Dr. Kevin Parks Named as New Manager of AGS FollowingtheretirementofRickRichardson, includingthe mountains, foothills, plains andboreal Dr. KevinParks, P. Geol., hastakenonthe forestregions inside theprovincial boundary. Long-term roles ofManageroftheAlbertaGeological goals ofAGS mappingprograms will include anupdated SurveyandProvincial Geologist. Dr. Parks andunifiedTableofFormations ofAlbertathat includes hasbeenwiththe AlbertaGeological new formations inthe Precambrianrocks ofnortheast Surveyformorethansixyears as senior AlbertaandtheunconsolidatedTertiaryandglacial hydrogeologistandhas spenthisprofessional deposits acrossthe Province; anew lexiconofAlberta careerinenergyandenvironmentalgeology structural features; completionofsurficial geology inAlberta’sprivate andthepublic sector. map-coverage innorthernAlberta; andanupdated bedrockgeologymap oftheprovince. Partnershipswith TheAlbertaGeological Survey(AGS), as the Geological SurveyofCanadawill continuetobe partoftheAlbertaEnergyandUtilities ofcentralimportanceto AGS’ success inthe Mapping Board(EUB),providesgeoscience Sectionmission. informationandexpertiseneededby government, industryandthepublic for ResourceAssessmentSection earth-resources stewardship andsustainable This sectionhousestheoriginalAGS missionand developmentinAlberta.Newknowledge functionassignedto Dr. JohnAllanbytheAlberta isalwaysbeinggeneratedbyAGS andits Legislature in 1920; namely,toreportonthemineral partnersthroughourongoinggeoscience resources ofAlbertatothegovernmentandpeople of programs andactivities. Fromtimetotime, theprovince. Themissionofthis sectionremainstotell wefinditnecessarytorealignourinternal Albertans andtheworldaboutthegeologyofAlberta’s structuretokeeppacewithknowledgeand mineral andenergyresources. Programs include our technology, aswellastheevolvingpriorities ongoingappraisalofthenatureandageofAlberta’s oftheEUB andtheGovernmentofAlberta. diamond-bearingrocks, examiningourrare-earth andbase-metaldepositpotential; characterizingour OnApril P*, 2006, theAGS organizational industrial mineral wealth, includingironandbuilding structuretookonemore step onits stone; supportingthe studyofunconventional fossil evolutionarypathtoensureAGS stays fuels, includingCBM, tightorbasin-centric gas indeep currentandresponsivetothegeoscience formations, shale gas andbiogenic gas deposits; and knowledgeneeds ofstakeholders andclients understandingAlberta’suraniumpotential. This section inafast-changingworld. The sixinternal isresponsible forAGS initiatives supportedbythe sectionnames andmissionshavebeenreset GovernmentofAlbertaMineralDevelopment Strategy toreflectongoing, basic Surveyfunctions in andtheAlbertaEnergyInnovation Strategy. contrasttotopicalprogramareas. Thenames andmissions ofeachnewsectionareas Environmental Geology Section follows. The Environmental Geology Sectionhouses our MappingSection groundwaterandgeohazardsprograms. Itsmissionisto provide geoscienceknowledgetoEUB andGovernment Themissionofthis sectionistomap and ofAlbertaagencies foreffectivewater-resourceand understandthe geologyofAlberta. This land-usepolicyandregulation,particularlyinareas includes allrockandsedimentfromthe ofintensive energydevelopment. Italsoprovides crystallinebasementtothe landsurface. geoscience expertise in supportoftheprotectionof IS [[1^fcZ AlbertaEnergyandUtilitiesBoard zgs public safety fromgeological hazards inAlberta. The Environmental Geology sectionwill maintainthe RockChipsispublishedfourtimesayearbythe Turtle MountainMonitoring Systemanddevelop the Alberta Geological