302 D. B. DOWLING — CRKTACEOUS SECTION IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA 



the Foxhill is submerged in the Pierre. As Mr Stanton wishes to call 

 the shales above the Judith river the Bearpaw formation, it is doubtful 

 whether the Saskatchewan deposits should be included, but in the section 

 here discussed the name could be used, as it is quite similar to the forma- 

 tion in Montana. 



Edmonton Series 



The sandstones capping the Bearpaw shales contain a few brackish 

 water shells and many plant remains. The thickness of the brackish 

 water formation as distinguished from the fresh-water beds of the 

 Tertiary was not ascertained. The Edmonton series represents the top 

 of the Cretaceous and includes the lower part of the Saint Mary River 

 series, which is a part of the Laramie. 



Summary 



The Jurassic sea at its latest stage invaded the area of what is now the 

 Eocky mountains in a narrow depression. The transition beds at the 

 base of the Cretaceous were next laid down. The floor over which the 

 Cretaceous was spread consisted of various formations, forming an over- 

 lapping series increasing in age toward the northeast. The early Ju- 

 rassic sea was narrow, or at least extended not far east of what is now 

 the Rocky Mountain area. Land conditions prevailed throughout por- 

 tions of the Kootanie, and the greatest deposition of detrital matter 

 and remains of an abundant flora occur in the same depression. In the 

 later part of the Kootanie time the deposits extended possibly south- 

 eastward to the Black hills. This period is closed by a depression in the 

 central part of the continent, and the marginal beds of the sea, which 

 then advanced, form the Dakota sandstone on the eastern margin. On 

 the west similar deposits seem to be continued from the Dakota, by way 

 of the Black hills, to the mountains, but both north and south there are 

 evidences of salt-water deposits about this time. The Colorado forma- 

 tions here indicate in the upper members proximity to a western shore. 

 The Montana formations are very similar to those near the Judith river. 

 Land conditions then close the Cretaceous time, but intermittent en- 

 croachments of the sea continue to the beginning of the Tertiary. 



Note by the Author 



Since the paper was sent to the printer, determinations of the fossils 

 have been received, proving the Kootanie age of the lower member, but 

 bringing the Edmonton of the provisional list down to the Judith river. 

 The revised section will be found in a forthcoming report by Mr D. D. 

 Cairnes. 



