EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05

Regional Correlations of the

Ardley Coal Zone, Alberta

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05

Regional Correlations of the

Ardley Coal Zone, Alberta
C. Willem Langenberg1, Habtemicael Berhane1,
Art R. Sweet2, Dave Marchioni3 and Larry M.
Heaman4
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
Alberta Geological Survey
2
Geological Survey of Canada
3
Petro-Logic Services
4
University of Alberta
1

March 2007

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta, 2007

ISBN
0-7785-3843-5
The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board/Alberta Geological Survey (EUB/AGS) and its employees and
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acknowledgment should be given to the EUB/AGS. The following reference format is recommended:
Langenberg, C.W., Berhane, H., Sweet, A.R., Marchioni, D. and Heaman, L.M. (2007): Regional
correlations of the Ardley Coal Zone, Alberta; Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, EUB/AGS Earth
Sciences Report 2007-05, 31 p.
Author addresses:
A.R. Sweet
D. Marchioni
Geological Survey of Canada
Petro-Logic Services
rd
3303-33 Street NW 439-11A Street
Calgary, AB T2L 2A7
Calgary, AB T2N 1Y2
(403) 292-7092
(403) 270-8517
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
L.M. Heaman
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2E3
Published in March 2007 by:
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
Alberta Geological Survey
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EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) ii

Contents
Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................... iv
Abstract........................................................................................................................................................ vi
1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 1
2 Methodology............................................................................................................................................ 2
3 The Stratigraphy of the Ardley Coal Zone.......................................................................................... 2
3.1 Battle Formation............................................................................................................................... 3
3.2 Scollard Formation........................................................................................................................... 3
3.3 Paskapoo Formation......................................................................................................................... 4
4 Nomenclature of Lower Paleocene Coals............................................................................................. 4
5 Palynology............................................................................................................................................... 6
6 Dating....................................................................................................................................................... 8
7 Cross-Sections......................................................................................................................................... 8
7.1 AA.................................................................................................................................................... 8
7.2 BB...................................................................................................................................................12
7.3 CC...................................................................................................................................................14
7.4 DD...................................................................................................................................................14
7.5 EE...................................................................................................................................................14
8 Conclusions.............................................................................................................................................14
9 References...............................................................................................................................................18
Enclosures 1-5 (Cross-Sections AA', BB', CC', DD' and EE').................................................................21

Figures
Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8

Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11

Figure 12
Figure 13

Map of study area with location of cross-sections and outcrop extent of

Scollard and Coalspur formations (from Hamilton et al., 1999)...................................................1
Stratigraphic nomenclature and coal zone terminology of the Cretaceous and
Tertiary strata, which include the Ardley Coal Zone...................................................................2
Outcrop of coal seams #13 (Lower Ardley/Nevis) and #14 (Main Ardley) near
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park.....................................................................................4
Coal seam terminology of the Ardley Coal Zone and terminology used in this
report (right column).....................................................................................................................5
Simplified stratigraphic column for the Coal Valley area, with palynological zones,
coal seam names and ages............................................................................................................6
Isochrons of U-Pb dating of zircons...........................................................................................10
Cross-section AA (large version is Enclosure 1).......................................................................11
Litholog of core from well BHP Pine Creek 02/11-6-56-19W5, with palynological
zones and seam names................................................................................................................12
Cross-section BB (large version is Enclosure 2)........................................................................13
Cross-section CC (large version is Enclosure 3)........................................................................15
Litholog of core from coal hole at the Whitewood mine at 1-30-53-4W5,
with palynological zones and seam names.................................................................................16
Cross-section DD (large version is Enclosure 4).......................................................................16
Cross-section EE (large version is Enclosure 5)........................................................................17

Tables
Table 1

U-Pb results for zircon fractions from bentonites........................................................................9

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) iii

Acknowledgments
Thanks to Jack Lerbekmo for providing magneto-stratigraphic data and reviewing the manuscript.
Thanks to Andrew Beaton and Glen Prior for timely review. The report was proofread by Gisela HippoltSquair and Aimee Maxfield. Dan Magee helped with the figures.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) iv