Surveyinthe Turtle Mountain GeologicalField Laboratory. The Field spring, summer,fallandwinter. Laboratorywillprovide dataon landslides and safe Individual articles, statisticsand other accesstothe mountainforCanadianand international information inthis publication maybe researchers. This sectionis also chargedwithcompleting reproduced orquoted withoutpermission as themapofAlberta’s Base ofGroundwaterProtection long asthe EUB/AGS iscredited. in supportofenergy-industryregulationbyEUB’s Pastand presentissuesofRockChipsmaybe EnvironmentGroup andbyAlbertaEnvironment. Itwill viewedontheAGSwebsite located at alsoprovide geoscience expertisetogovernmentgroups www.ags.gov.ab.ca. regardingAlberta’s WaterforLife Strategy. To receivethe paperversionofRockChips, ask Energyand Subsurface Systems Section to be placedon ourcomplimentarymailing list. ContactourEdmonton office by This sectionwillworkinbroadresearchcoalitions •e-mail: [email protected] togenerate innovative, made-in-Albertasolutionsto the increasingchallenges inmaintainingthebalance •Fax: (780)422-1918 betweenenergydevelopmentandtheenvironment. This •Tel: (780)422-3767 section isdeliveringworld-class geoscience insupport oflong-termcarbon-dioxideandacid-gas sequestration Ifyou arecurrentlyreceivingthe paperedition indepletedoil andgasreservoirs anddeep saline and haveachangeofnameoraddress, please aquifers, whichiskeytomaintainingAlberta’s energy forward correctionstooneofthecontacts above. pre-eminencethroughoil-sands developmentandfuture applicationofclean-coaltechnology. The Energyand AllAGS reportsareavailableforpurchasefrom Subsurface Systems Sectionalso supports investigations into Alberta’sgeothermalenergypotential. The section’s theAGS Information Salesofficein Edmonton. programactivities supportthe GovernmentofAlberta’s Orders maybe placed in personorbyphone, fax, ore-mail atthefollowing address: EnergyInnovation StrategyandClimate Change Strategy. Alberta Energyand Utilities Board Alberta Geological Survey KnowledgeManagement Section Information Sales Topreserve andmanagethegeological dataand 4th Floor, TwinAtria Building knowledgeofAGS as anassetis themissionof 4999-98thAvenue theKnowledgeManagement Section. Knowledge Edmonton, Alberta managementprofessionals will create andsupport Canada T6B2X3 standardized, transparentworkflows forAGS Tel: (780)422-3767 geoscienceprograms, manageourcentralizeddata Fax: (780)422-1918 storesandensureAGSmakes effective andappropriate e-mail: [email protected] useofinformationtechnology. Prepaymentis required. Weaccept The Office oftheProvincialGeologist Visa/Mastercard, chequeormoneyorderora The OPGhousestheManagerofthe AlbertaGeological current EUB accountnumber. GSTis included Surveyandthe Provincial Geologist(adualrole) and inourprices. ourseniorscience advisors. These individualsprovide leadership and strategyandensure ourprograms are Abstractsofmostofourreports maybefound delivering onthe overall AGS mission, as well as on ourwebsite atwww.ags.gov.ab.ca. supportingEUB andGovernmentofAlbertabusiness priorities. The OPG is alsotaskedwithanticipating Clients inthe Calgaryarea mayviewAGS the future geoscienceneedsofAlbertans forprogram publicationsattheAlberta Energyand Utilities development. Throughthe efforts ofthe Corporate Board Library, 640-5thAvenue SW. Services Team, the Office provides andco-ordinates Tel: (780) 297-8242 internal corporate services inthe areas ofsafety, finance, facilities, communications andmarketing. 2 • RockChipsSpring2006 Geological Puzzle AboutAGS Find the hidden words within the grid of letters. L R Q 0 G X S J E G P W D Z R S H D 0 P B 0 M L 1 R J E H S U E S T A J A M V K D F 0 S X W B H 1 1 L T P D N U C Y R G S L J Y J R S X A D G T E X 1 S M U N A R U S T A S D N 0 M A D A C P D X M 1 i M S R V E U F R C N E G A K B Z S E K C D L J 1 1 G T C C T F 0 U C D S B U A E A P Z S K L V H S 1 W U E M A L S M Q C 0 A L Z N R H N Y M D A U M S W S S 0 G J E P M B Q 0 0 L 0 R V B E S G Z T 1 1 A D A S Y H R M C P L A A E C J R D X S P D 1 1 1 W D Q B G C B R K 0 C S T L E T T G U T Z A Z H J L B W 0 L E W U A A Q A A E H L X H X W Z F 1 1 1 W T Y E V A K E R T R N D R V S A G D C A X K Z 1 Y G G A E M E N 0 J D T D J R J K K N 0 B Y L F 1 A R Q B D F R L C N S N A N E T M Q X Y V Q V S X Q E 0 C E P Y G E U B W S R N L P K G M C N Q 1 1 N N D A V X V Z U 0 H K M N E R A L S U H Z S Y 1 W W W E K E D R Q R H S T R 0 P E R J N S B E H 1 P Y G 0 L 0 E G 0 R D Y H A C X 0 S X J X Q V V A B M M M 0 S L G P Z U Z K Z U E L A P A 0 D V S Q 0 U K W P K 0 C Z Q X P L S K A Q B Z S U M H 1 1 0 M N A M Z M N C R C W B U A J V U G L R J P J J H X M E S R X A G R S B H K M E X X D U F L E 1 1 M V U D N V K C 0 R D E B H F R G K G Y Y U Y V 1 A W E E T D E H U N F N B F D G N F F X Z P Z F M D 0 C F Z E E N Z R G U S C L Z E V C A K N H T P acidgas databases exploration groundwater resources agsgovabca development franksiide hydrogeology sequestration bedrock diamonds gasandoilsands kimberlites surficial coal energy geochemical maps turtlemountain conservation eub geohazards minerals uranium cotwo expertise geoscience reports RockChipsSpring2006 • 3 Synoptic Geology and Resouces - Clear Hills Ooidal Ironstones (Part 2) Part 1, a synoptic historyofdiscoveryofthe ClearHills DonaldsonandFlint(1999) suggestedthe BadHeart ooidal ironstones waspublished inthe Winter2005 FormationunconformablyoverliestheMuskiki editionofRockChips. Part2 provides anoverviewof Formation inthe SmokyRiverarea,buttothenorth thegeologyand summarizes the ironresources within inthe ClearHills, theMuskikiandCardiumforma- the BadHeartFormation. tionshave beenerodedandthe BadHeartFormation unconformablyoverlies KaskapauFormation. Inthe The BadHeartFormation iswithinLate Cretaceous subsurface, tothewestandsouthwest, the BadHeart SmokyGroup, whichwas depositedabout92millionto Formation is time-stratigraphicallycorrelativewiththe 82 millionyears ago. The Smoky Group inthe Smoky MarshybankFormation, whichconsistsmainlyofdeeper Riverregioncomprisesfive formations, whichfrom marine siltstone andmudstoneandapparentlycontains stratigraphic toptobaseare noooidal ironstones. (a) Puskwaskau Formation, asequence ofdarkgrey McLearn(1919) firstdescribedthe BadHeartFormation mudstoneto siltymudstone depositedina ‘deep’ marine atandnearthejunctionofthe BadHeartRiverwiththe environment (i.e., mainlybelowwavebase) andranging SmokyRiver. He statedthatthe m m from90 to 180 thickinthe ClearHills. Inthe SmokyRiverto ClearHillsregion, the Puskwaskau "BadHeartsandstone...consistsof5to25feet [1.5 to 7.6 Formationisunconformablyunderlainby m] ofcoarsesandstone, weatheringreddish brown. It (b) Bad HeartFormation, asequence of‘shallow’ standsoutprominentlyin allthecliffs [alongthe Smoky marine (i.e., mainlydepositedatorabovewavebase), River]/romPuskwaskauRiverto within afewmilesof theLittleSmokyandformsa horizontal,frieze-likeband frequentlybioturbatedsandstone, siltstone and, in places, ooidal ironstonebanks. The ooidal ironstone in thecliffwallsofshale. Thismemberisabundantly banksrange locallyupto about8+mthickbykilometres fossiliferous..."{¥'\gmQ?