Magnetostratigraphy Dating and Correlation of the Lower Doig and Upper Montney Formations (Lower Triassic), Northeastern British Columbia, Western Canada (original) (raw)

Accurate correlation within non-fossiliferous, fine-grained clastic successions such as the upper Montney and lower Doig formations is commonly problematic. Wireline log correlations are subjective and unambiguously synchronous marker horizons are not common. A pilot study was initiated to evaluate the potential of applying paleomagnetic correlation techniques to the study interval. A total of 129 samples from six well cores in northeastern British Columbia were analyzed. Two of the studied wells (09-29-79-14W6 and 12-35-79-17W6) exhibit normal and reverse polarities. A correlation of the geomagnetic polarity from this study matches a known portion of the Triassic geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS) at 245 Ma. Preliminary results suggest that the lowermost Doig phosphate zone may have identical paleomagnetic characteristics across the Montney and Doig boundary in different areas. This boundary is a coplanar Trypanites -Glossifungites demarcated discontinuity surface in all wells analyzed in this study and is herein interpreted to be a regionally correlatable surface.