Lynx Formation
The Lynx Formation or Lynx Group is a stratigraphic unit of Late Cambrian age in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. It is present in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta and British Columbia. It was originally described as the Lynx Formation by Charles Doolittle Walcott in 1913, based on and named for outcrops on the slopes of Lynx Mountain on the continental divide east of Mount Robson. It was subdivided into five formations and elevated to group status by J.D. Aitken and R.G. Greggs in 1967. The name Lynx Formation continues to be used in areas where some or all of the subdivisions cannot be distinguished. All of the formations in the Lynx Group include fossil trilobites and some contain the stromatolite Collenia.
Lithology and deposition
The Lynx Group is composed alternating zones of carbonate rocks, most of which are dolomitic, and shales.It was deposited in shallow marine environments along the western margin of the North American Craton during Late Cambrian time. In many areas it is subdivided into the five formations listed below.
Subdivisions
Upper Lynx Group| Formation | Lithology | Max. Thickness | Reference |
| Mistaya Formation | carbonate rocks, minor cherty layers | ||
| Bison Creek Formation | green and grey shales, argillaceous limestone | ||
| Lyell Formation | massive cliff-forming carbonate rocks |
Lower Lynx Group
| Formation | Lithology | Max. Thickness | Reference |
| Sullivan Formation | grey, green, and brown shales, argillaceous limestone | ||
| Waterfowl Formation | cliff-forming carbonate rocks, minor siltstone and sandstone |