1971) indicated an erosional unconformity at the base of the Sulphur Point Formation.
Other Citations:
Bebout and Maiklem, 1973; Belyea, 1971; Belyea and Norris, 1962; Hriskevich, 1966; Klingspor, 1969; Law, 1955a; McCamis and Griffith, 1967.
Source: CSPG Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, Volume 4, western Canada, including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba; D.J. Glass (editor)
Contributor: G.K. Williams; D.W. Morrow
Entry Reviewed: Yes
Name Set: Lithostratigraphic Lexicon
LastChange: 12 Oct 2004