GEOLOGY. ADJACENT TO THE AIASKA HIGHWAY
BETWEEN. FORT ST. JOHN AND FORT NELSON,
é _... BRITISH COLUMBIA,

INTRODUCTION

The following report is based on a geological recon-
naissance in 1943 along the, Alaska Highway between Fort St. John
and Fort Nelson, British Columbia, a distance of 257 miles. The
area investigated lies west of longitude 121 degrees and between
- latitudes 56 and 59 degrees. It comprises a narrow belt along the
Highway except for a strip about 60 miles long between Beatton and
. Prophet.Rivers where the-work<was extended to from 5 to 25 miles
west of the road. ate

Previous geological “bicie in this area was. ooemalance to
Peace ‘River Valley and along the old,trail from Fort St. John. to
Fort’ Nelson by way of Sikanni Chae River. Early work along Peace
River was done by Selwyn (1875)1 and Dawson 28?) It was followed

rt

eed, Ee Rey: TORN
A list of references is given at the end of this report.

years later by more intensive studies by MeLearn (1918) » eee: who
have contributed to the geology. along Peace River include. Me Y.
Williams and J. B. Bocock (1932), E. M. Spieker (1921), Js A...
Dresser (1922), and other geologists in the employ of oil companies.
M.-Y. Williams and G. S. Hume went overland from Fort St. John to
Sikanni Chief River and thence to Fort Nelson~in 1922. A short time
was spent by the writer reviewing sections previously described along
Peace River before CORSE SANE VOT along the TEINCY« :

The writer wishes to acknowledge the icind assistance of the
United States Army Engineers, Public Roads Administration, and, in
particular, the resident engineers and American contractors working
under their direction. Useful information about the country was
obtained from Mr. K. F. McCusker, Fort St. John, and through the
discussions in the field with Dr. S. S. Holland, geologist in charge
of a field party for the British Columbia Department of Mines, and
‘Dr. A. O. Hayes, geologist in charge of a field party for Socony
-Vacuum 0i1 Company. Messrs.. Walter Blench, Allan EE and Bernard
ae .Iatour were efficient student ST eee

om GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE. REGION
TOPOGRAPHY

The Alaska Highway trends northwesterly from Fort St. John
for 97 miles, and in this distance follows the height of land between
Cameron, Blueberry, and Beatton Rivers. The divide.is formed of
gently sloping northerly trending ridges that increase in relief to
the west; towards the north the elevation of the country rises, in
general, about 1,000 feet in the first 95 miles from Fort St. John.

At mile 97° the road assumes @ more northerly route and

Mile posts referred. to in this report are numbered from Fort St. Johne

bene.