Abstract
The Ardley Coal Zone forms part of the Scollard Formation of the Alberta Plains and contains one of
Albertas main coal resources. Information on the Ardley Coal Zone is often reported using Foothills coal
seam terminology such as Val dOr and Mynheer seams, implying correlation with the Coalspur Coal
Zone of the Foothills area. However, cross-sections show that individual seams come and go, although
some could be correlated with confidence over distances of over 50 km. Very detailed correlations of
coal seams based on magneto-stratigraphy, palynology and petrography is available for the coal seams
near the eastern outcrop edge of the Ardley Bend/Scollard Canyon area. In this area the traditional
terminology of Lower Ardley (#13) and Ardley (#14) coal seams has been useful.
The use of a unified numeric terminology is possible for the Ardley Coal Zone in the subsurface,
enabling regional correlation. In the western part of the basin, this terminology can be tied to the
Foothills coal seam terminology of the Coal Valley area. The best coal seam for correlation purposes
is the Lower Ardley (Seam 650; also designated as #13, Nevis and Mynheer Coal seams), the base of
which marks the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary. However, many other coal seams (such as seam 100 and
150) are also correlatable over large areas. A diagnostic palynoflora, embraced by the lower part of the
Aquilapollenites spinulosus Zone, has been found to be characteristic of the Val dOr Coal Seam (seam
75). The conditions suitable for peat deposition, which formed the Ardley Coal Zone, lasted at least 1 Ma,
as indicated by U-Pb dating of zircons in bentonites. Regional cross sections constructed for this study
provide a detailed picture of the wedge of sediment of this stratigraphic zone between the Cretaceous/
Tertiary boundary and the unconformity at the base of the Paskapoo Formation.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

1 Introduction
The Ardley Coal Zone forms part of the Scollard Formation of the Alberta Plains and contains one
of Albertas main coal resources. Information on the Ardley Coal Zone of the Plains is often reported
using Foothills coal seam terminology, such as Val dOr and Mynheer seams, implying correlation with
the Coalspur Coal Zone of the Foothills area (Dawson et al., 2000). Cross-sections in Richardson et al.
(1988) show that individual seams come and go, although some could be correlated with confidence over
distances of over 50 km. The focus of this report will be on the Alberta Plains, the stratigraphy associated
with the coals of the upper Scollard Formation and their extension westward. Very detailed correlations
of coal seams based on magnetostratigraphy, palynology and petrography are available for the coal
seams near the eastern outcrop edge of the Ardley Bend/Scollard Canyon area. In this area the traditional
terminology of Lower Ardley (#13) and Ardley (#14) coal seams (Allan and Sanderson, 1945) has been
useful. These named coals have been tied to the subsurface (Figure 1, cross-section line BB) where a
numeric terminology introduced by Richardson et al. (1988) can be applied to regional correlations. In
the western part of the basin the numeric terminology can be tied to the Foothills coal terminology of the
Coal Valley area (Jerzykiewicz, 1997; Figure 1, cross-section lines CC, EE).

Figure 1. Map of study area with location of cross-sections and outcrop extent of Scollard and Coalspur formations (from
Hamilton et al., 1999). The erosional edge of coal seams 100 and 150 is from Holter et al. (1975).

This report presents the regional Ardley Coal Zone correlations, which are supported by palynological
and U-Pb age determinations and are displayed in five cross-sections. The locations of the cross-sections
are shown on Figure 1. The cross-sections were drawn along the main Ardley fairway of thick coal and,
where possible, include coalbed methane (CBM) exploration wells. The CBM exploration wells are
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

often cored, which allows the collection of samples for palynology and/or dating. The wells are spaced
approximately 10 km (1 township apart).

2 Methodology
Coal seams and marker horizons (such as the top of the Battle Formation) were identified on geophysical
logs. Digital logs (LAS files) and picks were then imported in GeoGraphics software for cross-section
construction. Coals were correlated along these cross-sections and given numbers according to the
Richardson et al. (1988) terminology. This correlation implies continuity of coal seams to some extent.
However, the real continuity of the coal seams with the same number cannot be proven without additional
work on a more precise definition of fluvial channels and areas of peat formation. Until such time, the
numbering indicates a rough age equivalency and possible continuity of the coal seams.
Shale and coal samples were collected from outcrop and core for palynological analysis with results
presented in applied research reports (Sweet, 2003; 2004). In addition, three bentonite samples were
collected in the Coal Valley area of the Foothills for age dating purposes. Small multi-grain zircon
fractions were selected from these samples for U-Pb geochronology and analytical procedures similar to
those outlined by Heaman et al. (2002) were employed.

