Type Locality:

West Flank of Mount Ishbel, Sawback Range, Banff National Park, Alberta, (Secs. 4, 5, McGugan and Rapson, 1961; Sec. 70, McGugan et al., 1964) (51 deg 16'N, 115 deg 47'W).

Distribution:

8.5 m (28 ft) at the type section, increasing to over 30 m (98 ft) in westerly sections (e.g.. Connor Lakes, Sec. 28, McGugan et al., 1964). Very widespread unit in front ranges of Rocky Mountains from northwestern U.S.A. (Rex Chert, Idaho, Montana) to Yukon (Fantasque Formation). Absent in easternmost front ranges and foothills subsurfaces except possibly present at the top of some Belloy Formation sections, Peace River subsurface (Naqvi, 1972).

Lithology:

Diagenetic complex of chert, sandstone and siltstone, with associated dolostones, gypsum, phosphate pellets and ooliths, floating sand grains in blue grey cherts with sponge spicules, disseminated organic material, fracturing with mosaic breccias and zebra cherts, and thin basal phosphatic chert conglomerate. (Rapson-McGugan, 1970)

Relationship:

Disconformably overlies the Ross Creek Formation in the Telford Creek area, southeastern British Columbia. Unconformably overlies the Johnston Canyon Formation in many sections north of Telford Creek area; unconformably overlies carbonates homotaxial with type Ross Creek Formation at Panther River headwaters, Mount McConnell, Mount Malloch and Graham River (Secs. 77, 82, 86, 149-150, McGugan et al., 1964). Overlies various rocks of Carboniferous age north of Mount Malloch, Clearwater River Sec. 86, McGugan et al., 1964) in Jasper area (where it is equivalent to the middle member of the Greenock Formation - obsolete) and north to Sulphur River (Sec. 21, McGugan et al., 1964). Overlies the Permian Belcourt Formation in the Wapiti Lake area, British Columbia (Secs. 136-142, McGugan et al., 1964). Overlies Permian Mount Greene Beds of Pine Pass, Carbon Creek, Mount Greene and Chowade River, northeastern British Columbia (Secs. 145, 145A, 150A, 151A, McGugan, 1967). Paraconformably overlain in all sections by the basal Triassic Spray River Group, except where the Permian Mowitch Formation is developed, in the Jasper area north to Winnifred Pass and Llama Mountain (Secs. 125, 131, 132, McGugan, et al., 1964). At these sections conformably to gradationally overlain by the Mowitch Formation. Equivalent to the Rex Chert of Idaho and Montana, and the upper Kindle of northeastern British Columbia and Yukon.

History:

McGugan and Rapson (1961b) proposed the name Ishbel Formation for the upper part of the Norquay Formation in the Banff area and divided the formation into lower and upper Ishbel. The upper Ishbel was subsequently named Ranger Canyon Formation when the Ishbel was raised to group status.

Other Citations:

Henderson, 1989; Henderson et al., in press; Henderson and McGugan, 1986; MacRae and McGugan, 1977; McGugan et al., 1964; McGugan 1965, 1984; McGugan and Rapson, 1961b, 1963a, 1963b; Naqvi, 1972; Rapson-McGugan, 1970.

References:

McGugan, A, and Rapson, J.E., 1963b. Permo-Carboniferous stratigraphy between Banff and Jasper, Alberta; Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol., vol. 11, pp. 150-160.