Chevron

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I Chevron Structural Geology School
I Field Trip Guidebook
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 Structural Geology School
July 1997 - Shortening Course

Wyoming Foreland
Canadian Thrust Belt
Geological Field Trip

The infonnation in this guidebook is ~ for your use ad future refererx:e. The materials used as examples have been
gathered from many sources. including Company work. For this reason both materials and concepts presented here should be
treated as wholly proprietary and should not be copied for, distribuled to, nor discussed with anyone outside of Chevron Corporation
and its subsidiaries.
 I .

·WYOMING FORELAND

sw FORELAND
NE
THRUST-.J04-4
BELT I
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DEFORMED CRATON ----------~~ICRATON
lI80 MILES)
HOBACK WINO RIVER WASHAKIE BIG HORN BIG HORN
BASIN GROS VENTRE RANGE BASIN MTN.
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BASIN

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110·

'INDEX,IYIAP OF FORELAND, WYOMING, AND ADJACENT AREAS,

SHOWING
PRINCIPAL LARAMIDE UPLI FTS AND MAJOR THRUSTS

AFTER BERG, {1962} AAPG. VOL 46

 WYOMING STRATIGRAPHIC
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CHART
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 EASTERN BIG HORN BASIN FiElD TRIP

Introduction

This trip will take us across the Big Horn Basin and along its east flank. The purpose of this field
excursion is to examine the deformation in the Wyoming foreland. We will look at different stYles of
deformation in differing lithologies and the accommodation mechanisms of volume problems in
concentric folds.

We will leave Cody going east via U.S. Highway 20.

The hills to the south are the expression of the south plunge of Horsecenter Anticline. The highway
to the right runs north-south in the Cody Shale Valley. The high ridges are Frontier Sands.

Oregon Basin

Oregon Basin is a topographic low caused by the erosion of the non-resistant upper Cretaceous Cody
shale in the breachment of a large structural closure. Oregon Basin Anticline is approximately six miles
wide and twelve miles long inside the breachment. At the Paleozoic level the structure is two discreet
closures known as North and South Domes.

South Dome was discovered in 1912, producing gas from the Dakota. North Dome was discovered
in 1915. Gas distillate was discovered in the basal Cambrian in 1966. Permian and Pennsylvanian
reservoir are the major producing horizons and total reserves in North and South Domes exceed 340
million barrels of oil and 168 BCF gas.

Heart Mountain - McCullough Peaks

Paleozoic remnants of the Heart Mountain Detachment lying unconformably on Eocene sediments.

Continuing East on U.S. Highway 20

The dip of the Eocene is very gentle toward the west. The Eocene is most easily recognized by its
varicolored nature. The Big Horn Basin is asymmetric with the steep flank on the west and the deepest
portion of the basin near the west flank. A regional seismic section will demonstrate the basin shape
and intra-basin Structure.

Junction - Highway 310 and U.S. 20

South of this intersection is an exposure of the upper Cretaceous - lower Paleocene contact. This
angular unconformity is a more local feature, observed primarily around Greybull.

Turn North on Highway 310 and Proceed to Goose Egg Anticline

The long ridge to the east is the crest of Sheep Mountain Anticline. The river canyon affords a route
along which you view the core of the structure at the Mississippian carbonate level. As Sheep
Mountain plunges northward, an en echelon fold develops called Goose Egg-Alkali Anticline. Goose
Egg is exposed into the lower Cretaceous.

HJG-109-1 09-02'92 Pa9~ 1

 ROCK UNITS ,
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PRE" CAMBRIAN

EXHIBIT I
JOHN R FANSH.....wE

BIG HORN BASIN

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BIG HORN BASIN BIG HORN MOUNTAINS

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" · · " 3
 History of the Petroleum lndustry
in the Big Horn Basin

R. C. Haack

In 1884, when Ed Lloyd discovered an oil seep in the Thermopolis

Shale near the Bonanza anticline, the petroleum industry began in
the Big Horn Sasin. An oil placer claim was staked on the seep in
1885. During the 80's and 90's the oil was burned locally in lamps
when kerosene was unavailable. The first wildcat test was drilled
nea r the Bonanza seep in 1B88 by R. J. Coles. The we 11 was a 1200'
dry hole. The first production that resulted from drilling was from
Frontier sands at a depth of 400' on the crest of the Garland structure
in 1906. That discovery, along with the discovery at Salt Creek
in 1908 (PoVider River Basin), provided the impetus for exploration
in the Big Horn Basin that has led to the production of more than
2.1 BBO and 1,422 BCFG.

An early period of exploration in the basin (1900-1930) was spectacu-

larly successful. About 67 percent of the oil and almost 40 percent
of the gas that has been produced to date is from fields that were
discovered during this period. Those fields were discovered by dril-
ling surface anticlines that rim the basin. Exploration prior to
1920 focused on light Cretaceous crude trapped in shallow sandstone
reservoirs. Heavier oil in Paleozoic reservoirs was not discovered
until the 20' s when deeper drill i ng became feas i b1e. Pa 1eozoi c reser-
voirs, particularly the Tensleep and Phosphoria, are the most signifi-
cant reservoirs in the basin (having produced 1.5 BBO).

Although oil men had tremendous success during the 20's, two factors
hampered development of hydrocarbon resources. Fi rst, the basin
was isolated from all the major markets in the midwest and east.
In fact, a pi pe 1i ne out of the basi n was not constructed unti 1 1944
when oil was needed during World ,Iar II. Second, the first major
oil glut occurred in 1927. Production allover the count~y far
exceeded consumption. As the pri ce dropped from $2. 40/bb1 in tne
mid-20"s to SO.35/bbl in the early 30's, producers tried to relieve
the over-supply by reducing production. Unfortunately, the depression
of the 30's slowed economic recovery of the industry, and not until
the U.S. became involved in World War II was there a market for Big
Horn oil.

After the war, exploration activity in the basin increased. The

Tensleep discovery of heavy oil at Elk Basin in the early 40's prompted
oil companies to quickly move back into the basin. The demand for
petroleum products and revitalization of the American economy resulted
in a new wave of exploration. The California Company's discovery
at Neiber occurred during this very active period of exploration.
At the same time, exploration success became more dependent on techno-
logical innovation than it had ever been before.
During the 50's and 60's, major oil companies slowly lost interest
in the basin. Discoveries became more difficult (i.e. higher risk)
and resulted in smaller reserves. In the late 60's and early 70's
the basin became predominantly an independents' play, and until deep
basin-centered gas becomes commercial, the basin will probably remain
an independents' play.
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G HORN BASIN
BI MAP
STRUCTURE OIL FIELDS
4B GAS FIELDS ~p ROUTE
111111 .. FIELD T 'fMiIe.S
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Stop 1 - Goose Egg Anticline

We will drive to the steep east flank of the structure to the producing well. Goose Egg is a local
closure on this trend and displays some of the best exposed examples of bedding-plane thrust,
detachments and crumpling (space accommodation) in the Big Horn Basin.

Stop Walk out onto the ridge and view some of these structural features firsthand. Notice the
contorted gray shale bed in the Lower Cretaceous Mowry formation in the core of the structure. This
"wadding" detaches and a gentle syncline reforms in the upper Mowry and Frontier formations. Also
note the minor faulting across the structure on the west flank.

View to the south shows relationship of Alkali to the north plunge of Sheep Mountain. Cross sections
show the interpretation of this feature at depth.

After the overview, walk southward along the ridge crest. Notice the folding in the cut about halfway
to the floor of the valley. When you near the valley floor, turn west and walk to the rig road in the
core of the anticline. We will begin our traverse from there.

Goose Ega Anticline Traverse and Cross Section Exercise

The exercise along this traverse is to fill in the cross section along the E-W section line. The line of
the traverse is shown on the accompanying photo. Since our traverse doesn't have much topography
along it, the topography on our cross section is flat. Observe, however, the topography both to the
north and south of our section. We'll use the information from those areas a linle later to complete
our section.

We'll start our traverse along the rig road near the core of the anticline. Note that the rocks here dip
to the east fairly steeply. Note also where these rocks are depicted on your cross section. Now walk
eastward to the small anticline exposed near the other rig road. Which way does it plunge? Is that
the same as the large anticline? What's the relationship of this small anticline to the large one where
we started?

Now walk southward and cross the small wash. Once you find a prominent bed, follow it eastward
to the intersection with the larger wash. Observe the folding in the prominent bed. How does that
structure compare with that exposed in the small hill just to the south? What type of structure must
be between the prominent bed that we are walking along and the beds in the side of the small hill?
What makes you conclude that? Since these folds are to the south of our line of section, where will
they appear on our cross section? How will the beds in the small hill be depicted on our section?

To finish the traverse, walk eastward along the north side of the wash, observing the dip direction of
the beds in the hill side on the south side of the wash. Note the prominent sandy unit in the narrow
part of the wash. Our cross section goes right through this narrow cut. Return to the overlook and
the bus. When you get there, put the prominent fold on the east end of our traverse into the cross
section. What is its relationship to the large fold in whose core we staned our traverse at the west
end of the section?

Turn and look down the hill to the east and west of the overlook. In which direction do the beds on
both sides of the overlook dip? How does this pan of the fold look on your cross section? Where does
it show up on your section?

Finally, look northward to that end of the Goose Egg Anticline. Which way does it plunge? Where will
that show up on your section?

MJG-1'3-1- 09-02-92 Page 1

 Oblique aerial view of our field exercise traverse in Goose Egg Anticline. Our cross section is located by line A-A'. Our traverse
route starts near A' and is shown by the line with large dots on it. This route will lead us to important exposures for sketching in
relationships on our cross section. Some beds are outlined by lighter lines. View southwestward.
l
 I '

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Hill -- --... ... .........

proximate
100 meters
Sca~
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GOOSE EGG CROSS SECTION EXERCISE

922602a.per 8126/1992
___ ..- .,.. H(:J"",

*".CI,..,C.'_ " ...

____ • •cO , • • _ ' "
Return to the Bus We will retrace our route out of Goose Egg. We will travel north and then east on
the paved road to Himes Siding. We'll turn south and drive through Spence Dome, which is breached
to the Phosphoria (saturated on outcrop) and produces from Madison at a depth of 500'. We will
disembark from the bus and take a stroll through the canyon cut into Sheep Mountain Anticline, while
the bus travels around to pick us up on the other side.

Stop 2 - Sheep Mountain Anticline - East Flank

On this walk·through, there are several things you should notice about the geology:

1. The steep side of the anticline is facing the east, so that the structural asymmetry is directed
out of the Basin.

2. How rapidly the gentle dip away from the mountain is turned up into the steep flank of the
anticline (L-shaped synclinel.

3. The smooth, concentric fold-form of the massive Mississippian carbonates. Also notice that the
change from gentle to steep dip at the crest takes place without faulting or thinning. The cross
section shows the structural interpretation with the available well data.

Stop for discussion on terrace just above the railroad tracks at the west end of the traverse.

Sheep Mountain - West Flank

Rejoin bus on west side of Sheep Mountain Anticline. A view to the north will reveal a low, rounded
hill plunging toward us into this valley. The topographic slope is held up by Permian carbonates/red
beds. The hill is a small subsidiary anticline plunging off the gentle west flank of Sheep Mountain. The
fold is a normal conical anticline with the vertex up plunge.

We will proceed south past the bentonite plant to County Road #26 then to Highway U.S. 20.
Bentonite is strip-mined from the Cretaceous Frontier, Thermopolis and Mowry formations and is used,
among other things, for drilling mud. This plant is one of the largest in the country.

Between the bentonite plant and the highway, we will pass a good exposure of Cretaceous Frontier
sand - these sands are productive in many of the major structural closures around the Big Horn Basin.

MJG·113-1* 09-02-92 Page 2

 SHEEP i'lTN.'
s.w. (w.I« I'II.UN.C) N.E.
ROSE DOME
ALKALI
ANTICLINE

_'tiI"CJ;
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4-""""
+ 6000

5000 ------- 5000

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3000 3000

2000 2000

1000 1000

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-200 -2000

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FIGURE 27
-8000 CHEVRON OIL COMPANY
WnT[OIIt Of'#'SI()If

BIG HIY?N BASIN

3.·N~ STlfUCT(J/UL C"OS1 SCCT/DN
ALKALI - $HCC? ",TN. - "05£ DONE
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sw NE
GOOSE EGG ROSE DOME
DRWENSKI
SOHIO SOHIO PRUET ET Al ELF AQUrrANE MULE CREEK AMERADA PET.
#5 Alkali #1 Unit 4-33 GOy't #2 Goose Egg Unit "'1 Gov', #' 1 USA-Smith

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32-T$5N-Rll,W n-T55N..ft95W :S3-T55N-A9SW U-T55H-fttSW :lS-U5N--R95W 28-TS5IoHI95W
456. OR 4171 OR •• 35 KB 4370 Ka 41.8 OR 421111;.
seol Tn 5"" TO 3325 TO 25'. TO 1882 Tn 2$05 TO

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GOOSE EGG ANTICLINE

.10 MOM COUlfTY. w,o...a

SW-NE STRUCTURAL
CROSS SECTION

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Greybull

Take Highway U.S. 14 east toward Shell, Wyoming.

Approaching Shell. Wyoming

Note the dip along the mountain front here. To the south of Shell Canyon, the dip is very gentle into
the Basin - a direct continuation of the panel of dip seen at Tensleep Canyon. However. note that
north of Shell Canyon the dips are very steep into the Basin. Geologists have long speculated that
some sort of basement control is responsible for this abrupt dip change and the location of Shell
Canyon.

Shell. Wyoming

Mouth of Canyon

Here the Tensleep forms the first wall of the canyon. Amsden red shales are clearly visible, as is the
Mississippian. Proceed into the canyon and note the thick section of Big Horn just as we break into
the open at far end of canyon. The next five miles have four major switchbacks which the bus must
maneuver. We'll wait until we gain altitude and begin to level out before we stop.

Forest Service Campground

Along this portion of the route, you can view the sharp flexure in the canyon .wall to the west. This
flexure is well expressed in the Ordovician to Mississippian units. It is a good place to speculate on
the stretching or anenuation of beds necessary to form a "drape fold". In the foreground below, you
will notice the Precambrian surface apparently makes a sharp kink at this point also, and it is not
possible to say for certain if a fault exists in the Precambrian.

Proceed up canyon; notice that much of the material in the valley is colluvium or slumped Cambrian
shales.

Stop 3 - Shell Falls Observation Point

We will stop here briefly to see the falls and have a short discussion. Note the basal Cambrian
sandstone outcropping around the area. Across the road from the parking lot a small landslide (gravity)
feature has developed in the Cambrian shales. Look closely and you will see the model for listric
normal faulting and the associated "roll-over anticline" .

MJG-113-'* 09-02-92 Page 3

The map shows the route of the highway across the range to Sheridan, Wyoming.
The rock types of the Precambrian core are set out' in colors and the major
Precambrian-aged ali gnments are i ndi cated. Note that the trends are
predominantly east to northeast across the range. These directions are those
which seem to be preferred by the compartmental faults.

Where the hi ghway turns from north to east is the approximate 1ocati on of
the Tongue River alignment. To the north, across the alignment, the Ordovician
Bi g Horn dolomite is di ppi ng in excess of 70 degrees to the north and then
flattens. This steeply northward dipping monocline is in general considered
the Tongue River "fault." Most certainly the Precambrian-aged "shear zones"
(striking E-W) have exerted control in the location of this Laramide-aged
monoc 1i ne. North across thi s panel of steep di p the Precambri an exposures
in the range shift to the west. Also, the asymmetry of the range changes
across this feature.

The map on the following page is along the Tongue River lineament at its eastern
end. The Precambrian-age dikes have a strong easterly trend. Facing this
map is the geologic map of the east flank of the Big Horn Mountains. Note
the change in asymmetry across the Tongue River and the nosing to the east
where the river leaves the mountain front. The Tongue River alignment projects
basin-ward under the Tertiary of the Powder River Basin (stable craton).

Leave Shell Falls

We will now retrace our route down Shell Canyon and back into the Big Horn
Basin to Greybull, Wyoming. We will proceed south along Highway #16-20 to
Manderson, Wyoming.

Manderson

Turn east on the Hyattvi 11 e-Manderson road to Nowood Creek road, then south
to Bonanza Field.
 ~ . . . Manderson
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• •1(0 "n. BONANZA
BIG HORN COUNTY. WYOMING
DATUM - TENSLEEP
CONTOUR INTERVAL-l00'
 ,~owo 00 fIElD MIDDLE OOMl miD
No.J You No. J Rilt'
SW SW 10. 89 S~(,S.148N 190W SlN( Set.22.148N-R90W

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MIDDLE DOM~UTHEAST.
• NOWOOD S

DATUM _ TE~; WYOMING

WASHAKIE COUN
CONTOUR INTE RVAL
SLEEP
-100' \ ,
Turn-Off on Road to Bonanza

Travel through Bonanza Anticline and along rim on west side for five miles.

