Ichnology Research Group -- Dr. Murray Gingras
 
 
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Dr. S. George Pemberton
Dr. Murray Gingras
Dr. J.P. Zonneveld
Dr. James MacEachern
Dr. Shahin Dashtgard
Dr. Kerrie Bann

 

Research Description

Neoichnological Studies: Neoichnology is the study of modern animal-sediment relationships. Much of my research has been dedicated to establishing the distribution and behavior of burrowing animals in modern settings for application to the rock record. A good example of this work includes the distribution of burrowing animals in modern course-grained sediments. We have also investigated burrowing behavior and its correlation to the quality of food resources. Burrow geochemistry has also been investigated. And animal distributions in general have been established. All in all, this growing body of work represents a significant advancement in our understanding of neoichnology and this work is enjoying broad application to the rock record. 

The Development of Process Ichnology. Process-based ichnology is the use of trace fossils to assess sedimentation rates, colonization times, and sedimentary parameters such as turbidity, hydraulic energy, and substrate cohesiveness. My research group and I have led in developing research methods for process-based ichnology. We have done this by using modern sedimentary environments and laboratory experiments to parameterize the response of animals to specific sedimentary conditions. We are the only research group using modern animals to develop a set of experimental procedures to systematically explore the potential for trace fossils to provide additional sedimentary knowledge. 

The Application of Ichnofossils to Reservoir Charaacterization . Ichnofossils have often been used to determine the depositional setting of ancient strata. Their importance as permeable conduits in hydrocarbon reservoirs remains essentially unexplored. Primarily through the work of Pemberton and myself at the U of Alberta, the need to understand the impact trace fossils have on oil and gas production is becoming recognized. In this research partnership, I have been the main motivator in experimental methods and in conceptualizing application of experiments to reservoir settings. We have used reservoir data, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling to assess the impact of bioturbation on resource quality (i.e. quantity and producibility of resource). The general classification of biogenic permeability was introduced in Pemberton and Gingras. 

Geochemical Analyses of Trace Fossils. Our group has produced  in two areas. (1) Geochemical characterization and interpretation of bioturbated sedimentary media. This has led to the recognition of new burrowing behaviors when I reported the activities of insect larvae mining for oxygen in oxygen impoverished settings. (2) Other work has provided important new data for numerical modelers to use. My group is now establishing expertise in cation sorption profiling of modern burrow walls. We have also characterized trace-fossil geochemical profiles to establish depositional through to paragenetic history: the results from these studies have been applied practically in reservoir analysis studies. 

Amazonian seaway during the Miocene. This research involved generating a complete sedimentological, ichnological, and stratigraphic framework for Miocene deposits (primarily the Pevas Fm.) in the Amazon Basin in Peru and Brazil. Although these strata had been previously interpreted as having a lacustrine nature, our observations show that they are primarily marginal-marine sediments. Resolving the nature of this depositional system and determining its paleogeography (although still  contested) will change the way we regard Tertiary sediment accumulation in the Amazon Basin.  

Publications the last 6 years:

    • ZA Abdel-Fattah, MK Gingras, MW Caldwell and SG Pemberton. "Sedimentary environments and depositional characters of the Middle-Upper Eocene succession in the Fayum depression, Egypt" Sedimentology (accepted for publication May 2009): 1-31. In Press
    • SV Lalonde, LT Dafoe, SG Pemberton, MK Gingras, and KO Konhauser. Investigating the geochemical impact of burrowing animals: proton and cadmium adsorption onto the mucus lining of Terebellid polychaete worms. Chemical Geology (accepted for publication August 2009): 18 p. In Press
    • LT Dafoe, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton. " Wave-Influenced Deltaic Sandstone Bodies and Offshore Deposits in the Viking Formation, Hamilton Lake Area, South-central Alberta, Canada" Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (accepted for publication May 2009): 35 pages total (27 text, 8 pages figures): spec. eds. Gingras, MacEachern and Zonneveld. In Press
    • E Pecoits, MK Gingras, ME Barley, A Kappler, NR Posth and KO Konhauser. "Petrography and geochemistry of the Dales Gorge banded iron formation: Paragenetic sequence, source and implications for palaeo-ocean chemistry" Precambrian Research (accepted for publication March 2009). In Press
    • SE Frey, MK Gingras and SE Dashtgard. "Experimental studies of gas and water escape structures: mechanisms and morphologies" Journal of Sedimentary Research (accepted for publication April 2009). In Press
    • SE Dashtgard, MK Gingras and JA MacEachern. "Tidally Modulated Shorefaces" Journal of Sedimentary Research (accepted for publication May 2009). In Press
    • E Pecoits, NR Aubet, MK Gingras and KO Konhauser. "Discussion on the Neoproterozoic glacial record in the Río de la Plata Craton: a critical reappraisal" Journal of the Geological Society (accepted for publication April 2009). In Press
    • ME Zorn, E Kristensen, SG Pemberton, MK Gingras, J Farquhar, AJ Kaufman. "Sulfur and iron dynamics around nereidid burrows in coastal areas: use of artificial sandy sediment" Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta: in review
    • ZA Abdel-Fattah, MK Gingras, SG Pemberton. "Significance of hypoburrow nodule formation associated with large biogenic sedimentary structures in the Upper Eocene Birket Qarun Formation, Wadi El-Hitan, Fayum-Egypt" Sedimentary Geology: in review
    • TE Hauck, SE Dashtgard, SG Pemberton and MK Gingras. "Brackish-water ichnological trends in a microtidal barrier island-embayment system, Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick, Canada" Palaios 24 (2009). 478-496
    • BC Yang, RW Dalrymple, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton. "Autogenic occurrence of Glossifungites Ichnofacies: Examples from wave-dominated, macrotidal flats, southwestern coast of Korea" Marine Geology 260 (2009): 1-5.
    • MK Gingras, SE Dashtgard, JA MacEachern and SG Pemberton. Biology of shallow marine ichnology: a modern perspective. Aquatic Biology (2008): 255-268.
    • LT Dafoe, MK Gingras, and SG Pemberton. "Analysis of Mineral Segregation in Euzonus mucronata Burrow Structures: One Possible Method Used in the Construction of AncientMacaronichnus segregatus". Ichnos (2008): 37-41.
    • LT Dafoe, MK Gingras, and SG Pemberton. "Determining Euzonus mucronata burrowing rates with application to ancient Macaronichnus segregatis trace-makers". Ichnos (2008): 78-90.
    • SG Pemberton, JA MacEachern, MK Gingras, and TDA Saunders. "Biogenic Chaos: cryptobioturbation and the work of sedimentologically friendly organisms". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (2008): 273-279.
    • J Hovikoski, R Lemiski, MK Gingras, SG Pemberton and JA MacEachern. Ichnology and sedimentology of a mud-dominated deltaic coast: upper Cretaceous Alderson Member (Lea Park Fm), western Canada. Journal of Sedimentary Research (2008): 803-824.
    • MK Gingras, SG Pemberton, SE Dashtgard, and L Dafoe. "How Fast do Marine Invertebrates Burrow?" Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. (2008)
    • T Hauck, SE Dashtgard, and MK Gingras. "Relationships between organic carbon and fodichnia morphology". Palaios (2008).
    • BC Yang, R Dalrymple, MK Gingras, and SG Pemberton. "Wave-generated tidal bundles as an indicator of wave-dominated tidal flats". Geology (2008): 39 - 42.
    • SE Dashtgard, MK Gingras, and SG Pemberton. "Grain-size controls on the occurrence of bioturbation". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (2008): 224-243.
    • MK Gingras, SE Dashtgard, JA MacEachern, and SG Pemberton. "Biology of shallow marine ichnology: a modern perspective". Aquatic Biology (2008): 255-268.
    • J Hovikoski, M Rasanen, MK Gingras, S Brusset, L Romero, and K Lertola  "The nature of Miocene Amazonian epicontinental embayment: High-frequency shifts of the low-gradient coastline". The Geological Society of America Bulletin (2008): v. 119, 1506-1520.