3 The Stratigraphy of the Ardley Coal Zone

The stratigraphic nomenclature and various coal zone names of the Cretaceous and Tertiary interval,
which includes the Ardley Coal Zone, is shown in Figure 2. Definition of the Ardley Coal Zone has
evolved since the work of Dr. John Allan in the 1920s (Allan, 1924) and 1940s (Allan and Sanderson,
1945). More recent contributions by AGS include resource assessment reports of this coal zone by
Campbell (1967), Holter et al. (1975), Chu (1978) and Richardson et al. (1988). The regional assessments
of Alberta's CBM by AGS in the early 90s (Rottenfusser et al., 1991) and again in 2002 (Beaton et al.,
2002) included the Ardley Coal Zone.

Figure 2. Stratigraphic nomenclature and coal zone terminology of the Cretaceous and Tertiary strata, which include the Ardley
Coal Zone
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

The Ardley Coal Zone forms part of the Scollard Formation and the understanding of this stratigraphic
interval evolved from the work by Elliott (1960), Irish (1970) and Carrigy (1971). A detailed study of the
upper Cretaceous and Tertiary coal-bearing strata of the Red Deer River valley, including the Ardley
Coal Zone, was carried out by Gibson (1977).
The Ardley Coal Zone is of Paleocene age and defines the upper part of the Scollard Formation (Gibson,
1977). The Scollard Formation is situated above the Battle Formation and below the Paskapoo Formation
(Figure 2). These three units will be summarized in the following section. Because strata on the plains
dip towards the mountains, Ardley coals are only exposed along the eastern and northern edges of the
Scollard Formation subcrop (Hamilton et al., 1999: see also Figure 1). West of the Deformation Front,
strata correlative to the Scollard Formation are referred to as the Coalspur Formation whose upper part,
like that of the Scollard Formation, is coal-bearing and of Paleocene age. To the south, upper Scollard
coals thin and, in the Calgary area, even thin coals are infrequent, if at all present (Lerbekmo and Sweet,
2000).
The Ardley Coal Zone is associated with alluvial plain/fluvial sediments (Richardson et al., 1988).
The alluvial plain environment is characterized by widespread swamps and very low gradients. The
moderately low ash content and the laterally persistent and relatively thick nature of many of these coal
seams suggest the development of widespread swamps isolated from clastic deposition for long periods of
time.

3.1 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, colour and weathering characteristics. It also has a characteristic
signature on most petrophysical logs (Ower, 1960; Elliott, 1960). The formation is relatively thin
(generally between 3 and 11 m) and consists of bentonitic mudstone (with pedogenic characteristics
indicating paleo-soil horizons) and volcanic ash. It is 10 m thick in the eastern part of the study area. The
volcanic ash horizons (i.e., Kneehills Tuff of Allan and Sanderson, 1945) give the high gamma signature
that makes the Battle Formation a good marker horizon. The tuff is not confined to any particular level in
the formation and up to 3 different tuff beds have been observed.
Catuneanu and Sweet (1999, p. 696) presented palynological evidence for an extensive late Maastrichtian
hiatus between the Battle and the underlying Horseshoe Canyon Formation, but found no recordable
evidence for a time gap between the Scollard and Battle formations (as previously suggested by Russell,
1983).
In the western parts of the basin the Battle Formation loses its character and its age equivalent can only
be inferred from shale below a prominent coarse channel sand (locally conglomeratic), known as the
Entrance Conglomerate. These conglomerates are possibly eroding into the equivalents of the Battle
Formation. Another interpretation is that the Entrance Conglomerate is part of a coarse facies shed into
a subsiding foredeep in a more or less sheet-like configuration and that correlative sandstones extend
eastward as the basal sandstones of the Scollard Formation (see Catuneanu and Sweet, 1999, p. 696).

3.2 Scollard Formation

The Scollard Formation was defined by Gibson (1977) and consists of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone,
thin, discontinuous bentonites, and thick coal seams (Ardley Coal Zone). The upper contact with
the Paskapoo Formation is clearly unconformable, as postulated by Allan and Sanderson (1945) and
confirmed by Lerbekmo et al. (1990) on the basis of magnetostratigraphy and palynology.
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, determined at the base of the Lower Ardley (also called Nevis)
coal seam by Lerbekmo et al. (1987), divides the formation into two parts. The Paleocene upper part
is coal-bearing and defines the Ardley Coal Zone, while the Maastrichtian lower part is barren of coal.
In the study area, the Scollard Formation dips to the SW at 25 metres/10 km. The Scollard Formation
of the plains is correlative to the Coalspur Formation in the foothills, which parallels the Scollard
in its Paleocene upper part being coal-bearing and its Maastrichtian lower part being barren of coal
(Jerzykiewicz and Sweet, 1986).

3.3 Paskapoo Formation

The Paskapoo Series was introduced by Tyrrell (1887) for sandstone units above the Edmonton Series
as exposed along the Red Deer River near Red Deer. Its stratigraphy has more recently been refined by
Gibson (1977), Demchuk and Hills (1991) and Jerzykiewicz (1997). The lower boundary of the Paskapoo
Formation is defined as the erosional base of the first prominent sandstone above the Ardley Coal Zone
and is an unconformity as described earlier. This definition can also be applied to correlative rocks on the
west side of the Deformation Front, where its base is taken to be at the first major sandstone above the Val
dOr coal (Jerzykiewicz, 1997). The Paskapoo Formation is of middle and late Paleocene age.

4 Nomenclature of lower Paleocene Coals

Research on the Ardley coals dates back to the 1920s (Allan, 1924; Allan and Sanderson, 1945). Two
prominent coal seams are generally recognized in the Ardley Coal Zone in outcrops along the Red Deer
River, the Nevis (or #13) Seam and the Ardley (or #14) Seam from nomenclature proposed by Allan and
Sanderson (1945; see also Gibson, 1977). Outcrop of these coal seams is shown in Figure 3. Richardson et
al. (1988) focused on the coals to a depth of 400 m (using 1408 oil and gas wells and 98 Alberta Research
Council coal exploration drillholes) and introduced a numeric coal seam correlation system, which
numbers seams top-down ranging from 100 to 700. This numeric correlation scheme was adopted for the
present study. In this correlation scheme the main Ardley coal seam (#14) is Seam 400/500/600.

Figure 3. Outcrop of coal seams #13 (Lower Ardley/Nevis) and #14 (Main Ardley) near Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park.
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

The Nevis Coal Seam designation (Seam #13) was introduced by Allan (1924, p. 39) for a seam that was
mined near Nevis and was supposedly located 15 m below the Ardley (#14) Seam. However, Allan and
Sanderson (1945, p. 73 and Map 8) and Campbell (1967, his figure 3) show that this mine site (Section 2 &
3, TP 39, R22W4) was exploiting the Carbon/Thompson coal (part of the Maastrichtian Upper Horseshoe
Canyon Formation, see Gibson, 1977; Lerbekmo and Braman, 2005). Consequently, it appears usage
of the term Nevis Seam for the coal exposed along the Red Deer Valley with the Cretaceous-Tertiary
boundary at its base (Allan and Sanderson, 1945; Gibson, 1977; Lerbekmo et al., 1987) is a misnomer.
A better name for this Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary coal is Lower Ardley as suggested by Campbell
(1967) and Holter et al. (1975). This coal seam can be designated Seam 650 using the Richardson et al.
(1988) numeric classification scheme (see Figure 4).

Figure 4. Coal seam terminology of the Ardley Coal Zone and terminology used in this report (right column). The stratigraphy in
the right column is after Gibson (1977) and Hamblin (2004).

Palynology indicates that the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is located at the base of the Ardley coal zone
in the Wabamun Lake area (at the base of what is locally called Coal Seam #6) and that it is located in a
shaly interval 17 m below the Lower Main Seam at the Genesee mine site (Sweet, 1986a and b). The latter
observation indicates that the equivalent of Seam 650 (Lower Ardley) is not present in the Genesee area.
Holter et al. (1975), following Ower (1960), also recognized a coal called Upper Ardley Coal Seam in
the Pigeon Lake and Lacombe areas (Figure 4). The Upper Ardley Coal Seam is exposed in the Genesee
open pit coal mine near Warburg, where it is sometimes designated as the Cloud Seam (Kalkreuth and
Langenberg, 2002). Ower (1960) introduced a Three Hills Coal Seam, because he concluded that the coal
mined near Three Hills was stratigraphically higher than the Upper Ardley Seam. However, Campbell
(1967) and Holter et al. (1975) proved that the coal mined near Three Hills is the main Ardley (#14) Coal
Seam. One can see how local seam terminology can lead to confusion in correlation.
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

A more extended but partially parallel coal seam nomenclature is based on coals west of the Deformation
Front in the Alberta Foothills (Dawson et al., 2000; Engler, 1986; Jerzykiewicz 1997; Figure 5). Here the
Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary coal is known as the Mynheer Seam.

Figure 5. Simplified stratigraphic column for the Coal Valley area, with palynological zones, coal seam names and ages.
M=Maastrichtian, MP=Maastrichtian/Paleocene, P1, P2 and P3 are palynological zones of the Paleocene from Nichols and Ott
(1978).

5 Palynology
A truncation event of most miospore species characteristic of the Wodehouseia spinata Zone, Myritipites
scabratus/Aquilapollenites delicatus var. collaris Subzone identifies the end of the Cretaceous Period
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

in terrestrial rocks of mid-continental North America (Sweet and Braman, 1992). This truncation event
provides a reliable basin-wide datum. It has been located at the base of the Lower Ardley coal in the Red
Deer Valley (#650 seam), at the base of the Mynheer coal in the foothills (Jerzykiewicz and Sweet, 1986;
Lerbekmo et al. 1987; Sweet and Braman, 1992), at the base of Coal Seam #6 in the Wabamun Lake area
(Sweet, 2003) and in a shaly interval about 17 m below the Lower Main Seam at the Genesee mine site
(Sweet, 1986a).
Earliest Paleocene strata in Western Canada are encompassed by the Wodehouseia spinata Zone,
Aquilapollenites reticulatus Subzone (Braman and Sweet, 1999) in recognition of the conspicuous
presence of a restricted number of typically Late Maastrichtian species. This subzone includes the Lower
Ardley (Nevis/#13/#650) coal and about 2 m of immediately overlying strata in the Red Deer Valley,
the lower Mynheer and 0.6 m of the upper Mynheer in the Coal Valley mine, and Coal seams #5 and #6
of the Wabamun Lake area (Braman and Sweet, 1999; Sweet, 2003). The top of this subzone is marked
by the earliest occurrence of Wodehouseia fimbriata, which more or less coincides with the youngest
occurrences of the name-bearing species of the W. spinata Zone, A. reticulatus Subzone. The subzone
has not been recognized at Genesee (Sweet, 1986a) and in the Suncor-Cygnet 9-34-38-28W4 well (Sweet,
2004).
Demchuk (1990) did not separately differentiate the W. spinata Zone, A. reticulatus Subzone but included
it within his Wodehouseia fimbriata Zone. Herein, the Wodehouseia fimbriata Zone is restricted in
vertical extent to the range of Wodehouseia fimbriata. In the Red Deer Valley Wodehouseia fimbriata
ranges from about 3 m above the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary up into the lower 0.3 m of the thick
Ardley coal (#14), in the interval below a prominent 0.2 m-thick bentonite (Lerbekmo et al., 1996); in
the Coal Valley mine it ranges from within the upper Mynheer through to the basal part of the upper
Silkstone coal (Sweet, 2003); in the Wabamun Lake area it occurs in the interval between Coal seams #5
and #4 and into the base of Coal Seam #4 (at about #400); and at Genesee over about a 5 m interval from
near the approximate position of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary up to just below one of the Lower
Ardley seams (possibly #650).
The next younger Momipites wyomingensis Zone of Demchuk (1990) spans the interval above the basal
seam of the Ardley coal (above the stratigraphically highest record of W. fimbriata in the base of the
Ardley) through to the base of the Paskapoo Formation in the Red Deer Valley (Demchuk, 1990). In Coal
Valley, it includes the interval from the top part of the upper Silkstone coal (400) through to the base of
the Val dOr Coal seam (75); and in the Wabamun Lake area, the section above the basal part of Coal
Seam #4 (Sweet, 2003).
Above the Momipites wyomingensis Zone, the informal Aquilapollenites spinulosus Zone, Momipites
actinus subzone of Lerbekmo and Sweet (2000) encompasses Coal sub-seams A through I of the Val
dOr Coal Seam (#75). The upper limit of the A. spinulosus Zone, M. actinus subzone is placed below
the first occurrence of A. spinulosus. Its usefulness is in uniquely identifying the main part of the Val
dOr Coal Seam. Aquilapollenites spinulosus occurs just above Coal A in the Coal Valley mine which
places the rider seams A1 and A2 of the Val dOr Coal Seam within the undifferentiated portion of
the Middle Paleocene Aquilapollenites spinulosus Zone of Demchuk (1990), which continues into the
overlying Paskapoo Formation. The A. spinulosus Zone has also been identified near the top of the coalbearing portion of the Pine Creek area (BHP Pine Creek 02/11-6-56-19W5 borehole, starting at 746.4 m,
see below). The A. spinulosus Zone, M. actinus subzone has not been observed in Red Deer Valley and
associated sections.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

