Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area
Tags: physical sciences, fossils, paleontology, environmental change
| Principal Investigator: | Butterfield, Nicholas J (3) |
| Licence Number: | 12870 |
| Organization: | University of Western Ontario |
| Licensed Year(s): |
1996
1994
|
| Issued: | Jun 11, 1996 |
| Project Team: | N. Baumgarten |
Objective(s): To study the paleontology (fossils) of the lower and middle Cambrian Mount Cap Formation. Preliminary work in 1994 revealed that these fossils are very well preserved and may be very useful in understanding the early evolution of animals. Most of these fossils are small or microscopic, so relatively little material will be removed. We are interested in discovering what kinds of organisms lived ca. 530 million years ago, as well as the environments that they lived in; we will therefore be assessing the rocks as well as the fossils.
Project Description: Field work will entail the measuring and description of sedimentary sections, and the collection of samples of fossils (perhaps 100 1kg samples). The samples will be processed using various laboratory procedures. All fossils will eventually be deposited in the Geological Survey of Canada catalogued collection. The researchers will be a two-man camp and traveling light (two tents and basic gear). They plan a two week stay at each of the main localities, but anticipate day trips within the vicinity. Transportation to and from Norman Wells will be by helicopter.
