Geologic investigations of the Kandik area, Alaska and adjacent Yukon Territory, Canada

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Geologic investigations of the Kandik area, Alaska and adjacent Yukon Territory, Canada
Abstract:
Geologic investigations of the Kandik area, Alaska and adjacent Yukon Territory, Canada, Report of Investigation 96-6A, presents results of geologic investigations conducted from 1982 to 1991 to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of the Kandik area and adjacent Doyon, Limited, lands. Work included geologic mapping, gravity surveys, seismic testing, and supporting geochemical and geochronological analyses, and extended into the Yukon Territory to examine the Yukon Thrust system. The Kandik area contains numerous bitumen seeps in rocks ranging from Precambrian to Cretaceous, confirming long-recognized hydrocarbon potential. Bitumen occurs along major faults, within thrust-related structures, and in both hanging-wall and footwall positions of the Yukon Thrust, indicating upward migration of hydrocarbons from deeper Paleozoic sources. Paleozoic stratigraphy in the region records major shelf-to-basin facies changes that influence both structural style and hydrocarbon potential. Ordovician, Devonian, and Carboniferous rocks contain fair to good hydrocarbon source rocks and are the most likely sources for bitumen at the front of the Yukon Thrust. Permian units occur locally in the footwall, and Triassic lower Glenn Shale hosts the most extensive bitumen occurrences where preserved. A probable Jurassic unconformity removed the lower Glenn Shale and underlying Permian units from much of the footwall in Canada, leaving these Triassic source rocks absent beneath the eastern part of the thrust. Thermal maturity in footwall Paleozoic rocks ranges from immature to gas window. Regional structures record two major post-Early Cretaceous deformation events: an early contractional phase that produced thrust sheets and fault-related folds, followed by a later extensional phase that generated overprinting en echelon faults and localized basins. These relationships reflect reactivation of older structures and are important for developing geologic models of the region. This publication includes a geologic map, stratigraphic column, hydrocarbon source-rock geochemistry column, structural cross sections, surface geochemistry plots, and a seismic profile, with companion DGGS maps providing sample locations and gravity data. The dataset provides geologic, structural, stratigraphic, and geochronologic information organized according to the GeMS and AK GeMS mapping schemas. The complete report, geodatabase, and ESRI fonts and style files are available from the DGGS website: https://doi.org/10.14509/2533.
Supplemental_Information:
This geodatabase is organized according to the AK GeMS mapping schema Hendricks, M.D., Macpherson, A.E., Athey, J.E., Wyatt, W.C., Montayne, Simone, Buchanan, Wes, Rivera, P.G., and Steinleitner, A.M., 2024, AK GeMS data dictionary: A description of the Alaska geologic mapping schema: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication 170 v. 2, 13 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31172. The distribution package includes ESRI fonts and style files, along with usage instructions. Further documentation of the symbology is provided by Ekberg, P.G., Hendricks, M.D., and Athey, J.E., 2021, AK GeMS symbology: A description of the AK GeMS style file: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication 169, 7 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/30584.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Van Kooten, G.K., Watts, A.B., Coogan, James, Mount, V.S., Swenson, R.F., Daggett, P.H., Clough, J.G., Roberts, C.T., and Bergman, S.C., 1997, Geologic investigations of the Kandik area, Alaska and adjacent Yukon Territory, Canada: Report of Investigation RI 96-6A, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 3 sheets
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -142.003681
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -140.610739
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 65.581966
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 64.830293
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1982
    Ending_Date: 1991
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: geodatabase
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a vector data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 7
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -141
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0
      False_Easting: 500000.000000
      False_Northing: 0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest .00000001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest .00000001
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is NAD27.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.9786982.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    kandik_ak_gems_db
    Geodatabase, layer files, style files, and fonts (Source: DGGS)
    kandik_gems_db
    Geodatabase, layer files, style files, and fonts (Source: DGGS)
    kandik_gems_geopackage
    SQLite Database file (Source: DGGS)
    kandik_gems_shapefile
    Shapefiles and open data files (Source: DGGS)

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Many people at Atlantic Richfield contributed significantly to the Kandik study. The authors gratefully acknowledge Thomas J. Barnes, Grant Cushing, Elizabeth A. Eide, Bill Gilmore, and William J. Grether for field mapping and regional geologic evaluation; Michael Gardner and Kris E. Meisling for field mapping and structural analysis; Fred H. Behnken and Tim Carr for conodont separation and identification; Jim Chatham and Leslie Lee Lundell for surface and source-rock geochemistry; Jeff Corrigan and James Talbot for geochronology; Ray Christopher and H.M. (Bud) Simpson for palynological analysis; and Gerry Arp for soil and plant geochemistry. Michael Churkin, Jr., and Don K. Norris led field trips that introduced us to the area. Discussions with David G. Howell, Mark J. Johnsson, and Michael B. Underwood were helpful, and reviews by David Howell, Laurel Burns, and Frank Larson improved the final product. ARCO Alaska, Inc., and Doyon, Limited, provided permission and financial support to publish this study. This map was converted to GeMS or digitized into GeMS by Kinney Engineering, LCC., quality controlled, and then finalized by DGGS staff (Chris Wyatt). Ally M. Steinleitner implemented final database quality control and packaging. This geologic map (or report or conversion or product, etc.) was funded by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program under STATEMAP award number G24AC00521, 2024, and the State of Alaska General Fund. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
    Metadata Manager
    3354 College Road
    Fairbanks, AK
    USA

    (907)451-5020 (voice)
    (907)451-5050 (FAX)
    dggspubs@alaska.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except State holidays
    Contact_Instructions:
    Please view our website (https://www.dggs.alaska.gov) for the latest information on available data. Please contact us using the e-mail address provided above when possible.

