Sequence Stratigraphy and Provenance of the Bakken Formation in Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2015-05-04 Sequence Stratigraphy and Provenance of the Bakken Formation in Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan Mohamed, Tarig Ibrahim Mohamed, T. I. (2015). Sequence Stratigraphy and Provenance of the Bakken Formation in Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27758 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2241 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Sequence Stratigraphy and Provenance of the Bakken Formation in Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan by TarigMohamed Ibrahim A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER SOFCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS CALGARY, ALBERTA APRIL, 2015 © Tarig Ibrahim Mohamed 2015 Abstract: Three transgressive-regressive systems tracts are interpreted in the Bakken Formation in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan based on analysis of cores and well logs. These systems tracts include a basal transgressive systems tract TST1, a regressive systems tract RST and a transgressive systems tract TST2. Three distinct systems tracts are interpreted within Bakken RST; these are highstand systems tract (HST), Falling stage systems tract (FSST) interpreted within the Bakken Formation and a lowstand systems tract within the Exshaw Formation to the west. Fluctuations in base level that resulted from changes in relative sea level and tectonics controlled the deposition of the Bakken Formation. Detrital zircon geochronology and reworked conodonts from the Bakken middle member indicate sediment transport from multiple sources. Thrust-belt sources associated with the Franklinian Orogeny to the north and northeast contributed the majority (no less than 25%) of the Bakken clastic budget. The two mechanisms for Bakken sediments delivery are continental- scale fluvial systems and longshore drift of sediments. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This project was financially supported by a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery grant held by Dr. Charles M. Henderson. Conocophillips Canada provided financial support to the candidate (Tarig Ibrahim) through “Conocophillips Scholarship for applied Basin Studies). I would like to acknowledge and thank my supervisor Dr. Charles Henderson for the countless hours of discussions, feedback, guidance and support. The time and effort Dr. Charles Henderson put into reviewing several of my “wordy” drafts, identifying conodonts and re- drafting figures are much appreciated. I thank my committee Dr. Benoit Beauchamp, Dr. Per Pederson and Dr. Yvonne Martin for their in-depth reviews and valuable comments. Dr. Pederson provided valuable feedback and comments during several stages of this study. My office mates and colleagues Chad Morgan, Elinda Dehari and David Terrill provided ideas and suggestions during our weekly lab meetings. I would like to thank Paul Starr for reviewing and editing the draft of this thesis, and Makram Hedhli for the valuable discussions. My “landlord and roommate” Dr. Alan Hildebrand provided support and acted as a pseudo- family -when it was much needed- throughout the time I spent in graduate school. I thank my sister El- Mahadia Ibrahim for her endless support; without her guidance I am sure my life course would’ve been significantly different, I highly doubt I would’ve ended up in Calgary if not for her help and guidance. This work is dedicated to my mother Ihsan Al-Zain whom her support is beyond measure. iii Table of Contents Approval Page................................................................................................................................ I Abstract........................................................................................................................................ II Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... III Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... IV List of Figures............................................................................................................................... VI List of Tables............................................................................................................................... VII Appendices................................................................................................................................. VII CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1 2. Study Area…............................................................................................................................. 2 3. Geologic Background ............................................................................................................... 5 3.1. Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................... 5 3.2. Tectonic and Paleogeographic setting. ....................................................................... 8 3.3. Biostratigraphy of the Bakken Formation ............................................................... 12 3.4. Provenance of the Bakken Formation Clastics ......................................................... 12 4. Methods................................................................................................................................. 13 4.1. Core Description....................................................................................................... 13 4.2. Detrital Zircon Geochronology................................................................................. 13 4.3. Conodont Samples Processing................................................................................... 14 4.4. Scanning Electron Microscopy................................................................................. 15 4.5. Subsurface Cross Sections........................................................................................... 15 5. Role of Student...................................................................................................................... 16 6. Depositional Environments and Sequence Stratigraphic Terminologies........................................................................................................................ 17 6.1. Facies and depositional systems terminologies...................................................... 17 6.2. Sequence stratigraphic terminologies................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 2: Sequence Stratigraphy and Provenance of the Bakken Formation in Southeast Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan Extended abstract .......................................................................................................... 23 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................... 25 2. Geologic Setting............................................................................................................. 29 3. Facies and Sequence Stratigraphy................................................................................... 33 3.1. Introduction............................................................................................................. 33 3.2. Methods................................................................................................................. 36 3.3. Lithofacies.................................................................................................................. 37 3.4. Interpretation and Discussion................................................................................ 40 Lower and upper Bakken shale............................................................................ 40 Bioturbated siltstone Mb1.................................................................................... 42 Fossiliferous wackestone Mb2 ............................................................................. 42 Rippled Laminated Sandstones of Mb3 and Mb4................................................. 46 Tidal deposits of Mb5........................................................................................... 48 Fossiliferous wackestone Mb6............................................................................. 50 iv 4. Sequence Stratigraphy.................................................................................................... 51 4.1. Sequence 1.............................................................................................................. 53 4.1.1. Sequence Boundary (SB 1) and Maximum Regressive Surface (MRS1).................................................................................................................. 53 4.1.2. Lower