Stop 4 (On rim overlooking Bonanza-Nowood Anticlines

Here we will discuss the en echelon arrangement of these two features and possible significance of
the projection of the sharp flexure seen on the north end of Zeisman Dome. Zeisman Dome is
highly asymmetric toward the mountain, as is Brokenback Anticline. Through detailed field work it
is possible to see some of the geometry of the en echelon by-pass between Zeisman and
Brokenback. The red shales and grey limestones of the Goose Egg react concentrically to the
synclinal by-pass, "wadding" until the syncline is not clearly recognizable at higher stratigraphic
levels. Zeisman Dome plunges northwest and a steep panel of dip intersects this plunge. North of
the steep dip panel there is no counterpart to the Zeisman structure. As you trace this steep panel of
north dip to the west you encounter the abrupt south plunge of Paintrock Anticline. Still farther
west you encounter the north plunge of Nowood and the apparent offset of Bonanza to the
northwest. You should begin to realize that this east-west trend is displaying characteristics of
compartmental deformation.

Bonanza field is a strato-structural oil trap, having the structural closure enhanced by preservation
of "extra" Tensleep sand under the pre-Goose Egg unconformity. This same interesting geologic
phenomenon is observable on the surface at Zeisman. During the pre-Permian erosional period,
monadnocks of Pennsylvanian sand were left scattered over the area and as the red shales and gray
limestones of the Goose Egg were deposited, these "hills" of sand were eventually inundated. At
Zeisman one can see a limestone marker onlap the sandstone hill from several sides. This preserved
remnant was then folded into the axis of Zeisman Dome, thus preserving extra thicknesses of
reservoir ~ sand in the center of the structure (see diagram below). This is a good model of the
productive area at Bonanza field. Nowood represents the cut down area - hence little reserves.

~ Preservation of extra sand thickness

=.,...,..-"""""',..------~-"."..,...--.

B. Incorporation of preserved section into Laramide Structure

 RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN UPLIFT
WEST FLANK BIG HORN BASIN
HALF-DAY FIELD TRIP

Proceed west from Cody along U.S. Highway 14-20 to Rattlesnake Mountain Uplift at Buffalo Bill
Reservoir. As we drive west, we are going down section from Cretaceous to Precambrian along the
gentle west flank of Rattlesnake Anticline.

Heart Mountain - McCullough Peaks

McCullough Peaks are a series of hills composed of Eocene sediments; however, one of the peaks is
unconformably overlain by Lower Paleozoic sediments. Heart Mountain, a single Eocene hill, is also
unconformably overlain by Lower Paleozoic sediments. These remote Paleozoic blocks are six to
fifteen miles east of the nearest in-place Paleozoic and are believed to represent the remnants of the
eastern extent of the Heart Mountain thrust sheet. The Heart Mountain thrust which is Eocene in age
is commonly interpreted as a nearly horizontal detachment thrust or decollement whose overriding
sheet was derived from a source near Yellowstone Park and whose frontal part has ridden across a
former land surface. The thrust sheet was 2000-3500' thick covering 500 square miles. As it moved
along a slope estimated at less than 2 0 , it supposedly broke into numerous blocks and scattered over
an area of 1300 square miles. Some of the blocks are believed to have moved as much as 30 miles.
There are numerous interpretations of the mechanics of such an event.

Stop 1 - Rattlesnake Mountain Overview

Stop in the wide area on the south side of the road, or down in the picnic area along the lake on the
south side of the road. Be careful crossing the road to the fenceline on the north side. From here you
can see the abrupt change in dip on the west (steep) flank of Rattlesnake Mountain. In this view the
fold appears to be (and probably is) fairly representative of many of the basement-cored anticlines in
the Rocky Mountain Foreland. At our next stop, we can examine some of the complications along the
bounding fault zone and at the plunge end of Rattlesnake Mountain that may be unique to this
structure.

Now look south across the lake to Sheep Mountain (another Sheep Mountain!). The Lower and Middle
Paleozoic carbonates in the upper part of the mountain overlie Tertiary rocks above the Heart Mountain
Detachment. The location of the detachment is at the base of the cliffs, but it's largely obscured by
the cursed Quaternary Alluvium. The Heart Mountain Detachment is discussed elsewhere in the
guidebook, but we'll see it several times on the aerial field trip. Its relationship to the South Fork
Thrust, exposed south of Sheep Mountain and out of our view is problematical.

Stop 2 - Buffalo Bill Reservoir Parking Lot

Here we will discuss the structure of Rattlesnake Mountain Uplift. If time permits, take tunnel entrance
to Buffalo Bill Dam.

Rattlesnake Anticline has been characterized by several workers as a "typical drape fold". Stearns
(University of Oklahoma) has shown that the "expected" thinning over the hinge area cannot be
demonstrated. To account for this lack of thinning to balance the drape fold, Stearns has called for
a movement of material into the area along the Heart Mountain Detachment. Concerning this
possibility, observe the structural discontinuity at the base of the Ordovician dolomite across the
highway from the parking lot. Also consider the volume of material (and its source) necessary to
balance the many structures in the Big Horn Basin which are called drape folds. Compare the
exposures of repeated Ordovician across the lake to the development of flank structures at Wildhorse
Butte.

MJG-"'-' 09-02-92 Page 1

The cross section montage in your guidebook by D. S. Stone shows six interpretations of Rattlesnake
Anticline done over the past 50 years. These sections display the vertical fault and fold-thrust
concepts.

The Rattlesnake Mountain - Horsecenter cross section montage in your guidebook shows the change
in structural style across the compartmental fault at the south end of Rattlesnake. The montage also
shows the relationship of surface closure to thrusting. This thrusting appears to be related to the
take-up of shortening lost by the plungeout of Rattlesnake.

MJG-l11-1 09-02-92 Page 2

 ,..-.,
-, - -~.
 I '

ToIR103W
w E

M-O

INTRABASEMENT HORIZON
------ - - ---~=----------=."",-I+- - - -
SHORTENING
(1.75 KM)

o MILE 1
POSITION OF BASAL DETACHMENT
I i FROM AREA CALCULATION, USING
o KM 1 ------------------
TOP MISSISSIPPIAN HORiZON ....

(VERRALL, 1989)

RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN

CROSS SECTION
Buffalo Bill Dam, completed in 1910, is 325 feet high and has a reservoir capacity of 439,850 acre-feet of
water. (Bullock, 1975)
Photo of the Cambro-Ordivician section at the Rattlesnake Mountain field trip stop. The shallowly dipping faults cut the contact
and are nearly all top-to-the east displacement. The large faull within the Ordivician cuts the earlier faults. Up the slope and out of
the picture, the Cambrian shales are completely cut out and the basement is faulled against the Ordivician. The kinematics of
these faulls is uncertain, but they illustrate the complexities in the steep limbs of foreland structures.
 [ .

PHOTO 2 (INSET)
PHOTO 3 (INSET)
 A JOHNSON, 1934 o SCHMIDT AND

BplERCE AND NELSON,11111S E COOK, 1983

c STEARNS, 19-71 F BROWN, 1984

--
f •• t
~NE
o 4000 o 1200

D.S.STONE .. MOUNTAIN GEOLOGIST APRIL 1984

Rattlesnake Mountain structural models: A. Johnson (1934, section #12). B. Pierce and Nelson (7968, section C). C. Stearns (1971).
D. Schmidt and Garihan (1983, Fig. Be). E. Cook (1983, Fig. 7). Crossed lines pattern indicates fault and fracture zone. F. Brown
(1984). P€ = Precambrian; ., = Cambrian; MOO = Mississippian·Devonian-Ordovician; PT = Pennsylvanian-Permian (Phosphoria-
Tensleep).

RDOC YMOUNTAIN ASSOC/A TION OF GEOLOGISTS

 \ '

S.V'l· RATTLESNAKE MTN.

ANTICLlN£:
\
/----~
\ -."-

/--
//-<:::::::=--=-== -= ~-
10,000 ! I,'
,/ ----------

I
i
f I
I \
: !
'/000 ,, I \
, I I \ ,
I;

800 0 I'

70 00

60 00

50 00

30 00

1000

S.l.·

_ 1000
 R 102 W

North

MOuntain
anticline

T
52
N

Upper
Cretaceous
scale 0';.. 1 mile

EXPLANATION

~'?,~.~f -Quaternary coli u v i u m LOS - Line of section

inferred lateral
A - hanging wall cut-off motion
of top Triassic
D - downthrown
B, C - possible footwall cut-off
of top Triassic U - upthrown

Interpretation of possible lateral movement along the south plunge of Rattlesnake Mountain anticline (map
modified from Pierce and Nelsen, 1968). The south plunge is accomplished by a combination of steep dip
and fau~ displacement. The South Rattlesnake Mountain compartmental fault strikes east-west and offsets
the top of the Triassic with a sense of reverse left-separation. The footwall cut off of the top of the Triassic
is at point A on the map. The location of the hanging wall cut off of the same contact is obscured under
the Quaternary colluvium, but must occur between points Band C. If the hanging wall cut off is at B,
separation on the fault is 5,000 feet in a left lateral sense; however, if the cut off is at C, then the
separation is 8,000 in a left lateral sense. The 5,000 feet to 8,000 feet of left separation on the South
Rattlesnake Mountain compartmental fault is sufficient to accommodate the left slip which must be present
to accommodate the 2,250 feet of reverse dip slip on the northwest trending Rattlesnake Mountain fault
(Brown, 1988; Figure 22f). (Brown, 1993)
N Rattlesnake Mountain anticline s
{south plunge}

us_JurllSSIC _ _ - _
cre\llCeo _ - ,

B~~--~-==:~"~
Feet -- Feet
+4,000 "TriassiC . ordovician +4,000
permIan-

sea
level

-4,000 -4,000

T - towards the viewer A - away from the viewer

scale 0 L..' ....L- ---J' 2 miles

A north-south cross section across Rattlesnake Mountain anticline is interpreted using the results of
experimental models (Logan and others, 1978). This section displays a critical factor relating to the
geometry of fault planes at a "corner"-the low-angle reverse fault must turn up at the edge to become the
high-angle oblique-slip fault; therefore the amount of dip slip on the Rattlesnake Mountain reverse fault
must be equal to the lateral slip on the oblique slip South Rattlesnake Mountain compartmental fault.
(Brown, 1993)
 sw NE
A

S.L._
FEET
.,, \

INDEX MAP
B RATTLESNAKE MTN. - HORSE CENTER

K,

3,000

_ 3,000

SL

_S.l.

5,000 _ \(1
k, /(",y _ 5,000
J

-----------
k,
Sol.
RATTLESNAKE MTN. ANTICLlNE-
HORSE CENTER ANTICLINE
PARK CO., WYOMING

MONTAGE
STRUCTURAL X-SECTION A,B,C

_-5,000
\'/\ ,,--:-\.~! \",- W.G.8ROWN
"":'-~ ... "'.,., ... MAV, 1987
~
The following excerpt from W. G. Pierce's abstract (AAPG Vol. 41, No.4,
April, 1957) gi ves a good summa ry of the Hea rt Mounta i n problem. Many
other people have worked on or at this problem, but Mr. Pierce has
been the one to formulate and clearly document this phenomenon.

HEART MOUNTAIN AND SOUTH FORK DETACHMENT

THRUSTS OF WYOMINGl
William G.. Pierce 2
Menlo Park, California

ABSTRACT

In broad outline the Heart Mountain fault of Wyoming is a nearly hori-

zonta 1 thrust whose overri di ng sheet was deri ved from a source wi thout
any known roots, and whose frontal pa rt has ri dden across a former
land surface. The suggestion is here made that this thrust and the
nearby South Fork thrust are detachment thrusts or decollements, that
is, they a re sheets of sedi mentary rocks whi ch have broken loose along
a basal shearing plane, have moved long distances probably by gravita-
tional gliding, and have been deformed independently from the rocks
below the fault plane.

The present remnants of the Heart Mountain thrust sheet incl ude more
than 50 separate blocks which range in size from a few hundred feet
to 5 miles across and which are scattered over a triangular area 30
mil es wi de and 60 mil es long. The rock formations represented in the
thrust blocks comprise a very limited stratigraphic range, none being
older than the Bighorn dolomite (Ordovician) and none younger than
the Madison limestone (Mississippian). The maximum stratigraphic thick-
ness of the formations involved is 1800 feet, but these include the
most competent group of beds in the sedimentary sequence in this area.

In the northwestern pa rt of its known extent the Hea rt Mounta in thrust

plane follows the bedding of the rocks and lies at the base of the
massive and resistant Bighorn dolomite and above the underlyin.9 Grove
Creek Formation (a thin unit at the top of the Cambrian sequence). Near
the center of the area here described this bedding thrust plane changes
abruptly to a shear plane that cuts stratigraphically upward across
the Bighorn and younger formations; the thrust plane then passes south-
eastward onto and across a former 1and surface. The present thrust
remnants on this surface are separated blocks that rest on rocks ranging
in age from Paleozoic to Tertiary.

In the area of the bedding thrust the displaced sheet was broken into
numerous blocks which became detached from one another by movement,
with large spaces or gaps separating them. Thus, by tectonic denudation
the thrust plane was exposed at the surface. Associated with the events
accompanying the thrusting was the rapid formation of a stream channel
deposit, here named the Crandall conglomerate. Next ·there followed
the deposition of the "early basic breccia." This blanket of volcanic
rock, which is now in the process of being eroded, has preserved much
of the geo 1ogi c record perta i ni ng to the development of the Hea rt Moun-
tain thrust since middle Eocene time.
The concept is here advanced that, near the close of early Eocene time,
the Heart Mounta i n thrust ori gi nated as a detachment or shea ri ng-off
of strata at the base of the Bighorn dolomite. Near Dead Indian Hill
the advancing southeastern edge of this bedding thrust sheet passed
upward into a shear thrust and thence southeastward onto and across
the land surface as an erosion thrust.

The South Fork thrust sheet, which underlies and is slightly older
than the Heart Mountain thrust sheet, likewise has the character of
a detachment thrust in that the plane of the thrust sheet extends down-
ward to a stratigraphic horizon in the Sundance Formation, but goes
no farther. In three test wells which started in the South Fork thrust
sheet, the plane of the thrust was found at depths of 550 to 1040 feet,
and the beds below are essentially undeformed.

Characteristic features of the South Fork thrust mass, which suggest

a detachment thrust (decollement), are (1) tightly folded anticlines
and synclines and overturned, recumbent, and faulted folds; (2) the
base of the thrust mass is in most places at (·r near a stratigraphic
horizon; (3) so far as known, it has no "roots" from which it could
have come as a deep-seated thrust; (4) the thrust mass contains no
rocks from below the plane of detachment. Although the South Fork
thrust mass reacted to deformation quite differently from the Heart
~10untai n thrust blocks, the di fferences are readi ly accounted for by
the great lithologic differences of the rocks of the two sheets.

To test further the proposed interpretation for the Heart Mountain

and South Fork thrusts, additi ona 1 fi e1d observati ons shoul d be made
to shed more light on the mechanics of the deformation.
 A . . . . c.oo.t e,roy I '
:=='"'t:. ~~~~ •• __ •• __•• __•• .~_~ ..~~~=-.c
HEART MOUNTAIN
BREAK-AWAY F~ TH r~"'-"-\
. MOUNTAINS u 0
I: IIYOM'"G
:\
U'll FT
I. CD! .
( ~ L.._._ .. _ .. _i
n:1.1.0~·STONE
' t;. o ROUGH 'APPROXIMATION OF
( . '" EXTeNT OF HEART MOUNTAIN
.'."?(\ .
/
~ FAULT MASSES ON LAND
NAT IONAI. • 1'" 't'(,
~ 5,
•

\,
(II"
". ~
f,1. '" . ------ SURFACES.

