The Petrography and Depositional Environment of the Cardium Formation in the Rocky Mountain House Area of Central Alberta

Abstract

The Cardium Sandstone in the Rocky Mountain House area of the Garrington and Ferrier fields of Alberta is part of a progradational sequence consisting of marine shale at the base through sandstone to conglomerate, followed by an overlying marine shale. The Upper Cretaceous sandstone was deposited as an offshore shoal complex near the seaward migrating edge of the Turonian seaway.

Structure is not significant in terms of the deposition of the sandstone. A structure contour map, an isopach map, structural cross-sections, core description, thin sections and X-ray analyses were used to determine the petrography and environment.

Keywords: Pages: 60 Supervisor: H. B. S. Cooke