6 Dating
The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary has been dated in the Red Deer Valley (base of Lower Ardley Seam)
by Baadsgaard et al. (1988) at 64.4 +/- 1.2 Ma using various methods. More recently, the boundary has
been considered to be either 65 Ma (Swisher et al., 1993) or 65.5 Ma (Gradstein et al., 2004). There are
several bentonites exposed in outcrops of the Upper Coalspur Formation, which contain zircons, that can
be used for dating these volcanic rocks. A 3 m thick bentonite at the base of the Arbour Coal Seam (the
Arbour Bentonite, see Jerzykiewicz and Langenberg, 1983) was sampled from the Coalspur highway
road cut (at UTM NAD27 Zone 11, 499 075 m E and 5892 425 m N). In addition, the Arbour Bentonite
was sampled in a coal exploration drillhole where this bentonite is 2 m thick (sample ME-05-Gravel-3A
at 10 m depth at UTM NAD27 Zone 11, 495 000 m E and 5888 900 m N). In this same drillhole, another,
deeper bentonite (2 m thick) was sampled at 21 m depth (sample ME-05-Gravel-3B). Small multi-grain
zircon fractions were selected from each sample for U-Pb geochronology and analytical procedures
similar to those outlined by Heaman et al. (2002) were employed.
Abundant colourless zircon was recovered from the Arbour Bentonite (highway outcrop) sample. The
recovered zircon occurs as subhedral to euhedral prisms with 2:1 aspect ratios or as long narrow prisms
with aspect ratios up to 10:1. Four multi-grain (715 crystals) zircon fractions were selected from this
Arbour bentonite sample and the U-Pb results are presented in Table 1 and on a concordia diagram in
Figure 6a. All four fractions have similar geochemistry and 206Pb/238U ages that vary between 63.6 and
64.2 Ma. The weighted average 206Pb/238U age of 63.9 +/- 0.5 Ma (Figure 6b and Table 1) is considered a
good estimate for the depositional age of the Coalspur highway Arbour Bentonite. This age is identical
to the weighted average 206Pb/238U age of 63.9 +/- 0.3 Ma (Figure 6b and Table 1) obtained for two
small multi-grain zircon fractions from the drillhole Arbour Bentonite (sample ME-05-Gravel-3A). The
weighted average age for all five fractions from these two samples is 63.9+/-0.3 Ma and is interpreted to
represent a maximum age for the deposition of the Arbour Coal Seam above this bentonite. The lower
intercept age obtained by calculating a regression line for three small multi-grain zircon fractions from
the deeper bentonite sampled (sample ME-05-Gravel-3B) yields an age of 64.1 +/- 0.9 Ma (Figure 6c).
The date of 63.9 Ma for the Arbour Bentonite may throw some light on the age of the Cretaceous-Tertiary
boundary. The top of magnetic Polarity Chron C29n (Ogg, 1995), which is above Polarity Chron C29r,
has now been located a few metres below the Arbour Coal seam (Lerbekmo, personal communication,
2006). The Arbour Coal Seam (Seam 100, equivalent to Upper Ardley) is about 220 m above the
Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary (Figure 5). According to Ogg (1995), Chron C29n lasted 0.75illion years
and the Tertiary part of Chron C29r may have lasted 0.25 million years (assuming that the boundary is
at Polarity Chron C29r.7, see Ogg, 1995, p. 251). Adding up these two ages, one arrives at a total time of
1 million years for the interval between the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary and the Arbour Coal Seam.
Consequently, our dating of the Arbour Bentonite (63.9 Ma) agrees with an age of the Cretaceous-Tertiary
boundary of about 65 Ma (and not with the 65.5 Ma age suggested by Gradstein et al., 2004). These dates
indicate that the conditions suitable for peat deposition, which formed the Ardley Coal Zone, lasted at
least 1 Ma (the Arbour Coal Seam correlates with the Upper Ardley Seam 100, see Figure 5).