~
""'' .",.
J "._?/_C'_~ "-
::"'~P -..:t .
/'

,-./'
/0 0 ( " · '0"

41j /' ; ; : t::t "\ \

,,--'
(,../ HEART MOUNTAIN BEDDING
FAULT (STIPPLED AREA)
(~HEART MOUNTAIN
TRANSGRESSIVE FAULT
\
\
, I \
I
o 10 20 ,.IUS
I
'L._-'-~ _ _-.JIl- -J1 I
I
~
~ ~rllt I
/
HEART MOUNTAIN FAULT MASS
/
/
N,¥ >::Jl"w.-,.-rONe /
A BREAK • AWAY FAULT

DISTRIBUTION OF HEART MOUNTAIN FAULT MASSES AND CROSS SECTION

SHOWING FOUR TYPES OF FAULTS CONSTITUTING THE HEART MOUNTAIN
nnAr.I-lMFNT FAULT NORTHWESTERN WYOMfNG
 IDAHO
WYOMING
!
'.'
Yor.. olAnens
,
'0
"
Fi;;::re ;. l..o:':l.~io:l ~:lC: ~\!jo:- re~lUr(S oC YelloWStone N:1liorul P:!.!"k. Dolt~d lines cutlioe c!dcr:u;
6sh:d Ijr.~. resurgent dGrr:es; I. fi~i.<)"de caldera; :1, St."Cond<ycle CJlder:!.; I1I. :hi:d-.:-."d: (Ycl1ow-
s:one) o.ldt:t:a. -

Major features of the Yellowstone National Parl: Area. \{hile we will not
get to view Yellowstone first-hand on this trip, this map shows the major
geologic features in the region. The area has been dominated by three major
erupti ve epi sodes that each i ncl uded erupti on of rhyol ites and basalts and
huge outpourings of ashflow tuffs (ignimbrites) associated with the formation
of three caldera complexes. Tne first episode formed a huge caldera, approxi-
mately 56 miles long (90 l:ml, in the southwest part of the Parl: and adjacent
areas approximately 2 million years ago. This caldera produce approximately
600 cubic miles (2,500 l:m 3 ) of ejecta. By comparison, Mount Saint Helen's
eruption of 1980 produced less than 1 cubic mile (less than 4 l:m 3 ) of new
material. The second episode produced a caldera approximately 12 miles (20
km) in diameter nested in the southwestern part of the first one. At least 67
cubic miles (280 l:m 3 ) were erupted during this 1.3 mill ion year old event.
:me third even produced a large caldera that measures 28 by 47 miles (45 x 75
l:m) nested in the first caldera. It produced approximately 240 cubic miles
(1000 km 3 ) of material when it formed 600,000 years ago. Late stage eruptions
of this third episode are as young as 70,000 years ago. From Christiansen and
Hutchinson (1987).
 "' ...
.. ,' .. - "'II';
."

~~s.o
~ .~7
,0.
....0 ....
~
\-
o
......
>:
VfLOCITY lONf

:t',,1
t:jl....lo .... ' .. - '

.'

.... .:_ u·:.· .. "- ...... _

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:'
~.:
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,
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:

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1,1>
U Of It ~_,! __ : . __ . _ _ ._.._ . _ . _ - _ . -

,I
; ..
."
J
,
100

The vocanic activity in the Yellowstone region continues today. Of

course the hydrothermal activity is a manifestation of the activity that
brings in the tourists. But seismic refraction and other geophysical work
within the park has identified a low velocity zone, interpreted to be caused
by the presence of magma as shallow as 3 km below the surface (that means that
top of .the magma could be approximately at sea leve1). Interestingly this low
velocity zone is overlain by the Sour Creek Dome. This area is being uplifted
at a rate of over 15 rrm (just over one half inch) per year as shown on the
accompanying map contoured in rrm per year uplift rate. The uplift is revers-
ing the topography at the north (outlet) end of Yellowstone Lake faster than
:!rosion can maintain the drainage. Eventually. the Lake will be forced to
abandon its present outlet into the Yellowstone River and find a new outlet.
probably to the south or east.
 114~'pCSi MAP 5

,,
.'0-

p£ap

. \
»n"
. \ t-fT:\Wildhorse I
24 D~ t-'
" ;:.
 NATIONAL PARK

KI

Vb

1--"

/'0

Yb
1,0
/;0
r
.0
h~' ~'
Yb
301
/
"
=F=
Zd

I,
A
'-{ " '7

- OVERLAPS 3
SUBBELT nr SUBBEL T m
2 a 2 4 6 MILES
I ! 1 I

2 0 2 4 6 KILOMETERS

Insert Map 3a - Geologic Map of the area of our third traverse of the Sawtooth Range. (Mudge. 1982)
 ~ ~
FLATHEAD 0 I-
FAULT ~ ~
o MIDDLE fORK \ W
0'
ROOSEVELT FLATHEAD LEWIS FEET
FAULT RIVER THRUST
8000

i --< ( ------ -__ 5000

Yb
~b "~~~)~~~~=~~~-:--L':~~;;;;
___
SEA LEVEL

-5000

-8000

E XPLANA TlON

Ku I Upper Cretaceous rocks Contact

L~ Lower Cretaceous rocks Thrust fault. teeth on upper plate

1 KJ I Lowermost Cretaceous and JurassIc rocks ~_ - Normal fault. ball and bar on downlhrown SId!;;'

[[!fill PaleozoIc rocks ----- Transverse tault

Zd I ProterOZOIC Z sill

Vb IProterozoIc Y Belt Supergroup rocks -----ft - - Overturned antIcline

--+ __ Monocline

-+ __ Syncline

---tt - - Overturned syncline

'~1 Strike and dip of beds

" t Strike and dIp 01 overturned beds

 SUBBEL T .I:2"
GLACIER NATIONAL
PARK
'b
1
, f l I I
'r'llKI'51(15 / I '

I 1 f"
I
I
I
I
I K\I
:
I
1(\1 I
I
Ku /
I\-'
I I
"r;+~<-''-+-1Il

I
/ 1/
I I

l'/ I;\ I
EASTERN
EOGE OF
( DISTURBED
J BELT

J •
J-

"
.0
1
"
".

,, ,I ".
t /
". '-I'
'0 ;/
Butte
301

SUBBEL T n SUBBEL T I

2 0 2 4 6 MILES
, I I , I

2 0 2 4 6 KILOMETERS
Insert Map 3 - Geologic Map of the area of our third traverse of the Sawtooth Range. (Mudge, 1982)
A
PHILLIPS TWO MEDICINE TWO MEDICINE
1-A KIVQ
RIVER RIVER FEET

10.000

11111111!!;~:~ii~~~~~~i~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEA LEVEL

5000
-15000

·8000

E XPLANA liON

K", IUpper Cretaceous rocks Contact

kl ILower Cretaceous rocks Thrust fault. teeth on upper plate

KJ I lowermost ~relaceous and Jurassic rocks ---1... _ _ Normal lauf!. ball and bar on downthrown side

~ Paleozoic rocks ----- Transverse lault

I
I
ld

Vb
I Proterozoic
I Proterozoic
Z sill

Y Bell Supergroup rocks

--- •
I

----it - -
Anticline

Overturned anticline

~ Earlier Precambri.an •
---...-- Monocline

----t--- Synchne

----it-- Overturned syncline

" I Strike and dip 01 beds

.. t. Strike and dip 01 overturned beds

 I •

Lewis Thrust near Marias Pass, looking northward. Precambrian Belt Supergroup in the hanging wall has been thrust eastward
approximately 50 km. Here it sits upon deformed Upper Cretaceous rocks. Notice the extensional faults that are confined to the
hanging wall. The genesis of these normal faults is not yet well understood.
 .. ,
-.

••
•••
 ? .
~ ~.->~.~
~ .
Highly folded Paleozoic carbonates in the lower part of the photo are overlain by gently folded Cretaceous rocks. These different
structural geometries at different stratigraphic levels indicate that a detachment is present in the Jurassic Fernie Shale. This is a large
scale example of an upper detachment in a concentric fold system. Southwestern Fernie Basin, looking northward.
 -v ---.
\J' \.J

J K'

I "

I.
 I '

c
 I.

UZARD RANGE FERNIE BASIN

Blairmore (K)

~~,:;$~~:'"
...;. roe ......
~)~J~~~l_~"':i.•';....
- .'- -. 'A,;

".

LEWIS THRUST

CROSS SECTION ACROSS FERINE BASIN

(AFTER P, VERRAL, CHEV, STAN)
Hanging wall cut-off ot Paleozoic rocks on the Hosmer Thrust on the western edge of the Fernie Basin. View northeastward.
 J

~
.....~
J
I,
\

K1

- .
.,
...- - - - .__ • - - - - - · . . s

~
~
Crowsnest Mountain area illustrates a large fold in the Lewis Thrust. The thrust has been folded by later movements on underlying
thrusts (perhaps ramp anticlines or imbrication on the lower thrust). A view of the north plunge of this anticlinal culmination will be
available as we fly to Tornado Mountain, in the distance at the top of this photo. View northward.
 ITINERARY FOR BIG HORN BASIN FLIGHT
The attached Geologic Map of Wyoming shows the entire flight route and location of the principal
geologic features which you will view on this flight. The flight will originate at Cody, Wyoming,
and is programmed to run clockwise around the basin; however, weather or other circumstances
could cause the trip to be run counterclockwise. You may wish to note exposure numbers on this
general writeup; for pictures you may take of each feature. The itinerary contains an aerial photo
and a geologic map, and possibly a cross section for each area of interest.
I. Buffalo Basin Anticline - This feature is another typical structure located along the west rim
of the Big Horn Basin. Notice the elongate-to-elliptical pattern of the rimrock with a slight
indication of a syncline on the southwest flank. This syncline becomes broader at depth
(concentric-type) so there are two distinct and separate closures at Paleozoic depth.
2. Horse Center Anticline - This feature is eroded into the Triassic red beds. The
accompanying cross section is across the south plunge end and up onto Half-Moon Field to
the west. Horse Center displays a "cross-crestal" fault breaking the west limb, which dies
into bedding on the east flank.
3. Rattlesnake Mountain - The canyon exposes Precambrian in the core on the hanging wall of
the controlling fault. Note the continuity of bedding at the Mississippian level. The deep
faulting is crestal at the basement level and dies out upward. Note the repetition of the
Ordovician on the steep limb and localization of a rabbit-ear on the down-plunge corner.
4. Sunlight Basin - An erosional depression on the backside of the Beartooth Uplift. This is a
classic area for exposure of large-scale gravity slide blocks. The detachment surface (called
Heart Mt. Thrust) is in the lower Ordovician. The Paleozoic section above has slid along
this bedding plane surface for quite some distance. About at the position of the base of
Dead Indian Hill, the blocks began to transgress bedding and the Paleozoic blocks lay
progressively on younger beds. Movement was in a short span of time in Middle Eocene.
5. Clarks Fork Canvon - The fault bounding the east flank of the Beartooth Mountain Uplift
dies out to the southeast into an anticlinal fold. Notice the sharp flexure in the Paleozoic
carbonates. Down-plunge from this exposure, the Cretaceous units are tightly folded in a
series of Chevron folds.
6. Heart Mountain - This topographic feature is an outlier of the gravity slide blocks seen in
Sunlight Basin. This particular feature has Miss.-Ordovician carbonates resting on Eocene
conglomerates and has traveled at least 13 miles, apparently across the land surface.
7. Goose Egg - Alkali Anticline - Exposed in Cretaceous units. This fold trend is developed
down-plunge from Sheep Mountain. Notice the subsidiary fold on Goose Egg. This entire
structure displays concentric-fold characteristics which are often encountered in subsurface
well control.
8. Sheep Mountain - This major anticlinal fold is asymmetric out of the basin. Note the
continuity of the Mississippian over the top of the structure. There are several subsidiary
folds on this feature. The most prominent one on the west flank is conical with the vertex
up-plunge. Note the difference in the geometry of the two plunge-ends of the main fold.
The cross section indicates the basement involvement through well control. Also note lk
channel sand on the northwest flank.

BAlW A465 06113/97

 I •

Horse Center Anticline. The exposures of the sandstones in the upper Mesozoic rocks outlines the southward plunge end of
Horse Center Anticline. As the fold plunges, a cross-crestal thrust faun moves rocks from the east limb across the crest and over
the western limb. The effects of this cross-creslal faun is easy to see in the displacement of the Cretaceous rim rocks at the
southern end of the structure. View southward.
 "
•

Qt
l~
Cross -erato.
"""''>'1.'\",It
~~ "

u"u"'.,
HAlF MOOII
. . .. .
.;'~ ..=.. ;:-.:;-!i

-----

--
STQUCTUQAl CllOSS SECTIOII
HORSECENTER AREA
4: HORSE CENTER PAQf( co... WYQ
,.;II.a-.

----.::.......-.:.--------~---"----------
 -

14
;1 I '

RA rrLI:S"-AKI:
ANTICLINE

.' ,:'.' f ,.~., ~"

- --- ---- - "
-~ - - .../
r
/~
-~
-
...
"'-
,
\
",'
\
-- --- - "-,../ " '\ '\ \
\ \ '-
\
\ \ \ \
\ \ "
,
\
\ \',
\
\ \'
\
\ \ \
\ ',\ I
I
\ \ \ \
i \ \
\
\

-~ '. I

5 RATTLESNAKE ANT Ie LINE

(DOWN-PLUNGE VIEW)
 DISTRIBUTION OF HEART MOUNTAIN FAULT
.! -

,
,.
".-.::, -.

"
 UPPER·PLATE ROCKS

•
EJ
Eocene Intrusive rocks

Eocene volcanic and volcani

clas!ic rocks in O)nd on the
Heart MounUln alll')chthon

Ordovician - Mississippian
carbonale rocks

LOWER· PLATE ROCKS

o •<
o Cenozoic rocks
o
Mesozoic rocks

Ordovician and younger

Paleozoic rocks
_-16
•
--',
. ,.
~Prec.mbrjan and Cambrian
___0+, ~ rocks

CZ kilometres

_ Contact

'"""<.. Hearl Mounl:!in

\ Detachment
u Bighorn aasin
\. Breakaway Fault
PZ McCullochO
Major FlIult (UfO
u plhro w "/dow n thrown)
Peak &

Figure 1. Generalized geologic map of Heart Mountain detachment area (modified from Hauge,
1993; Pierce and Nelson, 1971; Pierce et aI., 1973). CIC = Crandall intrusive complex; SG = Silver
Gate; WM =
White Mountain.

Figure 5. Diagrammatic
cross section oriented
no rt h wes t - so u th e as t A -5S0OE
through Crandall intrusive
NSOOW
,
complex, White Mountain
and Heart Mountain. A: 0/ - • - •OM
-...
AV CC AV
Immediately preceding
movement, volcanic gas \ •
,-
I
- "- ..........." --.:::::. c z
(heavy line) is being in- ". PC ' - , PC ' ....... 0-. "-
'cc C "'?
jected from feeder of
.......'"'? "'"',-
White Mountain stock into .......
detachment horizon. B: B
During
During movement, volcan-
ic gas and fluids form
"sill" along most of be"d-
ding-plane portion of de-
•
tachment. C: Immediately
after movement ceased
on detachment, Crandall
intrusive complex is being
"- .......
"-
"-
""""'
-.............."
'-...
injected. AV = Absaroka
Volcanics; C = Cambrian
C After
strata; CC = Crandall
Conglomerate; HM =
Heart Mountain; OM = Or- - ...
CIC

-
HM

.
-0
d ovi ci an - Mis sissipp ian
carbonates; PC = Pre- , -
,
.. '''> "-'-. . .'-...-......:
. . . .~
cambrian crystalline
rocks; PZ = post-Missis-
sippian Paleozoic strata;
• kilometres
2X vertical exaggeration
........... "'"
other symbols as in Fig-
ure 1.

E. Beutner, A. Craven. Geology; July 1996

 ______ - Inferred position of Beartooth fault
___ - Stratigraphic contacts
M Mississippian
D Devonian
o Ordovician
-€ Cambrian

Photograph of curved Precambrian basement surface of the Canyon Mouth anticline, exposed on the south
canyon wall of Clarks Fork River (T56N, R103W). Zones of cataclasis (white lines in gullies) may have
resulted from folding forced by the geometry of the fault plane (from Brown, 1988; reprinted by permission
of Geological Society of America). (Brown, 1993)
 BIGHORN
BASIN

SE

••

NW

.- .--
~. ~ '.::'::.'.

.' -
'.

.-
'•
.- ... 0
-.J<.."
t
•
'v
BEARTOOTH
o' .....
(,,""10
0
0 .'\ WiSE
UPLI FT

g. (Foose et ai, 1986)

Canyon mouth fold, Clark's Fork Canyon, Wyomin
-
--- 8'
---
s...•..,._
, ~

< •••• , -
~ Sit'
---
---

-''C'_

s.•.•. ".. ~,..........

. _- ......

-.-
-t:(.".......

