The eastern margin of the Kechika Graben in the vicinity of Muncho and Moose lakes, northeastern British Columbia, contains Middle Cambrian rift-related strata herein named the Mount Roosevelt Formation. The formation conformably overlies a quartzite package equivalent to the uppermost clastic unit of the informal late Early Cambrian Gataga group ( Bonnia – Olenellus zone) and is conformably overlain by a thick, unnamed carbonate sequence of Middle Cambrian age ( Plagiura – Poliella zone). The Mount Roosevelt Formation is subdivided into three members. The lowermost member is characterized by oöid-bearing siltstone and sandstone, interbedded with dolostone, limestone, and hematitic conglomerate. Conformably above this, the middle member is a thick sequence of polymict cobbly pebble conglomerate. The upper member includes karstified dolostone, calcareous-cemented conglomerate and sandstone, and limestone. Collectively the Mount Roosevelt Formation reflects alluvial fan delta progradation into a transgressive marine environment. Deposition occurred in an active fault-controlled basin, located on the eastern margin of the Kechika Graben adjacent to the Muskwa High. Basin initiation in the late Early Cambrian coincided with the reactivation of pre-existing regional faults. High rates of subsidence during the initial phase of extension were accommodated on these faults, which provided a locus for fan delta deposition. Continuing high rates of subsidence limited basinward fan delta development. Deposition of the formation ended with base-level transgression in the early Middle Cambrian that drowned the fan deltas and the adjacent Muskwa High and allowed development of the Kechika Trough above the older graben system.
Anatomy, Age and Origin of an Intramontane Top Basin Surface (Sorbas Basin, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)