Economic Geology Report 5

Bromide, iodide and boron in Alberta formation waters

Authors: Hitchon, B.; Levinson, A.A.; Horn, M.K.

Executive Summary

More than 860 formation waters from Alberta were analyzed for bromide, iodide, and boron. Bromide contents up to 2786 mg/L were found in high calcium and magnesium brines associated with evaporites in the Upper Devonian Beaverhill Lake Formation and Middle Devonian Elk Point Group. The most extensive regions of high-iodide formation waters are in the Cretaceous Viking, Bow Island, and basal Belly River formations, with iodide contents generally in the range of 40 to 50 mg/L but reported up to 80 mg/L. Isolated occurrences of formation waters with iodide contents in the range of 47 to 59 mg/L were found in the Lower Jurassic Nordegg Member equivalent and Pennsylvanian-Permian strata, and are possibly geochemically and genetically associated with phosphate rocks. Boron contents up to 920 mg/L have been found in Alberta formation waters, possibly the highest concentration in any subsurface water.

Place Keywords: 72e; 72l; 72m; 73d; 73e; 73l; 73m; 74d; 74e; 74l; 74m; 82g; 82h; 82i; 82j; 82n; 82o; 82p; 83a; 83b; 83c; 83d; 83e; 83f; 83g; 83h; 83i; 83j; 83k; 83l; 83m; 83n; 83o; 83p; 84a; 84b; 84c; 84d; 84e; 84f; 84g; 84h; 84i; 84j; 84k; 84l; 84m; 84n; 84o; 84p; alberta; canada

Theme Keywords: belly river group; boron; bow island formation; bromides; bromine; cretaceous; elk point group; formation waters; geochemistry; geology; iodides; iodine; nordegg member; pennsylvanian - permian strata; upper devonian; viking formation