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{{Short description|Stratigraphic Unit in Canada}}
{{Infobox rockunit
{{Infobox rockunit
| name = Wapiti Formation
| name = Wapiti Formation
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| caption =
| caption =
| type = [[Geological formation]]
| type = [[Geological formation]]
| age = {{Fossil range|Campanian|Danian|[[Late Cretaceous]] to Early [[Paleocene]]}}
| age = {{Fossil range|Campanian|Maastrichtian}}
| period = Phanerozoic
| period =Campanian
| prilithology = [[Sandstone]], [[siltstone]], [[mudstone]]
| prilithology = [[Sandstone]], [[siltstone]], [[mudstone]]
| otherlithology = [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]], [[coal]]
| otherlithology = [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]], [[coal]]
Line 24: Line 25:
}}
}}


The '''Wapiti Formation''' is a geological [[Formation (geology)|formation]] of the [[Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin|Western Canada Sedimentary Basin]] in northwestern [[Alberta]], and Northeastern [[British Columbia]],[[Canada]]. Its deposition spanned the time interval from [[Late Cretaceous]] ([[Campanian]] [[Stage (stratigraphy)|stage]]) to early [[Paleocene]], and it includes sediments that were deposited before, during, and after the [[Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event|Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event]].<ref name=Mossop24>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/wcsb_atlas/a_ch24/ch_24.html|title=The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 24: Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin|author=Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I., (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists|year=1994|accessdate=2013-08-01}}</ref> It was named by [[George Mercer Dawson|G.M. Dawson]] in 1881,<ref name=Dawson /> presumably for exposures along the lower part of the Wapiti River and downstream along the Smoky River in Alberta.<ref name=Glass>Glass, D.J. (editor) 1997. Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, vol. 4, Western Canada including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Calgary, 1423 p. on CD-ROM. ISBN 0-920230-23-7.</ref>
The '''Wapiti Formation''' is a geological [[Formation (geology)|formation]] of the [[Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin|Western Canada Sedimentary Basin]] in northwestern [[Alberta]], and northeastern [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]. Its deposition spanned the time interval from the lower [[Campanian]] through to the upper [[Maastrichtian]], between approximately 80 and 68 Ma.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Fowler|first=Denver Warwick|date=2017-11-22|title=Revised geochronology, correlation, and dinosaur stratigraphic ranges of the Santonian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) formations of the Western Interior of North America|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=12|issue=11|pages=e0188426|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0188426|issn=1932-6203|pmc=5699823|pmid=29166406|bibcode=2017PLoSO..1288426F|doi-access=free}}</ref> It was named by [[George Mercer Dawson|G.M. Dawson]] in 1881,<ref name=Dawson /> presumably for exposures along the lower part of the Wapiti River and downstream along the Smoky River in Alberta.<ref name=Glass>Glass, D.J. (editor) 1997. Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, vol. 4, Western Canada including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Calgary, 1423 p. on CD-ROM. {{ISBN|0-920230-23-7}}.</ref>


[[Dinosaur]] remains are among the [[fossil]]s that have been recovered from the Cretaceous portion of the formation.<ref name="cretaceousdistribution">Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.</ref> The Wapiti Formation does not produce many fossils due to its limited surface exposure and accessibility, although two ''[[Pachyrhinosaurus]]'' bone beds have been productive.<ref name="alberta-intro-281">Ryan, M. J., and A. P. Russell, 2001, ''Dinosaurs of Alberta (exclusive of Aves),'' in: ''Mesozoic Vertebrate Life'', edited by Tanke, D. H., and K. Carpenter, Indiana University Press, pp.&nbsp;279–297 ISBN 978-0253339072</ref>
[[Dinosaur]] remains are among the [[fossil]]s that have been recovered from the Cretaceous portion of the formation.<ref name="cretaceousdistribution">Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. {{ISBN|0-520-24209-2}}.</ref> The Wapiti Formation does not produce many fossils due to its limited surface exposure and accessibility, although two ''[[Pachyrhinosaurus]]'' bone beds have been productive.<ref name="RyanandRussell2001">Ryan, M. J., and A. P. Russell, 2001, ''Dinosaurs of Alberta (exclusive of Aves),'' in: ''Mesozoic Vertebrate Life'', edited by Tanke, D. H., and K. Carpenter, Indiana University Press, pp.&nbsp;279–297 {{ISBN|978-0253339072}}</ref>