-·-s""",

--""-
--.. -

19
Heart Mountain, northeast of Cody, Wyoming. One of the distal exposures of the Heart Mountain Detachment Fauij. The hanging
wall (or upper plate) is composed of highly faulted Paleozoic rocks. The detachment fault, at about the break in slope, has Eocene
fine grained clastics in its foot wall and is thought by some to have been the ground surface when the upper plate was emplaced.
ViAW nor1hWA~tw~r<1.
 -r,-
" ~ "
.\
.~
:;.
-~
,. >\
{,

>- ;;:r,
." ;

;.
2
The Goose Egg - Alkali anticlinal trend is expressed in the Cretaceous rocks in.the eastern Big
Horn Basin. It is easy to trace the structures in the sandstones of the Frontier Formation (Kf). The
small normal fault on the right (west) side of Goose Egg is easy to pick out. So is the rabbit ear on
the southeast side of Goose Egg. Close inspection will reveal many of the smaller features that
were discussed on the ground stop arid traverse. which are also labeled. Note the en echelon
arrangement with Sheep Mountain Anticline which is in the upper left. View southward.
I I V
I
~.
" o K···~r.:·,
/'"--
."\.
, ",:,. "
\,
,;.~. ~..~.; ~.';. J ..
I

; -' '.\~::.: ~ "

)
",

T
/

\,,," 'lo.,.
 . /
r

j..
'\.. y \-
"

. ,
~
~,
'-
'l>:,...
/
/
/
/
/
/
/

. ,
 ~ '"- .
··u ~ ..- "'\ '7
:Y
..
, ~i

" \"
Y- ::c-
o
""
a.i_Ot "Y V--
; ,
"-! *

.y,.

"

•
';!- K,
Q"

Q"

!.

./
t/
 / -
'.:''''
,
'.

" ,
, ,
"
"

/ , "
, , '

/
"
/
, , ,
, .... , / . ." •
, .... , ,
'. " , ,

w ,; ,~.

,.....
,/ " .... ,
,

....:J ",
, /
<" c
," ,
,_., .' .;;
.
v
, ", ,
/
, <'
,
,. ,'",
. "... ,
,~
,
,
>-
, /, /
'r' ' ,

,
o - .
~,_

,.-
<, ,
,
,/" "=" "
~
, "
• , . ,
,
,
3'
,

a. .'

,
".',
~
.... ,.

C -
...J /
"

W ,
LL. .'

...J
<C , . " "

~ /
,
w - ,
<C ,
.. , ,
"
,

<C ,'.'

Z ,"'-- .....
-
,...

~
Z
o ,
:E , '

- ,," ',---,
,"

,r'
.,,:., , .
, , ,~,-

,, " ,
,"
,I
I
lc,
, .~ ,!
"
.,
-
....', ,.
,
'-,, ,
"
'I' ".
, , , (.~

,,
, .; .>...~' .~ ,
1/" ,{of'"
~

'- . ......... I,. "

" "
 Stratigraphic nomenclature chart, west-central Montana.
~
~
TIME - ROCK @) SOUTHWEST
w UNITS MONTANA
OLIGOCENE

.,.
U
0 0: EOCENE
N
0 ....
Z 0: SPHIf11~~ill~ IOHGUE A.
W W
.... Y,%'~I J, Y, "eo
L1VINGS~T~O~N~::..-~~~~~~§~t~~~~~~e~
U
VOLe. 'Iol.
----t---- 1/ IllM
UVIHGSTO
\lELL CK.
lULLOCK
L[NNEP

UPPER TWO DEARBORN OR UNOIFF. ELKHORN MTNS

IJ. MIHER Ct<,
COKESDAL JUDITH R.
8fARI'AW

MEDICINt:: HOGAN VOLe. UNOIFF,

__V_Ol,.,C 'S_~-f'--",--.J j_-::"""~!,ec",,,,,,,,,E-'.'-'-1'
EAGLE v," , MONTANA a r - EAGLE EAGL(
CRETACEOUS '[lEGRAPH CRUI(
... lAG
TELEGRIIPH
MONTANA
• COLORADO SUM SAM "Tttm-~
---Ie-"'" It II. L H

..
z
0
MARIAS RIVER MARIAS RIVEA COLORADO UPPEA
COLORADO
UPPER COLORADO
FRONTIER EOUIV.
CODY
FRONTIER
~
0:
0
GROUPS ~"~o:-:"~·~;~~;t~L~O~W;';E~R;-----1MOWiiYEOU..!.~V,=~f==~.jo~.~'~''=::::::::d
u LOWER
oJ
0
BLACKLEAF BLACKLEAF BLACKLEAF COLORAOO _.~~~~_ It'(.1t,,,,o,,()II,.j.~iio ... _
0 u RO ... II0T..... "OAK01a"
KOOTEHA, -'--~OOt(NA-'----K(iorrfi'A,-
N CRETACEOUS KOOTENAI KOOT[NfU
0
<11
W
::< JURASSIC

TRIASSIC

PERMIAN
PENNSYLVANIAN

MISSISSIPPIAN

U
0 DEVONIAN
N
0
W
..J SILURIAN
<l
Q.
ORDOVICIAN

CAMBRIAN

z
<l
iil::< UPPER
SERIES SERIES
<l "lAHOOO"
u
w LOWER nol exposed not ellposed nol exposed
0:
Q.

(From McMannis. 1965.)

 I •

The northeastern "corner" of the Beartooth uplift, looking south. The strike of the bounding thrust faults changes from NNE to
WNW. The Paleozoic rocks exposed at the corner are also on the hanging wall. Note the rapid south plunge of the Beartooths at
Clark's Fork Canyon in the background in the center of the view. Note also the flat Paleocene to Miocene erosional surface on top
of the uplift (the Beartooth Plateau).
 Is
'r:
\ r-

:c
 r '

View south along the Bridger Range. Pass Thrust separates terrane with crystalline basement to the south from one with over
3000 m of Proterozoic sedimentary rocks below the Paleozoics. During the Late Cretaceous - Early Tertiary, the Bridgers were the
site of thin-skinned thrusting. The Battle Ridge Monocline is formed over a lateral ramp in the thrust system. Later, the Range
marks the front of a basement - cored uplift. The steeply dipping Mississippian rocks are due to that uplift. The basement core of
the uplift has been dropped beneath the Gallatin Valley by late Tertiary normal faults with over 2000 m displacement.
View north over Nixon Syncline, Logan Anticline and Cottonwood Thrust, Horseshoe Hills. Paleozoics exposed in foreground,
underlain by Precambrian Belt arkoses immediately southwest of photo. Paleozoics exposed in core of Logan Anticline in center of
photo, and in hanging wall of Cottonwood Thrust in upper left of photo. Fine grained Precambrian Belt sediments exposed below
Paleozoics in hanging wall of Cottonwood Thrust in top left of photo. Mesozoics exposed in Nixon Syncline and in footwall of
Cottonwood Thrust.
I I I
View south-southwest along Eustis Syncline toward Three Forks, Montana (junction ot Gallatin, Madison and Jetferson Rivers to
form the Missouri River, which flows north toward the bottom of photo.). Eustis Syncline is in Cretaceous rocks locally covered by
alluvium. Southwest plunging anticline in lett is Horseshoe Anticline, with Precambrian (Belt) sediments in core. West (right) flank of
Eustis Syncline is overturned Cretaceous to Devonian section in footwall of Lombard Thrust, which has Precambrian Belt rocks in its
hanging wall. Thrust appears to die out southwestward into a southwest plunging anticline in the Paleozoics.
'":-\.
T.

Ii
h
I

f~'(t.· I
:
MAP 3
1//
'I It,'/ i
",
View to southwest, of the Elkhorn Mountains. Paleozoic rocks along the north side and a cogenetic Elkhorn volcanic sequence
on the east side have been intruded by the Boulder Batholith. Intrusion took place in at least four phases and compositions range
from gabbro to granijes. The bulk of the plutonic rocks are quartz monzonite. The volcanics and batholiths are approximately 75
m.y. old. In the left foreground is the Spokane Hills, made up of the east dipping Proterozoic and Paleozoic rocks in the west limb
of a north-trending syncline. Note the Canyon Ferry Dam at the lower left, 275 feet high and 1000 feet across.
REGIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP

~ Tertiary volcanics
1:-:-:·:·:·;·:·:1 Mesozoic
_ Paleozoic

c::.:::J Precambrian

OGJ

MONTANA THRUST BELT GEOLOGIC COLUMN

Age Group Formation
Saint Mary River

Two Medicine
Virgelle
Montana
Cretaceous Eagle
Telegraph Creek
Marias River
Colorado
Blackleaf
Kootenai
Morrison
Jurassic
Ellis Swift, Riordan, Sawtooth

LJe.cn an

Missoula
Precambrian
Bett Helena
supergroup

Ravalli

OGJ

Chris Peterson, Robert Nims, Oil & Gas Journal, Aug. 1992
SEISMIC LINE CC-G
o 1 Mile

Unocal 1·B30 Federal o~--- .1.6

.!
Km

Southwest Northeast

U
Q>
~

Q> 2
E
i=

OGJ

NEW INTERPRETAliON ALONG LINE CC·6

Unocal
1·B30
Southwest -<>- Federal Northeast
5!000'~----------'---- ~_ _"'"

i~~::;.-- . . ':::;~p:re~c~a~m=brian
Precambrian Belt
Sea level Belt

-5.000'

-10.000'

-15.000' ....".

-20.000'

Precambrian Belt

4.000·L
o 4.000'
OGJ

Chris Peterson, Robert Nims, Oil & Gas Journal, Aug. 1992
 - ---

VITRINITE REFLECTANCE VS. DEPTH

-

10
0
11 -
D
12 - Eldorado thrust EJ
-=:::::
----

I
13 -

---...
- 14 - Thrust
0
0 O~r o~

~
0
-.- 15 l-
D
-a.
.e
(1)
16 I-
[{j D t
0 0
o 0
17 -
CO
0 Madison top
0
18 -
Wet Gas
19- -
,. .. ,
Gas
20
Oil
0.1 1.0 10.0
Vitrinite reflectance %

OGJ

Chris Peterson. Robert Nims, Oil & Gas Journal, Aug. 1992

--
 .1. J

MAP 4 '
.' -

_~_-f__ -+_T_s _
-/

Klm
 113°00'
\ APPROXIMATE
EAST EDGE OF
GLACIER
DISTURBED BELT

NATIONAL

10 o 10
HHAHA
10 o 10 20 KILOMETERS

Our aerial tr1:> will allow us to examine three areas ot the Sawtooth Range in western Montana. This index map is for
the maps and cross sections that follow. (Mudge. 1982)
 SUBBEL T I

';;)
/1'0
)J!fl
J._.,
J~_:

10
." ..
"
SUBBEL T Il1
SUBBEL T OJ

If iI r
2
I
, I
4
I
6 MILES
I
2 0 2 4 6 KILOMETERS

Insert Map 1 - Geologic Map in the area 01 ourtirst traverse 01 the Sawtooth Range. (Mudge. 1982)
c c'
LEWIS ELDORADO STEINBACH STANDARD OIL
FEET
THRUST THRUST THRUST NO 1 GALSINGER
8000

// 5000
Ku

~~giilllilll~iii~I!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~i~::~K~U~~~~~~
u SEA LE VEL

on
·5000

Xc
·8000

E XPLANA liON

Ku ] Upper Cretaceous rocks Contact

KI I Lower Cretaceous roc,ks Thrust fault. teeth on upper plate

KJ I Lowermost Crelaceous and JurassIc rocks Normal fault. bait and bar on downthrown Side

l\illf.fill PaleOZOIC rocks Transverse fault

I Zd IProterozoIc Z Sill Anticline

I Vb J ProterozoIc Y Belt Supergroup rocks Overturned anticline

r==x<~ Earlier Precambrian Monocline

Syncline

--~I"'1 - - Overturned syncline

.. I Strike and dip of beds

., I Strike and diP 01 overlurned beds

View northwestward at the Sun River Canyon area, Sawtooth Range. Several thrusts are stacked and carry middle Paleozoics over
Jurassic - Cretaceous rocks. Deformed Jurassic - Cretaceous mark the frontal zone of the thrust belt. Note that the Beaver Thrust
and others farther west carry Cambrian on their hanging wall. Note also the large valley of deformed J - K to Ihe west, overlain by
thrusts (Lewis and others) carrying Proterozoic (Belt) rocks.
 \
\
\
Ku \

,,-\ \
\

\
\ Black./eaf Creel<
• Ku \
\
\ \ Ku
Ku \
\ \ '"'"-- EAST EDGE OF
\ ~ \ DISTURBED BELT

.~~~~,
\ \ \\
\ \ 4\
\ ;.\"
'j \,
~O~'r':\\
.
30 \ .. \
\ \ \
Ku 4\ Ku '"
, \
, \,
I

'. ,
'\
\
\
\ Teron R'ver

Ku

!) 0 5 10 MILES
-"..I'..,.---il------,-----'--,- - T I - - - - - - . . . J '
L'---'---rj''-,,-''rr
!5 0 5 10 KILOMETERS

Insert Map 2 - Geologic Map 01 the area 01 our secoll<l traverse 01 the Sawtooth Range. (Mudge, 1982)
r

B B
Z Z
- 0 TEXACO NORTHERN NATL
E.LDORADO o~ NO 1 GOV"T NQLC BLACKLEAF
ZU
THRUST ww PEARSON FEDERAL
KIa) II'l
Yb GULF 8000
Yb #Jy{4~~; Kif NO l-LS
CLARK
Yb 5000

[XPLANA TION

G I(":=J Lowermost Tedliuy and Up!>pr Cft'I.lLt'OU~ :-,db Cont.ll1

L K~ Upper Cfel",ceou~ 'o<..k~ Thlu~1 1;\U1t leelh on UUDPf pl:I!"

G---=:J Lower Clelaceou~ IOl.k~ - - - ' - - - Norm." tOlUn. hi'lll and b;1I on downlhrown !,Id,'

IK.:..J LowermOSI CreliH.. eOLJ~ ,lnd Jur ,1~!,l(... fu(.k~ ----- Tf.lnsvef~e I,ltdl

Dt"] PaleozoIc
~_J ProterOZOIC
,ock~
1
-+-- Anllcllne

Overlufnf'd ,1nll(.lIn.'
!,dl ----tt - -
L_-~'f_Q PrOlerDlOlt Y Bt'll SUIJf"4JOllj) lod.. ~
--+-- Mono<..ltne

Cx-z-J Earlier Precambrian

-+--
-----tT - -
Syn<..llo(·

Ovt~I'lJrnl'(j !'yrH.llnl'

" 1 5'"10.(' .1n(l (lip 01 tw<l :-.

Slrtk., illlll dip 01 "I'd !H,th

" ~ 0\11" hll
View northward of Teton Anticline where ij is cut by the Teton River. Here there are two culminations, cored by Mississippian at the
surface. Lower Mesozoic rocks are folded along wijh the Paleozoic. Note the fracture pallerns, outlined by vegetation on the
Mississippian rocks in the oore.
 \ ,

;1)

( ;
o "
(")0

I
- ,

KI

J Ij
K, i
0- j
I
I M

,I,
I
i
>1(1
,i
. I
•
I

-- -. L ,
K
~,-

J ~,

-~- J
' \

~\
-\
·t~ K,

-/
,;~
rli'
( I ·c
 kbr \

T
1
c!-

) "

~
fr~ J",
.\ ~
J
., . •b,
1
~ °1
,
~,.., ~
,
.,. '"'" •,
) A ." 'b,

•
I K
,

~. .
b

.•
* .1 ""
if

:II
2.
0-

~
KO ,.
\\
•,
b
,b,
J
Gl
<"- ~-T-• - - -' .-
T
.~ ---- KO
'b, ,

t~.~.. \"\--
b

. i :.
J
•,
b

K, I
" .-
i

: , •
,,
I., . ~
I
l
!
"

f~1
."
,I,
Map 6 \
i
'
II 111 .
I I I I I I I I I I I \ '

C
A
GEOLOGY OF THE ROCKV MOUNTAINS; I

CALGARY REGION G
A
LEGEND R
y

Normal Fault
5"00' _-I
1 14 -'5_
/'" / Thrust Faull

Strattgraphic Contact

....... -__ Field Trip Route

~

Field Trip Stop

o Tertiary

Upper Cretaceous Brazeau Gp

o Undivided Triassic - Cretaceous

Undivided Mississippian - Permian

Undivided Devonian

Undivided Cambrian And Ordovician

Precambrian (Hadrynian)

Compiled by K.C. Richards 1991

CompUftd from: Olle,.,.,.haw 1St7S; 1977. Cook 1973, Price In pre..

o • '0 15
KILOMEiRES
 w. ., "
I'
.' ",

"'
\
5000'

",

-<'C'~ '#" t~ !.; .J.;f.:i:,.,;,:.,:;':~,~",:;" : , ., .:'.,,.~:.. ~, '~" ~",: ,-

S .l. "' S.L.

