New insights from regional-scale mapping and modelling of the Paleozoic succession in northeast Alberta: Paleogeography, evaporite dissolution, and controls on Cretaceous depositional patterns on the sub-Cretaceous unconformity

Hauck, Tyler E.; Peterson, J.T.; Hathway, B.; Grobe, Matthias; MacCormack, K. E.

doi:10.2113/gscpgbull.65.1.87

Cited by 29 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Schematic maps showing the position of the study area in relation to the Main Fairway and subaerial Devonian carbonates (modified from Hauck et al ., ) for each parasequence. (A) Schematic map showing the distribution of channels and sub‐environments in typical progradational fluvial/tidal system applied to the McMurray Sub‐Basin at one point during deposition of Parasequence Blue.…”

Section: Parasequence Interpretations and Evolution Of Depositional Pmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Stratigraphic chart of the Lower Cretaceous in north‐east Alberta (modified; Hein et al ., ; Hauck et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…A; Broughton, ; Hauck et al ., ). The GPV occurs west of the salt dissolution scarp and is not significantly impacted by salt dissolution (Hauck et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…It unconformably overlies Middle to Upper Devonian carbonates of the Beaverhill Lake, Woodbend, Winterburn and Wabamun Groups (Fig. ; Oldale & Munday, ; Switzer et al ., ; Hauck et al ., ). Underlying Devonian strata dips towards the south‐west, and the contact between these strata and the McMurray is an angular unconformity known as the Sub‐Cretaceous Unconformity (SCU; Figs and A; Carrigy, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution of an ancient (Lower Cretaceous) marginal‐marine system from tide‐dominated to wave‐dominated deposition, McMurray Formation

Weleschuk

Dashtgard

2019

Sedimentology

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Regionally extensive parasequences in the upper McMurray Formation, Grouse Paleovalley, north‐east Alberta, Canada, preserve a shift in depositional processes in a paralic environment from tide domination, with notable fluvial influence, through to wave domination. Three stacked parasequences form the upper McMurray Formation and are separated by allogenic flooding surfaces. Sediments within the three parasequences are grouped into three facies associations: wave‐dominated/storm‐dominated deltas, storm‐affected shorefaces to sheltered bay‐margin and fluvio‐tidal brackish‐water channels. The two oldest parasequences comprise dominantly tide‐dominated, wave‐influenced/fluvial‐influenced, shoreface to bay‐margin deposits bisected by penecontemporaneous brackish‐water channels. Brackish‐water channels trend approximately north‐west/south‐east, which is perpendicular to the interpreted shoreline trend; this implies that the basinward and progradational direction was towards the north‐west during deposition of the upper McMurray Formation in Grouse Paleovalley. The youngest parasequence is interpreted as amalgamated wave‐dominated/storm‐dominated delta lobes. The transition from tide‐dominated deposition in the oldest two parasequences to wave‐dominated deposition in the youngest is attributed mainly to drowning of carbonate highlands to the north and north‐west of the study area, and potentially to relative changes in accommodation space and deposition rate. The sedimentological, ichnological and regional distribution of the three facies associations within each parasequence are compared to modern and Holocene analogues that have experienced similar shifts in process dominance. Through this comparison it is possible to consider how shifts in depositional processes are expressed in the rock record. In particular, this study provides one of few ancient examples of preservation of depositional process shifts and showcases how topography impacts the character and architecture of marginal‐marine systems.

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Section: Parasequence Interpretations and Evolution Of Depositional Pmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Stratigraphic chart of the Lower Cretaceous in north‐east Alberta (modified; Hein et al ., ; Hauck et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…A; Broughton, ; Hauck et al ., ). The GPV occurs west of the salt dissolution scarp and is not significantly impacted by salt dissolution (Hauck et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evolution of an ancient (Lower Cretaceous) marginal‐marine system from tide‐dominated to wave‐dominated deposition, McMurray Formation

Weleschuk

Dashtgard

2019

Sedimentology

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“…Modified from Hauck et al . (). (B) East of the dissolution scarp, anhydrite and gypsum remain up to a point where only insoluble residues are present within the Prairie Evaporite.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteoric diagenesis and dedolomite fabrics in precursor primary dolomicrite in a mixed carbonate–evaporite system

