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Geologic Unit: Sagavanirktok
Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sagavanirktok formation*
  • Modifications:
    • Named
    • Biostratigraphic dating
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Siltstone
    • Sandstone
    • Conglomerate
    • Lignite
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Alaska Northern region
Publication:

Gryc, George, Patton, W.W., Jr., and Payne, T.G., 1951, Present Cretaceous stratigraphic nomenclature of northern Alaska: Washington Academy of Sciences Journal, v. 41, no. 5, p. 159-167.


Summary:

Type locality designated in Franklin Bluffs along lower part of Sagavanirktok River, northern AK. Also well exposed in White Hills area. Consists mainly of red-bed-type poorly consolidated siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate, and lignite. Is structurally conformable with underlying Colville group; no large erosional break indicated. Unconformably underlies Gubik formation. Contains early Tertiary flora.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sagavanirktok Formation*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
    • Biostratigraphic dating
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Alaska Northern region
Publication:

Detterman, R.L., Reiser, H.N., Brosge, W.P., and Dutro, J.T., Jr., 1975, Post-Carboniferous stratigraphy, northeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 886, 46 p.


Summary:

Includes all beds above top of Prince Creek Formation (of Late Cretaceous age) and below Gubik Formation (of Pleistocene age). Divided into (ascending): Sagwon (new), Franklin Bluffs (new), and Nuwok Members [formerly Nuwok Formation of Dall (1919)]. Age is Paleocene to Pliocene based on flora and microfauna.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sagavanirktok Formation*
  • Modifications:
    • Age modified
    • Revised
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Alaska Northern region
Publication:

Molenaar, C.M., Bird, K.J., and Kirk, A.R., 1987, Cretaceous and Tertiary stratigraphy of northeastern Alaska, IN Tailleur, I.L., and Weimer, Paul, eds., Alaskan North Slope geology; Volume 1: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Pacific Section, North Slope Seminar II, AAPG/SEPM/SEG Pacific Section annual meeting, Anchorage, AK, May 22-24, 1985, book 50, p. 513-528., Prepared by SEPM Pacific Section and Alaska Geol. Soc


Summary:

Age ranges from Late Cretaceous (locally at Prudhoe Bay and in area to southwest) to Pliocene because of progradational pattern of deposition. Micropaleontologic data from wells and outcrops in uppermost part of unit on north flank of Marsh Creek anticline indicate that this part of unit is late Eocene to Pliocene in and adjacent to northwestern coastal plain of ANWR; unit is older to west (into Late Cretaceous at Prudhoe Bay and areas to southwest). Regional cross section shows age of unit ranges into Paleocene elsewhere in ANWR and in Kavik area (Kavik field --where it is only Paleocene in age). Tongue of Sagavanirktok Formation is here-named Staines Tongue after Staines River 8 mi east of West Staines State-2 well in sec.25 T9N R22E [Flaxman Island quad] where type section of tongue is designated between 7710 and 8590 ft in subsurface.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sagavanirktok Formation*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
    • Age modified
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Alaska Northern region
Publication:

Mull, C.G., Houseknecht, D.W., and Bird, K.J., 2003, Revised Cretaceous and Tertiary stratigraphic nomenclature in the Colville basin, northern Alaska; Version 1.0: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1673, 51 p., Prepared in cooperation with Alaska Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Geol. Geophys. Surveys and Div. Oil and Gas [http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_54811.htm]


Summary:

Pg. 4 (fig. 3), 5 (fig. 4), 6-8 (table 1), 34-47. Sagavanirktok Formation. Consists mostly of poorly consolidated siltstone, sandstone, and conglomerate; contains lignite and coal. [Total thickness unknown, possibly 8,500+ feet.] Includes (ascending): (1) Sagwon Member, revised, upper Paleocene; (2) White Hills Member, new, upper Paleocene(?) to lower Eocene; (3) Franklin Bluffs Member, revised, lower Eocene to Miocene; and (4) Nuwok Member, Miocene(?) to Pliocene(?), not exposed in study area. Members are sequences of clastic fluvial sediments grading upward into finer grained sediments. Overlies Prince Creek Formation (revised). Fossils (palynomorphs). Age of Sagavanirktok is considered Tertiary (Paleocene to Pliocene?).

Source: Publication.


For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).

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