95

the many unsolved problems of correlation. In the past where faunal
evidence has been lacking recourse has been made to the criteria of similar
lithology and similar stratigraphic position, but not always with success.
Undoubtedly some current correlations will require revision when more
faunal, and particularly microfaunal, evidence is obtained.

The Moosebar plus the Gates formation in northeastern British Col-
umbia is correlated with the upper and fossiliferous part of the Loon River
formation plus the basal beds of the Lower sandstone member of the Peace
River formation on lower Peace River, on the basis of the Beudanticeras
affine or Lemuroceras fauna. The lower part of the Hasler formation, con-
taining Gastroplites on Peace River, and probably the upper part of the
Commotion on Pine River, are of the same age as the Cadotte member of
the Peace River formation (See Stelek, 1941; McLearn, 1932, 1944B, 1945).
The upper part of the Hasler formation, in addition to the Goodrich and
Cruiser formations, is correlated with the Shaftesbury formation, on the
basis of similar stratigraphic position (See Figure 12).

The Moosebar and Gates are correlated with the Clearwater formation
in the lower Athabasca River Valley, on the evidence of the Beudanticeras
or Lemuroceras fauna; it is possible that a part of the Grand Rapids forma-
tion, which overlies the Clearwater, should be included in this correlation.
The equivalent of the beds carrying the Gastroplites fauna, that is the lower
part of the Hasler on Peace River and the upper part of the Commotion
formation on Pine River, has not yet been determined in the section on the
lower part of Athabasca River, as the Gastroplites fauna has not been found
there; it probably lies somewhere in the section embraced by the upper part
of the Grand Rapids and the lower part of the Joli Fou formations. The
equivalent of the Goodrich and Cruiser formations may lie somewhere
within the range of the Joli Fou and Pelican formations (See Figure 12).
Foraminiferal studies now being conducted by R. T. D. Wickenden may
lead to more exact correlations.

In the central Foothills of Alberta, the Mountain Park formation plus
a basal part of the Blackstone formation may, like the Fort St. John group,
be of late Lower Cretaceous age. In the southern Foothills of Alberta, the
upper part of the Blairmore, with the Albian flora, is of late Lower Cre-
taceous age and is correlated with at least a part of the Fort St. John of the
north. It is at present unknown whether a basal part of the Blackstone in
the southern Foothills should be correlated with the Fort St. John.

In the deeply buried early Cretaceous beds of southern Saskatchewan,
it is possible that the section that comprises the upper part of the ‘Vari-
coloured beds’, together with the grey shales with Haplophragmoides gigas,
and the grey sandstone and shale with coal (See Fraser et al., 1936), is
equivalent, in whole or in part, to the Fort St. John group. In southern
Alberta, the equivalent strata of this group fall somewhere within the
section that embraces the upper part of the ‘Varicoloured beds’, together
with the shale and sandstone with H/. gigas, and the Bow Island chert.

On the Manitoba escarpment, a part of the Ashville formation has
been correlated with the Shaftesbury formation (Wickenden, 1945) and so
with the upper part of the Fort St. John group on Peace River. Some part
of the Swan River group, which underlies the Ashville, may be equivalent
to some part of the Fort St. John group, but no faunal evidence has been
obtained to substantiate this correlation.