==Lithology==
== Lithology ==
The Wapiti Formation consists of interbedded [[sandstone]]s, [[siltstone]]s, [[shale]]s and [[mudstone]]s, with thin [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]]s, [[coal]] seams and [[bentonite]] beds. The sandstones are typically thick, pale grey, [[crossbedding|crossbedded]] and bentonitic. The middle part contains less sandstones, more mudstones, and fewer and thinner coals. The upper part contains thicker lenticular sandstones and more coals.<ref name="Glass"/>
The Wapiti Formation consists of interbedded [[sandstone]]s, [[siltstone]]s, [[shale]]s and [[mudstone]]s, with thin [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]]s, [[coal]] seams and [[bentonite]] beds. The sandstones are typically thick, pale grey, [[crossbedding|crossbedded]] and bentonitic. The middle part contains less sandstones, more mudstones, and fewer and thinner coals. The upper part contains thicker lenticular sandstones and more coals.<ref name="Glass"/>


== Depositional environment ==
==Environment of Deposition==
The Wapiti Formation was deposited in inland fluvial and floodplain environments, with local areas of lacustrine sediments.<ref name=Mossop24 /> The sandstones were deposited mainly in fluvial channel environments, with siltstones, carbonaceous shales and coals accumulating in overbank settings.
The Wapiti Formation was deposited in inland fluvial and floodplain environments, with local areas of lacustrine sediments.<ref name=Mossop24>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/wcsb_atlas/a_ch24/ch_24.html|title=The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 24: Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin|author=Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I., (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists|year=1994|access-date=2013-08-01|archive-date=2013-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721174353/http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/wcsb_atlas/a_ch24/ch_24.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The sandstones were deposited mainly in fluvial channel environments, with siltstones, carbonaceous shales and coals accumulating in overbank settings.


==Thickness and Distribution==
==Thickness and Distribution==
The Wapiti Formation rests conformably on the marine shales of the [[Smoky Group]]. It is more than {{convert|1300|m|ft|abbr=on}} thick in the foothills of the [[Canadian Rockies]] in the west,<ref name=Mossop24 /> and it thins eastward to its erosional edge.<ref name=Map600>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/pubs.aspx?series=map|title=Bedrock Geology of Alberta. Alberta Geological Survey, Map 600|author= Prior, G. J., Hathaway, B., Glombick, P.M., Pana, D.I., Banks, C.J., Hay, D.C., Schneider, C.L., Grobe, M., Elgr, R., and Weiss, J.A.|year=2013|accessdate=2013-08-13}}</ref> It is correlative with the entire sequence of the [[Belly River Group]], [[Bearpaw Formation]], [[Edmonton Group]] and [[Scollard Formation]] in south-central Alberta.<ref name=Mossop24 /> In most areas it is [[unconformity|unconformably]] overlain by glacial and post-glacial sediments of [[Quaternary age]], or exposed at surface. In a few upland areas it is unconformably overlain by Paleogene [[gravel]] deposits.<ref name=Glass />
The Wapiti Formation rests conformably on the marine shales of the [[Smoky Group]]. It is more than {{convert|1300|m|ft|abbr=on}} thick in the foothills of the [[Canadian Rockies]] in the west,<ref name=Mossop24 /> and it thins eastward to its erosional edge.<ref name=Map600>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/pubs.aspx?series=map|title=Bedrock Geology of Alberta. Alberta Geological Survey, Map 600|author= Prior, G. J., Hathaway, B., Glombick, P.M., Pana, D.I., Banks, C.J., Hay, D.C., Schneider, C.L., Grobe, M., Elgr, R., and Weiss, J.A.|year=2013|access-date=2013-08-13}}</ref> It is correlative with the entire sequence of the [[Belly River Group]], [[Bearpaw Formation]], [[Edmonton Group]] and [[Scollard Formation]] in south-central Alberta.<ref name=Mossop24 /> In most areas it is [[unconformity|unconformably]] overlain by glacial and post-glacial sediments of [[Quaternary age]], or exposed at surface. In a few upland areas it is unconformably overlain by Paleogene [[gravel]] deposits.<ref name=Glass />


