Micropaleontology of the Mesozoic Rocks of Northern Alaska

147 Pages·2010·23.88 MB·English

Micropaleontology of the
Mesozoic Rocks of
Northern Alaska
EXPLORATION OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NO. 4
AND ADJACENT AREAS, NORTHERN ALASKA, 1944-53
PART 2, REGIONAL STUDIES
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 302-D
Prepared and published at the request of and
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
the Navy^ Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil
Shale Reserves

Micropaleontology of the
Mesozoic Rocks of
Northern Alaska
By HARLAN R. BERGQUIST
EXPLORATION OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NO. 4
AND ADJACENT AREAS, NORTHERN ALASKA, 1944-53
PART 2, REGIONAL STUDIES
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 302-D
Prepared and published at the request of and
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
the Navy, Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil
Shale Reserves
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1966
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
William T. Pecora, Director
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402
CONTENTS
Page
Abstract. ___________________________________________ 93 Microfossil zones in Cretaceous rocks Continued
Introduction.___________________-___-____--_---__-_ 93 Turonian rocks Continued
Acknowledgments. _____ _________________________ 93 Pseudoclavulina hastata-Arenobulimina torula
Previous work__________________________________ 94 faunalzone._--_____-----________________ 143
Surface sample studies___________________________ 94 Senonian rocks.________________________________ 144
Stratigraphic summary ______________________________ 95 Neobulimina canadensis faunal zone___________ 144
Paleozoic rocks. _____________-___-_ __---___-_-__ 95 Subsurface studies._-_-___-_--_--_-_--___-__________ 145
Triassic rocks_ ______________-___-__---__--_____ 96 Skull Cliff core test 1__________________________ 145
Shublik Formation.-________________________ 96 South Barrow test well l____----_-______________ 146
Jurassic rocks.___--___-___-___----_--___--__--_ 98 Middle to upper Albian rocks________________ 146
Tiglukpuk Formation.______________________ 98 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (70-
Kingak Shale____________-___-_-_---__--____ 99 2,825 ft)_____________________________ 146
Cretaceous rocks_________________-_-_---_--_____ 99 Lower Albian rocks. ________________________ 147
Okpikruak Formation (early Neocomian) ______ 100 Gaudryina tailleuri faunal zone (2,825-
Fortress Mountain and Torok Formations 3,385? ft)____________________________ 147
(Albian)---_-_----__-------_-----_---_-__ 100 Paleozoic(?) rocks___________________________ 148
Fortress Mountain Formation-___________ 100 Argillite (3,3857-3,553 ft, total depth),____ 148
Torok Formation.______________________ 100 South Barrow test well 2________________________ 148
Nanushuk Group-_________-_-___-_-_---__-- 103 Middle to upper Albian rocks________________ 149
Tuktu Formation (Albian)_______________ 103 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (100-
Grandstand Formation (Albian)__________ 109 1,930 ft)____-___--_--________________ 149
Chandler Formation (Albian to Ceno- Lower Albian rocks.________________________ 149
manian?)__-___--___-_---_____---_-__ 109 Gaudryina tailleuri faunal zone (1,930-
Killik Tongue.._--____-_-_-__--____ 109 2,328 ft)__.__________________________ 149
Niakogon Tongue_________________ 112 Lower Jurassic rocks (Toarcian)______________ 150
Ninuluk Formation (Cenomanian)________ 112 Unnamed formation (2,328-2,443 ft) ______ 150
Colville Group___-_______--_-_-_---_--_____ 114 Paleozoic(?) rocks____-_-_-_--_____________ 150
Seabee Formation (Turonian)____________ 114 Argillite (2,446-2,505 ft, total depth)___ _ _ _ 150
Prince Creek and Schrader Bluff Formations South Barrow test well 3___--_----__.-_________. 150
(Senonian)___________________________ 114 Middle Albian rocks..___-_--_-_-_-________ 151
Kukpowruk Formation (Albian) and Corwin Lower part of Verneuilinoides borealis
Formation (Albian and Cenomanian?)_______ 117 faunal zone (65-1,285 ft)______________ 151
Ignek Formation (Early and Late Cretaceous) _ _ 123 Lower Albian rocks._-._-_--________________ 151
Tertiary rocks__________________________________ 124 Gaudryina tailleuvi faunal zone (1,285-
Sagavanirktok Formation.___________________ 124 l,645.ft) _____________________________ 151
Pleistocene rocks_ _____-_-_________-_-_-_-______ 125 Lower Jurassic (lower Toarcian to upper Pliens-
Gubik Formation._--__________._____-__..__ 125 bachian, Sinemurian to Hettangian) rocks.___ 151
Microfossil zones in Cretaceous rocks._________________ 126 Unnamed shale (1,645-2,610 ft)__________ 151
Albian rocks_ __________________________________ 126 Upper Triassic rocks._______________________ 152
Gaudryina tailleuri faunal zone_--_______-____ 126 Shublik Formation (2,610-2,799 ft) _______ 152
Verneuilinoides borealis f aunal zone. __________ 130 Paleozoic(?) rocks_________________________ 152
Relation to megafossil zones____________ 135 Argillite (2,799-2,900 ft, total depth) ______ 152
Statistical summary_____________________ 135 South Barrow test well 4___-____________________ 152
Problems of specific identification.________ 136 Middle to upper Albian rocks________________ 152
The problem of "Tritaxia" manitobensis _ _ _ 137 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (114-
Relationship of microfossils to depositional 1,970 ft)_____________________________ 152
environment _________________________ 139 Lower Albian rocks_ ________________________ 152
Cenomanian rocks______________________________ 140 Gaudryina tailleuri faunal zone (1,970-
Gaudryina irenensis- Trochammina rutherfordi 2,352 ft)_____________________________ 152
faunal zone_ _____________________________ 140 Lower Jurassic (lower Toarcian) rocks___ ______ 153
Turonian rocks.________________________________ 142 Unnamed formation (2,352-2,471 ft) ______ 153
Hedbergella loetterlei-Heterohelix globulosa faunal Paleozoic(?) rocks_________________________ 153
zone_-_---_-___-__-_____________________ 143 Argillite (2,471-2,538 ft, total depth)____ 153
m
IV CONTENTS
Subsurface studies Continued Page Subsurface studies Continued
Avak test well l______-__-_-____________________ 153 Fish Creek test well 1 Continued Page
Lower Albian rocks.________________________ 153 Turonian rocks_____________________________ 182
Gaudryina tailleuri faunal zone (100 ± to Seabee Formation (2,100-2,900 ft) ________ 182
1,360 ft)_._______________________ 153 Middle to upper Albian rocks_______________ 183
Lower Jurassic (lower Toarcian to Sinemurian) Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (2,915-
rocks_ ___________________________________ 154 4,500 ft)________________--_- 183
Unnamed shale (1,360-2,307 ft) __________ 154 Albian beds without faunal zones _________ 184
Paleozoic(?) rocks________________________ 156 Sentinel Hill core test 1________________________ 184
Argillite (2,307-4,020 ft, total depth)______ 156 Kaolak test well !_______. _ _ ___- 185
Simpson test well l________-_.__________________ 156 Stratigraphic paleontology________--__-____-_ 185
Pleistocene microfauna______________________ 156 Meade test well 1________________-_-----_______- 185
Middle to upper Albian rocks._______________ 156 Albian rocks._ __________-___-_-----_-____.- 185
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (25- Corwin and Kukpowruk Formations undif-
2,949 ft) _ __- __ _________ 156 ferentiated (25-4,200 ft) _ _ _ __________ 185
Lower part of the Torok Formation.__________ 158 Upper part of Torok Formation (4,200 ft to
Lower Albian rocks _________________________ 159 total depth).. ____________-------_ 186
Gaudryina tailleuri faunal zone (5,150- Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (1,010
5,464± ft)_____--_____.______________ 159 5,280? ft)_ __ _ 186
Lower Jurassic rocks________________________ 159 Oumalik core tests and test wells. _________________ 187
Kingak Formation (5,464 ± to 6,265 ft)__ 159 Oumalik test well 1______._ __.___.___- 187
Late Triassic fauna of the Shublik Formation_ 159 Middle to upper Albian rocks_ _______ 187
Paleozoic(?) rocks___--___-__----__________ 160 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone
Argillite (6,546-7,002 ft, total depth)______ 160 (30-5,370 ft)____ _ ___ _- 187
North Simpson test well !_______________________ 160 Lower(?) Albian rocks.._________________ 188
Schrader Bluff Formation (Senonian)__________ 160 Neocomian rocks.______________________ 189
Seabee Formation (Turonian)________________ 161 East Oumalik test well 1_____-__-__-_-_____ 190
Albian rocks_ ______________________________ 162 Middle to upper Albian rocks____________ 190
Simpson core tests._____________________________ 162 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone
Core tests 1-12___________________________ 163 (156-5,085? ft).__. _ _- 190
Core tests 13-31___ _______________________ 164 Lower(?) Albian rocks (5,085?-6,030? ft or
Paleontologic data._________________________ 164 total depth).__----_________________ 190
Turonian rocks_________________________ 164 Core tests____-__-__------_--_--------_----- 191
Hedbergella-Heterohelix and Radio- Square Lake test well 1________________________ 191
far ia zone of Seabee Formation. _ _ _ _ 164 Senonian rocks (25-700 ft) - 192
Middle to upper Albian rocks____________ 167 Turonian rocks (700-1,820 ft) _______ _ ______ 192
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone_ _ _ 167 Seabee Formation (700-1,820 ft)________ 192
Possible structure of the Simpson Seeps area___ 167 Cenomanian(?) and upper Albian rocks___-___- 192
Topagoruk test well l_-_-_--____________________ 168 Ninuluk(?) Formation and Killik Tongue of
Middle to upper Albian rocks ________________ 168 Chandler Formation undifferentiated
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (200- (1,820-2,400 ft) 192
3,600 ft) ___________-_-__-_-_-_ 168 Upper Albian rocks.________________________ 193
Lower part of Torok Formation (3,600-6,600 ft) _ 170 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (2,400
Jurassic rocks_ _____________________________ 170 ft to total depth)____________--__---_- 193
Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian or lower Kim- Titaluk test well !___ ______ ____ _ __ ____ 193
meridgian) rocks______________________ 170 Cenomanian rocks_ ____________--____--__--- 194
Middle(?) Jurassic rooks_________________ 171 Gaudryina irenensis-Trochammina ruther-
Triassic rocks______________________________ 171 fordi faunal zone (40-590 ft) ___________ 194
Shublik Formation (8,640-9,380 ft) _______ 171 Upper Albian rocks______-________-___--_--- 194
Permian rocks (9,380-9,770 ft)_______________ 171 Middle to upper Albian rocks_ _______________ 194
Red beds (9,770-10,040 ft)_________________ 171 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (1,850 ft
Middle or Lower Devonian rocks (10,040- to total depth)_______________________ 194
10,503 ft, total depth)_____________________ 172 Wolf Creek area 195
East Topagoruk test well !______________________ 172 Wolf Creek test well !___ __ _____ _ 195
Middle to upper Albian rocks_ _______________ 172 Cenomanian rocks_---_---_----__------_ 196
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (90 ft to
Gaudryina irenensis-Trochammina ruth-
total depth)__-_______________________ 172
erfordi faunal zone (10-455 ft)___ 196
Fish Creek test well !___________________________ 175
Upper(?) Albian rocks_--____---_-------- 196
Gubik Formation (15-65 ft?)__^_____________. 175
Killik Tongue of the Chandler Forma
Upper Senonian rocks.________________________ 175
tion and intertongues of Grandstand
Schrader Bluff Formation (65-2,100 ft) _ _ _ . 175
Radiolaria_ ________________________ 176 Formation (455 ft to total depth).__ 196
Foraminifera_ ______________________ 181 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone____ 196
CONTENTS
Subsurface studies Continued Subsurface studies Continued
Wolf Creek area Continued Page The Umiat oil field Continued
Wolf Creek test well 2_____________________ 196 Umiat test well 2 Continued
Turonian rocks______-__________________ 196 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone Con. Page
Seabee Formation (25-130 ft) _ _ _ _ _ _ 196 Torok Formation (1,060 ft to total depth) _ 208
Cenomanian rocks______________________ 196 Umiat test well 3_________________________ 208
Gaudryina irenensis-Trochammina ruth- Chandler Formation___-_______-__-_____ 209
erfo rdi faunal zone (130-655 ft)__._ 196 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone. ______ 209
Upper(?) Albian rocks_________________ 197 Umiat test well 4___.______________ 209
Killik Tongue of Chandler Formation Chandler Formation.___________________ 209
and Grandstand Formation (655 ft to Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone______ 209
total depth)..___._.______._._._ 197 Umiat test well 5_---_-_.-_-..----_-.-____ 209
Wolf Creek test well 3..___________._______ 197 Chandler Formation___________--_-__-__ 209
Cenomanian rocks______________________ 197 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone._______ 209
