Palliser Formation, Limestone geological formation in Alberta, Canada

The Palliser Formation is a Late Devonian (Famennian) stratigraphic unit of limestone and dolomitic limestone in the Canadian Rockies and foothills of western Alberta. It is divided into the lower Morro Member, massive and fine-grained, and the upper Costigan Member, less dolomitic, more argillaceous and more fossiliferous. Anhydrite beds occur in both members.

The Palliser Formation was named in 1943 by H.H. Beach after the Palliser Range in Banff National Park, itself named for John Palliser, leader of the 1850s Palliser Expedition. The type locality was only defined in 1994, in the Devil's Gap section south of Mount Costigan, north of Lake Minnewanka.

The name comes from the Palliser Range in Banff National Park, which honours John Palliser, leader of the 1850s Palliser Expedition. Geologist H.H. Beach applied the name to the rock unit in 1943. The type locality, where the formation is formally defined, lies in the Devil's Gap section south of Mount Costigan, north of Lake Minnewanka.

You can best explore the layers of this formation along trails and road sections in the national parks, where the rock faces are clearly visible. It is possible to visit the outcrops throughout the year, though autumn and spring often provide favorable conditions.

Anhydrite beds occur in both the Morro and Costigan members, a detail easily missed when looking at the cliffs. Limestone quarried from the formation is also used to make cement at Exshaw, Alberta, so the rock ends up in buildings far from the mountains.