==Vertebrate paleofauna==
== Vertebrate paleofauna ==
{{Paleobiota-key-compact}}
{{Paleobiota-key-compact}}
Indeterminate ankylosaurids, albertosaurines, pachycephalosaurids, ornithomimids, and saurolophines are known from Alberta.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Fanti|first1=Federico|last2=Miyashita|first2=Tetsuto|date=2009-05-01|title=A high latitude vertebrate fossil assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, Canada: evidence for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradient|url=https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/37926836/Fanti_and_Miyashita_2009_3P.pdf?1434529043=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DA_high_latitude_vertebrate_fossil_assemb.pdf&Expires=1610476919&Signature=PL9mcbcge2rze6dr7mM9ftQKqoLB0sayaEc-PW~u2oSK3KyDpcB-9bB2FWYPYAAGoH8-Nl6pZEb3DzmuCe0aqK~w4mKXKA-vQbcZ-Yzppx2ivnBH1dAED8rLRvd5i1FhwPg24RqU80E3jHIQzDM-41KeykczY5cXFfA~3AThdggb9TpwUCWh8YonMaB5Cv0EpLkY-oJ0Wix6ivbwfYOgrwMq6UN0W0br~T7S9WCPeOmtOkVODHpw110V7-hvYCXYKyAAyzOaE8Bp4bKLrJDJSH99XZBOOzNh4B7wucD2IleL2S-l1PjYpvqVJs3jPjJDAsF3CxakJgO1w9i8T8M-FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA|journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology|language=en|volume=275|issue=1|pages=37–53|doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.007|bibcode=2009PPP...275...37F|issn=0031-0182|via=}}{{dead link|date=May 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="CurrieEtAl2008" /> ''[[Corythosaurus]]'' is also known from the formation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Campione|first1=Nicolás|last2=Bell|first2=Phil R.|last3=Fanti|first3=Federico|last4=Sullivan|first4=Corvin|last5=Vavrek|first5=Matthew J.|date=2018|title=A JUVENILE CORYTHOSAUR (LAMBEOSAURINAE) FROM THE WAPITI FORMATION OF WESTERN ALBERTA, CANADA|url=http://vertpaleo.org/Annual-Meeting/Annual-Meeting-Home/SVP-2018-program-book-V4-FINAL-with-covers-9-24-18.aspx|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts|volume=38}}</ref> A caenagnathid is in the process of being described.

{| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%"
|-
|-
Line 48: Line 49:
! Location
! Location
! Member
! Member
! width="20%"| Material
! width="20%" | Material
! width="30%"| Notes
! width="30%" | Notes
! Images
! Images
|-
|-
|
|
[[Albertosaurinae]]<ref name=CurrieEtAl2008/>
cf. ''[[Albertosaurus]]''<ref name="BritishColumbia" />
|
|
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
|
|
* British Columbia
* Alberta
|
|
<!--Member-->
<!--Member-->
| Teeth
|
<!--Material-->
<!--Material-->
|
|
<!--Notes-->
<!--Notes-->
|
|
⚫
<!--Images-->
⚫
<!--Images-->
<!--Images-->
<!--Images-->
|-
|-
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
''[[Bellatoripes]]''
[[Ankylosauridae]]<ref name=Fanti&Miyashita2009/>
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
''B. fredlundi''
⚫
Indeterminate
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
* Alberta
* Alberta
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
⚫
* Unit 4
<!--Member-->
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
Three trackways and an isolated print.
<!--Material-->
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
Footprints of large [[tyrannosaurid]]s.
<!--Notes-->
| style="background:#FEF6E4;" |
|
⚫
<!--Images-->
|-
|-
|
|
''[[Boreonykus]]''<ref>Bell, P. R., and P. J. Currie. 2015. A high-latitude dromaeosaurid, Boreonykus certekorum, gen. et sp. nov. (Theropoda), from the upper Campanian Wapiti Formation, west-central Alberta. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2015.1034359. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2015.1034359</ref>
''[[Boreonykus]]''<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bell|first1=Phil R.|last2=Currie|first2=Philip J.|date=2016-01-02|title=A high-latitude dromaeosaurid, Boreonykus certekorum, gen. et sp. nov. (Theropoda), from the upper Campanian Wapiti Formation, west-central Alberta|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289157710|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=36|issue=1|pages=e1034359|doi=10.1080/02724634.2015.1034359|bibcode=2016JVPal..36E4359B |s2cid=131680329|issn=0272-4634|via=}}</ref>
|
|
''B. certekorum''
''B. certekorum''
Line 95: Line 97:
<!--Notes-->
<!--Notes-->
|
|
⚫
[[File:Boreonykus LM.jpg|thumb|center|200px|''[[Boreonykus certekorum]]'']]
⚫
<!--Images-->
|-
|-
|
|
''[[Edmontosaurus]]''<ref name=BellEtAl2013>P. R. Bell, F. Fanti, J. Acorn and R. S. Sissons. 2013. Fossil mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera, cf. Heptageniidae) from the Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formation, Alberta, Canada. Journal of Paleontology 87:147-150</ref>
''[[Troodon]]''<ref name="Fanti&Miyashita2009">F. Fanti and T. Miyashita. 2009. A high latitude vertebrate fossil assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, Canada: evidence for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradient. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 275(1-4):37-53</ref>
|
|
⚫
Indeterminate
⚫
''E. regalis''
|
|
* Alberta
* Alberta
|
|
* Units 3 and 4<ref name="N.J.Enriquezetal.2020">N. J. Enriquez, N. E. Campione, C. Sullivan, M. Vavrek, R. L. Sissons, M. A. White and P. R. Bell. 2020. Probable deinonychosaur tracks from the Upper Cretaceous Wapiti Formation (upper Campanian) of Alberta, Canada. Geological Magazine (in press). [https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756820001247 doi:10.1017/S0016756820001247]</ref>
⚫
* Unit 4
|
|
Teeth; probable troodontid footprints are also known<ref name="N.J.Enriquezetal.2020" />
⚫
<!--Material-->
|
|
<!--Notes-->
<!--Notes-->
|
|
⚫
[[File:Edmontosaurus BW.jpg|thumb|center|200px|''[[Edmontosaurus regalis]]'']]
|-
|-
|
|
