Pavy Formation

The Pavy Formation is a geologic formation in Nunavut. It preserves fossil insects of Carabites feildenianus, dating back to the Thanetian stage of the Paleocene period.

Description

The Pavy Formation is interpreted to be fluvial in origin. Trough-crossbedded sandstone facies dominate this formation and were probably channel deposits of a braided river system, with interbeds of siltstone and mudrock representing floodplain deposits. Where thicker intervals of mudrock occur, backswamp ponds or shallow-lake conditions were probably present. Only at Watercourse Valley and Pavy River did conditions stabilize long enough for swamps to develop, producing thick coal beds.