Detailed outcrop measured sections of the St. Mary River and Willow Creek Formations in the foothills of southern Alberta

Abstract

Since 2004, renewed interest in uranium exploration, spurred by a supply shortage and large increases in world price, has resulted in land-staking, prospecting, ground and airborne surveys and drilling in southern Alberta. Preliminary results demonstrated that the St. Mary River and Willow Creek formations have characteristics similar to known sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the US. Four outcrop measured sections (1 of St. Mary River Formation and 3 of Willow Creek Formation) are included here, and the facies present are described. The information contained in this Open File adds further sedimentological particulars to our knowledge of those two stratigraphic units, which may harbour some uranium, shallow gas and groundwater potential.