> 1 and2). ormore in lateral andstrike extent. At SmokyRiver, Donaldson(1997) suggestedthe BadHeartFormation is Regional stratigraphic correlationsbyChenandOlson unconformablyunderlainby (workinprogress) forthe ClearHillsto SmokyRiver region showthatthe BadHeartFormationis eroded (c) MuskikiFormation, asequence ofdarkgrey andthusnotpresentacrossthewidePeace Rivervalley mudstoneto siltymudstone depositedinam‘deep’ marine (Figure 3). environmentthat locallyisupto about40 thick. At SmokyRiverthisunitisbelievedtobeunderlainby GreenandMellon (1962) werethefirsttogeologically (d) Cardium Formation, aninterbeddedsequence map at 1:500 000 scaletheknownandinferredbedrock ofmudstone, sandstone and, inplaces, chertpebble inbothnorthernAlbertaandthe ClearHillsregion, conglomeratedepositedmainlyinashallowmarine andtheydescribedingreaterdetailthegeologyofthe environmentthat isup toabout40 mthick. Lastly, the BadHeartFormationandthe immediatelyencompass- (e) Kaskakapau Formation, a sequence ofmainly ingunits. BertramandMellon(1975) suggestedthat m theBadHeartFormationinthe ClearHillsregionwas deepermarine mudstone and sandstoneupto 120 thickestatornearRamblingRiver, andthinnedandhad thick. WithinKaskapauFormationthere is athin(less m alessercomponentofooidal ironstonetothewestand than2 thick) ooidal ironstone nearitsbase anda north. Donaldson (1997) geologicallymappedaseries of "'granularsideritemarker' intheupperpartofthe stratigraphic sections across BadHeartFormationalong formation (Varban andFlint, 2005). These lithologies the Smoky River, tracedtheunitwestwardintothe indicate that ooidal ironstone andan ‘ironstonematrix’ subsurface basedonwell log information, andmappeda are notuniquelypresent inthe BadHeartFormation. few stratigraphic sections oftheunitatRamblingRiver. Donaldson (1997) recognizednine lithological facies Inthe ClearHills region, the PuskwaskauFormation is withinthe Bad HeartFormationalongthe SmokyRiver overlainby late Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formationthat that, ingeneral, comprise fromstratigraphic toptobase consistspredominantly ofcontinental elasticswith local coal lenses. 4 • RockChipsSpring2006 Pj^waskau Fm ^PadHeartFm* Muskiki Tempestiteconglomerate T^pestit6conglomerate .# -.X ' Tempestiteconglomerate SmokyRiver Figure1. Bad HeartFormation‘typesection’alongtheSmokyRivernearBad HeartRiver(lookingwest).Tempestitecongomeratesformduring cyclonicstorms. Close-upimageshowsAGSgeologists(inred)collectingpalynologysamplingfromthePuskwaskautoupperMuskikiunitsatthe BadHearttypesection.Theclose-upimageisoftheextremerightportionofthephotographontheleft. Figure2.AGSgeologistsexaminingandrocksamplingtheBad HeartFormationsectionatsiteASR9AalongthecentralSmokyRiverinSeptember 2004. HeretheBad HeartFormation isthickerthanatthetypesectionandcontainsathickooidalironstoneinthelowerAllomember1. RockChipsSpring2006 • 5 — Unit ID Short description onlyFacies C and D arepresent, withpossiblysome ‘F Phosphatic ooidal siltysandstone EandF atthe RamblingRiver(SwiftCreek) section. ‘H’ Skolithos-burrowed silty sandstone However, recentmechanical trenching andgeologi- (Skolithos is atrace fossil) calmappingofsectionsbythe AGS inthe southern ‘G’ Ooidal muddy sandstone partofthe ClearHills indicatesthe sequenceatthe ‘F’ Thinlybedded sandstone SmokyRiverandtheWorsleyPitareaare similar(e.g., ‘E’ Bioturbated silty sand comparethetwo sections inFigure4). The Smoky ‘D’ Ooidal ironstone Riversectioncomprises alower ‘allomember’ of ‘C’ Thalassinoides-burrowedsilty sandstone andanoverlying