Battle Formation

The Battle Formation was defined by Irish and Harvard (1968) and is one of the most distinctive and easily recognized stratigraphic units in the region. It can be traced in adjacent outcrop and subsurface areas because of its typical lithology and purplish-grey weathering characteristics. It also has a characteristic signature on most petrophysical logs. The formation is relatively thin (generally between 3 and 11 metres) and consists of benthonic mudstone (with pedogenic characteristics indicating paleo-soil horizons) and volcanic ash. It is 10 m thick in the study area. The volcanic ash (Kneehills Tuff of Allan and Sanderson, 1945) gives the high gamma signature that makes the unit a good marker horizon. The tuff is not confined to any particular level in the formation and up to three different tuff beds have been observed. In the study area, the Battle Formation is 10 metres thick.

The elevation of the top of the Battle Formation is shown in Figure 3 (Structural map of the top of the Battle Formation). The general trend is a regional slope to the southwest with a northeast trending ridge in Township 45; Range 7W4. The general dip of the Battle Formation is about 30 m/10 km to the southwest.

Last modified: May 7, 2008