Reconstructing the Paleoenvironments of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation

Explore the paleoenvironments of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation in this 49-minute lecture from the Royal Tyrrell Museum Speaker Series. Delve into the Late Cretaceous period around Drumheller, Alberta, as Annie Quinney from the University of Calgary presents her research. Learn about various methodologies used in paleoenvironmental reconstruction, including the study of modern and ancient soils, field work techniques, and petrographic and geochemical analyses. Discover the different types of paleosols found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation and their significance as environmental indicators. Examine the subtropical forest ecosystem of Unit 2 and the faunal turnover observed in Unit 4. Gain insights into new discoveries and their implications for understanding this ancient ecosystem. Originally presented in 2012, this talk offers a comprehensive look at the paleoenvironmental history of this important geological formation.

Intro
OVERVIEW
STUDY AREA
LATE CRETACEOUS DRUMHELLER
THE HORSESHOE CANYON FORMATION
UNIT 1
UNIT 3
UNIT 5
METHODOLOGIES
MODERN SOILS
ANCIENT SOILS
IN THE FIELD
OBSTACLES TO FIELD WORK
WHY STUDY PALEOSOLS?
SOILS AS PALEOENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
PETROGRAPHIC STUDY
GEOCHEMISTRY
PALEOSOLS OF THE HORSESHOE CANYON FM.
POORLY-DRAINED PALEOSOLS
WELL-DRAINED PALEOSOLS
MODERATELY DRAINED PALEOSOLS
UNIT 2
SUBTROPICAL FOREST
UNIT 4
THE FAUNAL TURNOVER
FAUNAL ASSEMBLAGE
NEW DISCOVERIES
CONCLUSIONS (1/3)
CONCLUSION (2/3)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS