NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area

Tags: physical sciences, geology, climate change, fossils, paleoclimatology

Objective(s): The research team will study the rocks of the Little Dal Formation, a unit of limestone which is well exposed in the Mackenzie Mountains. The rocks in this Formation are approximately 850 years old, and may hold the answers to some important questions about the early Earth. The rocks of the Little Dal Formation were formed at the time of the first appearance of animals on earth. If animal fossils were to be found in these rocks, they would be some of the world's oldest-truly globally important. Past work in these units has discovered spectacular fossilized reefs. The study of these reefs, and surrounding rocks, has allowed a better understanding of how reefs evolved through time, and how sea level changed while they were forming. This project will look at related rocks in a different area than in earlier studies. The objective of the proposed research project is to uncover more important information about climate, sea level, and other environmental factors in the NWT, as they were about 1 billion years ago. These studies are important, because understanding past environmental change helps us gain a better understanding of present conditions, and may allow us to predict future global change.

Project Description: The research team will be flown from Norman Wells to the base camp at Haycook Lake by float plane. Moves to fly camps will be made by helicopter. The camp will consist of one sleeping tent per team member and one cooking tent. The research team will walk to data collection sites on foot. Data collection will consist of measuring rocks with a ruler, taking photographs, and collecting up to 50 small (fist-sized) pieces with a hammer. The research team will be in the field from 20 July to August 6, 2001. All garbage will be packed out, and all human waste buried.