Lithofacies and basinal development of the type 'Etcheminian Series' (Lower Cambrian Ratcliffe Brook Formation), Saint John area, southern New Brunswick

Authors

  • S. K. Tanoli Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada; Present address: National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • R. K. Pickerill Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4138/1693

Abstract

The Ratcliffe Brook Formation of the Saint John Group of the Avalon Terrane of New Brunswick forms the type Etcheminian Series for sub-trilobitic Cambrian strata. The formation, which is of variable thickness but up to 240-263 m, consists of six lithofacies which are generally arranged in stratigraphically ascending order, and are:- RBI basal conglomerate, RB2 rippled and non-rippled sandstone, RB3 layered siliceous claystone and fine-grained sandstone, RB4 greenish-grey chamositic sandstone and siltstone, RB5 maroon, thick-bedded, medium- to coarse-grained sandstone and conglomerate, and RB6 greenish and maroon shale, siltstone, sandstone, and volcanogenic sandstone. Fades RB1 is interpreted to have been deposited in braid channels associated with distal portions of an alluvial fan, possibly in a coastal setting. Overlying fades are interpreted as having been deposited in transitional and shallow marine environments. Fades RB2-RB4 were deposited in a continuously deepening basin related to the early Cambrian eustatic marine transgression. Fades RB5 is subdivided into two subfades, RBSa and RB5b, with RBSa believed to represent shallow marine foreshore-shoreface deposits and RBSb deposits formed within distributary channels on the delta plain of a prograding delta complex. Fades RB6 was deposited in a lagoon of probable uneven width and depth, and which received sediments from varied local sources. The considerable variation in thickness and spatial development of the six lithofacies within the Saint John Basin suggest that initially the basin had an uneven topography. In early stages of the early Cambrian transgression only basin lowlands were drowned and were subject to sedimentation. Complete coverage of the basin was not accomplished until late in the development of the Ratcliffe Brook Formation with the deposition of fades RB6. RÉSUMÉ La Formation de Ratcliffe Brook (Groupe de Saint John, Laniere d'Avalon, Nouveau-Brunswick) consume la série-type de l’Etcheminien pour les strates cambriennes sub-trilobitiques. La formation, dont l'épaisseur varie mais atteint 240 à 265 m, comporte six lithofacies arranges généralement en ordre stratigraphique vers le haulet qui sont:- RB 1 poudingue basal, RB2 grès avec ou sans rides, RB3 gres fin intercalé de claystone siliceux, RB4 grès et siltite chamositiques gris-vert, RBS grès moyen à grassier et poudingue marrons en bancs épais, et RB6 shale, siltite, grès et grès volcanogènique verdatres et matrons. On interpréte le faciès RB 1 conune s'ltant accumutes dans des chenaux tressés associés aux portions d is tales d'un cône de déjection, possiblement en milieu littoral. On interprète les fades sus-jacents conune s'eiant accumules en milieux paralique et marin peu profond. Les fades RB2 à RB4 se sont accumulés dans un bassin s'approfondissant de façon continue et relié à la transgression marine eustatique du début du Cambrien. On subdivise le faciès RB5 en deux sous-faciès, RBS à et RB5b; on croit que RBSa réprésente des dépôts marins peu profonds d'avant-plage et d'estran, et RBSb des dépôts formés dans des chenaux de plaine deltaique au sein d'un complexe deltaJque en cours de progradation. Le dépôt du fades RB6 s'ef fectua dans une lagune dont la largeur et la profondeur variaient, et qui recevait des sédiments de sources diverses et locales. La forte variation de l'épaisseur et du développement dans l'espace des six lithofaciès présents au sein du Bassin de Saint John suggère que la topographie initiate de ce dernier était irrégulière. Seules les basses-terres de bassin furent ennoyées et soumise aune sédimentation durant l'amorce de la transgression eocambrienne. L'inondation totale du bassin ne fut réalisée que vers la fin du développement de la Fonnation de Ratcliffe Brook, avec le dépôt du faciès RB6. [Traduit par le journal]

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Published

1990-03-01

How to Cite

Tanoli, S. K., & Pickerill, R. K. (1990). Lithofacies and basinal development of the type ’Etcheminian Series’ (Lower Cambrian Ratcliffe Brook Formation), Saint John area, southern New Brunswick. Atlantic Geoscience, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.4138/1693

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (1990)

Section

Articles

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