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Rates, controls, and sand-body geometries of transgressive-regressive cycles: Cretaceous Moosebar and Gates formations, British Columbia

Journal Article · · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5435221
The Moosebar and Gates Formations (Lower Cretaceous) in northeastern British Columbia consist of seven transgressive-regressive sequences. Nonmarine sediments are thickest in the south and pinch out northward. The sequences are laterally persistent, extending east from the foothills for 240 km 9150 mi). The orientation of maximum transgressive and regressive limits in five cycles occurs within an east-west-trending zone 30-40 km (19-25 mi) wide. A recurring, northward-bulging sediments depocenter near the Alberta-British Columbia border was fed by a series of stacked, northerly flowing rivers. The rivers were a major source of sediment for gravel beaches to the north and east. Isopach maps of marine sandstone and conglomerate show a series of west-northwest-east-southeast-oriented sand bodies 60-70 km (37-43 mi) wide, parallel with the shorelines. Each coastline prograded northward as a shoreline-attached strand plain and a series of arcuate or cuspate deltas. Gates Formation marine-nonmarine cyclicity is a series of fourth-order cycles superimposed on a major third-order cycle. The cyclicity and lateral extent of the sequences can be explained as a result of tectonic thrusting and loading superimposed on the trend of the Peace River arch. The influence of eustatic sea level variations and sedimentologic switching of point sources had minimal effect. Coastal retreat ranged from 437 to 875 m/1000 years (1433 to 2780 ft/1000 years). Coastal progradation ranged from 218 to 437 m/1000 years (175 to 1433 ft/1000 years). The duration of several transgressive-regressive cycles was 103,000-275,000 years. 20 figures, 2 tables.
Research Organization:
Institute of Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology, Calgary, Alberta
OSTI ID:
5435221
Journal Information:
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 70:5; ISSN AAPGB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA
CONGLOMERATES
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
NORTH AMERICA
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS