NWT Open File 2014-06 Devonian Horn River Group: A Reference Section, Lithogeochemical Characterization, Correlation of Measured Sections and Wells, and Petroleum-Potential Data, Mackenzie Plain area (NTS 95M, 95N, 96C, 96D, 96E, 106H, and 106I), NWT L.J. Pyle1, L.P. Gal2, and K.M. Fiess3 1 VI Geoscience Services Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8 250.652.4076 [email protected] www.vigeoscience.com 2 consultant Courtenay, BC V9J 1T6 250.334.4666 3 Northwest Territories Geoscience Office Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 867.765.6603 Recommended Citation: Pyle, L.J., Gal, L.P., and Fiess, K.M., 2014. Devonian Horn River Group: A Reference Section, Lithogeochemical Characterization, Correlation of Measured Sections and Wells, and Petroleum-Potential Data, Mackenzie Plain area (NTS 95M, 95N, 96C, 96D, 96E, 106H, and 106I), NWT; Northwest Territories Geoscience Office, NWT Open File 2014-06, 70 p. Horn River Group in Mackenzie Plain 1 Contents Devonian Horn River Group: A Reference Section, Lithogeochemical Characterization, Correlation of Measured Sections and Wells, and Petroleum-Potential Data, Mackenzie Plain area (NTS 95M, 95N, 96C, 96D, 96E, 106H, and 106I), NWT ..................................................... 1 List of Figure Captions ................................................................................................................... 5 List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................ 15 Foreword: Project Rationale ......................................................................................................... 16 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 16 Location and Regional Geology ................................................................................................... 17 Methods......................................................................................................................................... 18 Outcrop ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Exploration Wells ..................................................................................................................... 21 Horn River Nomenclature Review................................................................................................ 21 Horn River Group Outcrop and Reference Sections..................................................................... 22 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 22 Hare Indian Formation .............................................................................................................. 23 Definition and New Reference Section ................................................................................. 23 Distribution and Thickness ................................................................................................... 24 Lithology ............................................................................................................................... 24 Contacts................................................................................................................................. 24 Age ........................................................................................................................................ 24 Bluefish Member ...................................................................................................................... 24 Definition and Reference Section ......................................................................................... 24 Distribution and Thickness ................................................................................................... 24 Lithology ............................................................................................................................... 25 Contacts................................................................................................................................. 25 Age ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Bell Creek member (new, informal) ......................................................................................... 25 Definition and Reference Sections........................................................................................ 25 Distribution and Thickness ................................................................................................... 26 Lithology ............................................................................................................................... 26 Contacts................................................................................................................................. 26 Age ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Ramparts Formation and its Carcajou member ........................................................................ 27 Definition .............................................................................................................................. 27 Distribution and Thickness ................................................................................................... 27 Lithology ............................................................................................................................... 27 Contacts................................................................................................................................. 27 Age ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Canol Formation ....................................................................................................................... 28 Definition .............................................................................................................................. 28 Distribution and Thickness ................................................................................................... 28 Lithology ............................................................................................................................... 28 Horn River Group in Mackenzie Plain 2 Contacts................................................................................................................................. 28 Age ........................................................................................................................................ 28 Lithogeochemistry and Mineralogical Studies of Outcrop ........................................................... 29 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 29 Lithogeochemical Characterization of the Reference Section .................................................. 29 Organic Richness (TOC, U, gamma radiation) ..................................................................... 29 Silica (SiO2) .......................................................................................................................... 30 Terrigenous Input .................................................................................................................. 30 Calcium Oxide (CaO) ........................................................................................................... 30 Paleoredox Indicators: Enrichment Factor of Vanadium (EFV), Molybdenum (Mo), and Nickel/Cobalt (Ni/Co) Ratio ................................................................................................. 31 Lithogeochemical Characterization of Horn River Units Regionally from Outcrop Data ....... 31 Bluefish Member .................................................................................................................. 32 “Typical” Bell Creek member .............................................................................................. 33 “Atypical” Bell Creek member ............................................................................................. 33 Ramparts Formation.............................................................................................................. 34 Canol Formation ................................................................................................................... 34 Distinctive Geochemical Characteristics of Horn River Units ............................................. 35 Mineralogical Analyses from Outcrop Sections ....................................................................... 36 Mountain River Tributary Section (the Reference Section) ................................................. 36 Powell Creek Section (Type Section of the Canol Formation)............................................. 37 Other Sections ....................................................................................................................... 37 Importance of Mineralogical Characterization: MacKay Range West Section .................... 38 Distinctive Mineralogical Characteristics of Horn River Units ............................................ 38 Source Rock Quality and Maturity from Outcrop Samples .........................................................