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FTPST01

Lower Tertiary Porcupine Hills (Paskapoo equivalent) Fluvial and Crevasse Splay Deposits

Leaders: Derald Smith & Peter Putnam
Date: May 16, 2008
Max. Attendance: 15 participants
Trip Fee: $375

Fluvial architecture in the Porcupine Hills Fm. (Paskapoo equivalent) of southwestern Alberta is best exposed where Willow Creek cuts through the north end of the Porcupine Hills. These early Tertiary rocks consist of channel-fill and crevasse-splay sandstones and overbank-shallow lacustrine, poorly cemented siltstones. The largest channel-fills average 12 m thick but are limited in width from 100 to 200 m, while adjacent crevasse-splay sheet sandstone beds range to greater than 1000 m in lateral extent but are only 0.50 to 2.0 m thick. Outcrop stratigraphy consists of 30% sandstone and 70% siltstone. On the basis of stratigraphy, architecture and lithologies, we interpret these fluvial facies as being most analogous to modern anastomosing fluvial deposits.  The Porcupine Hills Fm. thickens from east to west (1400m) and is thought to have resulted from infilling a rapidly-subsiding foreland basin, supplied by sediments eroded from the Rocky Mountains near the end of the Larimide Orogeny. Three outcrops, the largest measuring 1000m long by 130m high, will be examined during the trip. Some of the western margins of these sandstone reservoirs are currently being exploited for gas. Deeper hydrocarbon-bearing fluvial successions in the upper Cretaceous Willow Creek, St. Mary and Belly River Formations have similar fluvial architecture to that of the Porcupine Hills. The trip provides a valuable overview of reservoir linkages within these complex fluvial deposits.

Please note: 

1. The field trip will begin and end at the Earth Science Building (ES-443) at the University of Calgary Campus (northwest Calgary) where a one-hour lecture will cover the elements of the anastomosed river deposition model beginning at 8:00 AM, Friday, May 16. The Earth Science building is 10 stories high and is located on the north side of the campus.   Transportation from your motel or home to the University is available by light rail transit (C-Train) or taxi.  Pay lot #22 is available northeast of the building for vehicles. The trip will end at 6:00 PM at the University.
   
   
2. This field trip involves vigorous hiking up some steep (20-30 degree) slopes to 130 m above the creek over 5 km of hilly terrain that will require proper hiking shoes.  Please bring light rain gear in case of wet weather.  Long pants, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker and hat are recommended hiking wear.  We strongly recommend bringing sunglasses, camera and binoculars.
   
   
3. This field trip includes a one hour pre-field trip lecture at the University of Calgary (Earth Science 443), field transportation via 3-6 passenger vans and a box lunch.