Introduction
Alberta has rich and diverse geological resources. Most of these resources are in the Canadian Shield that has a wide array of Precambrian rocks. The Canadian Shield is however is not visible from all directions. Only a visit to the Northeastern part of Alberta can giver the viewer the full benefit of a rare heritage especially in Precambrian rocks. These rocks are sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous and they will form the subject of investigation in this report. Alberta’s geology falls into three categories defined by era. Paleozoic era is responsible for oil and gas deposits. Mesozoic era accounts for coal deposits. Cenozoic era, the most recent, witnessed the formation of rocks, soil, and rivers.
Alberta province preserves the geological heritage in the Royal Alberta Museum of Natural History. Located in Edmonton, the museum seeks to shape Albertans understanding of their rich natural endowments and culture that they are to bequeath to succeeding generations. The museum collects and stores rocks and help the public to understand this geological heritage through lectures and publications. This report will focus on the samples of rocks preserved in the museum. It will cover 10 types of rocks and discuss their variations in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic texture and structure. The paper will rely on guidebooks on the subject and publications from the museum to extrapolate how the rocks were formed and the structure of the area in which they occurred.
Volcanic Breccia- Blairmore
Breccia rock is angular in shape and the size ranges from 2mm to 60mm. There are several types of breccia rocks, each formed through a different process. Volcanic breccia rocks result from eruption of lava that mixes surrounding rocks into a homogenous product through autobrecciation. When the lava solidifies, small angular rocks with clastic texture result. The hardness varies depending on the composition of lava. The angular shape however makes the rocks rough and coarse. Their chemical composition is however similar. McClay (2004) explains that this occurs when “thick and nearly solid lava breaks up into blocks and these blocks are then reincorporated into the lava flow again and mixed in with the remaining liquid magma” (54). In Alberta, volcanic breccia is found in Blairmore.
Images of breccia
Granite in Ft. Chippewyan
In Alberto, granite deposits are found in Chippewyan. Granite is light-colored. The texture is rather coarse and the size ranges from small grain-like substance to bigger ones. Granites are igneous rocks meaning that they form from a cooling process. Those that cool fast are big. Conversely, those that cool faster are small and barely visible through naked eyes. Larger granites can however diminish in size because of erosion and weathering. McClay (2004) points out that granite contain “quartz, mica, and feldspar” (54). It has high hardness explaining while builders prefer it in constructions. It came into existence during geologic period. However, a large percent of what is in the world today came into being during the Precambrian era. Within Alberta province, granite rocks are massive in Chippewyan region.
Shale-Ft. McMurray
Unlike the two rocks discussed above, shale is finer and relatively smaller. It is formed through sedimentary process in which layer heap upon layers of mud and other minerals to form flake-like rocks. The major components of shale are, as McClay (2004) points out “clay minerals, quartz and calcite” (54). The higher the amount of clay, the finer a shale becomes. The color is mostly gray and the texture varies depending on the ration of mud to mineral components. It is the most common sedimentary rock and it is formed through compaction. This explains the occurrence of shale Ft. McMurray. Deposits of mud from the river pile on top of each other and combine with quartz and calcite to form shale.
Limestone with Fossil Sea Shells-Ft. McMurray
Limestone constitutes 10-12 percent of sedimentary rocks. It is formed in the same process as shale. The major component is calcium carbonate that emanates from fossil seashells. It is common around water bodies such as rivers and lakes. This explains the presence of Karst landscape around Ft. McMurray. Calcium carbonate dissolves in water forming a weak carbonic solution. This solution absorbs grains from skeletons and when it cools, it leads to formation of limestone. Limestone lacks a definite color because of the many impurities in water bodies. It also takes different formations and texture. It has many uses ranging from construction materials to use as a reagent.
Pillow Basalt-Pincher Creek
Pillow basalt is an igneous rock. It is formed when volcanic eruptions occur and the lava cools very quickly. When lava overflows and covers some distance, the furthest layers are relatively thin and exposed to cool temperatures. This results in rapid cooling that forms pillow basalt rocks. Its color is mostly grey or black depending on the chemical composition. McClay (2004) states the basalt contains “20 percent quartz, less than 10 percent feldspathoid by volume, and at least 65 percent of the feldspar id in the form of plagioclase” (43). The rapid cooling does not allow time for formation of coarse texture and hence the fine texture. In Alberto, it is found in the areas of Pincher Creek that experienced volcanic eruptions in the Precambrian era.
Coal-Cardinal River Coal Mine
Coal, as Garland (2012) explains, is “mineral of fossilized carbon” (43). It is a sedimentary rock though exposure to extreme environmental conditions can change it to a metamorphic rock. The major component is carbon but there are also small amounts of hydrogen. The process of formation involves layers of carbon heaped onto each other leading to compression that form rocks over time. Upon exposure to high pressure and extremely high temperatures, it hardens to a metamorphic rock. There are different variables of coal but most of them are black in color. The texture can be fine or cause depending on the process of formation. Sedimentary coal rocks are fine and soft while metamorphic coal rocks are coarse and hard. Cardinal River has huge coal reserves that Albertans have been mining for use as fuel.
Mudstone with Fossils-Red eer
Mudstone is very similar to shale but it is finer, almost the finest sedimentary rock. Its major component, as the name suggests, is mud and very small-sized silt grains. Like all sedimentary rocks, mudstone results when layers upon layers of mud heap onto each other resulting to compression. Intense pressure makes the particles finer and thus distinguishes mudstone from shale. Its grains are very small but still visible with naked eyes. Its texture is however too fine to be noticeable with naked eyes. The particles can be as small as 0.06mm, just barely visible without a microscope. Color varies and rock is extremely smooth. Because of these attributes, it is impossible to use mudstone for any economic activity.
Sandstone-Cardinal River Coal Mine, Pincher Creekf
Sandstone, as the name suggests, has sand-sized particles that heap upon each other under compression to form sedimentary rocks. Garland, (2012) asserts that the small-sized particles are “quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust” (54). The color varies and scholars have established that the variation may come about because of different climatic conditions in different places. In rock formation, sandstones help by acting as water aquifers. The texture is fine most of the times but may vary depending on the place. Sandstone is valuable in construction as well as for artistic purposes like artifacts. It is hard, particularly individual grains of particles. In Alberta, it is common in Cardinal River Mine, Pincher Creekf.
Ammolite
Garland, (2012) defines ammonite as “one of few biogenic gemstones” (43). It is found mostly in mountainous areas of Alberta. The major component of ammonite is aragonite. It has an outer shell that possesses varying amounts of calcite. It varies in color but the most common specimens are shiny. A sedimentary rock, it results from compression of dead creatures. Heaping of layers of dead creatures like dinosaurs especially before the Precambrian era. The texture is fine and the color is iridescent. Garland, (2012) attributes the shiny surface to “microstructure of the aragonite: unlike most other gems, whose colors come form light absorption, the iridescent color of ammolite comes from interference with the light that rebounds from stacked layers of thin platelets that make up the aragonite” (54). The texture also varies but most of the varieties are fine.
Katsura Tree-Edmonton
Katsura tree is an important Albertan heritage. There are two main species with the capacity to grow up to 45m. In Alberta, is mainly grown for its ornamental purposes. The leaves have diverse colors depending on the season. At Edmonton, Katsura trees have bright colors, mostly iridescent colors. Edmonton is a wet region hence the trees rarely shed off their leaves. Katsura trees are the most unique in the region because of their weeping habits. They appear as if they are weeping and are thus a good specter for ornamental purposes. The trees are originally from Asia, Japan specifically, but there can grow in any other place provides the climatic conditions are favorable. Their flowers are small and sometimes not easily visible by naked eyes especially from a distance. Garland, (2012) describes their suitability for ornamental purpose as a product of their “short shoots bearing broadly cordite or uniform, palmate veined leaves with crenate margins” (76).
Conclusion
The paper has focused on the geology of Alberta. It is a product of a visit to Royal Alberta Museum of Natural History. The museum has a rich geological heritage that preserves the region’s cultural and environmental diversity. There are many types of rocks in Alberta most of the resulting from the Precambrian era. The rocks have different properties. Some are igneous, others sedimentary, and the rest metamorphic. However, some rocks have changed from one form to another because of temperature, pressure, and the effects of weathering. Alberta has a rich natural and cultural heritage that portends great posterity to the region.
References
Garland, J. (2012). Advances in carbonate exploration and reservoir analysis. London: Geological Society.
McClay, K. R. (2004). Thrust tectonics and hydrocarbon systems. Tulsa (Okla.: American association of petroleum geologists.
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