The Triassic Nathorstites Fauna
in Northeastern British Columbia

INTRODUCTION

The Wathen etitesvaanns fauna clays an imoortant part in the
stratigraphy, correlation, and mapping of the Triassic formations in
northeastern British Columbia. It has a wide distribution there, having
been found alongs ‘the foothills of the Rocky Mountains frem Peace River to
the Liard Valley.

Nathorstites was first collected on Liard River by Meconneld. while
making a hazardous descent of that river in 1887. Later it was discovered
at several localities within the Arctic Circle, on Bear Island, on the
island of Spitzbergen, and on Kotelny Island. Still later it was found at
many places in northeastern British Columbia: in the Peace River Foothills,
by the writer in 1917; on Aylard Summit and in the Hackney Hills, by
Beach in 1943; in Sikanni Chief Valley, by Hage in 1943; and in Tetsa Valley,
by M.Y. Williams -in 1943, More recently it has been collected at several
other localities. by geologists of oil exploration companies . In 1943,
£.D. Kindle reinvestigated some localities on Liard River, and a the
following year the writer re-examined occurrences in the Halfway, Sikanni
Chief, and Tetsa Valleys. In addition, collections have been made by
Stuart Hollané for the British Columbia Department of Mines: by M.Y. Willians
and J.B. Bocock of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway Survey, and
O.M. Sternberg of the Geological Survey. Special acknowledgment re made to
Dr. John B. Reeside, Jr., of the United States Geological Survey for plaster
casts of tyoe specimens in the United States National neue Many field
assistants have. aided in making collections, including C0.R. Stelck,

R A 0 . Brown, ; and K.C. McTaggart e

§ TRATIGRAPHY
Formations
A comprehensive formational classification of the Triassic of all of
northeastern British Columbia is not yet possible. A few formatioris have
been eotabiiened tut the naming of others is deferred until more information

is acquired, and until more experience is gained in actual mapping. Present

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