Topic
Wolfville Formation
About: Wolfville Formation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 18 publications have been published within this topic receiving 471 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: A provenance control of Fundy Group sandstone composition is suggested in this paper, where a provenance inference of fundy group sandstone compositions is made based on provenance.
Abstract: The Triassic rocks of the Canadian Maritime Provinces (Fundy Group) represent an inter-tonguing complex of continental red beds and tholeiitic basalts. Interbedded sharpstone conglomerates occur in the basin margins and are represented by the Gerrish Facies of the Wolfville Formation, Chedabucto Formation, Quaco Formation, Echo Cove Formation, and Lepreau Formation. An alternating flood-plain-alluvial-fan phase is represented by the Hants Facies of the Wolfville Formation; a lacustrine complex is represented by the Digby Facies of the Blomidon Formation (deposited within the active-wave zone) and the Del Haven Facies of the Blomidon Formation (deposited below wave base) and also by the Scots Bay Formation. Combinations of primary structures were most useful for recognition of different depositional environments. Alluvial-fan deposits contained crude cut-and-fill stratification and poorly sorted sharp-stone conglomerates and sandstones. Flood-plain-alluvial-fan intertongues were characterized by channel stratification, lenticular, wedge-shaped, and planar cross-stratification, current ripple marks, imbricate boulders, current lineation, and claystone breccia. Lacustrine deposits formed below wave base showed even, uniformly thick bedding, disturbed bedding, graded bedding, rhythmic lamination, and oscillation ripple marks, whereas lacustrine deposits formed in the active-wave zone showed these same primary structures in combination with channel stratification, lenticular cross-stratification, current ripple marks, flute casts, groove casts, oriented plant stems, rib-and-furrow structure, mud cracks, and raindrop imprints. Sandstones in the Fundy Group consist of low-and high-rank graywacke, arkose, impure arkose, and orthoquartzite. Their geographic distribution was found to be related to pre-Triassic geology, as Pre-Mississippian metamorphic and Mississippian sedimentary rocks generated low-rank graywacke, Paleozoic granites generated impure arkose, arkose and high-rank graywacke, and Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks generated orthoquartzites. A provenance control of Fundy Group sandstone composition is suggested. Paleocurrent mapping confirmed the provenance inference. Comparison of Fundy Group sandstones with other ancient sandstones and modern sands demonstrates that provenance, rather than tectonics, controls sandstone composition.
81 citations
1 Jan 1984
68 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the facies development in the 240 m thick upper Wolfville Formation, examine vertical facies stacking patterns and develop a depositional model for this succession, suggesting that the fluvial to lacustrine or playa transition was due to a decrease in source area relief related to a decline in regional tectonic activity, and that the basin was hydrologically closed throughout sedimentation.
Abstract: The Late Triassic synrift succession of the Minas sub-basin (Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia) includes a fluvio-alluvial fan-dominated unit (lower and middle Wolfville Formation), a transitional fluvio-playa unit (upper Wolfville Formation) and an upper playa-dominated package (Blomidon Formation). We describe the facies development in the 240 m thick upper Wolfville Formation, examine vertical facies stacking patterns and develop a depositional model for this succession. The unit comprises channelized and unconfined fluvial deposits interbedded with aeolian and playa sediments that grade upward into playa deposits. The succession comprises progradational and retrogradational fluvial packages and thin aggradational playa claystones. Comparison with 11 other Atlantic margin continental Triassic rift basins allows an assessment of the controls that govern rift basin development. The transition from fluvial to playa or lacustrine conditions occurs in all basins at different times. The lack of synchronicity indicates that global climate change was not a controlling factor. We suggest that the fluvial to lacustrine or playa transition was due to a decrease in source area relief related to a decline in regional tectonic activity, and that the basin was hydrologically closed throughout sedimentation. This tectonostratigraphic model may be appropriate for other Triassic basins developed along the Atlantic margin.
61 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a three-step hierarchy of surfaces truncates cross-beds, including first-order bedding planes of low relief extending for at least hundreds of meters, truncating all eolian structures, were sculptured by desert flash floods and then deflated to ventifact bearing bimodal regs.
Abstract: Eolian sandstones occur interbedded with alluvial-fan and braided-river red beds in the Upper Triassic Wolfville Formation and at the base of the Lower Jurassic McCoy Brook Formation in Nova Scotia. Extensive semiaridity and aridity in the subtropical rift valley favored deposition of eolian sandstones, caliche paleosols, alluvial-fan conglomerates, braided-river alluvium, and playa mudstones. In postdrift configuration, paleowinds blew to the southwest, west, and northwest down the valley, reflecting the direction of trade winds at 25°N paleolatitude. A three-step hierarchy of surfaces truncates cross-beds. First-order bedding planes of low relief extend for at least hundreds of meters, truncating all eolian structures. These surfaces were sculptured by desert flash floods and then deflated to ventifact-bearing bimodal regs. Second-order surfaces bound cross-bed sets and are mostly concave-up and dip downwind, recording shifts in migration direction of individual dunes or dunes superimposed on larger dune structures. Third-order surfaces within cross-bed sets formed on the lee sides of dunes due to fluctuations in wind direction and strength. Barchans initially developed on the alluvial-fan and braided-river alluvium, later coalescing into barchanoid transverse ridges, as evidenced by the internal geometry of the eolian sandstones. /P>
47 citations
TL;DR: A phylogenetic analysis of a matrix comprising 61 taxa of Permo-Triassic diapsid reptiles and 337 characters supports the position of Teraterpeton as the sister-taxon of Trilophosaurus + Spinosuchus, and parsimony-based character optimization of the aforementioned character-states in TeraterPeton indicate that all were acquired independently from other saurian lineages.
Abstract: Teraterpeton hrynewichorum is an unusual archosauromorph reptile from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) Evangeline Member of the Wolfville Formation in Nova Scotia (Canada). Its long snout has transvers...
40 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
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| 2020 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |