Revised stratigraphic nomenclature and age determinations for mid-Cretaceous volcanic rocks in southwestern British Columbia

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mid-Cretaceous volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks in southwestern British Columbia, east of the Fraser Fault System, constitute two principal lithostratigraphic units. The lower unit, a composite succession of basaltic to rhyolitic lavas and various clastic rocks, is exposed in a 215 km linear belt from near Pavilion to south of Princeton. The upper unit, mostly amygdaloidal andesite, is restricted to the centre of the belt between Spences Bridge and Kingsvale, where it overlies the lower unit and contiguous basement rocks. Both units were deposited subaerially, concurrent with folding and faulting, and share a contact that varies from gradational, near Kingsvale, to unconformable, near Spences Bridge.The names "Spences Bridge Group" and "Kingsvale Group" were used by several authors for various parts of the volcanic stratigraphy. We suggest revision of nomenclature whereby the lower and upper units are named "Pimainus Formation" and "Spius Formation", respectively; together they constitute the Spences Bridge Group. The term "Kingsvale Group" is abandoned.Assemblages of fossil leaves and palynomorphs, collected from one Spius and seven Pimainus localities, include several species of early angiosperms. A late Albian age is thereby indicated for both formations; this is largely corroborated by isotopic dates from the volcanic strata and cross-cutting granitic plutons.