,,00' ··r!~I;~:il;l~i!li;I;"I,IIII~;~~~~~
"
,..
_. .<-~. :.!..,•.,':
---' • . •. . •._.•..',c._.,
.~~,:i1~ .':.~,_ .. '~~~r.)j~~~i~l~~t~~illm
•....•,.'.,
••..•• .•.•;".::::
••,'\.,.::.'

:.

",•
, '. , .'

'{~
.

:<-t'-.~:>~~·,,'1-I-~·
',w,.
..:,",".'.',;.,..'.'.'.,,',.', >g,' .
..
:t

5000'

Oev.

10,000'

FIGURE 8
Sell1 River
Wapiobi
S"ill'l(Hn
Slo,kllon
"'o'a~o Kbh
Kbk
f ,. Kbr
10,000'

SAVANNA CREEK
,,
FEET
5000
,
Siairmore
KaolenoJ - Fernie
t<bl
Jkl
Ro'kJ MIn.· Rundle Mr
Sanff t,lb
®
Oevonion ~ Older Oev.
Aull'lo, F G Fo.
June 1958
I .
I '
 0'0' • 000•

. ~ > . :.
. . : .. '.:: .
... 0':.
:.~.:-':'~'.~:'"
.-

....
. :'.:
00_
•
0-

0-
_-
....... Lewis Termination

.. Misty Termination

N - 0

5 km

Misty

Sulphur Termination

Displacement Transfer
N. Termination of Lewis Thrust

FIGURE 11
 .\

, ,

~~i-'-';.
"."
~ .
.<<;?;,
' ~
'P<. .' f}'\..~t. .
.-" '1\./" .~; . ..
I
.r
 l '

Foot wall syncline and cutoff below the Exshaw Thrust. View northeastward.
 1"
(
=
)"
"

( -
"~
"
)
("
"

LEGEND
o TERTIARY • JURASSIC D DEVONIAN
MIDDLE
CAMBRIAN

c=J
[=::J
UPPER !BELLY RIVER
CRETACEOUS COLORADO

LOWER •
TRIASSIC

MISSISSIPPIAN D
ORDOVICIAN
ll~f~uc?~ti~L~rlAN H.E.

UPPER
D LOWER
CAMBRIAN

CRETACEOUS B PERMO-PENN. CAMBRIAN PRECAMBRIAN

•

FAULTS (MAINLY THRUSTS) - LARGE THRUSTS ~ NORMAL FAULTS

•• • • • • ROUTE OF A.S. P. G. FIELD TRIP, 1968

GEOLOGICAL COMPILATION
BOW RIVER TO NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER
ALBERTA
PREPARED' FOR
THE A.S.P.G. 16th ANNUAL FIELD CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 1968

COMPI LATION BY: P. VERRALL

FROM
GEOLOGICAL REPORTS OF: THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA, RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ALBERTA,
CHEVRON STANDARO LIMITED, ALBERTA SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM
GEOLOGISTS AND AMERI CAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOG ISTS.

CROSS SECTIONS BY: A.W. BALLY, PL.GORDY, G.A. STEWART AND

P VERRALL

oI 5
!
10
!
15 20
I I
Scale In Miles
Map #1
Footwall anticline folds thrust surface resulting in embayment
 -
\ l k
I l .'
-
\
\ • -
\• r

\• ..J
-R E
r

142 143 1
\,
\ • "

I •
\
r
I \ •
I \•
I \•
I
I
\ ---" . ..--' ."

"",>'~'/
~/"
I , ,. , ,-
.'
"',,", """" ~.,~ ' . ' l,.,.

*-_
I
---,~-
line

I "
.' ,," ! , '"
,- I G'IVI •.
." - - .0- "
..... '''."
"I·~·.i.:;

~r'
~_~J{i'-""-':-
I ," , .,
,,- / -(.~?tI
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rice and Mountjoy 1970 { I

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A. CASCADE MOUNTAIN
CASCADE MOUNTAIN - TERMINATION OF RUNDLE THRUST
I
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•

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Mountjoy 1972
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B. MOUNT NORQUAY VERMILION RANGE
I '
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SHELL
JUMPING POUND

10.000'
S.l.

20,000'
~... "r 10,000'

20,000'
•
LEGEND

o TERTiARY
o LOWER PALEO;OIC CLASTICS
•

MESOZOIC (CARDIUM MARKER)

PROTEROZOIC SEDIMENTS
/' .'
,
.
It:.
--
."
--
,
,
PALEOZOIC CARBONATES
__ ·~-,~ ,
SHIELD TYPE 3ASEMENT
oIII
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III
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"TI
i"
a:
 Rocky Mountain Transect
Calgary - Banff - Field
Alberta - British Columbia
TECTONOSTRATIGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

The Canadian Cordillera can be subdivided on the basis of

contrasts in metamorphism, deformation and stratigraphy into
five physiographically distinct belts:
1. the Rocky Mountain Fold and thrust Belt,
2. the Omineca Crystalline Belt,
3. the Intermontaine Belt,
4. the Coast Plutonic Complex,
5. the Insular belt.
On the eastern side of the Cordillera, the Rocky Mountain
Fold and Thrust Belt is characterized by "thin skinned"
shallow detachment thrust faulting and folding of
miogeoclinal strata and younger synorogenic clastic wedge
deposits. West of this belt, the Cordillera is composed of a
collage of allochthonous terranes characterized by Upper
Paleozoic to Mesozoic subduction melange sediments and
associated island arc volcanics and sediments that were
accreted to the North American Craton, mainly in Mesozoic
time. We will visit only the Fold and Thrust belt on this
trip since this is the region with the most significance with
respect to hydrocarbon exploration.
Rocks of the Fold and Thrust Belt can be divided in a gross
sense into two principal stratigraphic packages: (a)
Precambrian to Middle Jurassic carbonates and clastics
(dominantly carbonates) deposited on the margin of the North
American craton in a westward thickening
Platform/miogeoclinal sequence, and (b) Upper Jurassic to
Lower Tertiary synorogenic marine and non-marine clastics
derived from a rising geanticline to the west (Figures 1,2).
These two packages also form two principal lithotectonic
units whose mechanical properties have a strong influence on
structural style.
The Cordilleran fold and thrust belt in this region is
subdivided into three zones based on structural and
physiographic characteristics (controlled to a large extent
by the lithotectonic packages mentioned above) (Figure 3).
They are: Foothills, Front Ranges, and Main Ranges.
We'll be travelling through all 3 of these zones during the
field trips.
FOOTHILLS - Outermost part of thrust belt. Characterized by
mostly recessive, Cretaceous clastic strata at surface, which
are deformed by numerous, closely spaced, west dipping
(foreland verging) thrust faults (see regional cross
section). On the east, the Foothills are usually separated
from the Plains by an east dipping (hinterland verging)
thrust fault at a structure called the triangle zone. To the
west, the Foothills are bounded by the Front Ranges.
Physiography: Mostly low rolling hills with mixed aspen and
spruce forests, and grasslands. Midwinter skiing only in
this region.
FRONT RANGES - The eastern edge of the Front Ranges is
defined by the trace of easternmost thrust fault that places
lower Paleozoic strata on Cretaceous strata (North and
Henderson 1954). Thrust sheets of moderate thickness and
composed mostly of Paleozoic platformal carbonates
characterize this zone (see regional cross section).
Physiography: The Front Ranges comprise a region of long, NW-
SE trending, linear ranges and valleys created by
alternations of resistant and recessive strata (in a gross
sense, each range and adjacent valley correspond to a single
thrust sheet). Rugged peaks of often steeply dipping strata
dominate the skyline. Great skiing in this region December
through April.
MAIN RANGES - The eastern edge of the Main Ranges is defined
by the first thrust fault that carries Precambrian strata to
the surface. Generally thrust sheets are very thick in this
region, and they are dominated by gently dipping lower
Paleozoic miogeoclinal and Precambrian rift strata deformed
by broad open folds. Late stage (post thrusting) normal
faults, which are roughly parallel with regional strike, are
also common in this region. Physiography: The Main Ranges
are characterized by high castellated peaks of Cambrian
strata rimmed with numerous glaciers. The linear fabric of
valleys and ranges seen in the Front Ranges is no longer
apparent since the controlling thrust sheets are so much
broader. Spectacular skiing in this region from November
'til June - deep snow, steep slopes.
 I '

ROCKY MOUNTAINS INTERIOR PLATFORM SHIELD

ROCKY MAIN 'fOOTlilLLS
MOUNTAIN RANGES I
TRENCH ALTAI SASK.

DL

5/0
BASEMENT 3000
\-\UDSONIAN 10000

Vertical
hog~erotion

62.5.
m
,.. ,

-T--~Nr--\-- 150 km

0
I ALTA. ! SASK i 100 miles

PC f 1 \
t, [O~ONTON• I
V:

\ . SCHEMATIC
" /1KCAlGAHY I' •
STRATIGRAPHIC DIAGRAM
I I R(GIHA
-"_..-,_.. _1_ .. _ ..- .. _' FROM THE CANADIAN SHIELD
USA
TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRENCH
11/16

Figure 1
 BANFF AREA
AGE <:3ROUP FORMATION LITHOLOGY
GlACIAL ORFT ~O".""~O
QUATERNARY - 0 . . . . 0 . , ..'

I ..- 0 . -" CfJ (/)

I - ()
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PRECAMBRIAN
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FIGURE 2
 ,. P. SOUTHEFfN CANAQIAN
ROCKY MOUNTAINS

". • PHYSIOGRAPHIC
AND STRUCTURAL
PROVINCES
o
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Figure 3
 PRINCIPAL OIL AND GAS RESERVOIRS
WESTERN CANADA FORELAND BASIN

SERIES GROUP NORTHWESTERN PLAINS SOUTHWESTERN PLAINS EAST-CENTRAL PLAINS

GLACIAL DEPOSITS
OR GLACIAL DEPOSITS
TERTIARY OR
c TERTIARY
z
c GLACIAL DEPOSITS
~
z
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SECOND WHITE MARINE SHALE

SPECKLED SH. 55.*
0
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U. JUR.
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PALEOZOIC

L. JUR.
TRIASSIC

Generalized Western Canada foreland basin wedge, exhibiting principal oil- and gas-producing reservoir
units. Porter, 1982
 1750

AEMAINING
ESTABLISHED
RESERVES
2,496.8 II. 10~BBLS
1500 139.3%)

(/)
w
>
0:
W 1250 RELATIONSHIP OF CUMULATIVE PRODUCTION
(/) RELATIONSHIP OF CUMULATIVE PRODUCTION
w- TO REMAINING RESERVES OF CONVENTIONAL OIL TO REMAINING RESERVES OF CONVENTIONAL Oil PLUS
o:~ ASSOCIA TEO WITH NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS ASSOCIATED WITH
WESTERN CANADA FORElAND BASIN Oil FIELDS
wi:!
...Ja: AS OF DEC. 31, '985.
WESTEAM CANADA FORElAND BASIN
AS OF DEC. 31,1985 .
00<
<tID
o:u. z
WO 1000 w
w WESTERN CANADA FORElAND BASIN
~ RELATIONSHIP OF FIELD SIZE TO CONVENTIONAL RESERVES
>'"
OZ o
z
U Q w CUM,
I.E.R. R.E.R.
o FIELD SIZE NO. PROD
106 B8LS 106SDlS
W:::
o:~
'"
w
~
~ GrANT> 500x 106 BBLS 1 1,675.4
I068BlS

1,089.9 585.5
zw ~ MAJOR> 10DIll06BBlS 2 279.6 203.3 76.3
200 MINOR > lOx 106BBLS 7. 2,337.0 1,558.2 778.6
> ~
~ DWARF < 10M 105BBLS 353 5B1,3 280.4 300.9
0 >- u
~ TOTAL 432 4,873.3 3,131.8 1,741.5
0:
a. '">0 ~
0
~
BASED ON TOTAL NUMBER OF STRATIGRAPHICALLY DIFFERENTIATED POOLS
0 M
CONTAINEO WITHIN A DESIGNATED GEOGRAPHIC AREA
~
0- ro
;'
.,;
100
'" "'"o
~

"z
~
~
o
<0
oi
'"
1940 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 1986
YEAR OF DISCOVERY

Chronology of discovery and size distribution of major oil fields discovered in the Western Canada
foreland basin. Total reserves of conventional oil and conventional oil plus natural gas liquids are indicated in the
accompanying pie diagrams. Porler. 1982
DAY ONE

The objective of the first day is to conduct a transect

through the Rockies near Banff so that we can observe the
styles of deformation in the Foothills, Front Ranges, and
Main Ranges. As indicated above, the structural styles in
these belts is controlled principally by the mechanics of the
lithotectonic packages exposed in each. In addition, we will
observe examples of structures that occur in thrust belts
around the ,~orld, including: fault bend and fault propagation
folds, folded thrusts, lateral ramps, in-sequence and out-of-
sequence faults, and tear faults.

FIELD TRIP STOPS

STOP ~ COPITHORNE RIDGE

OBSERVE: a) surface tectonic boundary between

Foothills Belt and Plains
b) physiographic expression of Foothills
structures
c) Jumping Pound gas field and the
relationships of subsurface Paleozoic gas
traps to surface geologic expression

This stop provides a view from the eastern edge of the

Foothill Belt of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Copithorne
Ridge is a north-northwest trending feature held up by the
relatively resistant sandstones of the Upper Cretaceous Belly
River Formation (see Map 1). These strata are steeply east-
dipping and form the east limb of the Jumping Pound
anticline. While this anticline approximately overlies the
Jumping Pound gas field, the surface fold is detached from
the structure below by the Brazeau Thrust (Figure 6a). A
more subdued, gently dipping anticline in the Upper Paleozoic
carbonates lies in the deep subsurface and is effectively
concealed from surface expression.

The Jumping Pound gas field represents the frontal break of

Paleozoic strata in the fold and thrust belt and was
discovered by Shell in 1944. Initial gas in place is
estimated to have been 840 BCF (over 430 BCF produced to
date) with average well deliverabilities 29 MMCFPD.

Many ridges similar to Copithorne Ridge can be seen across

the Foothills Belt, however, the attitude of bedding within
these features is usually west dipping. They represent
imbricate repetitions of resistant sand units on west dipping
thrusts. As we proceed west toward the Front Ranges we will
observe these structural repeats as well as drive over the
Jumping Pound West Field (2.2 TCF IOGIP).
~ From Ollerenshaw 1976
 Fig 6 Jumpingpound West Field

.-'-'

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 Jumpingpound Field

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-----~.- From Ollerenshaw 1976 !__ G~S.C.

