Pavy Formation

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Pavy Formation
Stratigraphic range: Thanetian
Type Formation
Lithology
Primary Siltstone
Other Coal
Location
Coordinates 81°42′N64°24′W / 81.7°N 64.4°W / 81.7; -64.4
Approximate paleocoordinates 74°18′N13°18′W / 74.3°N 13.3°W / 74.3; -13.3
Region Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Extent Sverdrup Basin
Type section
Named for Pavy River
Canada relief map 2.svg
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Pavy Formation (Canada)
Canada Nunavut location map-lambert proj3.svg
Orange pog.svg
Pavy Formation (Nunavut)

The Pavy Formation is a geologic formation in Nunavut. It preserves fossil insects of Carabites feildenianus , [1] dating back to the Thanetian stage of the Paleocene period.

Contents

Description

The Pavy Formation is interpreted to be fluvial in origin. Trough-crossbedded sandstone facies dominate this formation and were probably channel deposits of a braided river system, with interbeds of siltstone and mudrock representing floodplain deposits. Where thicker intervals of mudrock occur, backswamp ponds or shallow-lake conditions were probably present. Only at Watercourse Valley and Pavy River did conditions stabilize long enough for swamps to develop, producing thick coal beds.

See also

References

  1. Heer, 1878

Bibliography