3 Geology of Cordillera

Question 1

Who is William Logan? And what mountain is named after him?

Answer 1

The founder and first director of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) and Mount Logan

Question 2

Who is Alfred Selwyn?

Answer 2

The successor to William Logan and explored interior BC for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway

Question 3

Who is A.O Wheeler?

Answer 3

One of the first geolgist in Canada

Question 4

What is the definition of orogeny?

Answer 4

The process of formation of mountains by which
structures within fold-belt mountainous areas were
formed, resulting from thrust faulting, folding,
metamorphism, plutonism, terrane accretion and
associated uplift and erosion.

Question 5

What is the result of orogeny?

Answer 5

Deformation (folding and faulting), and Metamorphism

Question 6

What are the five morphological belts in the western Cordillera? (from east to west)

Answer 6

Foreland Belt, Omineca belt, intermontane belt, coast belt, and insular belt

Question 7

Define morphogeological belt

Answer 7

A continental or oceanic area characterized by a
distinctive combination of landforms, rock types,
metamorphic grade and structural style.

Question 8

Which of the five belts are native to North America and which are exotic?

Answer 8

Native: Foreland and Omineca
Exotic: Intermontane and Insular

Question 9

Which belt sits on two other belts and what kind of rocks does it have?

Answer 9

The coast belts sit on top of the insular and intermontane belts. And it has subduction-related igneous rocks

Question 10

What physiographic regions are in the foreland belt? (5) (North to South)

Answer 10

Artic Mountains, Ogilive Mountains, Franklin Mountains, Mackenzie Mountains, and the Rocky Mountains

Question 11

What is the make-up of the rocks in the foothills and the front ranges?

Answer 11

Clastic rocks (shale and sandstone) in the foothills and Carbonate rock (limestone and dolostone) in the front ranges

Question 12

What kind of metamorphism is in the front ranges?

Answer 12

Very low grade metamorphism

Question 13

What is the structural style in the foreland?

Answer 13

Fold and thrust belt

Question 14

What mountain shows the McConnell Thrust and what rocks are contained within that mountain?

Answer 14

Mount Yamnuska, Cambrian limestone on top of cretaceous sandstone

Question 15

Review slide 75-86

Question 16

What physiographic regions are within the Omeinica Belt (North to South)?

Answer 16

Yukon Plateaus, Selwyn Mountains, Kaska (Omenica) Mountains, Columbia Mountains

Question 17

What type of rock are in the Omenica belt?

Answer 17

High-grade metamorphosed rocks that is complexly deformed

Question 18

See slide 93-94

Question 19

What kind of metamorphism is in the Omenica belt?

Answer 19

There is many all levels of metamorphism in this belt (slide 104)

Question 20

What kind of rock is in the Shuswap Metamorphic complex

Answer 20

Gneiss

Question 21

How the Shuswap Metamorphic complex formed see slide 108

Question 22

What is the structural style of the Omenica belt?

Answer 22

Polyphase, ductile deformation, and metamorphism

Question 23

What is the interpreted origin of the Omenica belt?

Answer 23

Is believed to be attached to the foreland belt as long as it has existed