Raymond L. Kohlsmith

Stellarton, N.S.

B. Sc. Honours Thesis

Heavy Mineral Provenance Studies on the Wallace River Formation of the Pictou Group between Tatamagouche and River John, Nova Scotia

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Heavy mineral provenance studies were conducted on sandstones of the Wallace River Formation (Pictou Group) over an area of roughly 200 km2. As well, three major heavy mineral provinces were established. The strata cropping out between Tatamagouche and River John was mapped and fluvial environments suggested for the sandstones, shales and conglomerates comprising the formation.

The Wallace River Formation can be subdivided into three members which are, from oldest to youngest, the Wentworth Member, the Balfron Member, and the Waugh River Member. The Wentworth Member was deposited dominantly by braided fluvial systems, with minor input by meandering systems. The Balfron Member was deposited by braided fluvial systems, whereas the Waugh River Member was deposited almost exclusively by meandering fluvial systems.

Twenty-four sandstones from 22 localities were studied using thin section point-counting of grains. Eleven heavy minerals were identified and three main heavy mineral provinces were established; a hornblende province, a hypersthene-augite province, and a widespread garnet province. The latter has been subdivided into local garnet-epidote and garnet-tourmaline provinces.

Provenance determinations using heavy minerals, quartz, feldspar and rock fragments indicate a dominantly metamorphic source terrain, with variable input from mafic igneous, granitic, and older sedimentary rocks, and minor contribution by volcanic and pegmatitic sources.

Keywords:
Pages: 91
Supervisor: Paul Schenk