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Sedimentology, Ichnology, and Stratigraphy of the Sparky, Waseca, and Mclaren Alloformations, West-Central Saskatchewan, Canada

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Sedimentology, Ichnology, and Stratigraphy of the Sparky, Waseca, and Mclaren Alloformations, West-Central Saskatchewan, Canada SEDIMENTOLOGY, ICHNOLOGY, AND STRATIGRAPHY OF THE SPARKY, WASECA, AND MCLAREN ALLOFORMATIONS, WEST-CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA by Alireza Morshedian M.Sc. (Geology), Azad University of Tehran, 2006 B.Sc. (Geology), Azad University of Tehran, 1998 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Department of Earth Sciences Faculty of Science © Alireza Morshedian 2012 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2012 All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for “Fair Dealing”. Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, particularly if cited appropriately. APPROVAL Name: Alireza Morshedian Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Title of Thesis: Sedimentology, Ichnology, and Stratigraphy of the Sparky, Waseca, and McLaren Alloformations, West-Central Saskatchewan, Canada Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Dan Gibson Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences _______________________________________________ Dr. James MacEachern Senior Supervisor Professor, Department of Earth Sciences _______________________________________________ Dr. Shahin Dashtgard Co-Supervisor Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences _______________________________________________ Dr. Kerrie Bann Supervisor Adjunct Professor, Department of Earth Sciences _______________________________________________ Dr. George Pemberton Supervisor Professor, University of Alberta _______________________________________________ Dr. Brent Ward Internal Examiner Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences _______________________________________________ Dr. Luis Buatois External Examiner Professor, University of Saskatchewan Date Defended/Approved: March 21, 2012 _ ii Partial Copyright Licence ABSTRACT The Lower Cretaceous Sparky, Waseca, and McLaren alloformations (Upper Mannville Group) of west-central Saskatchewan comprise an interval up to 60 m thick, consisting of weakly consolidated sandstones, shales, heterolithic bedsets and minor coals deposited in shallow-marine to coastal plain/delta plain environments. Thirteen facies are recognized. These facies are grouped into six spatially recurring facies associations. Facies Association 1 (FA1) corresponds to sediments deposited below fairweather wave base but above storm wave base. Facies associations 2 and 3 (FA2 and FA3) coarsen upward and represent the progradation of wave- and storm-dominated shorefaces as well as mixed river- and wave-influenced deltas, respectively. Facies Association 4 (FA4) commonly displays fining-upward successions, interpreted as distributary channel or fluvio-estuarine deposits, depending upon their stratigraphic context. Facies Association 5 (FA5) is broadly similar to FA2, but is ichnologically distinct. The succession is characterized by low-diversity, impoverished trace-fossil suites with variable bioturbation intensities that are interpreted to record deposition in shallow brackish-water bays. Facies Association 6 (FA6) successions are interpreted as coastal plain/delta plain deposits. Upper Mannville strata can be separated into parts of two depositional sequences. The main deposits of the lower sequence comprise two highstand systems tracts (HST), corresponding to the Sparky Alloformation and the Lower Waseca Allomember. The base of the Lower Waseca marks the onset of a transgressive systems tract (TST). A maximum flooding surface (MFS) marks the end of transgression and the resumption of progradation for the remainder of the Lower Waseca. Following highstand progradation a relative base-level fall produced a subaerial unconformity, which marks the base of the upper sequence. Fluvial valley incision led to sediment bypass, and deposition of forced regressive and lowstand shoreface and delta complexes of the falling stage systems tract (FSST) and lowstand systems tract (LST) towards the northern part of the study area. TST accumulation is largely confined to estuarine infill of the incised valleys of the iii Upper Waseca Allomember. The Upper Waseca is separated from the McLaren Alloformation by a maximum flooding surface (MFS). The overlying McLaren Alloformation marks a return to regional shoreline progradation, and corresponds to a highstand systems tract (HST). Keywords: Mannville Group, Brackish Water, Deltas, Shorefaces, Ichnology, Sequence Stratigraphy, Lloydminster. Subject Terms: Ichnology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Geology iv DEDICATION To Mila, my little motivation pill. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I’d like to acknowledge my senior supervisor, Dr. James MacEachern. Throughout my Ph.D. program, James provided me with motivation, immense knowledge, and support. He also encouraged me to present at conferences, which I now see as a highlight of my graduate career. He was such a crucial part of my academic experience and showed me what it means to be a professional geologist. I would also like to thank Dr. Shahin Dashtgard, who provided valuable insight and advice during individual discussions. I would also like to sincerely thank committee members Dr. George Pemberton, Dr. Kerry Bann, and Dr. Brent Ward, as well as Dr. Luis Buatois for being the external examiner, and providing excellent suggestions towards the improvement of this thesis. Special thanks are expressed to the personnel of the Saskatchewan Subsurface Geological Laboratory for access to the core and for logistical support. I would like to acknowledge the help, support, friendship, and guidance of past and present members of the ARISE Group, specifically: Cindy Hansen, Aaron DesRoches, Cameron Thompson, Shannon Frey, Chad Sisulak, Korhan Ayranci, Brittan Jones, Andrew LaCroix, Stacy Johnson, Johnna Czarnecki, Adam Montgomery, and Liam Ricci. A big thanks to Rodney Arnold, and Matt Plotnikoff who graciously helped every time I needed technical support. A special thanks to my family for their support and encouragement. Thanks to mom, dad, Ala, and Mitra, your love and support is greatly appreciated. Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my wife Maryam for being supportive, especially during the stressful moments and filling my life with energy and love. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval .......................................................................................................................................... ii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii Dedication ........................................................................................................................................ v Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. x List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ xiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 References ............................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Geological setting of the western canada foreland basin, and the evolution of the mannville group ................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Foreland Basin Development ................................................................................................ 12 2.3 Development of the Western Canada Foreland Basin ........................................................... 14 2.3.1 Tectonostratigraphic Belts and Complexes .............................................................. 14 2.3.2 Evolution of the Cordillera and Western Canada Foreland Basin ........................... 18 2.3.3 Physical Elements of the Western Canada Foreland Basin ...................................... 20 2.4 The Evolution of the Mannville Group ................................................................................. 23 2.5 Sequence Stratigraphy of the Mannville Group .................................................................... 29 2.6 References ............................................................................................................................. 31 Chapter 3: Integrated Ichnology, Sedimentology, and Stratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group (Sparky Alloformation), West-Central Saskatchewan ........... 38 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 38 3.2 Study Area and Methodology...............................................................................................
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