7 Cross-Sections
Five cross-sections are presented, the locations of which are shown in Figure 1. All cross-sections are
presented as stratigraphic cross-sections with the base of the Ardley Coal Zone as datum.

7.1 AA
Cross-section AA (Figure 7 and Enclosure 1) connects the Pine Creek area (north of Edson) with the
Alder Flats (Buck Lake) area. It illustrates the prominent development of Seam 150 (with clear signature)
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

Table 1. U-Pb results for zircon fractions from bentonites

Pb/
U

Sample #

Description

Weight U
Th
Pb
Th/U
(mg)
(ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

TCPb 206Pb/
(pg) 204Pb

206

Outcrop Arbour-1

7 col long zircon prisms, best in 10NM

11.0

384.8 131.1 4.6

0.341

318

0.010022

Outcrop Arbour-2

8 long zircon prisms, 2nd best in 10NM

13.0

633.5 214.9 7.5

0.339

18

305

Outcrop Arbour-3

10 long zircon prisms, 3rd best in 10NM

16.0

831.4 269.0 9.6

0.324

23

Outcrop Arbour-4

15 smaller col euhedral equant to 2:1 zircon prisms in 10NM 23.0

803.1 217.7 8.3

0.271

ME-05-Gravel-3A (10-11.6m)-1

22 col equant tiny zircons in MI

10

710

1431

7.4

ME-05-Gravel-3A (10-11.6m)-2

22 col 3:1 tiny zircons prisms in MI

12

558

ME-05-Gravel-3A (10-11.6m)-3 14 col equant larger zircons in MI

28

411

ME-05-Gravel-3B (21-23m)-1

22 col 3:1 tiny prisms in MI

19

ME-05-Gravel-3B (21-23m)-2

27 col 3:1 zircon prisms (2nd best) in MI

ME-05-Gravel-3B (21-23m)-3

29 col 3:1 zircon prisms in MI

238

207
235

Pb/
U

207

Pb/
Pb

206

Pb/
U

207

207

Pb/
Pb

238

0.0618390

0.0447762

64.20.1

610.9

0.009911

0.0603065

0.0441446

63.60.1

590.6

374

0.009941

0.0651940

0.0475928

63.70.1

640.4

10

1189

0.009971

0.0656915

0.0477910

64.00.1

650.1

2.02

856

0.009941

0.0633849

0.0462234 63.80.1

62.40.5 9.417.4

8.8

0.02

839

0.015122

0.1608759

0.0771525

96.80.1

151.50.5 1125.06.5

117

4.5

0.29

14

550

0.009971

0.0654950

0.0476434

64.00.1

64.40.5 81.217.1

544

84

5.9

0.15

860

0.010311

0.0687221

0.0483314

66.10.1

67.50.2 115.76.7

14

555

271

6.4

0.49

14

361

0.009861

0.0636543

0.0468230 63.30.1

62.70.4 40.015.4

8.1

784

221

10.3

0.28

17

269

0.010572

0.07086102 0.0486167

67.80.1

235

Pb/
U

206

206

69.51.0 128.931.9

col: colourless
10NM: non-magnetic split from a Frantz Isodynamic Separator at a 10 degree side tilt
MI: Heavy mineral fraction that sank in Methyline Iodide
best: least fractures and impurities in zircons
TCPb: Total Common Pb in analysis in pg (picograms)
All errors in this table reported at 1 sigma.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 

Figure 6. Isochrons of U-Pb dating of zircons. A. Data of the Arbour bentonite outcrop. B. Data of the Arbour bentonite in the
borehole. C. Data of bentonite 10 m below the Arbour Seam in borehole.
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 10

Figure 7. Cross-section AA (large version is Enclosure 1). For location see Figure 1.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 11

in the Alder Flat area. There are thick channel sands between seams 150 and 400, which may have eroded
seams 200 (locally present) and 300 (not identified along this cross-section).
Palynology indicates that the Wodehouseia fimbriata Zone (P1) is missing in the Pine Creek core (from
well BHP 02/11-6-56-19W5). The Momipites actinus informal subzone is present around Seam 100
(Figure 8) and above this seam, indicating that the equivalence of Seam 75 in the Foothills (Val dOr Coal
Seam) is present in a shaly and sandy facies. Consequently, this clearly shows that the usage of Foothills
terminology is confusing the description of the Ardley Coal Zone in this area and that the label of Seam
100 for this coal seam is preferable.

Figure 8. Litholog of core from well BHP Pine Creek 02/11-6-56-19W5, with palynological zones and seam names.

