ABSTRACT: Geometry and Evolution of the Upper Devonian Fairholme Carbonate Complex, Front Ranges, Alberta

MCILREATH, IAN A., Petro-Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and BARRY D. SHADE, B. D. Shade Geological Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Fairholme Carbonate Complex is exposed in a series of cross-sections along the Front Ranges of Alberta, from the North Saskatchewan River south into the Kananaskis area. The complex is the northwestern limit of the Frasnian "Southern Alberta Shelf." The abrupt northern margin faces the Cline Channel, which is a through-going channel rather than a deep embayment. The "newly discovered" western margin is incised by a number of embayments and/or channels that may have been linked with similar features interrupting the eastern margin. The western margin exhibits variations in profile similar to the slopes along the north and eastern perimeters. The southern margin may be more of a gradational ramp with the introduction of a coralline reef facies and deeper shelf mudstones not seen els where.

Proximal basinal facies on the east and northern perimeters are dominated by carbonate mud and calcareous shales, whereas to the west calcareous shales, and to the southwest, shales, siltstones, and locally sandstones are dominant. The evolution of the various styles of platform to basin transitions along the perimeter of the complex, as well as the interior of the complex, can now be analyzed in terms of sequence stratigraphy.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)