--- ......
METRES

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MOUNTAIN ,.. " .1I1OU

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Sadion J
..
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MAP 1265A
._----- --. --.. From Price and Mountjoy 1970

I t
• 'SOD

-2000
STOP 2: MOUNT YAMNUSKA

OBSERVE a) characteristic ramp-flat geometry of

thrust trajectories in fold belt setting
b) physiographic expression of Paleozoic
stratigraphy

At this stop the McConnell Thrust is exposed along the base

of Mount Yamnuska and Goat Mountain north of the Bow River
(Figure 7, Map 2). The thrust juxtaposes resistant Cambrian
carbonates over Upper Cretaceous clastics of the Belly River
Fm (Figure 6b). Displacement along the McConnell Thrust at
this locality is at least 35 km. Note that the thrust
surface and overlying strata dip to the west under Goat
Mountain and dip gently to the east under Mt Yamnuska.
Seismic data north of the stop indicate that the thrust
beneath the west limb of the fold cuts up-section in the
footwall. The gentle east dip of the flat section of this
ramp-flat geometry forms the east limb of a fold developed
due to movements along underlying thrusts.
Above the McConnell Thrust the Cambrian Eldon Fm in Mount
Yamnuska and Goat Mountain is deformed by numerous minor
thrust faults that splay off of the McConnell. These minor
faults thicken the Eldon to approximately 2 times its
stratigraphic thickness in Goat Mountain and yet do not
deform the overlying Devonian strata.
 Millor l'alJatilida Fill.
(vasa/ Devvllill/l)

Mt. Yamnuska

Skcll.:h hV 0 K. NU.IIs
.Flgure 7
Mount Yamnuska and tho McConnoll Thrust
(From Norrl5 .nd BIIiV. 19121
 .,
\ )
\
)
\ ,
,,
\ ,,
,

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\ 142 143 1
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MAP 2
--

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•
- "'. '-
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~~~ From Price and Mountjoy 1970 :
,
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\
,-
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\
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'
STOP 3: LAC DES ARCS

OBSERVE: a) imbricate thrusts within the McConnell thrust

sheet
b) Heart Mountain structure
The southwesterly-dipping Paleozoic strata lying above the
McConnell Thrust Fault are repeated across two smaller thrust
faults that branch off the McConnell Thrust. The eastern of these
is the Exshaw Thrust; the western is the .Lac des Arcs Thrust
(Figures 6b,9). The southwest-dipping Exshaw Thrust Fault here
places the uppermost Devonian Palliser Formation over the Upper
Mississippian part of the Rundle Group. The Lac des Arcs Thrust
repeats the Cambrian and Upper Devonian to Lower Pennsylvanian
section. Thus, the distinctive Middle Paleozoic sequence
comprising cliff-forming massive limestone of the Palliser
Formation, the recessive shaly limestone of the Banff Formation,
and the cliff-forming bedded limestone of the Rundle Group occurs
three times in the surface expression of the McConnell thrust
sheet. The excavations across the valley are limestone quarries
for the Exshaw cement plant.
Heart mountain forms a peculiar localized thrust stack along the
Exshaw Thrust. The "heart" is composed of a fault bounded canoe
shaped body of rock· that plunges steeply to the north near the
highway (Figure 10). Detailed work (Riggert and Spratt 1984)
suggests that the thrust stack formed in an east-to-west sequence
contrasting the normal west to east sequence of imbrication in the
region (Figure 11).
 LAC DES ARCS

Sketch bV R.A. Prh:e .nd E. Fern.ndO

Figure 9 The Fairholme Mountains across Lac des Arcs
{Prom Prlce.t II., 1971.
 I '

HEART MOUNTAIN

F I Dur 0 10 . Henri Mounlain. looking ~oulh from Hwy 1. afler Price anrl Fernanrlo willi geology from V.L. Riggarl.
Universily of Calgnry. 1903..
 ..
HE
...
sw
Thrust 2
70.. " t tThrust 3
701.

lO~
65 "l. 65

Met
60 60
Mm.

55 Mm' 55

SO 50
" ",. Op. bf
45 45

40 40
"bf

35 35
'" '"
30 30

25 Op. 25

20 20
, ,
15 True Scale 15
.100

..... 10

10.

From
Riggert & Spratt
FIGURE 11. e. 1984
STOP 4: THE THREE SISTERS AND WHITE MAN GAP

OBSERVE: a) trailing edge of McConnell Thrust Sheet and

overriding Rundle Thrust.
b) synclinal fold in Rundle Thrust and its
termination at a tear fault
c) Palliser, Banff, Rundle succession
The Bow River Valley at this point follows the recessive Upper
Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous Kootenay Formation in the upper part of
the McConnell Thrust Sheet. This formation, up to 1.2 km thick,
consists of synorogenic nonmarine sandstone and mudstone with coal
seams. To the northeast, the Fairholme Range consists of
resistant beds of the upper Rundle Group. The Three sisters and
White Man Gap occur in the Rundle thrust sheet. The trace of this
thrust fault is marked by a relatively abrupt change in slope,
with resistant shallow marine lime mudstones of the Palliser
Formation and less resistant stromatoporoid-rich dolomites of the
Fairholme Group occurring in the hangingwall above the thrust
trace. A prominent synclinally folded portion of the Palliser
Formation occurs in the lower of the Three Sisters, bounded below
by the Rundle Thrust and several small imbricates, and above by a
single imbricate of the Rundle Thrust (Figures 6b,12). The folds
terminate northwest of the Three sisters against a northeasterly
trending transverse fault near White Man Gap (Figure 13, Map 3).
The middle and upper Sisters represent a normal stratigraphic
sequence from the massive cliff forming Palliser (middle Sister)
through the recessive deep water Banff shale and siltstone, to the
cliff forming shelf packstone and grainstone of the Livingstone
Formation forming the upper part of the highest sister (Spang et
~ 1981).
Cambrian strata are exposed in the Rundle thrust at White Man Gap,
and belong to the Eldon, Pika, Arctomys and Lynx formations. More
Cambrian units are preserved under the sub-Devonian unconformity
in the Rundle Sheet than in the McConnell Sheet and this trend
continues westward through the Front Ranges and into the Main
Ranges.

Figure 12 The Three Sisten South of Canmore

Mount Rundl' Thrust Pl.te o ....rrtdinq fronnl fold _nd frontal imbricate.
 s
,•
!
i
•
,,•
i
""OUNT .VNOLl
••
WHITE MAN
GAP

Figure 13 The Rundle Thrust-Sheet at White Man Gap near Canmore

(From Price et el.. 1911)
STOP 5: CASCADE MOUNTAIN

OBSERVE: a) classic Palliser-Banff-Rundle 'sandwich'

b) disharmonic folding
c) overturned Jurassic/cretaceous foreland basin
sequence in Mount Allan syncline

The main mass of the Rundle Thrust Sheet towers over the highway
in Cascade Mountain where beds of the Palliser Formation and the
Rundle Group form the rugged cliffs that are separated by the
shaly beds of the Banff Formation. Note the disharmonic folding
between the Palliser Formation and the Rundle Group.

The outcrops along the northeast side of the highway provide an

opportunity to examine the lower part of the Jurassic/Cretaceous
Kootenay Group and the upper part of the Upper Jurassic Fernie
Group. The succession is in the overturned southwestern limb of
the Mount Allan syncline, probably a large fault propagation-type
fold (note that Suppe's basic fault propagation fold does not
isolate syncline in the footwall) (Map 4).
The sequence comprises dark grey marine turbidite shales and
sandstones of the Fernie Group and represent the first west-
derived sediments shed from the rising Cordillera to the west.
The upward increasing sandstone content (Passage Beds) reflect
gradual shallowing into cross-bedded shallow marine sandstones of
the Lower Kootenay Group (Figure 15). A few large fossilized tree
stumps and logs occur in the transition zone. The many small
faults and folds in the Fernie Group indicate that the section has
been tectonically thickened. This deformation style is typical of
this group which commonly forms a decollement zone between the
Mesozoic exogeoclinal sequence above and the Paleozoic
miogeoclinal sequence below.
 COAL :E COAL
~

--
,

L_-c:--_/
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IT
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Figure 15 Jurassic stratigraphy at Banff T rafflc Circle

 12

sn
 I '

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Price and Mountjoy 1972

 CASCADE MOUNTAIN EXERCISE

Included in your guidebook are two black and white oblique

airphotos (A & B) and a topographic index map. Sketch as much
geology on the photos and map as possible including stratigraphic
contacts, faults, etc. What is the relationship between the
Rundle Thrust and the Sulphur Mtn. Thrust (the next one to the
west; Vermillion Range).
A. CASCADE MOUNTAIN
B. MOUNT NORQUAY VERMILION RANGE
 -
...
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I '
STOP 6: MOUNT NORQUAY
OBSERVE: a) Front Range structural sequence of thrust
repetition
From this stop the four major thrust sheets that comprise the
Front Ranges can all be seen (Figure 18). From east to west, these
sheets are: the McConnell, Rundle, sulphur Mountain, and Bourgeau.
Three repetitions of the cliff-forming Rundle Group demarcate
these thrust sheets, plus the Middle Cambrian-capped ridge of the
Bourgeau Thrust. In general, the repetitions form a west-dipping
imbricate fan, a style of thrust geometry common to the present
level of exposure in the Front Ranges.

The Lower Paleozoic platform-miogeocline boundary is present in

this part of the Front Ranges. Each thrust sheet to the west
exposes younger Lower Paleozoic strata below the base-Fairholme
(Upper Devonian) unconformity. Additionally, all the Cambrian,
Devonian, and Mississippian strata are thicker in the western
thrust sheets.

E w

Sketch by D.H. Roeder

Figure 18 Imbricate Thrust Plates of the Front Ranges near Banff

(From ROeder, 1967)
STOP 7: SAWBACK RANGE
OBSERVE: a) steep dips in Paleozoic strata
b) tear faults in Bourgeau Thrust Sheet

The south end of the Sawback Range is a natural cross-section

through the Borgeau Thrust sheet. The lower Paleozoic succession
is thicker and more complete than in the more easterly Front
Ranges. steep dips in the Sawback Range are the result of upward
and backward rotation of this thrust sheet by underlying thrust
sheets to the east, demonstrating an eastward or foreland
progression of thrusting.
Several small northeasterly trending transverse faults that cross
the south end of the Sawback Range are responsible for the offsets
in continuity of stratigraphic units that can be seen there (Map
5, Photo). On the map it can be seen that the principal
transverse fault appears to both offset and be offset-by thrust
faults in the region. Perhaps all these faults acted as an array,
moving concurrently as the thrust sheet deformed.
 R 13

, .j
,'
\

~"'-~\.
"-
i
Tp 25
N
From Price and Mountjoy 1972
GROUND VIEW NORTH
I '
 I '

SAWBACK
RANGE j/
~
~

"
~l.. ".3
"eo

~I""""""" "o
z
-«
<I). "
>;"

.
Mm'

Mlv

From Price and Mountjoy 1972

MAP 1295A MAP 1294A

STOP 8: CASTLE MOUNTAIN VIEWPOINT

OBSERVE: a) nearby flat-lying beds typical of the eastern

Main Ranges
b) thickening of Cambrian strata relative to
the sequence in the Front Ranges
c) landslide mass comprising Triassic strata
d) Brazeau Sheet Plunging under the Main Ranges

The castellated peaks, relatively flat-lying beds, and broad, open

folds typical of the eastern Main Ranges sUbprovince provide a
sharp contrast with the Front Ranges. The Castle Mountain massif
lies above the Castle Mountain thrust fault, one of several
imbricate branches from the Simpson Pass thrust fault, which marks
the eastern limit of the Main Ranges at this latitude (Map 6).
All the Lower and Middle Cambrian formations exposed in Castle
Mountain (Figure 22) are considerably thicker than their
counterparts further east due to a westward change from platform
to miogeocline. For example, the Lower Cambrian quartz sandstone
sequence of the Gog Group, which is about 300 m thick in the
Castle Mountain thrust slice, is more than 1000 m thick in a
higher thrust slice on the opposite side of the Bow River Valley.
The underlying Hadrynian (Late Proterozoic) clastic rocks of the
Miette Group occupy most of the valley floor between Castle
Mountain and Lake Louise.
To the southwest of the highway, upper Paleozoic strata in the
Bourgeau Thrust Sheet are present in pilot Mountain. These strata
form a large anticline that plunges to the north under the Castle
Mountain Thrust and the Main Ranges. The hummocky terrain along
the Bow River Valley southeast of Castle Mountain is a landslide
mass consisting of strata of the Triassic Spray River Group which
have been detached from the scarp upslope, in the core of the
Johnston Creek syncline. (Adapted from Price et al .. 1981.)
 Sketch by R.A. Price end E. FernandO
Figure 22 Mount Eisenhower
(From Price et .1., 1971)
 I I '

,'.-
~

/
.
I
.
I
}

I
.
.! /
I

,
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1\
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 I '

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RIDGE
MOUNT . .. . . .. .
EISENHOWER

/
MI,

emi
._----..,......-'~
-- ----
~

_ .. _._~~~;;7/ ~
From Price a nd Mountjoy 1972
STOP 9: LAKE LOUISE

OBSERVE: a) typical eastern Main Ranges physiography

b) thicker Cambrian sequence than observed at
stop 8
Lake Louise formed as the result of deposition of a massive
terminal moraine by the glacier which once filled the whole valley
but now only occurs beyond the lake on Mount Victoria.

The rugged cliffs surrounding the valley of Lake Louise are

typical of topography within the eastern Main Ranges. The
stratigraphic sequence is similar to but thicker than that on
Castle Mountain. The quartz sandstones of the Lower Cambrian Gog
GrOUp form the prominent cliffs on either side of the lake, and
overlie Precambrian rocks which floor the valley (Map 7). The
Middle Cambrian Mount Whyte Formation occurs at the base of Mount
victoria and is overlain by the prominent cliffs of the Cathedral
Formation. The hanging glacier occurs in the recessive interval
represented by the Stephen Formation which underlies massive
bedded carbonates of the Eldon Formation. The Pika Formation
carbonates occur at the mountain peak.

STOP 10: SHERBROOKE CREEK AND SPIRAL TUNNELS LOOKOUT

OBSERVE: a) late stage normal faults

From the Junction with Highway 93 to near the continental Divide

at Kicking Horse Pass the Trans-Canada Highway traverses a
southwest-dipping homocline in the Miette strata lying above the.
simpson Pass Thrust. This is the northeast limb of the Sherbrooke
Creek syncline, a broad fold with a very thick section of middle
and upper Cambrian carbonate rocks in its core, that is cut by
southwest-dipping normal faults, one of which follows Cataract
Brook.

At the spiral Tunnel Lookout there is a view of one of two spiral

tunnels by way of which the Canadian Pacific railroad climbs from
the deep'valley of Yoho Creek to Kicking Horse Pass. The Yoho
Valley, to the north, is the locus of the southwest-dipping
Stephen-Cathedral normal fault Which crosses the southwest
shoulder of Mount Field, where the Eldon Formation has been
dropped into contact with the Gog (Map 8). From there it extends
across the highway and up Monarch Creek between Cathedral Crags
and Mount Stephen. The section on Mount Field comprises the Gog,
Cathedral, Stephen and Eldon Formations, and Mount Wapta to the
north is a klippe of Stephen and Eldon strata that has overridden
these beds from the west.
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Printed by the SUfVl!yS and MappinC BranCh,lS 8e
MAP 1483A
From Price et aL 1980
STOP 11: FIELD, BRITISH COLUMBIA

OBSERVE: a) Cambrian aged carbonate bank margin

b) change in structural style due to change in
lower Paleozoic lithology.
The transition from the thickest development of the Middle
Cambrian carbonate facies to a laterally equivalent shale or slate
facies, occurs near Field, British Columbia and marks the boundary
between the Eastern and Western Main Ranges (Figure 28).
Stratabound lead-zinc'deposits, which formed in a dolomitized zone
at the bottom of the Cathedral Formation near this carbonate bank
margin, occur on Mounts Stephen and Field where some of the old
mine workings are still visible (Ney, 1954).

Massive carbonate rocks on the east side of Mount Stephen (Figures

29,30) grade, into argillaceous carbonate rocks interbedded with
greenish grey state on the west side. This is the transition to
the Chancellor Formation and the zone across which the pervasive
cleavage appears. Lateral equivalents of the Mount Whyte,
Cathedral, Stephen, Eldon and pika Formations are represented by
the Lower Chancellor. The Arctomys and Waterfowl Formations are
represented by the Middle Chancellor; and the Sullivan Formation
is equivalent to the Upper Chancellor (Cook, 1970). Thicknesses
of these units increase more than twofold across the transition
zone, but the relative proportions of tectonic and sedimentary
thickening have yet to be established but penetrative. strain
within the shale-dominated sequence appears capable of explaining
at least 50% to 70% of the increase in thickness. West of this
stop in the western Main Ranges, the structure is characterized by
complex flexural-flow and passive-flow folds, and the development
of a pervasive axial planar slaty cleavage. This cleavage fans
through the Porcupine Creek Fan Structure, which is characterized
by a progressive westward change from southwest ot northeast-
dipping faults, and axial planes (Balkwill 1972, Gardner and Price
1979) .
 SCHEMATIC CROSS-SECTION
SW VICinity of M t, Field- M t. Ste phen NE

.i-'IKA FORMAT 101\

- . / ELDON ...L,./_,--i
f--
bloCk bcu'lCf -
_<I:
.. / / / /
-~
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/ /
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"thin" SiEPHEN FM

------- '/

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--.J-- FORMA TION{3I P '00""0, CATH/~nRA'

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MEMBER _ '. FORMATION-",

;.--<

Fiqure 28 Schem:a.tic crew-section ~howing form2.tions e:q>osed along the Trans-Canada

HiSbway bet ....een Mt. Field and Me Stephen. ThicknC5SeS are gre:llly e::u,ggeralcd
rebtiY'!: to hOrU:onul disuncx. The approximate: position of tbe Burgc:ss Qua-cry is
looted at "F." A huY}' dot led £jne: m:ulu the bound:a.ry ble:twcen Lbc Clossopkura
Zone: (Gl and Lbc BOlJr.)I,u;scw-ElfClAi,u3 Zam: (B-E) (From Frln. 1971)
EAST WEST

Sj(etch by I .A. Mdlreath

WEST EAST

----------------------~~.'lChdb,V I A Mcllrealh
Skelch V . .