et al. 2018

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Dedolomitization is a common diagenetic process in shallow burial environments and is often associated with sulphates in mixed carbonate‐evaporite successions. In these settings, elevated Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios necessary for dedolomitization result from the dissolution of sulphate phases by the incursion of undersaturated groundwater. Reported dedolomite textures from other studies are varied, but the most prevalent is a rhombic texture interpreted to result from the partial to complete pseudomorphic replacement of secondary dolomite rhombs formed in the burial diagenetic realm. In this study of primary cryptocrystalline to finely crystalline dolomicrites in the Prairie Evaporite Formation of north‐eastern Alberta, dedolomitization has resulted in sutured to loosely packed mosaics of dedolomite that range from subhedral to distinctly euhedral (rhombic) crystal fabrics; however, no prior aggrading neomorphism producing dolomite rhombs is evident in the precursor dolomicrites. Non‐pseudomorphic dedolomitization of the dolomicrites results in textures that include rhombic dedolomite crystals with cloudy cores comprising remnant dolomicrite and clear rims. These textures are similar to those observed in the pseudomorphic dedolomitization of secondary dolomite rhombs. The Prairie Evaporite Formation of north‐eastern Alberta has experienced extensive karstification near the erosional margin of the sedimentary succession. Dedolomitization of dolomicrites occurs in marker beds within the Prairie Evaporite succession associated with evaporite karstification. Along with stratigraphic and petrographic considerations, stable isotope results support the interpretation of a shallow dedolomitization event influenced by meteoric waters derived from the basin margin. Negative δ18O and low δ13C values (averages of −13·6‰VPDB and 0·5‰VPDB, respectively) of the dedolomite, compared with those of the primary dolomicrite (averages of −6·0‰VPDB and 1·2‰VPDB, respectively), point to isotopically light diagenetic fluids. These results show that rhombic dedolomite textures can form through shallow, non‐pseudomorphic dedolomitization of dolomicrites by meteoric fluids in the presence of sulphates, with resulting textures that are similar to the pseudomorphic dedolomitization of secondary dolomite rhombs.

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Salt dissolution tectonism and origin of lacustrine carbonate beds: Mn‐Fe‐calcite and Mn‐siderite micro‐spherulite fabrics of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, western Canada

Broughton

2022

The Depositional Record

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Several lacustrine carbonate beds, each a metre-thick interval of densely packed Mn-rich sideritic micro-spherulites or Mn-rich ferroan calcite micro-spherulites, are recorded for the first time within strata of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation of the northern Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, western Canada. A lower McMurray lacustrine carbonate deposit is characterised by a metre-thick bed fabric of Mn-rich siderite micro-spherulites. The middle and upper interval McMurray beds developed fabrics of Mn 2+ -rich ferroan calcite micro-spherulites. These carbonate beds represent saline lacustrine depositional environments that resulted from the lake bottom sediments ingressed from below by Mn 2+ -Fe 2+ -rich carbonate-saturated brines. These up-section migrations of Devonian formation water were sourced from dissolution trends developed in limestone and haliteanhydrite beds of the underlying Devonian Prairie Evaporite during Cordilleran deformation of the Alberta Basin foreland. These brines ascended to the overlying McMurray Formation sediments along dissolution-collapse structures such as breccia pipes, sinkholes and margins of differentially subsided Upper Devonian fault blocks. The up-section migration of a sulphate-saturated Fe 2+ and Mn 2+ -rich brine resulted in the ingress of a lower McMurray lacustrine bottom sediment at a site associated with the development of a peat mire terrain. Microbial redox of the lake bottom sediment resulted in a carbonate bed of micro-spherulitic fabrics of Mn-rich siderite interwoven with pyrite laminae. Subsequent salt dissolution events and up-section migrations of Devonian brine during deposition of the middle and upper McMurray intervals resulted in similar carbonate-saturated but sulphate-poor chemistry. These saline flows also ingressed lacustrine bottom sediments below, and resulted in limestone beds of densely packed spherulitic fabrics of Mn-ferroan calcite, not siderite. These deposits provide insight into largely unknown dispositions of voluminous brine resulting from salt dissolution trends | 657 BROUGHTON How to cite this article: Broughton, P.L. (2022) Salt dissolution tectonism and origin of lacustrine carbonate beds: Mn-Fe-calcite and Mn-siderite micro-spherulite fabrics of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation,

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New insights from regional-scale mapping and modelling of the Paleozoic succession in northeast Alberta: Paleogeography, evaporite dissolution, and controls on Cretaceous depositional patterns on the sub-Cretaceous unconformity

Cited by 29 publications

References 26 publications

Evolution of an ancient (Lower Cretaceous) marginal‐marine system from tide‐dominated to wave‐dominated deposition, McMurray Formation

Evolution of an ancient (Lower Cretaceous) marginal‐marine system from tide‐dominated to wave‐dominated deposition, McMurray Formation

Meteoric diagenesis and dedolomite fabrics in precursor primary dolomicrite in a mixed carbonate–evaporite system

Salt dissolution tectonism and origin of lacustrine carbonate beds: Mn‐Fe‐calcite and Mn‐siderite micro‐spherulite fabrics of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, western Canada

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