Cadomin Formation
| Cadomin Formation Stratigraphic range: Early Cretaceous |
|
|---|---|
 Cadomin sandstone |
|
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Bullhead Group, Blairmore Group |
| Underlies | Gething Formation |
| Overlies | Kootenay Group, Nikanassin Formation, Minnes Group and Fernie Group |
| Thickness | 1 to 170 m[1] |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Conglomerate |
| Other | Sandstone, chert, quartzite |
| Location | |
| Named for | Cadomin |
| Named by | B.R. Mackay[2] |
| Coordinates | 53°00′N 117°19′W / 53°N 117.317°WCoordinates: 53°00′N 117°19′W / 53°N 117.317°W |
| Region | Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin |
| Country |  Canada |
The Cadomin Formation is a stratigraphical unit of early Cretaceous age. It is part of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and is found in western Alberta, Canada.
It was named after the mining town of Cadomin, itself an acronym of "Canadian Dominion Mining".[3]
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[edit] Lithology
The geological formation consists of conglomerate and coarse grained sand that are composed of chert and quartzite cemented with silica. Siltstone and mudstone may be present between conglomerate beds, and occasionally coal is observed.[1]
[edit] Hydrocarbon production
Natural gas is produced from the Cadomin Formation in the Deep Basin of Western Alberta in the Hinton-Grande Cache-Grande Prairie as well as the Cutbank area in north-eastern British Columbia.
[edit] Distribution
The type locality is found near Cadomin, where the formation forms an outcrop. It has a thickness of 1 meter (3.3 ft) to 170 meters (560 ft).[1] It occurs at the surface in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and in the sub-surface towards the east and north, the limit being an erosional escarpment formed north and east of the foothills.
[edit] Stragtigraphy
The age of the formation is Lower Cretaceous.[1] It is part of the Bullhead Group in north-eastern British Columbia and of the Blairmore Group in Alberta.
The Cadomin Formation is gradually overlain by the Gladstone Formation and Gething Formation. It overlays the Fernie shales, the Nikanassin Formation and the Kootenay Group, forming a regional angular un-conformity.[1]
[edit] Gallery
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The Cadomin Formation forms prominent outcrops near Cadomin
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Elbow Falls formed on a Cadomin outcrop
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Cadomin Formation". http://cgkn1.cgkn.net/weblex/weblex_litho_detail_e.pl?00053:002140. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ Mackay, B.R., 1930. Stratigraphy and structure of bituminous coal fields in the vicinity of Jasper Park, Alberta. Can. Inst. Min. and Metall., Trans., v. 33, p. 473-509.
- ^ Alberta Speleological Society. Cadomin Cave
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