Abstract
The Middle Proterozoic Dismal Lakes Group provides a rare example of Precambrian paleokarst which contains a remarkably complete spectrum of solutional, precipitative, and depositional features. The Dismal Lakes Group is a 1.5-km siliciclastic to carbonate succession that records dominantly stable peritidal carbonate sedimentation along the northwestern margin of the Canadian Shield. Karst features are widespread along a regionally extensive subaerial exposure surface associated with regression near the end of Dismal Lakes deposition, and are especially abundant near a depositional high developed earlier near September Lake.
An east-to-west transect down depositional dip from the crest of the profile to the flanking shoreline displays the following karst features: 30 m-thick collapse breccias with preserved roof pendants and cross-stratified chert granulestone cave-floor sediments, grike systems filled by transgressive marine sand, fibrous flowstone, cave popcorn, regolith, and finally, a sharp erosional surface overlain by mixed siliciclastic-carbonate facies of the succeeding marine transgressive phase.
Evolution of the karst profile occurred in three stages: (1) initial subaerial exposure and phreatic dissolution leading to formation of subsurface karst, (2) continued regression and vadose infill by autochthonous and allochthonous clastic sediments and flowstone precipitation, and (3) cave collapse prior to marine transgression.
The common development of grikes and the concomitant paucity of small- or medium-scale karren indicate either a temperate climate during subaerial exposure, or karst dissolution beneath a soil mantle now only locally preserved. The eustatic versus local tectonic nature of the regressive event leading to karst formation is speculative; both factors appear to have had an influence.
Publication authorized by the Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baragar, W.R.A., and Donaldson, J.A., 1973, Coppermine and Dismal Lakes map areas: Geological Survey of Canada, paper, 71–39, 20 p.
Barnes, V.E., Cloud, P.E. Jr., Dixon, L.P., Folk, R.L., Jonas, E.C., Palmer, A.R., and Tynan, E.J., 1959, Stratigraphy of the pre-Simpson Paleozoic subsurface rocks of Texas and southeast New Mexico: Bureau of Economic Geology, publication no. 5924, 294 p.
Bogli, J., 1980, Karst hydrology and physical speleology: Berlin and Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag, 285 p.
Bowring, S.A., and Ross, G.M., 1985, Geochronology of the Narakay volcanic complex: implications for the age of the Coppermine Homocline and Mack-enzie igneous events: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 22, p. 774–781.
Campbell, F.H.A., 1979, Stratigraphy and sedimentation in the Helikian Elu Basin and Hiukitak Platform, Bathurst Inlet-Melville Sound, Northwest Territories: Geological Survey of Canada, paper 79–8, 18 p.
Esteban, M., and Klappa, C.F., 1983, Subaerial exposure environment, in Scholle, P.A., Bebout, D.G., and Moore, C.H., eds., Carbonate depositional environments: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 33, p. 1–54.
Fahrig, W.F., and Jones, D.L., 1969, Paleomagnetic evidence for the extent of the Mackenzie igneous events. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 6, p. 679–688.
Folk, R.L., and Assereto, R., 1976, Comparative fabrics of length-slow and length-fast calcite and calcitized aragonite in a Holocene speleothem, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 46, p. 486–496.
Hoffman, P.F., 1981, Wopmay Orogen: a Wilson cycle of Early Proterozoic age in the northwest of the Canadian Shield, in Strangway, D.F., ed., Geological Association of Canada, special paper 20, p. 523–552.
James, N.P., 1972, Holocene and Pleistocene calcareous crust (caliche) profiles; criteria for sub- aerial exposure: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 42, p. 817–836.
James, N.P., and Choquette, P.W., 1984, Diagenesis 9—limestones—the meteoric diagenetic environment: Geoscience Canada, v. 11, p. 161–194.
Kendall, A.C., and Broughton, P.L., 1978, Origin of fabrics in speleothems composed of columnar calcite crystals: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 48, p. 519–538.
Kerans, C., 1982, Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Dismal Lakes Group, Proterozoic, Northwest Territories: unpubl. PhD. thesis, Carleton University, Ottawa, 304 p.
Kerans, C., 1983, Timing of emplacement of the Muskox intrusion: constraints from Coppermine homocline cover strata: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 20, p. 673–683.
Kerans, C., Ross, G.M., Donaldson, J.A., and Geld- setzer, H.J., 1981, Tectonism and depositional history of the Helikian Hornby Bay and Dismal Lakes Groups, District of Mackenzie, in Campbell, F.H.A., ed., Proterozoic basins of Canada: Geological Survey of Canada, paper 81–10, p. 157–182.
Kyle, J.R., 1983, Economic aspects of subaerial carbonates, in Scholle, P.A., Bebout, D.G., and Moore, C.H., eds., Carbonate depositional environments,American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 33, p. 73–92.
Purser, B.H., and Loreau, J.p., 1973, Aragonitic, supratidal encrustation on the Trucial Coast, Persian Gulf, in Purser, B.H., ed., The Persian Gulf, New York, Springer-Verlag, p. 343–376.
Read, J.F., and Grover, G.A., Jr., 1977, Scalloped and planar erosion surfaces, Middle Ordovician limestone, Virginia: analog of Holocene exposed karst on tidal rock platforms: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 47, p. 956–972.
Ricketts, B.D., 1983, The evolution of a Middle Pre- cambrian dolostone sequence—a spectrum of do- lomitization regimes: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 53, p. 565–586.
Scholle, P. A., and Kinsman, D.J.J., 1974, Aragonitic and high-magnesium calcite caliche from the Persian Gulf—a modern analog for the Permian of Texas and New Mexico: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 44, p. 904–916.
Smith, C.H., Irvine, T.N., and Findlay, D.C., 1967, Muskox intrusion: Geological Survey of Canada, map 1213A.
Sweeting, M.M., 1972, Karst landforms: London, MacMillan, 362 p.
Tucker, M.E., 1983, Diagenesis, geochemistry, and origin of a Precambrian dolomite: the Beck Spring dolomite of eastern California: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 53, p. 1097–1120.
Vail, P.R., Mitchum, R.M., Jr., and Thompson, S., 1976, Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level, part 3: relative changes of sea level from coastal onlap; in Payton, C.E., ed., Seismic stratigraphy—applications to hydrocarbon exploration, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 26, p. 63–82.
Walls, R.A., Harris, W.B., and Nunan, W.E., 1975, Calcareous crust (caliche) profiles and early subaerial exposure of Carboniferous carbonates, northeastern Kentucky: Sedimentology, v. 22, p. 417–440.
Walters, R.F., 1946, Buried Precambrian hills in northeastern Barton County, central Kansas: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 30, p. 660–710.
Wilson, J.L., 1985, Petroleum reservoirs and karst: Society of Economic Geologists and Mineralogists, Annual Midyear Meeting Abstracts, v. 2, p. 97–98.
Wright, V.P., 1982, The recognition and interpretation of paleokarsts: two examples from the lower Carboniferous of south Wales: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 52, p. 83–94.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kerans, C., Donaldson, J.A. (1988). Proterozoic Paleokarst Profile, Dismal Lakes Group, N.W.T., Canada1 . In: James, N.P., Choquette, P.W. (eds) Paleokarst. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3748-8_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3748-8_9
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-96563-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3748-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive