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.

Pavy Formation
Stratigraphic range: Thanetian
TypeFormation
Lithology
PrimarySiltstone
OtherCoal
Location
Coordinates81°42′N 64°24′W / 81.7°N 64.4°W / 81.7; -64.4
Approximate paleocoordinates74°18′N 13°18′W / 74.3°N 13.3°W / 74.3; -13.3
RegionEllesmere Island, Nunavut
Country Canada
ExtentSverdrup Basin
Type section
Named forPavy River
Pavy Formation is located in Canada
Pavy Formation
Pavy Formation (Canada)
Pavy Formation is located in Nunavut
Pavy Formation
Pavy Formation (Nunavut)

Description

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Heer, 1878

Bibliography

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  • Heer, O (1878), "Die Miocene Flora des Grinnell-Landes gegründet auf die von Capitan H.E. Feilden und Dr. E. Moss in der Nähe des Kap Murchison gesammelten fossilen Pflanzen", Flora Fossilis Arctica: Die Fossile Flora der Polarländer, 5: 1–38