High-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework for the late Albian Viking Formation in central Alberta

Schultz, Sarah K.; MacEachern, James A.; Catuneanu, Octavian; Dashtgard, Shahin E.; Díaz, Nakarí

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105627

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The Viking Formation is internally complex and, not surprisingly, interpretations of depositional environments have run the gamut of marine and paralic settings, from beach deposits (Stelck 1958) to deep-sea turbidites (Beach 1955). The prevailing view of Viking deposition is that it records a complex of stacked and laterally juxtaposed shoreface, deltaic, and estuarine incised-valley deposits, internally separated by stratigraphic discontinuities (Pattison 1991; Leckie and Reinson 1993; Posamentier and Chamberlain 1993; MacEachern and Pemberton 1994; Pattison and Walker 1994; Walker and Wiseman 1995; MacEachern et al 1998, 1999a, 1999b; Dafoe et al 2010; Borchert 2018; Schultz et al 2022). Current interpretations place the marine and marginal marine mudstone facies of the Viking Formation in environments ranging from near, but below fairweather wave base, to positions well below storm wave base, in water depths ranging from 10–50 meters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Benthic Foraminiferal Morphogroups and Trace Fossils From Albian Shallow-Marine Mudstone Facies of the Viking Formation, Western Interior Seaway, Canada

McNeil

MacEachern

2023

Palaios

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This study assesses the foraminiferal morphogroup concept as a quantitative tool for interpreting environments of deposition in the geological record. This was achieved by first establishing a solid paleoenvironmental framework based on assessment of trace fossils (Zoophycos, Cruziana, and Phycosiphon ichnofacies, and the unnamed brackish-water association), sedimentology, and facies analysis of shallow-marine siliciclastic units of the upper Albian Viking Formation of the Western Interior Seaway, Canada. Foraminiferal morphogroups were integrated into a framework of six well-defined marine mudstone-dominated facies—estuarine, embayment, prodelta, upper offshore, lower offshore, and marine shelf. Seven morphogroups were recognized, quantified, and labeled using alphanumeric codes—A (tubular), B1 (globular), B2 (coiled, flat), B3 (lenticular), C1 (elongate), C2 (quinqueloculine), and D (trochospiral). Tubular forms (A, Bathysiphon) occur rarely in these shallow-marine facies. Globular forms (B1, Lagenammina) are common in estuarine (33%) and embayment (23%) facies, but also occur elsewhere in low numbers (7–14%). Coiled planar forms (B2, Ammodiscus) occur only rarely (1–8%), but have a minor presence in embayment facies (8%). Lenticular forms (B3, Haplophragmoides) are dominant in estuarine facies (43%) and occur commonly in other environments (9–29%) as well. Elongate forms (C1, Ammobaculites, Reophax, Verneuilinoides) dominate all shallow-marine facies (43–80%), except estuarine (10%). Quinqueloculine forms (C2, Miliammina) have a minor presence in prodelta and marine facies (5%) but are generally rare. Trochoid forms (D, Trochammina) occur rarely, but are relatively common in the prodeltaic facies (15%). Albian foraminiferal morphogroups of the Viking Formation are comparable to those of modern-day offshore environments from water depths of 13 to 160 meters. Foraminiferal morphogroups are objective entities independent of taxonomic determinations. Analysis of their form and function is applicable not only in the shallow-marine facies of the Albian Western Interior Seaway, but in similar facies throughout the geologic record.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Viking Formation has a complex stratigraphy, dominated by shallow-marine sandstone and mudstone deposits separated by numerous unconformities and discontinuities. For a more detailed analysis of Viking stratigraphy, see Schultz et al (2022). Sections are redrawn from MacEachern et al (1999a) and Stelck et al (2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%