Why was the data set created?

This map provides geologic information for the Kandik area and adjacent Doyon, Limited, lands to support evaluation of regional structure, stratigraphy, and geologic conditions relevant to hydrocarbon assessment and geologic modeling. It illustrates the distribution of geologic units, major structural features, and key stratigraphic relationships needed to understand the regional framework and to inform resource evaluation, geologic interpretation, and land-use planning.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Ekberg, P.G. and others, 2021 (source 1 of 3)
    Ekberg, P.G., Hendricks, M.D., and Athey, J.E., 2021, AK GeMS symbology: A description of the AK GeMS style file: Miscellaneous Publication MP 169, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 7 p
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: GIS analysis and digital cartography
    Hendricks, M.D. and others, 2021 (source 2 of 3)
    Hendricks, M.D., Ekberg, P.G., Athey, J.E., Wyatt, W.C., Willingham, A.L., and Naibert, T.J., 2021, AK GeMS data dictionary: A description of the Alaska geologic mapping schema: Miscellaneous Publication MP 170, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 10 p
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: GIS analysis and digital cartography
    U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, 2020 (source 3 of 3)
    U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, 2020, GeMS (Geologic Map Schema) - A standard format for the digital publication of geologic maps: Techniques and Methods TM 11-B10, U.S. Geological Survey, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 p
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: GIS analysis and digital cartography
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 1991 (process 1 of 2)
    Geologic mapping - Geologic investigations in the Kandik area and adjacent Doyon, Limited, lands were conducted from 1982 to 1991 to support regional geologic mapping and structural evaluation. Field work included bedrock mapping, gravity surveys, seismic data acquisition, and collection of samples for geochemical, geochronological, palynological, and conodont analyses. Field observations, sample locations, and structural measurements were compiled and integrated with seismic and gravity data to establish stratigraphic relationships and major structural features, including thrust faults and associated folds. Laboratory analyses were performed to characterize source-rock properties, thermal maturity, and age determinations. Results from mapping, analytical programs, and geophysical surveys were combined to produce the geologic map, stratigraphic column, structural cross sections, surface geochemistry plots, and seismic profile.
    Date: 2026 (process 2 of 2)
    Data packaging - DGGS organized and attributed the geologic and geographic features according to the AK GeMS schema, then programmatically transformed the data into four distribution formats: (1) an AK GeMS data package containing the full database and supporting files, (2) a GeMS data package converted to the USGS base standard, (3) a SQLite database file, and (4) a simplified shapefile package with shapefile representations of the data.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Van Kooten, G.K., Watts, A.B., Coogan, James, Mount, V.S., Swenson, R.F., Daggett, P.H., Clough, J.G., Roberts, C.T., and Bergman, S.C., 1997, Station locations in the Kandik area, Alaska, and adjacent Yukon Territory, Canada: Report of Investigation RI 96-6B, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:125,000
    Van Kooten, G.K., Watts, A.B., Coogan, James, Mount, V.S., Swenson, R.F., Daggett, P.H., Clough, J.G., Roberts, C.T., and Bergman, S.C., 1997, Gravity maps of the Kandik area, Alaska, and adjacent Yukon Territory, Canada: Report of Investigation RI 96-6C, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Attribute fields within each feature class are populated using the map symbology and corresponding applicable values from the GeMS and AK GeMS specifications. When known, certainty in attribute interpretation is indicated in the relevant fields. Attribute accuracy varies throughout the map and is scale-dependent.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Certainty in feature boundaries or location varies throughout the map. Data fields within each feature class and the accompanying orientation and location confidence lookup tables record the authors' degree of confidence in the location of applicable features.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This publication is part of a DGGS Report of Investigations (RI). An RI is the completed product of original research and analysis, and RIs use professional cartography and undergo rigorous peer review, editing, and revision.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    All polygon features were topologically validated according to the AK GeMS geologic mapping schema specifications.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints:
This report, map, and/or dataset is available directly from the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (see contact information below).
Use_Constraints:
Any hard copies or published datasets utilizing these datasets shall clearly indicate their source. If the user has modified the data in any way, the user is obligated to describe the types of modifications the user has made. The user specifically agrees not to misrepresent these datasets, nor to imply that changes made by the user were approved by the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. The State of Alaska makes no express or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
    Metadata Manager
    3354 College Road
    Fairbanks, AK
    USA

    (907)451-5020 (voice)
    (907)451-5050 (FAX)
    dggspubs@alaska.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except State holidays
    Contact_Instructions:
    Please view our website (https://www.dggs.alaska.gov) for the latest information on available data. Please contact us using the e-mail address provided above when possible.
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? RI 96-6A
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    The State of Alaska makes no expressed or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 30-Jul-2026
Metadata author:
Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Attn: Simone Montayne
Metadata Manager
3354 College Road
Fairbanks, AK
USA

(907)451-5020 (voice)
(907)451-5050 (FAX)
dggspubs@alaska.gov
Hours_of_Service: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except State holidays
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Thu Jul 30 15:27:38 2026