Depositional History and Petroleum Potential of the Middle Devonian Fort Vermilion Formation, Alberta ...

• Main Author: Heath, Danica Pearl
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Graduate Studies 2023
• Subjects: Devonian; Fort Vermilion; carbonate; evaporite; Geology; FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences; Geochemistry
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/42423; https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/117580

The Devonian Fort Vermilion Formation in the Swan Hills area of Alberta comprises interbedded anhydrite and carbonates. Generally interpreted as being formed subaerially in a sabkha environment, a new depositional model is proposed for this unit whereby sedimentation occurred subaqueous in a protected, variably deep, restricted basin. Based upon core examination, petrography, and various geochemical analyses, four facies assemblages representing four environments were identified: restricted and hypersaline, early diagenetic, moderately restricted, and euhaline. Three models, differing primarily on scale and proximity to the marine environment are discussed; these are: i) salina; ii) restricted lagoon; and iii) lake. The evidence garnered through this study are most consistent with deposition in a hypersaline lagoon setting, cut off from the open marine environment. Early deposition was most restricted with fluctuating water chemistry resulting in the deposition of carbonate and evaporite units. Seawater and ...