Abstract: The Division Mountain area is underlain primarily by Jurassic to Cretaceous(?) sedimentary rocks of the Laberge Group and Tantalus Formation. The Laberge Group is divisible into the following informal units: the Richthofen, Nordenskiöld, Conglomerate, and Tanglefoot formations. The Tanglefoot, which comprises a large portion of the exposed strata at Division Mountain, is here subdivided into the lower and upper members. The lower member consists of quartz-rich sandstone, grit, polymicitic conglomerate and laminated siltstone. The upper member is coal-bearing and typified by white grit, sandstone, and carbonaceous shale. The overlying Tantalus Formation is characterized by thick packages of resistant chert pebble conglomerate with intercalated sandstone beds, which form local highlands at Cub, Corduroy, Division, and Vowel mountains.

The strata at Division Mountain are folded into several upright, tight northwest-trending anticlines and synclines with
amplitudes of 2 to 7 km. The folded strata are intruded by feldspar-hornblende andesite sills and dykes.

Organic matter identified within coal and siltstone of the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations consists of Type III and
subordinate Type I kerogen, suggesting the material is largely gas-prone. A combination of thermal maturation indicators (vitrinite reflectance and Tmax ) suggests that the coal and related strata are in the early to late stages of thermal diagenesis. Samples of the underlying Richthofen formation contain Type III kerogen matured beyond the oil window. Local folding and thickening of the Tanglefoot and Tantalus strata, as well as local intrusions in the Tanglefoot, may play a key role in the determination of hydrocarbon potential of the Division Mountain area.

Authors: Allen, T.L.

Keywords: hydrocarbon potential, Laberge Group, Tantalus Formation

NTS Mapsheet(s): 115H08, 105E05

Citation: Allen, T.L., 2000. An evaluation of coal-bearing strata at Division Mountain (115 H/8 east-half, 105 E/5 west-half), south-central Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 1999, Emond, D.S. and Weston, L.W. (eds.), Exploration and Geological Sciences Division, Yukon Region, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, p. 177-198.

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