Cardium Formation

The Cardium Formation is a geological layered deposit of sandstone and mudstone that spreads across western Alberta. These sediments accumulated over millions of years and form one of Canada's most significant oil and gas producing zones today.

A geologist named this formation in 1895 after heart-shaped shellfish fossils preserved in the rock layers. The sediments formed in a shallow sea that covered this region roughly 100 million years ago.

This formation has become an important subject for Canadian geologists studying ancient environments and depositional patterns. The shell fossils within its layers attract researchers and geology enthusiasts who want to understand how this region looked in prehistory.

This formation lies deep underground and is not accessible as a direct visitor site without specialized drilling or geological surveys. Interested visitors can learn about it through displays at natural history museums and educational resources about Alberta's geology.

The shell that inspired this formation's name came from an extinct clam that lived in ancient seas during the age of dinosaurs. Paleontologists use these fossils extensively to identify and match rock layers across Alberta's subsurface.

Location: Alberta

Made from material: sandstone

GPS coordinates: 51.14100,-114.99400

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:49