Whitehorse Trough is a frontier basin in south-central Yukon that is thought to contain gas and possibly oil. Over 400 samples from the Whitehorse Trough have been analysed by programmed pyrolysis and combustion, which together with coal rank, vitrinite reflectance, and the colour of microfossils indicate the following: the Povoas formation has no source rock potential; the Aksala formation is a poor source rock, probably gas-prone and postmature; the Richthofen formation is a poor to fair source rock, gas-prone and postmature; the Nordenskiold formation has no source rock potential; and the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations are potentially good to very good source rocks, mainly gas-prone with a possibility of oil and mature. The Aksala and Richthofen formations are interpreted as spent source rocks, whereas the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations are interpreted as potential source rocks and possibly effective source rocks. The most prospective areas for hydrocarbon exploration are Division Mountain, Tantalus Butte and Five Finger Rapids.

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The Eagle Plain basin, having proven hydrocarbon potential, is a relatively underexplored intermontane basin located in northern Yukon . Previous studies of the middle Albian-Cenomanian Parkin Formation and the Turonian Fishing Branch Formation are based on broad lithostratigraphic correlations. The primary goal of the study is to refine the sequence stratigraphic framework of the middle to Upper Cretaceous succession based on sedimentological observations. New findings from this study require subdivision of the stratigraphic nomenclature by defining new informal lithological members. Facies transitions, paleoflow indicators and isopach maps indicate overall westward deepening of the basin. Large-scale, sand-prone mass transport deposits observed in the upper part of the lower Parkin shale member in western Eagle Plain indicate the presence of shelf-to-basin floor relief of at least 100 m. Recognition of significant shelf-to-basin floor topography greatly increases the potential for hydrocarbon reservoirs (gas-dominated) in stratigraphic traps associated with the shelf edge.

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A copy of this thesis is available at the EMR library – QE446.Y8 H94.

for a copy of this paper please contact the Yukon Geological Survey; geology@gov.yk.ca.

This report presents detailed analytical methodologies and a non-interpretative compilation of outcrop and subsurface data specific to Yukon’s Liard basin. It mainly comprises data collected in the 2012-2016 unconventional study, but also includes legacy data extracted from various sources (principally Geological Survey of Canada publications) on conventional source rock and reservoir potential. The report is organized into two sections: a) a summary of the basin’s geology, exploration history and ultimate resource potential; and b) detailed methods for each of the analytical techniques used to assess unconventional shale potential in the basin. Data, including formation tops and thicknesses, are presented in the suite of appendices.

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