Unit Name: Fort Creek Formation
Unit Type: Lithostratigraphic
Rank: Formation
Status: Formal
Usage: Abandoned
Age Interval: Late Devonian (385.3 - 359.2 ma)
Age Justification: Brachiopods and Styliolina have been reported from the formation.
Province/Territory: Northwest Territories
Originator: E.M. Kindle and Bosworth, 1921.
Type Locality:
On Fort Creek (Thunder Creek), near the site of old Fort Good Hope, 66 deg 15'N, 128 deg 38'W.
Distribution:
The A.S.P.G. (1960) provides the following thicknesses: 117-165 m (385-540 ft) of Lower Shale; 0-125 m (0-410 ft) of Bituminous Shale; and 213-244 m (700-800 ft) of Upper Shale at Fort Creek. The total thickness in the northeastern Mackenzie Mountains and the Franklin Mountains is 457 m (1,500 ft).
Lithology:
The formation consists of dark grey to black marine shale with thin beds of black limestone and calcareous sandstones with localized reefoid limestone (Kee Scarp Limestone) and thicker sandstone lenses. Some of the shales are very bituminous.
Relationship:
These strata have now been subdivided into the Hare Indian, Canol and Imperial formations.
History:
The concept of the Fort Creek Fm was originally set up to cover the strata between the Ramparts Fm and what was then called the Bosworth Fm (=Imperial Fm). The strata have now been subdivided into the Hare Indian Fm (Lower Shales), the Canol Fm (Bituminous Shales) and the Imperial Fm (upper Non Bituminous Shales). Bassett (1961) and A.S.P.G. (1960) recommended abandoning the name because the exact stratigraphic position of the type section was not known.
Other Citations:
ASPG, 1960; Bassett, 1961; Hume and Link, 1945; E.M. Kindle and Bosworth, 1921; Warren and Stelck, 1950, 1956.
Source: CSPG Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, Volume 2, Yukon Territory and District of Mackenzie; L.V. Hills, E.V. Sangster and L.B. Suneby (editor)
Contributor: L.V. Hills; D.R. Braman
Entry Reviewed: Yes
Name Set: Lithostratigraphic Lexicon
LastChange: 28 Jun 2004