G E O L O G Y O F T H E S Y GEOLOGY OF THE SYDNEY BASIN, H D N E Y C B A CAPE BRETON AND VICTORIA S I N N , C A A P E COUNTIES, CAPE BRETON ISLAND, B R R E T O N NOVA SCOTIA A B N D V I C S T O R E I A C O C U N T I R E S , C A U P E B R O E T O S N I S L E A N D , N R O V A S C L O T I A A R E N I M MEMOIR ME 11 R. C. B OEHNER AND P. S. G ILES M E M O I R M E 1 1 H GEOLOGY OF THE SYDNEY BASIN, C CAPE BRETON AND VICTORIA N A COUNTIES, CAPE BRETON ISLAND, R B NOVA SCOTIA S E C R U O S E R L A R E N I MEMOIR ME 11 M R. C. B OEHNER AND P. S. G ILES Natural Resources Honourable David Morse Minister Peter Underwood Deputy Minister Halifax, Nova Scotia 2008 ii Cover Photo This photograph shows a wind turbine at North Head near Lingan, Cape Breton County. The turbine represents the latest energy contributor to the regional mix, while the rocks of this headland are coal measures of the Sydney Basin, which have contributed energy for 300 years. Photo by R. C. Boehner, 2006. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Methods and Acknowledgments............................................................................................................. 5 Errata ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Geological Investigations....................................................................................................................... 6 General Geological Setting....................................................................................................................10 Stratigraphy..................................................................................................................................................12 Pre-Carboniferous Basement.................................................................................................................14 Stratified Rocks...............................................................................................................................14 Plutonic Rocks ................................................................................................................................15 General Carboniferous Lithostratigraphy ..............................................................................................15 Horton Group..................................................................................................................................15 Grantimire Formation...............................................................................................................18 Type Locality.....................................................................................................................19 Lithology............................................................................................................................19 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................19 Relations to Other Units.....................................................................................................19 Depositional Environment .................................................................................................19 Age.....................................................................................................................................20 Windsor Group................................................................................................................................20 Gays River Formation..............................................................................................................21 Lithology............................................................................................................................23 Basal Siliciclastic Rocks..............................................................................................23 Buildup Facies .............................................................................................................24 Relations to Other Units.....................................................................................................24 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................24 Biota...................................................................................................................................25 Depositional Environment .................................................................................................25 Age.....................................................................................................................................25 MacBeth Brook Formation.......................................................................................................25 Type Locality.....................................................................................................................26 Lithology............................................................................................................................26 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................26 Depositional Environment .................................................................................................27 Relations to Other Units.....................................................................................................27 Sydney River Formation...........................................................................................................28 Type Locality.....................................................................................................................28 Lithology............................................................................................................................30 Evaporites....................................................................................................................30 Carbonates ...................................................................................................................31 Siliciclastics.................................................................................................................31 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................31 iv Page Relations to Other Units...................................................................................................... 31 Depositional Environment .................................................................................................. 32 Age...................................................................................................................................... 32 Kempt Head Formation............................................................................................................. 32 Type Locality...................................................................................................................... 32 Lithology............................................................................................................................. 32 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................. 33 Relations to Other Units...................................................................................................... 33 Depositional Environment .................................................................................................. 33 Age...................................................................................................................................... 33 Meadows Road Formation......................................................................................................... 33 Type Locality...................................................................................................................... 34 Lithology............................................................................................................................. 34 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................. 36 Relations to Other Units...................................................................................................... 36 Depositional Environment .................................................................................................. 36 Age...................................................................................................................................... 37 Woodbine Road Formation ....................................................................................................... 37 Type Locality...................................................................................................................... 37 Lithology............................................................................................................................. 37 Distribution and Thickness................................................................................................