''[[Edmontosaurus]]''<ref name="BellEtAl2013">{{Cite journal|last1=Bell|first1=Phil R.|last2=Fanti|first2=Federico|last3=Acorn|first3=John|last4=Sissons|first4=Robin S.|date=January 2013|title=Fossil Mayfly Larvae (Ephemeroptera, cf. Heptageniidae) from the Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formation, Alberta, Canada|url=https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/31241556/Bell_et_al_2013_mayflies__Wapiti_Fmn__J_Pal..pdf?1368172718=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DFossil_mayfly_larvae_Ephemoptera_cf_Hept.pdf&Expires=1610477133&Signature=bEH61pIJUmviZs9pnlOFsM4rjgajOutVqbnRbJv9cqpotkaOgH4tO1JseWBSKIjcfaKOU3si0r66ZShkpaXBpbw7HokgMCP7kyQfWuiHuHJx3QuChGqGhpZkZhwjZ68FjqTdKH~lr8p8BfTL5xwR4S-5nh3RHu~CzaxmVzt4VZpJa8ABdvousLagwZV03reBAgDA1kxQFkGTVfMYKEJgft-VOUkBrQmji-TmT39n9pASVlaG3f-wSX3NcoxDesJtwH97Tg7pJRvlL8k3EDhZX0HMiJxAseL4Ib0jmR5r8A7Kzuo2qk1LXlOoxpSivMv2eyG~wcWV2jZz5HakxfmlfA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=87|issue=1|pages=147–150|doi=10.1666/12-058R.1|bibcode=2013JPal...87..147B |s2cid=128944375|issn=0022-3360|via=}}{{dead link|date=May 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
[[Pachycephalosauridae]]<ref name=Fanti&Miyashita2009/>
|
|
⚫
''[[Edmontosaurus regalis]]''
Indeterminate
|
|
* Alberta
* Alberta
|
|
* Unit 4
⚫
<!--Member-->
|
|
<!--Material-->
<!--Material-->
Line 125: Line 126:
<!--Notes-->
<!--Notes-->
|
|
[[File:Edmontosaurus BW.jpg|thumb|center|200px|''[[Edmontosaurus regalis]]'']]
<!--Images-->
|-
|-
|
|
[[Hadrosauridae]] nov. tax.<ref name="BritishColumbia">{{cite journal |last1=Reid |first1=Ian J. |title=A review of dinosaurian body fossils from British Columbia, Canada |journal=PeerJ Preprints |date=2016 |doi=10.7287/peerj.preprints.1369v3 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
[[Ornithomimidae]]<ref name="alberta-intro-281"/>
|
|
sp. nov.
Indeterminate
|
|
* British Columbia
* Alberta
|
|
<!--Member-->
<!--Member-->
|
|
<!--Material-->
<!--Material-->
| A new taxon of hadrosaurid.
|
<!--Notes-->
<!--Notes-->
|
|
⚫
<!--Images-->
⚫
<!--Images-->
<!--Images-->
<!--Images-->
|-
|-
|
|
''[[Pachyrhinosaurus]]''<ref name=CurrieEtAl2008>Currie, P.J., Langston, W., and Tanke, D.H. (2008). "A new species of Pachyrhinosaurus (Dinosauria, Ceratopsidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada." pp. 1-108. In: Currie, P.J., Langston, W., and Tanke, D.H. 2008. A New Horned Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Bone Bed in Alberta. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 144 pp. ISBN 978-0-660-19819-4</ref>
''[[Pachyrhinosaurus]]''<ref name="CurrieEtAl2008">Currie, P.J., Langston, W., and Tanke, D.H. (2008). "A new species of Pachyrhinosaurus (Dinosauria, Ceratopsidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada." pp. 1-108. In: Currie, P.J., Langston, W., and Tanke, D.H. 2008. A New Horned Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Bone Bed in Alberta. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 144 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-660-19819-4}}</ref>
|
|
''P. lakustai''
''P. lakustai''
Line 158: Line 161:
|-
|-
|
|
''[[Richardoestesia]]''<ref name=":0" />
''[[Richardoestesia]]''<ref name=Fanti&Miyashita2009>F. Fanti and T. Miyashita. 2009. A high latitude vertebrate fossil assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, Canada: evidence for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradient. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 275(1-4):37-53</ref>
|
|
''R. gilmorei''
''R. gilmorei''
Line 171: Line 174:
|
|
<!--Images-->
<!--Images-->
|-
|
[[Saurolophinae]]<ref name="alberta-intro-281"/>
|
Indeterminate
|
* Alberta
|
<!--Member-->
|
<!--Material-->
|
<!--Notes-->
|
<!--Images-->
<!--Images-->
|-
|-
|
|
''[[Saurornitholestes]]''<ref name=Fanti&Miyashita2009/>
''[[Saurornitholestes]]''<ref name=":0" />
|
|
''S. sp.''
''S''. sp.
|
|
* Alberta
* Alberta
Line 203: Line 192:
|}
|}


