| Principal Investigator: | Sperling, Erik A (1) |
| Licence Number: | 15532 |
| Organization: | Harvard University |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2014
|
| Issued: | Aug 29, 2014 |
| Project Team: | Justin V. Strauss, Austin J. Miller |
Objective(s): To collect high quality and high resolution stratigraphic and sedimentological data of the Sheepbed and Keele Formations at their type localities, along with accompanying samples for geochemical and petrological analysis.
Project Description: The objective is to collect high quality and high resolution stratigraphic and sedimentological data of the Sheepbed and Keele Formations at their type localities, along with accompanying samples for geochemical and petrological analysis. Specifically, the overall goal is to understand how these formations at their type sections relates to their correlatives throughout northwestern Canada, and determine whether the paleoenvironmental signal seen at other sites is the same or different. The research team will establish one fly camp and carry out all fieldwork on foot using only jakob staff's, rock hammers, compasses, and other basic, non-mechanical tools. Mapping will be done on 1:50K air photos, and map data will be compiled in a GIS database at Harvard University and with our collaborators at McGill University. Shale samples will be collected for geochemical analyses, specifically major- and minor-element composition, iron speciation, and sulfur and organic carbon isotopes and weight percentages. These data have been collected from the Sheepbed Formation at Sekwi Brook, Shale Lake, Goz Creek and in the Ogilvie Mountains, ultimately allowing for a regional comparison. The overall goal is to understand the history of the earth. From an educational perspective, the results will shed light on the history of the rocks in the Mackenzie Mountains and the relationship between environmental change and early animal evolution in Northwest Canada. The stratigraphic studies will place previously-collected data from the northern Mackenzie’s in the context of the Sheepbed and Keele Formations in their type sections in the southern Mackenzie’s, which will aid regional mapping and mineral exploration. This study will also be the first sedimentary geochemical study of the Sheepbed Formation in the southern Mackenzies; such paleoredox data will be of use to future economic geology in the region (e.g. oil and gas, SEDEX deposits). All data will be made publicly available through publication in international journals, conference proceedings, and newsletters. Map data will be made available to the NWT Geoscience Office. The research team will provide summaries of results and reprints of publications to interested parties. Upon request, members of the research team are prepared to give public lectures regarding their research and the geology of the Mackenzie Mountains and NWT in informing this research. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 27, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
