Wapiti Formation
| Wapiti Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone |
| Other | conglomerate, coal |
| Location | |
| Region | Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Lower part of Wapiti River |
| Named by | G.M. Dawson, 1881. |
The Wapiti Formation is a geological formation of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in northwestern Alberta, and northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Its deposition spanned the time interval from the lower Campanian through to the upper Maastrichtian, between approximately 80 and 68 Ma. It was named by G.M. Dawson in 1881, presumably for exposures along the lower part of the Wapiti River and downstream along the Smoky River in Alberta.
Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the Cretaceous portion of the formation. The Wapiti Formation does not produce many fossils due to its limited surface exposure and accessibility, although two Pachyrhinosaurus bone beds have been productive. Plant fossils and trace fossils have been unearthed here too.