==See also==
== See also ==
⚫
* [[List of dinosaur-bearing stratigraphic units]]
{{Portal|Earth sciences|Paleontology|Dinosaurs||}}
⚫
* [[List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations]]


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Reflist|refs=
}}
}}
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{{coord missing|Alberta}}
{{coord missing|Alberta}}


[[Category:Geologic formations of North America]]
[[Category:Maastrichtian Stage of North America]]
[[Category:Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary]]
[[Category:Danian Stage]]
[[Category:Paleogene geology of Wyoming]]
[[Category:Paleogene geology of Wyoming]]
[[Category:Paleogene Alberta]]
[[Category:Paleogene Alberta]]
[[Category:Maastrichtian Stage of North America]]
[[Category:Sandstone formations]]
[[Category:Mudstone formations]]
[[Category:Fluvial deposits]]
[[Category:Fossiliferous stratigraphic units of North America]]
[[Category:Paleontology in Alberta]]
[[Category:Paleontology in Wyoming]]

Latest revision as of 01:09, 28 March 2024

Wapiti Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian–Maastrichtian
TypGeological formation
Lithology
PrimäreSandstone, siltstone, mudstone
Otherconglomerate, coal
Standort
Region Alberta
Land Kanada
Type section
Named forLower part of Wapiti River
Named byG.M. Dawson, 1881.[1]

The Wapiti Formation is a geological formation of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in northwestern Alberta, and northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Its deposition spanned the time interval from the lower Campanian through to the upper Maastrichtian, between approximately 80 and 68 Ma.[2] It was named by G.M. Dawson in 1881,[1] presumably for exposures along the lower part of the Wapiti River and downstream along the Smoky River in Alberta.[3]

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the Cretaceous portion of the formation.[4] The Wapiti Formation does not produce many fossils due to its limited surface exposure and accessibility, although two Pachyrhinosaurus bone beds have been productive.[5]

Lithology

[edit]

The Wapiti Formation consists of interbedded sandstones, siltstones, shales and mudstones, with thin conglomerates, coal seams and bentonite beds. The sandstones are typically thick, pale grey, crossbedded and bentonitic. The middle part contains less sandstones, more mudstones, and fewer and thinner coals. The upper part contains thicker lenticular sandstones and more coals.[3]

Depositional environment

[edit]

The Wapiti Formation was deposited in inland fluvial and floodplain environments, with local areas of lacustrine sediments.[6] The sandstones were deposited mainly in fluvial channel environments, with siltstones, carbonaceous shales and coals accumulating in overbank settings.

Thickness and Distribution

[edit]

The Wapiti Formation rests conformably on the marine shales of the Smoky Group. It is more than 1,300 m (4,300 ft) thick in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in the west,[6] and it thins eastward to its erosional edge.[7] It is correlative with the entire sequence of the Belly River Group, Bearpaw Formation, Edmonton Group and Scollard Formation in south-central Alberta.[6] In most areas it is unconformably overlain by glacial and post-glacial sediments of Quaternary age, or exposed at surface. In a few upland areas it is unconformably overlain by Paleogene gravel deposits.[3]

Vertebrate paleofauna

[edit]
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Indeterminate ankylosaurids, albertosaurines, pachycephalosaurids, ornithomimids, and saurolophines are known from Alberta.[8][9] Corythosaurus is also known from the formation.[10] A caenagnathid is in the process of being described.

Dinosaurs of the Wapiti Formation
Genus Species Standort Member Material Notes Images

cf. Albertosaurus[11]

Indeterminate

  • British Columbia
 Teeth

Bellatoripes

B. fredlundi

  • Alberta
  • Unit 4

Three trackways and an isolated print.

Footprints of large tyrannosaurids.

Boreonykus[12]

B. certekorum

  • Alberta
  • Unit 3
Boreonykus certekorum

Troodon[13]

Indeterminate

  • Alberta

Teeth; probable troodontid footprints are also known[14]

Edmontosaurus[15]

Edmontosaurus regalis

  • Alberta
  • Unit 4
Edmontosaurus regalis

Hadrosauridae nov. tax.[11]

sp. nov.

  • British Columbia
 A new taxon of hadrosaurid.

