Spirit River Formation, Geological formation in Alberta, Canada
The Spirit River Formation is a geological layer in northern Alberta that contains fine to medium-grained sandstone mixed with dark shale, ironstone, and coal deposits. Thin bands of siltstone and greywacke run through these layers, creating a complex rock sequence visible in the subsurface geology.
These rock layers formed during the mid-Albian age, roughly 109 to 106 million years ago, when northern Alberta was covered by shallow seas. The formation was first systematically described in 1952 by early researchers studying the region's geology.
The formation takes its name from Cree origins, as Spirit River comes from 'Chepe Sepi' in the language of local indigenous peoples. This connection to the land's first inhabitants remains part of the place's identity today.
These rock layers lie beneath the surface and are not visible to casual visitors above ground. Information about the formation and its characteristics can be found through geological surveys, local resource centers, and Alberta's provincial geological publications.
The formation preserves fossils of ammonites such as Beaudanticeras and Arcthoplites, marine shells that help geologists date and understand ancient sea conditions. These specimens provide clues about the ocean life that thrived in this region millions of years ago.
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