Devonian Boring Algae or Fungi Associated with Micrite Tubules

1974 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1606-1610 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Kobluk ◽  
Michael J. Risk
Keyword(s):  
Upper Devonian ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Reef Complex

The process of skeletal micritization by boring thallophytes (algae and fungi) is known from modern carbonate environments and probably occurred as far back as the Ordovician. Boring thallophytes, probably fungi, possibly algae, were the cause of at least some skeletal micritization in Devonian reef complexes in western Canada. In situ endolithic filaments, of 3 μm and 5 μm diameter, occur associated with a micrite rim and micrite tubules in the corallite of an Upper Devonian tetracoral from the Miette reef complex. The filaments are found in the micrite rim around the coral, in the micrite tubules, and in unmicritized parts of the corallite, often oriented normal to the corallite wall and with the same trend as the tubules. Infestation and micritization began well before the corallite was buried, probably while the coral was alive, and continued for some time after death.

Correlation of Grassy Lake and Cedar Lake ambers using infrared spectroscopy, stable isotopes, and palaeoentomology

2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1061-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan C. McKellar ◽  
Alexander P. Wolfe ◽  
Ralf Tappert ◽  
Karlis Muehlenbachs
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Geochemical Fingerprinting ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
Distance Transport

The Late Cretaceous Grassy Lake and Cedar Lake amber deposits of western Canada are among North America’s most famous amber-producing localities. Although it has been suggested for over a century that Cedar Lake amber from western Manitoba may be a secondary deposit having originated from strata in Alberta, this hypothesis has not been tested explicitly using geochemical fingerprinting coupled to comparative analyses of arthropod faunal content. Although there are many amber-containing horizons associated with Cretaceous coals throughout Alberta, most are thermally mature and brittle, thus lacking the resilience to survive long distance transport while preserving intact biotic inclusions. One of the few exceptions is the amber found in situ at Grassy Lake. We present a suite of new analyses from these and other Late Cretaceous ambers from western Canada, including stable isotopes (H and C), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and an updated faunal compendium for the Grassy and Cedar lakes arthropod assemblages. When combined with amber’s physical properties and stratigraphic constraints, the results of these analyses confirm that Cedar Lake amber is derived directly from the Grassy Lake amber deposit or an immediate correlative equivalent. This enables the palaeoenvironmental context of Grassy Lake amber to be extended to the Cedar Lake deposit, making possible a more inclusive survey of Cretaceous arthropod faunas.

Controlled displacement-rate in situ shear tests with pore pressure measurements

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Shuri ◽  
D. D. Driscoll ◽  
S. J. Garner
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Bedding Plane ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Shear Tests ◽  
Plane Shear ◽  
Clay Seam

Two large-scale in situ shear tests were conducted at a damsite in western Canada. The rock at the site is a Cretaceous shale containing a thin clay seam tentatively identified as a bedding-plane shear zone. The material in this seam is significantly weaker than the intact rock and influences the design of certain features of the dam and structures. In order to provide shear strength data for design, two large blocks of shale were sheared along the clay seam. These tests differed from conventional in situ shear tests in two significant ways: the rate of shear displacement was strictly controlled, and pore pressures (both positive and negative) in the shear zone were carefully monitored throughout the test. This note presents the material properties of the shear zone, describes the test equipment and techniques, and discusses the results obtained. Key words: shear strength, in situ testing, pore pressure, shale.

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