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Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology

Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology

The Sedimentology of Palaeontology

February 8, 2022
The Sedimentology of Palaeontology
Juvenile ceratopsian head shield found in an interpreted flood deposit, surrounded by intrformational mud clasts

A chance to reflect Over the last year, I have been lucky enough to spend more than two months in the field examining a variety of outcrops representing terrestrial, glacial and marine depositional settings. To protect Alberta’s fossil heritage, the law demands that all sites where excavation will be undertaken must be assessed for their paleontological potential. Should it prove likely that signi ...[Read More]

Psychology in outcrop studies: heuristic biases – our ‘best’ enemies?

December 30, 2021
Psychology in outcrop studies: heuristic biases – our ‘best’ enemies?

There are not many scientific publications that tackle the issue of subjectivity in geological studies and its impact. In one of them, Baddeley et al. (2004), they state it clearly in some sentences: “the judgements of experts can be biased by their use of heuristics to guide the formation of their opinions” or “accepted or prior opinions of existing experts certainly affect the judgement of other ...[Read More]

Tracing Atmospheric dustiness in the Permo-Carboniferous of northeastern Gondwana

and November 30, 2021
Cyclic Permian carbonates above Carboniferous contain dust deposits, Central Alborz Mountains (Iran)
Cyclic Permian carbonates above Carboniferous contain dust deposits, Central Alborz Mountains (Iran)

This blog summarizes two recent articles about dust in the Paleozoic. Planet Earth is presently undergoing a profound climatic turnover. Improved understanding of both the mechanisms contributing to the present climate change and its consequences for the biosphere, including human society, will not only provide the knowledge required to cope with its effects, but may also shed light on the forces ...[Read More]

Alberta’s Geological Riches

September 23, 2021
Alberta’s Geological Riches
The Ram Falls near Nordegg, Alberta are formed by resistant shoreface sands of the Cardium Formation

Smoky Summer It has been a difficult summer in Alberta, with smoke from forest fires in British Columbia blanketing much of the southern part of the Province. However, this has not stopped me getting out into the field on a variety of projects and hikes, including a virtual field trip looking at the Cardium Formation and several in person trips to the beautiful Sheep River Provincial Park and surr ...[Read More]