Guadryina irenensis-Trochammina ruth- Umiat test well 6_______________________ 210
erfordi faunal zone of the Ninuluk Seabee Formation... ._-_-______---______ 210
Formation (30-500 ft)___________ 197 Ninuluk Formation.____________________ 210
Albian rocks.__________________________ 197 Killik Tongue of the Chandler Formation.- 210
Killik Tongue of Chandler Formation Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone______ 210
and Grandstand Formation (500- Umiat test well 7_--__-_--__-_-____-_-______ 210
1,400 ft)__-_--_--__-_-__________- 197 Seabee Formation and Chandler and Ninu
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone luk Formations undifferentiated.________ 211
(1,220 ft to total depth) __________ 198 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone________ 211
Knifeblade test wells 1, 2, and 2A_______________ 198 Umiat test well 8------------_----__---_--_- 211
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone. __________ 199 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone._______ 211
Grandstand test well !__________________________ 199 Umiat test well 9_-_------________________ 211
Middle to upper Albian rocks ________________ 199 Ninuluk and Chandler Formations. _______ 211
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone (227ft Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone._______ 212
to total depth)_______________________ 199 Umiat test well 10_-___-_-_________-_-_-__ 212
The Umiat oil field._____________________ 201 Ninuluk and Seabee Formations._________ 212
Upper Cretaceous rocks. __ __________________ 201 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone___ . . _ _ _ 213
Tuluvak Tongue of the Prince Creek For Umiat test well ll______________-_________ 213
mation and lower part of Schrader Bluff Upper Cretaceous rocks (Seabee Formation). 213
Formation (Senonian)_________________ 201 Pseudoclavulina hastata-A renobulimina
Seabee Formation (Turonian)____________ 201 torula faunal zone_____-___-_____-_ 213
Cenomanian(?) rocks____________________ 202 Ninuluk Formation (2,040-2,190 ft±)_ 214
Lower Cretaceous (Albian) rocks_____________ 202 Lower Cretaceous rocks________________ 214
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal 'zone. ______ 203 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone____ 214
Tuktu and Grandstand Formations un- Gubik test wells 1 and 2_________________ 214
differentiated__ _________________ 203 Stratigraphic paleontology___________--_-_-__ 215
Shale sequence (upper part of Torok Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian and Seno-
Formation). _____________________ 204 nian) rocks...-_______________________ 216
Lower part of the Torok Formation. ______ 205 Schrader Bluff Formation__________ 216
Umiat test well l__-______--___.____________ 205 Schrader Bluff Formation and inter-
Seabee Formation (Turonian) (9-915 ft)___ 205 bedded Schrader Bluff and Prince
Nonfossiliferous rocks_L.________________ 205 Creek Formations...______________ 216
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone________ 206 Pseudoclavulina hastata-A renobulimina
Tuktu and Grandstand Formations un- torula faunal zone.___-____________ 217
differentiated (1,300-2,850 ft with Gaudryina-Trochammina zone, Ninuluk
fault duplication)_________________ 206
and Chandler Formations undiffer-
Torok Formation (2,850 ft to total
entiated__ _____________________ 218
depth)._____________________ 206
Lower Cretaceous (middle to upper Albian)
Umiat test well 2_________-____-___________. 207
rocks.___-_______-___-__-____-------_ 219
Chandler Formation. ___________________ 207
Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone. ______ 207 Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone.___ 219
Tuktu and Grandstand Formations un- Selected references._________________________________ 220
diiferentiated (365-1,060 ft)______ 207 Index.____-_________-_____-_----____----_-----_--- 223
VI CONTENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS
[Plates are in separate volume]
PLATE 13. Bar chart showing comparative abundance of microfossils in 781 outcrop samples from Lower Cretaceous rocks,
northern Alaska.
14. Bar chart showing comparative abundance of microfossils in 418 outcrop samples from Upper Cretaceous rocks,
northern Alaska.
15. Correlation of microfaunal zones in Barrow test wells 1-4, Simpson test well 1, and Fish Creek test well 1,
northern Alaska.
16. Microfossil horizons within Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone in test wells 1-11, Umiat field, northern Alaska.
17. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Avak test well 1 and South Barrow test wells 1-4, northern Alaska.
18. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Simpson test well 1, North Simpson test well 1, and Simpson core tests
13, 14, 25, and 28, northern Alaska.
19. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Topagoruk test well 1, East Topagoruk test well 1, Oumalik test well
1, East Oumalik test well 1, and Oumalik core tests 2, 11, and 12, northern Alaska.
20. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Fish Creek test well 1 and Sentinel Hill core test 1, northern Alaska.
21. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Kaolak test well 1 and Meade test well 1, northern Alaska.
22. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in eight test wells in the northern foothills section, northern Alaska.
23. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Umiat test wells 1-11, Umiat oil field, northern Alaska.
24. Stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in Gubik test wells 1 and 2, northern Alaska.
Page
FIGURE 33. Index map of northern Alaska showing location of test wells___----_-------_-----_-----_----------------_ 94
34. Specimens of Verneuilinoides borealis Tappan from Oumalik core test 1. ___________________________________ 131
35. Ammobaculites fragmentarius Cushman from Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone, Umiat test well 2__________ 132
36. Ammobaculites wenonahae Tappan from Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone, Umiat test wells 1 and 2_________ 133
37. Trochammina umiatensis Tappan from Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone, Umiat test wells 1 and 8__________ 134
38. Textularia topagorukensis Tappan from Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone, Skull Cliff core test 1.___________ 134
39. "Tritaxia" manitobensis Wickenden from Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone, South Barrow test well 1 and
sample 47A Tr 166, Awuna anticline________________________________-_-_-__-----__---_---------_---- 138
40. Trochammina wetteri Stelck and Wall from sample 47A Dt 58, Ninuluk Formation, Ninuluk Bluff.__________ 141
41. "Zonodiscus" sp. A, Ayiyak Member of Seabee Formation, Gubik test well 2_________-____________---__---_ 142
42. Pseudoclavulina hastata (Cushman) from sample 47A Wb 428, Ayiyak Member of Seabee Formation at Schrader
BluflF______. ____ __-__ ______-__________-___-__._--_- _ - ---- - . -- -.- 143
43. Arenobulimina torula Tappan, Ayiyak Member of Seabee Formation, Gubik test well 2_ _________________-_- 143
44. Bathysiphon vitta Nauss? and B. brosgei Tappan, Torok Formation, South Barrow test well !_._______________ 146
45. Simpson Oil Seep 1, Cape Simpson, Alaska, showing mired caribou._____-__--__-__-___-________-_------_ 163
46. Microfossil horizons within Verneuilinoides borealis faunal zone, Topagoruk area, northern Alaska_____________ 173
47. Volcanic glass shards from Schrader Bluff Formation, Fish Creek test well l______-_______-__________-_-_-_ 176
48. Radiolaria from Barrow Trail Member, Schrader Bluff Formation, Fish Creek test well 1_ __-________--__-___ 178
49. Dorothia smokyensis Wall?, showing range in size and variation in shape of tests due to distortion, Schrader Bluff
Formation, Gubik test well 2_____________-______________--__--------------_--------------------_--- 217
TABLES
Page
TABLE 1. Stratigraphic distribution of surface samples____________-____________-__---_--_----------------------- 95
2. Microfossils from a 720-foot shale section in the Shublik Formation (Triassic), Sadlerochit River and Dodo
Creek, northern Alaska_______-_________________________________-______-__----_----_-------------- 97
3-15. Data for outcrop microfossil samples:
3. Fortress Mountain Formation.._______________________-_-_--__---_-------------------_------ 101
4. Lower part of Torok Formation.____________________-_-___--__--_--------------------------- 104
5. Upper part of Torok Formation. __________________________________-_---------_---------------- 106
6. Tuktu Fonnation___.._______________________________.____________________-__--------------- 110
7. Grandstand Formation. _ ________________________-_-______-___--____-------_---------------- 111
8. Ninuluk Formation._ _____________________________-_______-__-_--_--------_---------------- 113
9. Shale Wall Member of Seabee Formation_____-------_---------------------_------------------- 115
10. Ayiyak Member of Seabee Formation._ _ ___________________________-__-__----_--------------- 116
11. Rogers Creek Member of Schrader Bluff Formation.________________________--_--_-_----------- 117
12. Barrow Trail Member of Schrader Bluff Formation.___________-_-_____--__-------------------- 118
13. Sentinel Hill Member of Schrader Bluff Formation,.- ----------------------------------------- H9
14. Kukpowruk Formation.______________________'_;___________________________-_----__---_---_-- 120
15. Corwin Formation___ ____-_______.__..__.____-________________________-___-_----_----------- 122
16. Stratigraphic summary for Simpson core tests 13-31 and Minga velocity test__-___-___---_---------------- 165
EXPLORATION OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NO. 4 AND ADJACENT AREAS, NORTHERN ALASKA, 1944-53
MICROPALEONTOLOGY OF THE MESOZOIC ROCKS OF NORTHERN ALASKA
By HAELAN E. BERGQUIST
ABSTRACT ity in a laboratory maintained by the U.S. Geological
Survey at Fairbanks, Alaska.
During the period 1944-53, more than 15,000 samples from
outcrops and subsurface rocks were studied as part of the U.S. This report presents the results of an exhaustive
Navy's petroleum exploration in northern Alaska. More than study of the microfossils found in approximately 15,000
4,100 outcrop samples were collected from the foothills province, samples representing rocks of Paleozoic to Tertiary
and more than 11,000 subsurface samples were taken from 81
age; these samples were collected from the subsurface
test holes and core tests drilled by the U.S. Navy.
by well drilling and from the outcropping rocks by
Rocks of Paleozoic to Pleistocene age are represented, but
the bulk of the samples are from rocks of Cretaceous age. Each U.S. Geological Survey geologists. Because Creta
Cretaceous formation, including its microfauna, is discussed, ceous rocks form the greater part of the sections pene
and six microfaunal zones are described. From the oldest to trated in the subsurface, they are the subject of much
youngest, these are the Gaudryina tailleuri and Verneuilinoides
of this discussion. Six microfaunal zones and two sub-
borealis zones of Albian age, the Gawdryina irenensis-Troch*-
zones have been distinguished in the Cretaceous strata.
ammma rwtherfordi zone of Cenomanian age, the Hed-bergella
loetterlei-tleterohelii'! globulosa and the Pseudoclavulina has- Most of the fossil names used in this report conform
tata-Arenobulimina torula zones of Turonian age, and the Neo- to current usage, but it was impracticable to make
bulimina canadensis zone of Senonian age. Faunal subzones some of the more recent nomenclatural changes. For
occur in some of these zones. The microfaunas found in samples
example, the genus PallaimorpMna Tappan 1957 de
from each test hole and several core tests are described and
scribed from Lower Cretaceous rocks in northern Alaska
listed on faunal charts. Strata in the Umiat field, the Barrow-
Simpson-Fish Creek area, and the Topagoruk area may be cor and cited extensively in this report, has recently been
related by means of faunal zones and horizons. placed in synonomy with Quadrimorphina Finlay, 1939
(Loeblich, Tappan, and others, 1964). The reader
INTRODUCTION
should consult the section on "Classification of Foram-
During the period 1944-53, the U.S. Navy conducted inifera" in the "Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontol
a program of petroleum exploration in Naval Petro ogy" (Loeblich, Tappan, and others, 1964) for possible
leum Eeserve No. 4 in northern Alaska. The U.S. additional changes.
Geological Survey cooperated with the Navy in various
phases of this pro|*ram. Drilling of 45 core tests and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
36 test holes was accompanied by geophysical surveying I wish to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Henry
and field and photogeologic work. Locations o'f the test Bender, who efficiently prepared a great number of
wells are shown in figure 33. samples, and to Mrs. Tatiana Ashurkoff and Mrs. Au
The wells were drilled by the Seabees and by Arctic drey Loftus, who mounted the microfossils. Wenonah
Contractors, Inc.; United Geophysical Co. was respon E. Bergquist aided in certain faunal studies and in the
sible for much of tne seismic and gravity work, and an compilation of the charts. All the taxonomic studies
airborne-magnetometer survey was made by the U.S. on the Foraminifera were made by Helen Tappan Loeb
Geological Survey. Extensive field and photogeologic lich in collaboration with my subsurface studies; her
studies were also made by the Survey. help is greatly appreciated. Stratigraphic information
During the exploration, in order to obtain informa supplied by Arthur L. Bowsher, William P. Brosge,
tion needed in the program, samples from the wells, core Robert L. Detterman, J. Thomas Dutro, Jr., Marvin
tests, and several hundred seismograph shot holes, as D. Mangus, William W. Patton, Edward G. Sable, Ir-
well as samples from outcrops, were studied for litho- vin L. Tailleur, Hillard N. Reiser, and Charles L. Whit-
logic character, fossil content, porosity, and permeabil tington was extremely important in establishing faunal
93
94 EXPLORATION OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NO. 4, ALASKA, 1944-53
186* 152° 148*
200 N
' SOUTH BARROW TEST WELL 1 7 SIMPSON TEST WELL 1 13 OUMALIK TEST WELL 1 19 WOLF CREEK TEST WELL 3
2 SOUTH BARROW TEST WELL 2 8 TOPAGORUK TEST WELL 1 14 EAST OUMALIK TEST WELL 1 20 GUBIK TEST WELL. 1
3 SOUTH BARROW TEST WELL 3 9 EAST TOPAGORUK TEST WELL 1 15 SQUARE LAKE TEST WELL 1 21 GUBIK TEST WELL 2
4 SOUTH BARROW TEST WELL 4 10 FISH CREEK TEST WELL 1 16 TITALUK TEST WELL 1 22 KNIFEBLADE TEST WELL 1
5 AVAK TEST WELL I 11 KAOLAK TEST WELL 1 17 WOLF CREEK TEST WELL 1 23 KNIFEBLADE TEST WELLS 2 AND 2A
6 NORTH SIMPSON TEST WELL 1 12 MEAOE TEST WELL 1 18 WOLF CREEK TEST WELL 2 24 GRANOSTANO TEST WELL 1
25 UMIAT TEST WELLS 1-11
FIGURE 33. .Location of test wells in northern Alaska.
zones. The subsurface lithologic data supplied by Brief preliminary reports on the microfossils found
Mrs. Florence Collins and Mrs. Florence Weber were in most of the test wells and on the microf aunal zones
also very helpful. in the Cretaceous rocks have been published (Bergquist,
1956b, 1958a, b, c, d, e, 1959a, b). A small fauna of
PREVIOUS WORK
possible Miocene or Pliocene age was described by Todd
Preliminary determinations of the age of the sequence (1957); the fauna, collected from the Carter Creek area
of Cretaceous beds in NPR-4 were published by Helen near the northeastern Arctic coast of Alaska, represents
Loeblich (Tappan, 1951b, 1960) and by Gryc, Patton, the only microfossils of possible Tertiary age that were
and Payne (1951); more recently the Cenomanian age found throughout northern Alaska. Late Paleozoic
of the Ninuluk .Formation and the middle to late Al- arenaceous Foraminifera and Middle to Late Triassic
bian age of the Grandstand and Tuktu Formations were, conodonts have been noted in samples collected over an
more precisely determined by Imlay (1961). Eegional area of more than 250 miles in an east-west direction
stratigraphic relationships determined by Payne (1951) parallel to the Brooks Range, south of the Colville River
as the result of his excellent work on facies studies of (Bergquist, 1960). Lithologic descriptions of the sec
northern Alaska have been modified only slightly in tions penetrated in the test wells have been made by
recent years, and his conclusions are similar to those Collins (1958a, b, c, 1959, 1961) and Robinson (1956,
based on microfossil studies for the formations. The 1958a, b, 1959a, b) and by Robinson and Collins (1959).
paleontological relationships of the formations of Al-
bian and Cenomanian age as determined by Imlay SURFACE SAMPLE STUDIES
(1961) from his recent studies corroborates relation
All outcrop samples examined for microfossils for
ships based on microfossil studies which I made during
each stratigraphic unit are listed in table 1. Of the
the time of active petroleum exploration in the Reserve.
4,126 outcrop samples collected for microfossil studies,
Taxonomic studies on the Foraminifera were made
1,882 were fossiliferous; of this number, 1,597 were
by Mrs. Loeblich (Tappan, 1951a, b, 1955,1957,1962),
from Cretaceous rocks. Triassic microfossils found in
and the biostratigraphy of Cretaceous Formaminifera
from northern Alaska has been presented by the same outcropping rocks in the Sadlerochit area of northeast
author (Tappan, 1960). ern Alaska are tabulated in table 2. The relative abun-