Cairn Formation
The Cairn Formation is a geologic formation of Late Devonian (Frasnian) age in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. It was named for the Cairn River near its junction with the Southesk River in Jasper National Park by D.J. McLaren in 1955.
| Cairn Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Frasnian ~ | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Fairholme Group |
| Underlies | Southesk Formation |
| Overlies | Flume Formation |
| Thickness | Up to 180 m (590 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Dolomite |
| Other | Limestone, chert |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 52°38′N 116°58′W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 13.5°S 44.4°W |
| Region | Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Cairn River, Alberta |
| Named by | D.J. McLaren |
| Year defined | 1955 |
Cairn Formation (Canada) Cairn Formation (Alberta) | |
The Cairn Formation is stratigraphically equivalent to the Leduc Formation, which is a major oil-producing formation in central Alberta. Like the Leduc Formation, it was deposited in reef environments and is highly fossiliferous. Extensive outcrops of the Cairn Formation near Canmore, Alberta are a popular field trip destination for those wishing to learn about Devonian reefs. They are also popular with rock climbers who enjoy the challenges presented by their extremely irregular surfaces.
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