intenselyooidalironstone, sandstone (Thalassinoides is atrace cappedbyaconglomeraticzone, whichisoverlainin fossil) turnbyanupper ‘allomember’ consistingofsandstone ‘B’ Laminatedmudstone andathinnerooidal ironstoneatornearthetop ofthe ‘A’ Chertandphosphatepebble section. Asimilarsituationexists attheWorsleyPit conglomerate section. However, althoughtheuppersandstoneunits aremarkedlythinneratthe WorsleyPit, thereis a Donaldsonetal. (1999) suggestedtheBadHeart clearseparationbyaconglomeratic layerofthe lower Formation inthe SmokyRiverregioncomprises intenselyooidal ironstone fromtheoverlyingBadHeart twoallomembersboundedbythree discontinuities. Formationclastic andooidal ironstonehorizons. Allomember 1 includes FaciesAto D andAllomember 2 includesFacies C to H, withthe boundingerosional Collom(2001) also studiedtheBadHeartFormation surfacs occurring atthebase (BES) andtop (ESI) of alongthe SmokyRiveraspartofhiscomprehensive Allomember 1 andatthetop (ES2) ofAllomember Ph.D. studyofthe Wapiabi Formationfrom 2, where itis overlainbyFacies I, whichiseither southwesterntonorthwesternAlberta. Collom,based uppermost BadHeartFormationorlowermost largelyoncomparativemacropaleontology, suggested PuskwaskauFormation. Withrespecttothe ClearHills, Allomember 1 ofthe BadHeartFormationatthe central Donaldson(1997) suggestdthe sedimentologicalrecord SmokyRiverismorecloselycorrelative, atleastfrom ofthe BadHeartFormationis incomplete comparedto apaleontologicalageperspective, withuppermost thatalongthe SmokyRiver. That is, inthe ClearHills, KaskapauorMuskiki formations. Whetherornotsuchis true, fromapurely lithological andsequence C (Northwest) O knt 20 410 610 S1O lO1O -1n20 1-\40 ClearHills , Tie 1Bad Heart Top or 2UO Boundary 1 ClearRiver Peace River Lo Creta 400 -I Figure3. Regionalcross-sectionC-C’fromthesouthwesternClearHillstosoutheastoftheSmokyRiver: Kpw—CretaceousPuskwaskauFormation; Kb- 6 • RockChipsSpring2006 hZ^ C’ — (Southeast) “n 200 2210 Blae IVIouatain 200 i 1 SmokyRiver Bad HeartTop or lOOO to/V-y'V 800 600 -400 200 O -200 --400 -600 -800 -1OOO -1200 -1400 -I600 -1800 -2000 P*Tecamt>rian -2200 aceousKaskapauFormation. RockChipsSpring2006 • 7 stratigraphic viewpoint, it seems SmokyRiverSectionASR9A(2004) logical to considerthe BadHeart (alornearSR15ofDonaldsonetal.,1999) Formation (i.e., allomembers 1 and2) as acohesive sequence / Topnotexposed J stratigraphic package. : y:•.‘5 V'-jj i3n WorsleyPit Regardingthe knownand ConsolidatedStratigraphic P Collu inferredresources ofooidal ironstone withinthe Bad HeartFormation inthe Clear (In>t7e0ns%elcyolodosi)dalironstone Hills region, previousworkby ModeratelyooidalIronslnte (30-70%ooids) industryduringthe 1950s and Weaklyooidalironslone 1960s, andbythe AGS duringthe (10-30%oo^} Ooidalsandstone 1960s andearly 1970s, indicated (<10%ookfe) there isat leastone billiontonnes ofresourcewithanaverage grade Sjitstone (BadheartFormation) ofabout32%to 35% iron(note Siltstone(Puskwasltauor thatthis resourceestimatewould *'"--^^*4 KShaaslkeap(PauuskF'orrramsakfaioun)Of notnowbe compliantwiththe r~ KaskapauFormation) Clastsupported guidelines forresource/reserve estimatesprovidedby Securities , cMoantgrlwosmueprpaotretteodpebbly CommissionNational Instrument sandstone Concretioolayer 43-101). The ooidal ironstone Unconformity resources are infourmainareas Infenedurxonfonrkty alongthe southernandeastern ———— Lithologicalcontact margins ofthe ClearHills and Ironenrichmentfrom arenamedWorsley, South overlyingstrata WhitemudRiver, Whitemud '' Planarlamination Riverand SwiftCreek(Rambling