Geology and Coal Deposits of
Hasler Creek Area, British Columbia
: canoe qe ase

omnes TTR ODUCT ION

Hasler Creek area lies between latitudes 55°30’ and 55°40'
and longitudes 122° and 122°15 about 87 miles west of Dawson
Creek, British .Columbia. It is accessible by a motor road that
reaches Pine River about 2 miles below the mouth of Hasler Creek,
Pack trails extend westward along Pine River and southward up
Hasler Creek from the road terminus. Geological mapping in 1943
was confined to a belt 2 to 4 miles wide and about-15 miles long
in which the coal-bearing formation is exposed.

The writer wishes to acknowledge the assistance given by the
Hasler Creek Coal Company in prospecting and opening some of the
pits. D.W. Axford gave efficient help as student assistant.

GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE AREA

The area lies within the Foothills belt of east-central

. British Columbia. Hlevations range from 2,000 feet, in Pine
River Valley, to 4,700 feet on the highest "ridges. "Topographic
features express the character of the. underlying bedrock, the
high ridges being underlain by coarse sandstones and conglomerates
and the Vee eve by shales or the softer sandstones and siltstones.

miidence of glaciation. is widespread in the area. Pine

River has a broad U-shaped valley filled to a considerable depth
by gravels and glacial deposits Pine River No.l well, near the
mouth of Commotion Creek, drilled through 1,080 feet of unconsol-
idated material before reaching bedrock. Hasler Creek has a wide,
drift-filled valley, with a distinct terrace about 200 feet above
present creek level. Glacial striae and. ‘gouges on Falls Mountain

indicate the direction of ice movement as south 70 to 80 degrees
east. No granite or gneissic boulders of the types associated
with Keewatin glaciation were observed.

The smaller tributary creeks and lower hills are mantled by
drift of variable thickness. The area is covered Oe dense growths
of small spruce, pine, GUUS uel Co aae

STRATIGRAPAY

Strata ae poeeas wantin Tne. area mapped are of Lower
Cretaceous age. They include parts ot the Bullhead and Fort St.
John groups (Wickenden’ and Shaw 1945) % as shown in the following

A list of references dist piven at the end of this report.
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table: |

Table of Formations ~

Group : Formation ~ . Lithology _ Thickness

Ree Feet
Fort . AS Ra Se ND, Si lea He Conglomerate near Lee NOC
St. John . Conner PaaS i top,sandstone and :

SER ery tHe i shale members
below:marine and |
non-marine. i