Interactive App and Map 012

Author(s) Date 2021-12-07

The Geological Framework of Alberta (GFA) is an ongoing modelling effort at the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS). This interactive app and map includes the methodology used to build Version 3 (v3) of the GFA and its associated metadata. This version of the GFA supersedes the latest published version of the model (Version 2, published by Alberta Geological Survey in 2019).

The GFA v3 is a 3D representation of the subsurface for 602,825 km2 of the province of Alberta, excluding parts of western Alberta affected by Cordilleran deformation. The model is based on a methodology similar to that of v2 of the model, and is built on decades of geological interpretation by AGS geologists, largely from stratigraphic picks interpreted from wellbore logs.

The GFA v3 is built using 1,281,267 input data points. Integration of this large amount of geological interpretation in the form of stratigraphic picks allows for cross-validation of geological concepts at a regional scale. This model provides a geological framework for use across the Alberta Energy Regulator, as well as publicly. The model is used to deliver geological information and convey geological understanding in a representational three-dimensional geospatial environment.

There are 90 geological units in the model representing rock volumes at stratigraphic member, formation or group level, or a combination thereof. The surfaces in the model represent tops and bases of members, formations, and groups, or combined geological units and/or major unconformities. In Version 3, new stratigraphic subdivisions improve the vertical resolution of the model. The 90 modelled geological units of Version 3 from ground surface to model base are:

  • sediment above bedrock
  • Porcupine Hills Formation
  • Paskapoo Formation
  • Ravenscrag Formation / Frenchman Formation
  • Scollard Formation / Willow Creek Formation
  • Battle Formation
  • Whitemud Formation / Eastend Formation
  • Wapiti Formation / Brazeau Formation
  • Horseshoe Canyon Formation (excluding Strathmore Member) / St. Mary River Formation / Blood Reserve Formation
  • undifferentiated Bearpaw Formation
  • upper Bearpaw Formation (above Bearpaw maximum flooding surface)
  • lower Bearpaw Formation (A - outside of Strathmore Member and below Bearpaw maximum flooding surface)
  • Strathmore Member
  • lower Bearpaw Formation (B - below Strathmore Member)
  • undifferentiated Belly River Group
  • Dinosaur Park Formation
  • Oldman Formation
  • Foremost Formation
  • Puskwaskau Formation / undifferentiated Smoky Group
  • undifferentiated Lea Park Formation
  • Pakowki Formation / upper Lea Park Formation
  • Milk River Formation / lower Lea Park Formation (including Alderson Member)
  • Wapiabi Formation / Niobrara Formation / undifferentiated Smoky and Colorado groups (above Second White Specks marker)
  • Bad Heart Formation
  • Muskiki Formation / undifferentiated Kaskapau Formation
  • Carlile Formation
  • Kaskapau Formation (A - outside of Cardium Formation and above Second White Specks marker)
  • Cardium Formation
  • Blackstone Formation
  • Kaskapau Formation (B - below Russian marker and above Second White Specks marker)
  • Second White Specks Formation / Belle Fourche Formation / Fish Scales Formation (including Barons Sand Member)
  • Kaskapau Formation (C - below Second White Specks marker above Dunvegan Formation)
  • Doe Creek Member
  • Dunvegan Formation
  • upper Shaftesbury Formation (above Base of Fish Scales marker)
  • Westgate Formation
  • lower Shaftesbury Formation (below Base of Fish Scales marker)
  • upper Loon River Formation
  • Bow Island Formation / Viking Formation / Pelican Formation
  • Peace River Formation (excluding Harmon Member)
  • Joli Fou Formation  (including Basal Colorado Sand Member)
  • Harmon Member
  • Grand Rapids Formation
  • lower Loon River Formation
  • Spirit River Formation
  • undivided Mannville Group
  • Clearwater Formation (excluding Wabiskaw Member)
  • Glauconitic Sandstone Formation
  • Ostracod Beds Member / Ellerslie Member
  • Bluesky Formation / Gething Formation /  Cadomin Formation / basal Cretaceous sandstone
  • Wabiskaw Member
  • McMurray Formation
  • Nikanassin Formation / Monteith Formation / Fernie Formation
  • Schooler Creek Group
  • Doig Formation
  • upper Montney Formation (a.k.a. lower Doig siltstone)
  • middle Montney Formation (A - excluding middle Montney below turbidite)
  • Montney turbidite
  • middle Montney Formation (B - below Montney turbidite)
  • La Glace sandstone member
  • Anten coquina member
  • lower Montney Formation
  • Ellis Group / Ishbel  Group / Stoddart Group / Rundle Group
  • Banff Formation / Exshaw Formation
  • Wabamun Group / undifferentiated Devonian strata (Peace River Arch)
  • Winterburn Group
  • Ireton Formation / Fort Simpson Formation / Grosmont Formation / Grumbler Group
  • Duvernay Formation / Muskwa Formation
  • Leduc Formation
  • Majeau Lake Formation
  • Cooking Lake Formation
  • Waterways Formation
  • Swan Hills Formation / Slave Point Formation
  • Fort Vermilion Formation
  • Watt Mountain Formation
  • Sulphur Point Formation
  • Prairie Evaporite Formation / Muskeg Formation (excluding Zama and lower anhydrite members) / Eyot Formation
  • Zama Member
  • Muskeg lower anhydrite member
  • Keg River Formation / Winnipegosis Formation
  • Contact Rapids Formation / Chinchaga Formation
  • Cold Lake Formation
  • Ernestina Lake Formation
  • upper Lotsberg Formation
  • middle red beds unit
  • lower Lotsberg Formation
  • La Loche Formation / basal red beds unit
  • undivided Silurian / upper Ordovician strata
  • undivided lower Ordovician / Cambrian strata
  • Precambrian to model base

Place Keywords

Recommended Citation:

Alberta Geological Survey (2021): Geological Framework of Alberta, Version 3 (interactive app and map, methodology, model, dataset, StoryMaps, web maps); Alberta Energy Regulator / Alberta Geological Survey, AER/AGS Interactive Application <https://gfa-v3-ags-aer.hub.arcgis.com>, [date accessed].