Megaspores and other palynomorphs of the Brazeau formation (upper cretaceous), Nordegg area, Alberta

Abstract

The Brazeau Formation is an Upper Cretaceous continental sequence found in the foothills of central Alberta ranging in age from Campanian to Maestrichtian. The Belly River Group (Campanian), the Bearpaw Formation (Campanian), and the Edmonton Group (Maestrichtian) which are found in stratigraphic succession on the plains of central Alberta are considered equivalent to parts of the Brazeau Formation. By comparing megaspore sequences in a section of the Belly River Group (Campanian) in southern Alberta, and sections from the Horsehoe Canyon, Whitemud, Battle (Maestrichtian) and Paskapoo formations (Paleocene) of central Alberta, to the Blackstone River section of Brazeau‐Paskapoo formations near Nordegg, megaspore zonation and correlation of the Brazeau and Paskapoo formations is proposed.

To achieve the megaspore zonation, correlation and proper positioning of the megaspore zone‐contacts within the Brazeau‐Paskapoo formations (Blackstone River section), 63 megaspore species from about 200 lithologic samples were obtained from the Blackstone River section. One new genus and 14 new species are described.