Pachyrhinosaurus[9]

P. lakustai

  • Alberta
Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai

Richardoestesia[8]

R. gilmorei

  • Alberta

Saurornitholestes[8]

S. sp.

  • Alberta

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dawson, G.M. 1881. Report on the exploration from Simpson on the Pacific coast to Edmonton on the Saskatchewan River, embracing a portion of the northern part of Brisish Columbia and the Peace River country. Geological Survey of Canada, Report of Progress 1879-1880, Part B, p. 1-77.
  2. ^ Fowler, Denver Warwick (2017-11-22). "Revised geochronology, correlation, and dinosaur stratigraphic ranges of the Santonian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) formations of the Western Interior of North America". PLOS ONE. 12 (11): e0188426. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1288426F. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0188426. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5699823. PMID 29166406.
  3. ^ a b c Glass, D.J. (editor) 1997. Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, vol. 4, Western Canada including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Calgary, 1423 p. on CD-ROM. ISBN 0-920230-23-7.
  4. ^ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  5. ^ Ryan, M. J., and A. P. Russell, 2001, Dinosaurs of Alberta (exclusive of Aves), in: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, edited by Tanke, D. H., and K. Carpenter, Indiana University Press, pp. 279–297 ISBN 978-0253339072
  6. ^ a b c Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I., (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (1994). "The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 24: Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin". Archived from the original on 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2013-08-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Prior, G. J., Hathaway, B., Glombick, P.M., Pana, D.I., Banks, C.J., Hay, D.C., Schneider, C.L., Grobe, M., Elgr, R., and Weiss, J.A. (2013). "Bedrock Geology of Alberta. Alberta Geological Survey, Map 600". Retrieved 2013-08-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c Fanti, Federico; Miyashita, Tetsuto (2009-05-01). "A high latitude vertebrate fossil assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, Canada: evidence for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradient" (PDF). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 275 (1): 37–53. Bibcode:2009PPP...275...37F. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.007. ISSN 0031-0182.[dead link]
  9. ^ a b Currie, P.J., Langston, W., and Tanke, D.H. (2008). "A new species of Pachyrhinosaurus (Dinosauria, Ceratopsidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada." pp. 1-108. In: Currie, P.J., Langston, W., and Tanke, D.H. 2008. A New Horned Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Bone Bed in Alberta. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 144 pp. ISBN 978-0-660-19819-4
  10. ^ Campione, Nicolás; Bell, Phil R.; Fanti, Federico; Sullivan, Corvin; Vavrek, Matthew J. (2018). "A JUVENILE CORYTHOSAUR (LAMBEOSAURINAE) FROM THE WAPITI FORMATION OF WESTERN ALBERTA, CANADA". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts. 38.
  11. ^ a b Reid, Ian J. (2016). "A review of dinosaurian body fossils from British Columbia, Canada". PeerJ Preprints. doi:10.7287/peerj.preprints.1369v3.
  12. ^ Bell, Phil R.; Currie, Philip J. (2016-01-02). "A high-latitude dromaeosaurid, Boreonykus certekorum, gen. et sp. nov. (Theropoda), from the upper Campanian Wapiti Formation, west-central Alberta". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (1): e1034359. Bibcode:2016JVPal..36E4359B. doi:10.1080/02724634.2015.1034359. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 131680329.
  13. ^ F. Fanti and T. Miyashita. 2009. A high latitude vertebrate fossil assemblage from the Late Cretaceous of west-central Alberta, Canada: evidence for dinosaur nesting and vertebrate latitudinal gradient. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 275(1-4):37-53
  14. ^ a b N. J. Enriquez, N. E. Campione, C. Sullivan, M. Vavrek, R. L. Sissons, M. A. White and P. R. Bell. 2020. Probable deinonychosaur tracks from the Upper Cretaceous Wapiti Formation (upper Campanian) of Alberta, Canada. Geological Magazine (in press). doi:10.1017/S0016756820001247
  15. ^ Bell, Phil R.; Fanti, Federico; Acorn, John; Sissons, Robin S. (January 2013). "Fossil Mayfly Larvae (Ephemeroptera, cf. Heptageniidae) from the Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formation, Alberta, Canada" (PDF). Journal of Paleontology. 87 (1): 147–150. Bibcode:2013JPal...87..147B. doi:10.1666/12-058R.1. ISSN 0022-3360. S2CID 128944375.[dead link]

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