This digital data release includes X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis results of selected samples from Alberta stratigraphic units evaluated for their shale- and siltstone-hosted hydrocarbon resource potential. The strata evaluated include the:
- Duvernay Formation,
- Muskwa Formation,
- Montney Formation,
- Nordegg Member,
- Exshaw Formation,
- Wilrich Member,
- Rierdon Formation, and
- Colorado Group.
Data for other stratigraphic units are also included in this file.
A combination of Sample_ID and Sample_Type columns will result in a unique record. A site may have multiple samples, and each sample may have multiple analyses performed on it.
The number of significant digits of the sample results is as provided by the laboratory. Trailing zeros may have been dropped by Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access. All attributes have well defined domains and were found to be valid within the domains.
In this dataset, the term shale describes a fine-grained, organic-rich rock and may not imply fissility.
We collected representative core samples based on available core for the target formations to get a reasonable spatial distribution of data. The core did not always cover the entire target interval. Sampling was focused at a higher density in the shale targets intervals and other fine-grained rocks. Lower density sampling was done in other lithologies and bounding formations. If Date_Collected is 20xx-01-01, we collected the sample during the year indicated, but the exact date is unknown.
Bulk rock mineralogy data from XRD analysis of the samples is published in DIG 2016-0003. Clay mineralogy data from XRD analysis for selected samples is published in DIG 2016-0004 .
All samples that were submitted to SGS Lakefield Research and analyzed by XRF for bulk rock geochemistry are included in the dataset.
Core samples were collected at the Alberta Energy Regulator’s Core Research Centre.
Geologists recorded the sample and site information, such as location, depth, formation, and a brief lithological description at the time of collection. Representative splits of the samples were made and sent to SGS Lakefield Research for XRF analysis.