Equivalences of the Lower Ardley and Mynheer seams (seam 650) can be recognized near the base of the
Ardley Coal Zone.

7.2 BB
Cross-section BB (Figure 9 and Enclosure 2) connects the Alder Flats area with the Red Deer and
Ardley Bend area, where the Ardley Coal Zone is exposed in its type section. The positions of the Ardley
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 12

Figure 9. Cross-section BB (large version is Enclosure 2). For location see Figure 1.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 13

(Seam 400) and Lower Ardley (Seam 650) in the Ardley Bend outcrop are based on Campbell (1967).
Wells 16-35-37-1W5 (Richardson et al., 1988, Alix area type well) and 9-34-38-28W4 (Suncor-Cygnet
CBM well) show that there was significant erosion of the Upper Ardley (Seam 150). This is the subPaskapoo unconformity of Lerbekmo et al. (1990), which was also observed by Holter et al. (1975) by
the absence of the Upper Ardley Coal Seam (seams 100 and 150). The erosional edge on Figure 1 is from
Holter et al. (1975) and was also observed by two additional cross-sections southwest of Red Deer (not
presented here).
Well 6-33-43-5W5 (Richardson et al., 1988, Medicine River area type well) shows that the Main Ardley
(seams 500 and 600) and the Lower Ardley (Seam 650) are not present everywhere. Whether this
represents nondeposition or erosion is uncertain.

7.3 CC
Cross-section CC (Figure 10 and Enclosure 3) correlates the Coal Valley area of the Foothills with the
Wabamun Lake area (Highvale Coal mine). It shows that the equivalents of the Val dOr (Seam 75) and
Arbour (Seam 100) are not present in the Wabamun area. This is supported by the palynology, which
shows that the Momipites actinus subzone (P3) is not present at this site (Figure 11). The Val dOr (Seam
75) disappears around TP 47, R14W5 and the Arbour (Seam 100) disappears around TP 50, R9W5. These
disappearances are related to the Paskapoo unconformity (Lerbekmo et al., 1990). Seam 400 (equivalent
to Lower Silkstone) has reasonable continuity and may be represented by Seam #1 of the Highvale mine.
Seams 200 and 300 (Upper Silkstone) are more discontinuous than the other seams.

7.4 DD
Cross-section DD (Figure 12 and Enclosure 4) ties the Alder Flats area through the BHP Pembina well
(14-15-46-10W5) with cross-section CC. It shows how Seam 150, which has a characteristic signature
along cross-section AA, cannot be recognized along cross-section CC. A slightly higher seam was
designated Seam 140. The discontinuous nature of Seam 150 can be partly explained by some significant
channel deposits in this interval. The cross-section also shows a significant sandstone split between
seams 600 and 650.

7.5 EE
Cross-section EE (Figure 13 and Enclosure 5) correlates the Foothills with the northern part of crosssection AA (near the Pine Creek area). It shows how Seam 150 loses it characteristic signature towards
the West and how Seam 75 (Val dOr Seam) disappears into the Basin. This disappearance is related to
the Paskapoo unconformity and is supported by palynology, as discussed previously.

8 Conclusions
Outcrop to subsurface correlations have been established. It is concluded that the use of a unified numeric
terminology is possible for the Ardley Coal Zone. It appears that the Lower Ardley (Seam 650) is the best
coal seam for correlation purposes. It is only absent in an area west of Red Deer and in the Genesee Coal
Mine area. However, many other coal seams (such as seams 100 and 150) are also correlatable over large
areas. The conditions suitable for peat deposition, which formed the Ardley Coal Zone, lasted at least
1 million years. The recognition of local unconformities may allow the establishment of more detailed
geological histories in local areas.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 14

Figure 10. Cross-section CC (large version is Enclosure 3). For location see Figure 1.

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 15

Figure 11. Litholog of core from coal hole at the Whitewood mine at 1-30-53-4W5, with palynological zones and seam names.

Figure 12. Cross-section DD (large version is Enclosure 4). For location see Figure 1.
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 16

Figure 13. Cross-section EE (large version is Enclosure 5). For location see Figure 1.
EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 17

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EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 20

Enclosures 1-5 (Cross-Sections AA', BB', CC', DD' and EE')

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 21

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 22

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 23

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 24

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 25

EUB/AGS Earth Sciences Report 2007-05 (March 2007) 26