Thalassinoides River) ‘resourceblocks’ l|l| Skolilhos (Hamilton, 1998). Detailed y Opheomorpha informationaboutthe geometry, Sheas grade distributionandpotential Ammonoids co-productordeleterious 'iVood elementswithineachofthese Low four ‘resource’ areas is currently Modefale lacking. As aresult, theAGS Intense initiatedathree-yearfieldand office studyofthe ClearHills Figure4. Comparativegeology,WorsleyPitinthesouthernClearHillsantJcentralSmokyRiver. region in2004to addressthese andsome otherunknownsaboutthe ironresources in the ClearHills to SmokyRiverregion. Results fromthis recentAGS studywillbe summarizedinasubsequent article onthe ClearHills ooidal ironstones. *1* 8 • RockChipsSpring2006 Shale Gas Resource Evaluation AGS has initiatedaprojectto evaluate shale gas I I i5g^ isaasi resources inAlberta. ‘Gas shale’ is ageneric termthat includes gas fromorganic-rich lithologies, suchas dark- colouredshale, interbedded shale/silt/sand, shalewith dispersedsiltincluding ‘radiolarian’ siltandshaley siltstone. Theprojectwillfirstevaluatethe Colorado Group andprogresstodeeperstrata. CretaceousSecondWhite SpecksPetroleumSystem HI Immature H HMature Overmature ASpppercokxleidmaSteho^utcropofSecorxJWhite seals1;10,000.000 0 100 200 300 Km LogsfromsoutheasternAlbertathatidentifyshalegasproductionin theSecondWhiteSpecks. Newdatabases,mapsandreports willbe made available MapdisplayingtheCretaceousColoradoGroupSecondWhite ontheAGS website andwillbe continuallyupdated. To Specks(modifiedfromtheGeologicalAtlasoftheWCSB, 1994). alesserextent, thecompilationwill include evaluating the correlationofshalegeochemistryto logparameters The initialworkwillconsistofacompilationofdata, intheWesternCanada SedimentaryBasin(WCSB), maps andcross-sections alongwithpertinentreferences hydrogeologicalinfluences andtypesofcompletion leadingtoaseriesofdetailedworkingmodels ofAlberta stimulation(i.e., types offracs)thathaveaided shalegasplayswithacomparisonto U.S. shale gas economic success intheUSA. plays. The datacompilationwill includealistofwells thathavetested/perforatedshales, detailedgeochemistry (e.g., adsorptiondata, totalorganiccontent,maturity, etc.), sedimentology, structure (faults, fracture fairways), stratigraphy, mineralogy, thinsectiondescriptions, completionandproductiondata, gas-kickdatafromthe EUB, andaresourceestimation(originalgas inplace). StoryContact Information The followingAGS staffmaybecontactedforfurtherinformationontheirarticles orcitations. Dr. Kevin ParksNamedasNewManagerofAGS KevinParks (780)427-2949 Gas Shale ResourceEvaluation DeanRokosh (780)422-0451 or Andrew Beaton (780)427-3272 ClearEtills Ooidal Ironstones Reg Olson (780)427-1741 Staffmayalsobe contactedviae-mailbyenteringthe author’sfirstname.lastname(@gov.ab.ca Comments and suggestions forRockChipsmaybe sentto Maryanne [email protected] RockChipsSpring2006 • 9 Geological Puzzle Solution About AGS Find the hidden words within the grid of letters. L R Q 0 G X P B 0 M L W R J E H X B H I L D G T E X S C P D X M M S C D L J I I K L V H S D A U M S E S G Z T D X S P D W A Z H J W X Z F I -e-k X K Z 0 B Y L F V Q V S X G M C N Q U H Z S Y W S B E H X Q V V A 0 D V S Q S U M H I R J P J J H X U F L E I M V U D Y Y U Y V A W Z P Z F M D 0 K N H T P acidgas databases exploration groundwater resources agsgovabca development frankslide hydrogeology sequestration bedrock diamonds gasandoilsands kimberlites surficial coal energy geochemical maps turtlemountain conservation eub geohazards minerals uranium cotwo expertise geoscience reports 10 • RockChipsSpring2006