Unit Name: Hay River Formation
Unit Type: Lithostratigraphic
Rank: Formation
Status: Formal
Usage: Currently in use
Age Interval: Middle Devonian (397.5 - 385.3 ma)
Age Justification: Includes Macgeea proetus Smith, Monelasmina besti Pedder, Cyrtospirifer kennicotti (Meek), Eleutherokomma reidfordi Crickmay, Cyrtospirifer thalattodoxa Crickmay (from Belyea and MacLaren, 1962).
Province/Territory: Alberta; Northwest Territories
Originator: A.E. Cameron, 1918; Belyea and McLaren, 1962.
Type Locality:
Outcrops on Hay River downstream from Alexandra Falls for the upper part, ca. 60 deg 30'N, 116 deg 16'W, whereas the type for the lower part is in Frobisher Hay River #4, to 164 m (539 ft).
Distribution:
305-396 m (1000-1300 ft) thick, mappable over an area of about 25,600 km 2 ( 10,000 mi 2 ) in southern Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, south of the town of Hay River.
Lithology:
Green shale; minor sandstone, argillaceous to biostromal limestone in the upper part; bituminous shale and thin limestone layers in the lower part (Waterways Member).
Relationship:
Overlies the Slave Point Fm, the contact is an unconformity according to most authors (eg. A.W. Norris, 1965), or gradational according to others (eg. G.K. Williams, 1977b). Conformably overlain by the Twin Falls Fm. Equivalent to parts of the Fort Simpson and Horn River formations; embraces strata equivalent to the Muskwa, Waterways, Ireton and the lower part of the Grosmont formations. Over small areas members can be mapped; the Louise Falls Member (lime-stone) near the top, the Muskwa Member (bituminous shale) or the Waterways Member (shale and limestone) at the base.
Other Citations:
Belyea and McLaren, 1962; A.E. Cameron, 1918; A.W. Norris, 1965; G.K. Williams, 1977b.
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; G.K. Williams
Entry Reviewed: Yes
Name Set: Lithostratigraphic Lexicon
LastChange: 29 Apr 2003