Figure 30 Mount Field

 I I ,

\
'I
,

"- C
A
- ,• •
CALGARY REGION G
A
LEGEND R
y

Normal Fault

/'/ Thrust Fault

..-/ - Stratigraphic Contact

-....... -__ Field Trip Route

Field Trip Stop

.-

Tertiary

Upper Cr.eloceous Brazeau Gp

Undivided Triassic - Cretaceous

Undivided Mississippian - Permian

Undivided Devonian

Undivided Cambrian And Ordovician

Precambrian (Hadrynian)

Compiled by ICC. Richar-ds 1991

CompUed. "om: Ollerenshaw 1975; 1977, Cook ·1973, Price in pr.•55

.-
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CITADEL PEAK
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•
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• (PROJECTED 8500 It NWj
PILE OF BONES CREEK

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 Rocky Mountain Field Trip
Displacement Transfer and
Second Order Structures

Barrier Peak - Longview

Alberta
DAY TWO: BARRIER LAKE TO LONGVIEW

This part of the trip takes us south of the Bow River valley
along strike within the Front Ranges. The focus of this trip
will be second order features within the thrust belt
including complications within thrust sheets and the
interactions between sheets. We spend much of the day
looking at the displacement transfer associated with the
northern termination of the Lewis Thrust. We will also see
twc scales of duplexing, several tear faults, and visit the
Triangle zone at the eastern edge of the Fold and Thrust
Belt.

STOP 1: BARRIER PEAK THRUST STACK

OBSERVE: a) large duplex in leading edge of
McConnell Thrust sheet
The Barrier Peak Thrust Stack is a large duplex in the
immediate hanging wall of the McConnell Thrust and is an
example of extremely complex structure near the leading edge
of a major thrust sheet.
Barrier Peak itself is composed of a number of horses of
mostly Devonian and Cambrian strata above the McConnell
Thrust. The uppermost thrust (roof thrust) in this duplex
zone passes right through the road cut and places Middle
Cambrian rocks on upper Devonian rocks. Up the hill to the
northwest, this thrust develops two major footwall imbricates
and a host of minor ones. Some of these can be viewed at the
old quarry.
The old quarry represents a cross-section of thrust sheets in
which two formations can be distinguished: In the western
part of the quarry, Mississippian crinoidal packstone and
mudstone of the Upper Banff Fro can be observed in a steeply-
dipping folded slab face. This slab is internally splayed by
curviplanar reverse faults. Sheared crinoid ossicles,
bryozoans and corals can be observed along the fault planes.
In the central and eastern part of the quarry, folded
limestones of the Upper Devonian Palliser Fro are internally
splayed by a fanning network of steep faults. The chaotic
appearance of the slabs of the eastern side of the quarry is
the result of the crosscutting of faults.
The McConnell Thrust here places Middle Cambrian strata on
Upper Cretaceous and is a major thrust fault. Toward the end
of the day we will cross the McConnell again, this time
farther south where it has lost much of its stratigraphic
throw and is a relatively minor thrust.
 <: 3Hn81=l
LB6l laJne~ Jail\>'
I II J;; 'p J'\ '///1 'J// /0

,;ZfJ~~~~- ~~~_ ~q~( JflJY

I //1 J '

~
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--- ......... ."..- - - -- I - . /.¥.: _
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.
3 M

LB6l laJnE~ JellE

~ 3Hn81=l
/y"1"f/h.--Y v v v V v 'v
VVVVVV

),fead J&!JJea 'Uri <>SOOri

MS 3N
 ~

Mbf

Dpa
\
Miss. BanH
Miss. Exshaw
Dev. Palliser
J460

~
~

~
Dev. Alexa
Dsx Dev. Southesk
Dev. Cairn _ 0" \
£amb. Pika ':,
0
-eel £amb. Eldon

~
bx breccia

50 m
m

!
0
;;
~
0 '"0
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~
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3
m

\ Redrawn from

\ L Maurel P. Simony
1988

FIGURE 3
 'V

"
".;
<- .~

-~ - '"
o .. / __.
cr
d
•
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,
L ~. ,'-
t::

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7./
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___
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)

-.
\

f '--
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j !
!!

.I
f
/

From Maurel 1987

 (

SW A A' NE
Feet km L
<:1-
'" ~.
~ ....
~
10000 3 ..............
....
~::::;;7"

9000
........
8000

7000
2
6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

S.L. 0 .. ,,, , 11 ''' 11'''' "", ..'

From Maurel 1987

BARRIER THRUST
STOP 2: FOOTWALL RAMP OF THE EXSHAW THRUST
OBSERVE: a) footwall ramp in Exshaw Thrust
The McConnell Thrust Sheet is about 5 km thick here or more
than 1.5 times the total stratigraphic thickness of the
Cambrian to lower Cretaceous formations involved. This
thickening is the result of thrust fault and fold
complications within the sheet. The Exshaw thrust is one of
these complications. Her", the thrust passes over a
substantial footwall ramp in the Palliser and Banff
Formations. The Banff Pm is folded into a syncline while the
ramp in the Palliser is thickened by faulting.

SKETCH CROSS SECTION OF GEOLOGY BELOW VALLEY BOTTOM

CONSIDERING PARTICULARLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
PALLISER FM IN THE HANGING WALL AND IN THE FOOTWALL.
 sw NE

-- --- I\~
1\

FIGURE 6 , after Maurel 1987

I .
I '
 62

Figure 37. Detailed geological map of the Mount Kidd - Limestone Mountain area, with
1000 m UTM grid lines. See Figure 36 for legend. Geology by G.S. Stockmal, P.S. Simony
and IAR. Halladay, in Kubli and Leibel, 1992.
STOP 3: RUNDLE THRUST AT MOUNT KIDD
OBSERVE: a) imbricate fault above Rundle Thrust
b) lower Palliser detachment
c) somewhat reduced displacement on Rundle
thrust as compared to Canmore
Here the Rundle thrust carries Upper Devonian and
Mississippian carbonates over Jura-Cretaceous clastics in the
trailing edge of the McConnell Thrust Sheet. The lowest
cliff band on Mt Kidd is a repeated section of the Upper
Devonian Palliser Fro. A narrow line of scree slopes in the
middle of this cliff represents the thrust fault that rides
in the lower Palliser Fro in the hanging wall and at the top
of the Palliser Fro in the Footwall. The detachment near the
base of the Palliser seen here is probably the same as the
one observed at stop 2 in the Exshaw Thrust.
In addition the Rundle Thrust has lost a small amount of its
stratigraphic separation as compared to the Canmore area just
to the northwest. Near Canmore, the Rundle Th carried some
Middle Cambrian strata at the surface, in contrast, upper
Devonian Palliser Fm is the oldest strata at surface here.

STOP 4: TERMINATION (TIP) OF THE LEWIS THRUST

OBSERVE: a) fold pair at termination of a major
thrust fault
b) possible illustration of how some
faults propagate
From a gravel parking area on the south side of Rocky Crk, we
have view of the folds on the ridge of Mount Kidd and of the
surface termination (or tip) of the Lewis Thrust at the foot
of the cliffs of Mississippian carbonates on the west side of
the Kananaskis River. The folds form a train of angular
detachment folds associated with the Lewis Thrust and- an
eastern splay exposed in Rocky Crk. The thrust and its splay
have tip ~ines in the cores of the two anticlines rather that
in the synclinal hinges as would be predicted by the simple
angular fault propagation model. A small thrust cuts the
Upper Mt Head Fro in the core of the syncline, cuts across
part of its west limb and then passes into bedding. This
fault clearly does not cut the Banff-Livingstone contact and
therefore is not directly linked with the Lewis Thrust. We
can imagine, however, that had strain continued, the Lewis
Thrust and the small fault would have propagated and joined.
We are witnessing an arrested stage of the complex process of
propagation of the Lewis Thrust.
 61
sw MOUNT KIDD NE

Figure 36. Line drawing of Mount Kidd as viewed looking northwest from Rocky Creek.
Modified from Price (1972) by P.S. Simony. From Kubli and Leibel, 1992.

LEGEND

Jkk = Jurassic-Cretaceous Kootenay Formation

PPRm= Permian-Pennsylvanian Rocky Mountain Group
MEt = Mississippian Etherington Formation
MMh = Mississippian Mount Head Formation
MLv = Mississippian Livingstone Formation
MBU = Mississippian Banff Formation, Upper and Middle
MBL = Mississippian Banff Formation, Lower
MEx = Mississippian Exshaw Formation
Dpa = Devonian Palliser Formation

LT = Lewis Thrust
RT = Rundle Thrust
 I '

FIGURE 9
Fl.
8000 r::::':":"----------------------~---------...,
SW
\ --if.
;'" I) I
/.----.,.~',
'
,
NE

7000
'\
'\
/ ,,'
.... /
I
, "
,-

"
, ...
... - ;
/ '' I
1/ /fl'
(\
/I / r i2"
. \ '\.,"
if)
I
,
"
\. -.
,'\.......
1\
-' "
",~'
,
, "
1 ," \ //
~
\ / C/)

6000 I \. , .
_ -'
l," I , 1 \ ' ,""
"I' \ l. - .. - - - z -, , , ,... \ / ' ,'./
" .. 1 ~ \ ,..., \ \,j. - -'\ ,~, /
->-'Z:::t:D<' I \ I ;2 \% ..--" " I,::.-.:-;.:.';' ,/ I
-1 - - - -.- -
_J" I'"
- /
5000 /

I I /
/ / //(/
4000

D. PALLISER
w
! L. CRETACEOUS
(KOOTENAY {

/I / / l
f I '
2000
D. PALLISER

RUNDLE THRUST 1000

I
2000 !
-
3000,

FEET

1!J:s.
,
1000'----------------------------------.....;.....;.;;..;,.--1
CROSS-SECTION ILLUSTRATING TERMINATION OF LEWIS THRUST IN KANANASKIS VALLEY
Drawn by P. Simony
 I '

Figure 14. Aerial view N of the southern tennination of the Sulphur Mountain thrust. Compare the gradual loss of dis-
placement of this feature with the abrupt loss seen at the southern tennination of the Misty thrust.
Figure 13. Geologic map showing the southern termination of the Sulphur Mountain
thrust. Compare the gradual loss of displacement of this feature with the
abrupt 10 s of displacement of the Misty thmst at its southern termination
(scale I: 100,000; modified from GSC map 1865A, 1995).
12
STOP 5: LEWIS THRUST AT ELPOCA MOUNTAIN
OBSERVE: a) increased stratigraphic separation on
Lewis Thrust
b) major fold pair in Jura-Cretaceous
strata with parasitic fold
The Lewis Thrust sheet is represented by the limestone peak
in the west flank of Elpoca Mountain, where Mississippian
strata are thrust over the Jura-Cretaceous Kootenay
Formation. We are now approximately 30 km along strike from
the Northern termination of the Lewis Thrust visited at Mount
Kidd. The stratigraphic separation across the thrust
continues to increase to the southeast, and just south of
here both Kootenay and overlying Blairmore strata are present
in the footwall of the Lewis Thrust.
As the Lewis Thrust is gaining displacement to the southeast,
the Rundle thrust (just to the east) is losing displacement
in the same direction. Displacement is transferred from the
Rundle to the Lewis through a common basal detachment. In
the Misty Range just to the east of the Highway, the Rundle
Thrust repeats only Paleozoic strata and finally dies out (at
Mt Kidd where the Lewis Th began, the Rundle Th repeated
Devonian through Cretaceous). From fault tip to fault tip
the Rundle Thrust is approximately 110 km long (remember we
saw the northern tip of the Rundle thrust at Cascade Mountain
near Banff).
The Rundle Thrust is not the only one involved in
displacement transfer with the Lewis - the Sulphur Mountain
Thrust, just to the west of the Lewis, is also dying out to
the south in this region. At the eastern edge of the Front
Ranges the McConnell Thrust carries only upper Paleozoic
strata at surface. Other thrusts are picking up displacement
to the south including the Misty and Coleman Thrusts.

ELPOCA MOUNTAIN

Sketch of the Lewis Thrust ot ElpocQ Moun1ain from Highwood

Price with E. Fernando),
STOP 6: MISTY RANGE
OBSERVE: a) lateral ramp in Misty Thrust and
southern end of Misty Range
b) small thrust associated with
displacement transfer
At this location the entire section from the Dev. Palliser
Formation to the Triassic Spray River Group in the Misty
Thrust Sheet is truncated against the Misty Thrust to the
southeast. This transverse step is marked by an abrupt
southeasterly plunge of folds in the Misty Sheet and by the
end of the Misty Range. As mentioned earlier, the Misty
Thrust is a small thrust involved in the transfer of
displacement between larger thrusts in the region. In this
region there are numerous thrust faults, each with modest
displacement. The overall Shortening, however, is
approximately the same as it is in other parts of the belt
where there are fewer thrusts, each with larger displacement.
STOP 7: MOUNT HEAD LATERAL RAMP AND TEAR FAULTS
OBSERVE: a) lateral ramp in McConnell Thrust and
associated tear faults
Folds in the upper Paleozoic rocks of the McConnell Thrust
sheet plunge abruptly to the south against the underlying
McConnell Thrust. At surface, the whole of the thick section
of Upper Paleozoic in the thrust sheet is cut off in a
lateral ramp in the McConnell thrust and against a small
"tear fault" that occurs in the thrust sheet above it. The
effect of this is to cause the leading edge of the Paleozoic
in the McConnell Sheet step westward and downdip south of the
lateral ramp. This abrupt northeast-trending step in the
stratigraphic level of the McConnell Thrust with respect to
the overlying strata is probably an initial feature of the
thrust sheet (Douglas 1958). The steep southerly plunge of
the folds in the thrust sheet and the "tear fault" associated
with it are adjustment features which developed when this
transverse step along the hanging wall of the thrust came up
against a footwall flat. It is important to note that
although there is a sudden change in the stratigraphic
separation on the McConnell at this locality there is
probably not a sudden change in its displacement.
I .
 ..
.. :."...
.'. ~ . '-:
" .. -
.:.< ..... :.::~.:.-

:.-_ Lewis Termination

• Misty Termination

N ..

5 km

Misty

Sulphur Termination

\
\

Displacement Transfer
N. Termination of Lewis Thrust

FIGURE 11
 115'"'00' 50'

Figure 3. Geologic map of the southern termination of the Misty thrust showing field
trip route (scale 1: 100,000; modified from GSC map 1865A, 1995).
2
 .

MIST MOUNTAIN PLUNGING

II ANTICLINE
I '
 42

• J
w

KbI

/
H' Kl>1 H

G'
~G
.J\ I
- - / Kem Jt

) E'

- Misty thrust
- - 'back-thrusf
- - other faults
A

Figure 31. Serial vertical cross-sections of the south end of the Misty Thrust Sheet. View
is downplunge (LOOKING SOUTHEAST). Locations of section lines are shown in Figure
30. From Castonguay, 1993, with Price.
 .-."

j
..... .., ,)CO\em~n::rhn:iS\
/

!6~:::'-.~ ;,/'
":.- _..:~;~\:--_···_·~-'---:7"
/
\
Dpa,

o A

Stratigraohic units

Cretaceous Mississipian
Ka Alberta Group Rundle Group
Kbl Blairmore Group Met Etherington Fm.
!JKk I Kootenay Group Mount Head Fm.
[KernJ Elk and Mist Mountain Fms. ~ Opal. and Carnarvon MI
IJKml Morrissey Fm. Msi Salter and Loomis Mbs.
Jurassic Mlv Livingstone Fm.
Jf Fernie Group Mbf Banff Fm. and Exshaw Mb.
Triassic Devonian
Tsm Spray River Group / Sulphur Mountain Fm. Dpa Palliser Fm.
Pennsylvanian
Psi Spray Lakes Group

Figure 30. Geologic map of the Misty Range

31. From Castonguay, 1993; with Price. Loc
 41

1 km

Topographic contour in
thousand(s) of feet - , -
Map Symbols
Highway- Kananaskis _
geological contact Trail ,-0'

thrust fault
• •
n Mbs. transverse fault
Abs. trace of axial surface ..
lb.
anticline upright
overturned
......
,j

syncline upright -'1'-

overturned -----, .....
X---X'
Previous geological mapping
Line of sections with scale of mapping

nge. Cross-sections AA' - JJ' are shown in Figure

Locations of Stops 3 and 4 are labelled,
 I '

A. IDEALIZED THRUST
FAULT PLANE.

B. PLUNGING FAULT-BEND FOLDS

REFLECT UNDERLYING LATERAL RAMP
QOS679
 37

;;; ! PERIOD FORMATION ~ 5

f!!!- Blackstone 0 0.. ~
I--t--~~~::-~~~~-~~-j ,"a:3.--I-j~G:~LI
rn ! Mill Creek
5w I' >-
~
Beaver Mines ~E
GEOLOGY OF THE HIGHWOOD-ELBOW AREA
() I U< I C(
«(
Gladst one
";
Kbl
SCALE
~ ~ .~:m;"
0

:
2.M

l' . w c
JKk
~ 136iMa Mist MountaIn ~
~UR AS 51 cl- M"°_"_;-,ss_e_y +--=~_+_'_'--_"_I
F ernie Jf
I,- 195 M. +----;=:-::---:-~-~h-+=~-I
1- W!!.!!h!!!;''''e'''h~o:c'S'Ce''__ ---i ~ ,
TRIASSIC Sulphur Mountain ~.~
_ 225 Ma -,:fancer en a:
PERMIAN
• PPTR ~
Johnston Canyon !!!.

