Pavy Formation

Pavy Formation
Stratigraphic range: Thanetian
TypeFormation
Lithology
PrimarySiltstone
OtherCoal
Location
Coordinates81°42′N 64°24′W / 81.7°N 64.4°W / 81.7; -64.4
Approximate paleocoordinates74°18′N 13°18′W / 74.3°N 13.3°W / 74.3; -13.3
RegionEllesmere Island, Nunavut
Country Canada
ExtentSverdrup Basin
Type section
Named forPavy River
Pavy Formation (Canada)
Pavy Formation (Nunavut)

The Pavy Formation is a geologic formation in Nunavut. It preserves fossil insects of Carabites feildenianus,[1] dating back to the Thanetian stage of the Paleocene period.

Description

The Pavy Formation is interpreted to be fluvial in origin. Trough-crossbedded sandstone facies dominate this formation and were probably channel deposits of a braided river system, with interbeds of siltstone and mudrock representing floodplain deposits. Where thicker intervals of mudrock occur, backswamp ponds or shallow-lake conditions were probably present. Only at Watercourse Valley and Pavy River did conditions stabilize long enough for swamps to develop, producing thick coal beds.

See also

References

  1. ^ Heer, 1878

Bibliography

  • Heer, O (1878), "Die Miocene Flora des Grinnell-Landes gegründet auf die von Capitan H.E. Feilden und Dr. E. Moss in der Nähe des Kap Murchison gesammelten fossilen Pflanzen", Flora Fossilis Arctica: Die Fossile Flora der Polarländer, 5: 1–38