Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Tags: physical sciences, geology, fossils, bacteria, ancient reefs
| Principal Investigator: | Narbonne, Guy (13) |
| Licence Number: | 12848 |
| Organization: | Queen's University |
| Licensed Year(s): |
1996
|
| Issued: | Apr 03, 1996 |
| Project Team: | Dr. Noel P. James, Mr. Bill McFarlane |
Objective(s): Reefs are the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems known. Reefs on northern Victoria Island are nearly 800 million years old, and provide a unique opportunity to determine how reefs first began. These reefs are 250 million years older than the oldest skeletal animals, and are probably composed entirely of fossilized blue-green bacteria. Detailed study of these reefs in the field and lab will help to tell how simple reefs first began and how they evolved into more complex reef ecosystems.
Project Description: Study 800 million year old fossil reefs near Wynniatt Bay on Victoria Island. Will fly to the site using Polar Shelf Twin-Otter aircraft. Measurements and pictures will be taken of the rocks and about 100 kg of rock samples will be collected with a hammer. The rock samples will be studied back at the university.