C,) zl
_280 M.+-----------+-O=::-_4
z~
O~~~~I----~~~~~~----4~~
N ~ 0
Kananaskis

Tunnel Mountain
>

(/)
ell

.....J

~ z ffi Etherington <tI '.Mi-u ...·.·..

...J :5 !: I----~---"---,------_I '0
« 8: z L .:M""'o"u::"tce-H"e"."d'--- -I §
Q.. 0 r l" . S a: Mrl
"'- "1- "-,'"_9:.:-'-.:0_"-.:e _+--+-.:-.::-
~ ~ 1- "'8::-.,,",,"=:
II Mb 1

I... ~ 345 Ma~~__-'E~x~s~h'".~w~_---_+--+,,-I

IIJ DEYONIANI Palliser Op
,
\~l
\ '\ Blackstone Fm z
B·-!.....
i- Mill Creek Fm
m
~

"
~
@Ii} oo"~IO".fOU
Beover Mines Fm
8o
m :f:.4~~0":I~~" ~t"
'"r
n o :~::'(I_S~::~I. ~t"

.. o
Glodstolle Fm
o Cadomin Fm ==j.;]ci:l;:!- s lip surf a ce ~ ~::~:"Ot""
~
:-:"'
_ :_ ?"'"_=] numerous ;:; o lilt

I, ~. Misl Mounto,n Fm
-:;'
==:l=:~- :::~t
m,"or
slip surfoces ~
KtII \ j Morrissey Fm
--- I major

\ ,Ii
JO'
Fernie Fm -_-_-_ !,leper (;)
• _---- decollemellt m § Iftll.·l'u,l •
-"!." ..:
I r
i Sulpt1ur Mountoill Fm
'"
~
~ li"'Ulon.

LEGEND ."£ ttl

uin'J U(I(I.(1

Spray LOkU Gp Z [Z] (lo'o",i ••

thrust fault .....L.....-... ."liell,,_,o.,.rturned-}y--
rrans".rse f.utl
'< rn (lO'O".. ,ic
,i .. UIO ...
n
-I-Y- ~
rn O'Q"'OO'O~I

a line of cross section

A--A'
syncline, overturned
Etl'lerinQton Fm ""Z rn
'"~
m "0
"",".,on.
.. IIJ "",.ston.

"'''101 (I11t't~S
Ullo,aa,
:n 0 oo',t,o
Mounl Head Fm ~
~
", char'
mojor
lower
"
m
][ oalco ••o".
(I0'0""tic
decollemenl
C

Figure 26 a) Geological map of the Highwood-Elbow area; cross-sections along lines AA'
to DO' are shown in Figure 27. b) Generalized stratigraphic column; the map units are
used in Figures 26a, 27, 28 and 29. c) Composite stratigraphic column of the study area
showing the positions of major detachment horizons and zones, and minor slip horizons
that influence the deformational styles. From Sanderson and Spratt (1992).
 w 6 km 0
D' E
38

•
2

SL

-2

• Om
C'

•
2

SL

-2

.Om

•
2

SL

-2

•
2

SL

-2

Figure 27. Balanced cross-sections AA' through DO', V=H; view looking northwest. Dots
on the McConnell and Coleman thrusts indicate positions of seismic control. Long dashes
represent restored stratigraphy and faults above the present day erosion surface, CT =
= =
Central Thrust. BT Back Thrust, PBT PB Thrust. From Sanderson and Spratt (1992),
 39

o 0'
,,
o
.m
"

.... '.

B s B'
I------------------,--~
'-____________
l
TY
,.",\\\1$
,. ." C .. -
,,\)..
""I't'
c.~
""u
1: ,.'" 1:
... <..
"--------
1:

_-
CO
~
ST
E .. AN~H~U--kbl
JKk
Jf
PPTR
- -.:.'~ -. ,," ' .. --, .. ,~ ..

A A'

• ,,~.' .

Figure 28. Palinspastic restorations for balanced cross-sections AA' through DO'. V=H;
view looking northV'lest. Main thrusts are indicated by heavy lines; they are dashed where
interpreted to have formed syn or post folding. Pin line locations as indicated on Figure 27.
The upper detachment zone in the Jurassic Fernie Formation is shown by the cross
hatches. Stratigraphic symbols as in Figure 2Gb. From Sanderson and Spratt (1992).
 40

b
......~-... ---.:.:. ..... :-:-:.:./.:.:.:-;J .. ::-:.-.-"

-'.
-.
;;":'~~'~:'P'I_":.~-I:~-,,-
'_',.' _,,".'~~';"'.II" ".
JI

Figure 29. Sequential restorations of cross-section CC' (Figure 27). V=H; view looking
northwest Thrust faults are indicated by heavy lines; they are dashed where interpreted to
have formed syn or post folding. Stratigraphic symbols as in Figure 2Gb.
a) Incipient thrust trajectories. b) After movement on the Misty thrust and on minor thrust
beneath it c) Initiation of movement on the PB Thrust (PBl) with resultant SW-
displacement above the upper detachment zone. d) Continued motion on PB Thrust and
development of the Central Thrust (etl). e) Development of the Back Thrust (BT)
accommodating the wedge of material displaced on the structurally lower PB Thrust From
Sanderson and Spratt (1992).
I '
 34

•
MOUNT HEAD

Figure 24. Telephoto view of Mount Head from the south (from top of Plateau Mountain).
On Mount Head the McConnell thrust sheet primarily consists of Mississippian strata,
whereas between Mount Head and the viewer, the surface exposure is dominated by
Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous strata. The Stony Creek Fault is one of a series of
transverse "adjustment" faults developed above a steep lateral ramp in the hanging wall of
the McConnell thrust. Interpreted by S.P. Brown; from Kubli and Leibel, 1992.

•
 I .

HIGHWOOD MOUNT
HEAD

,
<

--......_~ -,:;..,..!f!Tf'

~
'ii t
~ ~

HIGHWOOD !t' ~
RANGE

-.~
E

11 12

11

• ,
/
,
Figure 23. Portions of Douglas' (1958) cross-sections, modified here by Spratt; see Figure 22 for locations. Part of the
"McConnell Thrust" traced by Douglas (1958) is actually the folded roof thrust of a duplex The thick black lines delineate the
regionally significant "Real McConnell Thrust" (RMcT), which is recognized seismically as the floor thrust of this duplex
= = = =
Stratigraphic units are: 1 Devonian Palliser Fm.; 2 Exshaw Fm.; 3 Mississippian Banff Fm.; 4 Livingstone Fm.; 5 =
= = = =
Mount Head Fm.; 6 Etherington Fm.; 7 Rocky Mountain Gp.; 8 Triassic Spray River Fm.; 9 Jurassic Fernie Fm.;
10 = Kootenay Fm.; 11 = Lower Cretaceous Blairmore Gp.
 10.000 10,000

en
n
~

5,000 5.000 (b
~
~
~

1.000

Scale of Miles
o 1/2
t !

G.5. C

Figure 16
Stony Creele fear fault. Crou·sedion through structures of south side (Dl.El, a part of sfrvdure-sedion
D.E) and along ridge line, t mile north of teer fault. Formations identified as foI/ows: B-Banff, L-
Livingstone, MH-Mount Head, E-Etherington, RM-Rocky Mountain, SR-Spray River, F-Fernie,
J(J--Iower Kootenay, Ku---upper Kootenay, SI-B/aitmore.
from Douglas 1958

STOP 8: DUPLEX AND TEAR FAULTS

OBSERVE: a) small scale duplex
b) small scale tear faults
Here Mississippian rocks in the hanging wall of the McConnell
Thrust are deformed by a number of mesoscopic structures.
Three west dipping sigmoidal fault surfaces can be obs~rved
in the cliff just above the upper bench of the outcrop.
These are part of a small duplex that thickens the
Mississippian strata here. The three faults (there are more
that can only be seen up close) all branch from a common
floor thrust and merge into a common roof thrust. Although
it is difficult to tell, there is probably only a small
amount of displacement on the individual thrusts in the
duplex.
In addition to the duplex, several northeast trending
subvertical tear faults can be observed. These faults have
strike slip slickensides and have an anastomosing pattern in
some parts of the outcrop. It seems that the closer we look
at the rocks in this region the more tear faults we find.
Small tear faults such as these could never be resolved
seismically in the subsurface and yet they could
sUbstantially compartmentalize a reservoir.
STOP 9: LONGVIEW BRIDGE, HIGHWOOD RIVER
OBSERVE: a) triangle zone - edge of thrust belt
b) west verging structures
The front edge of the thrust belt is commonly marked by a
surface expression anticline which has been interpreted in
many different ways in the past 80 years. Two principal
interpretations have survived - those of a triangle zone of
tectonic wedging, and of a major fault propagation fold.
Modern seismic interpretation as well as recent work done at
the University of Calgary indicates that in this region the
edge of the foothills is a zone of tectonic wedging rather
than a fault propagation fold. Tectonic wedging is really a
process of delamination of the strata and of propping apart
the delaminated surface - something like jamming an axe blade
into layered plasticine.
A triangle zone is characterized by upper and lower
detachment surfaces between which strata have been
transported toward the foreland. outside of the detachment
surfaces the strata are essentially autochthonous having only
experienced vertical movement. Above the lower detachment,
structures verge toward the foreland in the typical style of
the Foothills. In contrast, above the upper detachment,
structures verge toward the hinterland.
At this stop, folds in the outcrop on the North side of the
Highwood River verge toward the hinterland (east dipping
axial planes). This vergence indicates that we are above the
upper detachment. No major faults are exposed east of this
location although the nearby pumpjack indicates that the
Mississippian is thrusted in the subsurface. The east
directed thrusts in the subsurface are blind and merge with
the upper detachment where their "displacement is redirected
back toward the hinterland and up toward the surface.
Triangle zones like this one are very common in thrust belts
around tne world (eg. Junggar Basin, China; Sulaiman Range,
Pakistan; N. Caucasus Foothills, USSR (Jones, 1988». No one
has provided a reasonable explanation for why they formed
where they did or why they didn' t where they didn't. Any
ideas?
 w
• - -=- •- • -.- -•
~
". •
".
OIL & GAS E
~, , .. ;::;.:':':.::-,:::::;::::: ;::: .

,-~~.....;.;:!!!.: iJJ{s(·&tTr~I/~:~x.f'f$$fl
•••••••••••••••••

1
1 1 '1 1' ,I. II: I 1,1 .•. "I' j ' l l r l T T
: I ~ I : I : : : ; ~:: : ~:~ : . , : : : I . I , I • J • L. ! , J ..

Figure 18
Idealized cross-section of triangle zone in Alberta
foothills showing lower detacllment, west-dipping
thrusts, and upper detachment. The pOint of the wedge
(tip line of easternmost thrust) underlies the axis of
the Alberta syncline. The apex of the "triangle" is
the anticline known as the Front Fold. (Jones, 1982).

from Jones 1988

 25

• Figure 16. Hinterland-verging, tight to isoclinal folds in the Brazeau Group along the
Highwood River at Longview, Alberta (at location "A" on Fig. 10). View is to the north,
outcrop is 11 m high.
 26

Vertical Cross-Section A-A'

Longview bridge
Longview, Alberta

fold axis projection 164,3' S

V=H

w E
Kbr ./

top of bluff
"-
--------
--------

shale

metres
Kbr
o 20

Figure 17. Vertical cross-section through folds at Longview Bridge (at location "A" on
Figure 10). From plane-table survey of MacKay, 1991.
 16

/ ' line of setsmC section

X·
~ thNst laull
T 20

, foldedttwust'_
NCO-ooQ7
----4--,....----:
North

y'
T 19

x NOF-<Xl2

W E
R4W5
1.0 kilo.m::e:tre::---- i ----:/7Y-""'r==:::::::jt---J S

--
1.0 mile y

T 18

N.W.T.

Alberta

z·
T 17

lIey

R2W5

Figure 8. Location map of the TumerValley area (from MacKay. 1991).

 I
I I I
I I I ,
)

",
0 0 '0
•
, ,, R
, R4WS:,,
I
\

\ •
\
, ,
, I
.~
I

,
I

\
,
\ ,
\
\ '
, ---'--- ------ - - - - - -,-- - - - -- I
----~
, ,, I

,
\ ,
,
\ ,
, ,
- - - -- ------1- - - - - _I-

, , ,
I

, , ,,
, ,,
,
:~- -:- -} -ze:-,
,
,
,
, \"
- \"
,
,
,
~u. , ,
- -,,
,,~

,,
,,
------1
,
,
I

NCO-o07
~

- - - --
,
•
~ , •
" NAPHTHA

, , - --- - -- -----
,
0
\'
, .\.
J, ,
- '- \- -Ql'I---
T 19
• ~
'If'
... I

• • OF·02S

• •
•
,
• •
•
•
-
,
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22

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Figure 13.
Seismic Line NCD-007
Turner Valley
 23
NOATH
I$OCHRON
OF DEFORMED WEDGE
T2I

-
TURNER VALLEY, ALBERTA
_ ••.,tirne

P. A. MacKay. 1990

o km 5
o tri ..

T20
- - - Seismic Un.
(COtlltOl)

"" ""

NOF-002S

3S
R04WS

T ,.

25'

20'

Figure 14. lsochron of the deformed wedge, Turner Valley area (after MacKay, 1991),
 30

Figure 21. Progressive deformation of a wedge displaced over a ramp in the footwall of the
lower detachment surface as it is emplaced between autochthonous strata. a) Undeformed
section with fault trajectories as dashed lines. b) Initial deformation above the ramp. Note
that the triangular piece of the white layer carried on the upper detachment surface now
has the same geometry as an anticline decapitated by a fault. c) As the upper detachment
is folded and displacement along it ceases, new upper detachments form nearer the
foreland. The upper detachment is called a "relic" or abandoned upper detachment. From
MacKay (1991).
 24

D'

C'

B'

Figure 15.
A'
Block Diagram
Turner Valley
Structure
 TP 20 R 2

..•
';.
..
•
o
o

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• ••••••••••••
KM

·POD· OF CONTORTED BEDS _ _-'i"

Figure 19 Simplified geologic map of Turner Valle y structure

showing folded faults. (Modified from Gallup 1975).
from Jones 1988
 wsw ENE

1919-Diogfornmoric cross*sectron through Ihe Sheep River anticline. illustrating the shallow strucTure between Belly River ridges.
Modified ofter Slipper (1919.1922),

WAITE VaLL.ET· HIGH.C100 UI"I"IP"r

TU ... t It VAL.I.ET

-----
:". -""::::"-::'PASKAI5Ool'EOCENEl
. -'.

•
1935-E·W cruss-section through Turner Volley end adlocent structures, illuSTrotlng the OuTwesT thruST and "decapItated" ant'·
cline. Modified after Link {193Sl. Fig. 14.

:tooo OUrW[5
,. .....,.I.T

<."

I IIIIL[

195A_Currenr interpretaTIon of the Turner Volley STruClure as a lorge thrusr fold. meddled ofter Gallup (19541 Fig 5

Note: All se<t,ons ore olong Sheep River ,1"1 Cenfrcl porT of The Turner Yolley fu~ld

Figure 20. Evolution of interpretations of "he Turner Valley

structure. From Gallup, 1975.
from Jones 1988
FIGURE 18. Controlled flair from Turner Valley field well
with oil storage tanks to right of stationary rotary rig.
Photo taken during the mid-1930s. The "oil leg" of the
reservoir was not found until 1936, and probably as much
as 1.5 x 10" ft' (42.5 x 10' m') of natural gas was flared
until commencement of World War 1, when the Alberta
government instituted conservation regulations to
prevent such waste. The combined field flaring could be
seen at night in Calgary. Turner Valley was humorously
referred to as "Hell's Half Acres." Glenbow Archives NA-
67-143.
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