Unit Name: Winnipegosis Formation
Unit Type: Lithostratigraphic
Rank: Formation
Status: Formal
Usage: Currently in use
Age Interval: Givetian (387.7 - 382.7 ma)
Province/Territory: Manitoba
Originator: Baillie, A.D., 1953a
Type Locality:
Outcrop along the shores of Lakes Winnipegosis and Manitoba.
Distribution:
The "platform" carbonates have a fairly constant thickness of 13 m (43 ft). The overlying banks are up to 100 m (328 ft) thick. The platform carbonates extend throughout the Elk Point Basin, with numerous carbonate banks that result in considerable variation in the thickness of the formation as a whole.
Lithology:
Carbonate banks resting upon "platform" carbonate which is commonly a mottled dolomite. An argillaceous zone separates the two carbonate units. Laminated bituminous carbonates are common and locally the upper part of the formation is anhydrite. Fossils are common in the carbonate banks. In outcrop the banks are structureless masses of fossiliferous, yellowish grey dolomite with fair to excellent porosity.
Relationship:
The Winnipegosis is divided into several formations in different areas by different authors. Jones (1965) divided the formation into lower and upper Winnipegosis; Reinson and Wardlaw (1972) added the Ratner Member to Jones' terminology; Kendall (1975) provisionally described the lower member in Saskatchewan as the Elm point Member and suggested that the Ratner may be basal Prairie Evaporite; Fuzesy (1975b, 1980b) divided the Winnipegosis in southeastern and northwestern Saskatchewan into the Maxim, Regway and Beaver members (not formally defined). Equivalent strata in Alberta are those of the Keg River Formation.
History:
Originally called 'Winnipegosan" (Tyrrell, 1892), but as the adjectival suffix has a time connotation it was changed to 'Winnipegosis'.
Other Citations:
Baillie, 1953, 1955; Fuzesy, 1975, 1960; Gendzwill, 1978; Halter, 1969; Jones, 1965; Kendall, 1975; Klingspor, 1969; Perrin, 1982; Precht, 1986; Reinson and Wardlaw, 1972; Rosenthal, 1988; Shearman and Fuller, 1969; Tyrrell, 1892; Reinson, 1971.
References:
Baillie, A.D., 1953a. Devonian System of the Williston Basin area; Manitoba Mines and Natural Resources; Mines Branch, Publication 52-5, 105 p. + 5 Maps.
Baillie, A.D., 1955. Devonian system of Williston Basin; American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Bulletin, vol. 39, no. 5 (May), pp. 575-629.
Fuzesy, L.M., 1960. Correlation and subcrops of the Mississippian strata in southeastern and south-central Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Dept. of Min. Res., Rept. 51.
Fuzesy, L.M., 1975a. "Future oil seen for rare Williston Pay"; Oil and Gas Journal, vol. 73, no. 4 (January 27, 1975), pp. 188-198.
Fuzesy, L.M., 1975b. Geology and hydrocarbon potential of the Winnipegosis Formation in southeastern Saskatchewan. In:Summary of Investigations 1975. Saskatchewan Geol. Surv., Saskatchewan Dept. Min. Res., p. 66-70.
Fuzesy, L.M., 1980b. Geology of the Deadwood (Cambrian), Meadow Lake and Winnipegosis (Devonian) formations in west-central Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Dept. Min. Res., Rept. 210.
Gendzwill, D.J., 1978. Winnipegosis mounds and Prairie Evaporite Formation of Saskatchewan; seismic study; American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), AAPG Bulletin, vol. 62, no. 1 (January), pp. 73-86.
Jones, H.L., 1965. The Middle Devonian Winnipegosis Formation in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Dept. Min. Res., Rept. 98.
Kendall, A.C., 1975. The Ashem, Winnipegosis and lower Prairie Evaporite formations of the commercial potash areas. Sumnnary of Investigations, 1975. Saskatchewan Geol. Surv. Saskatchewan Dept. Min. Res., p. 61-65.
Klingspor, A.M., 1969. Middle Devonian Muskeg evaporites of Western Canada; American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), AAPG Bulletin, vol. 53, no. 4 (April), pp. 927-948.
Perrin, N.A, 1982. Environments of deposition and diagenesis af the Winnipegosis Formation (Middle Devonian). Willistan Basin, North Dakota. 4th International Williston Basin Symposium; Christopher, J.E. and Kaldi, J. (Eds.) Sask Geol. Soc., Spec. Pub. 6, p. 51-66.
Precht, W.F., 1986. Reservoir development and hydrocarbon potential of Winnipegosis (Middle Devonian) pinnacle reefs, southern Elk Point Basin, North Dakota. In: Carbonates and Evaporites (An International Journal); Friedman, G.M. (Ed.). Northeastern Sci. Found., Rennsselaer Centre of Applied Geology v. 1, p. 83-99
Reinson, G.E. and Wardlaw, N.C., 1972. Nomenclature and stratigraphic relationships, Winnipegosis and Prairie Evaporite formations. Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol., v. 2a, no. 2, p. 301-320.
Rosenthal, L.R., 1988. The Winnipegosis Formation (Middle Devonian) of the northeastern margin of the Williston Basin, Canada. In: Devonian of the World; McMillan, N.J., Embry, A.F. and Glass, D.J. (Eds.). Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol., Memoir 14, v. 2, p. 463-475.
Shearman, D.J. and Fuller, J.G.C.M., 1969. Phenomena associated with calcitization of anhydrite rocks, Winnipegosis Formation, Middle Devonian of Saskatchewan, Canada. Geol. Soc. London Proc., no. 1658, p. 235-237.
Tyrrell, J.B., 1892. Report on northwestern Manitoba, with Portions of the Adjacent Districts of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan; Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report 1891, Volume V, Part E, with Map 339, Geological Map of Northwestern Manitoba and Portions of the Districts of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan, Scale: 1 inch to 8 miles. Contains also Map 340 (Forest Distribution), and plan 341.
Source: CSPG Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, Volume 4, western Canada, including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba; D.J. Glass (editor)
Contributor: K.R. Milner; C.E. Dunn
Entry Reviewed: Yes
Name Set: Lithostratigraphic Lexicon
LastChange: 19 Feb 2015