    • N Pearson, MK Gingras, IA Armitage, and SG Pemberton. "The Significance of Atlantic Sturgeon Feeding Excavations, Mary's Point, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada". Palaios (2007): v. 22, 457-464.
    • SE Dashtgard, RO White, KE Butler, and MK Gingras. "Effects of relative sea level change on the depositional character of an embayed beach, Bay of Fundy, Canada". Marine Geology (2007): 143-161.
    • BC Yang, RW Dalrymple, MK Gingras, S Chun, and H Lee. "Up-estuary variation of sedimentary facies and ichnocoenoses in an open-mouthed, macrotidal, mixed-energy estuary, Gomso Bay, Korea". Journal of Sedimentary Research (2007): 757-771.
    • MK Gingras, IA Armitage, SG Pemberton and HE Clifton. "Possible first trace-fossil evidence of walrus predation link walrus herds to the Olympic Peninsula". Palaios (2007): 539-545.
    • MK Gingras, SV Lalonde, L Amskold, and KO Konhauser. "Wintering chironomids mine oxygen". Palaios (2007): 433-438.
    • E Pecoits, MK Gingras, NR Aubet, and KO Konhauser. "Ediacaran in Uruguay; palaeoclimatic and palaeobiologic implications". Sedimentology" (2007): 689-719.
    • KO Konhauser and MK Gingras. "Linking geomicrobiology with ichnology in marine sediments". Palaios (2007): 339-342.
    • ME Zorn, K Muehlenbachs, MK Gingras, KO Konhauser, SG Pemberton, and R Evoy. "Stable isotopic analysis reveals evidence for groundwater-sediment-animal interactions in a marginal-marine setting". Palaios (2007): 546-553.
    • LA Rebata, MK Gingras, ME Räsänen, and M Barberi. Tidal-channel deposits on a delta plain from the Upper Miocene Nauta formation, Marañón Foreland Sub-basin, Peru. Sedimentology (2006). 1-43.
    • ME Zorn, SV Lalonde, MK Gingras, SG Pemberton, and KO Konhauser. Microscale oxygen distribution in various invertebrate burrow walls. Geobiology (2006). 1-10.
    • SE Dashtgard, MK Gingras, and KE Butler. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of a Transgressive, Muddy Gravel Beach: Waterside Beach, Bay of Fundy, Canada. Sedimentology (2006): v. 53, 279-296.
    • MK Gingras and K Bann. The Bend Justifies the Leans: Interpreting Recumbent Ichnofabrics. Journal of Sedimentary Research (2006): v. 53, 483-492.
    • JJ Virtasalo, AT Kotilainen, and MK Gingras. Trace fossils as indicators of environmental change in Holocene sediments of the Archipelago Sea, northern Baltic Sea. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (2006): v. 240, 453-467.
    • JP Zonneveld, CM Henderson, GD Stanley Jr., MJ Orchard, and MK Gingras. Oldest scleractinian coral reefs on the North American craton: Upper Triassic (Carnian), northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (2006): v. 243, 241-250.
    • N Pearson and MK Gingras. An Ichnological and Sedimentological Facies Model for Muddy Point-bar Deposits. Journal of Sedimentary Research (2006): v. 76, 771-782.
    • MC Rygel, JH Calder, MR Gibling, MK Gingras, and CSA Melrose. Tournaisian forested wetlands in the Horton Group of Atlantic Canada. In "Wetlands Through Time" SF Greb and WA DiMichele eds, Geological Society of America, Special Publication 399 (2006): 103-126.
    • JA MacEachern and MK Gingras. "Recognition of brackish-water trace fossil assemblages in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of Alberta". Ichnia Special Publication. (2008)
    • P Siiro, ME Räsänen, MK Gingras, CR Harris, G Irion, SG Pemberton and A Ranzi. Application of laser diffraction grain-size analysis to reveal depositional processes in tidally influenced systems. In "Fluvial Sedimentology VII" MD Blum, SB Marriott and SF Leclair eds, International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication 35 (2005): 159-180.
    • SG Pemberton and MK Gingras. Classification and characterizations of biogenically enhanced permeability. American Association of Petroleum Geology Bulletin (2006): v. 89, 1493-1517.
    • SE Dashtgard and MK Gingras. "Facies architecture and ichnology of recent salt-marsh deposits: Waterside Marsh, New Brunswick, Canada". Journal of Sedimentary Research (2005): v. 75, 596-607.
    • LA Buatois, MK Gingras, JA MacEachern, MG Mangano, JP Zonneveld, SG Pemberton, RG Netto, and A Martin. "Colonization of Brackish-Water Systems through Time: Evidence from the Trace-Fossil Record". Palaios (2005): v. 20, 321-347.
    • SE Dashtgard and MK Gingras. The temporal significance of bioturbation in backshore deposits: Waterside Beach, New Brunswick, Canada: Palaios (2005). v. 20, 589-595.
    • J Hovikoski, M Rasanen, MK Gingras, M Roddaz, S Brusset, W Hermoza, L Romero, and K Lertola. Miocene semidiurnal tidal rhythmites in Madre de Dios, Peru. Geology 33 (2004). v. 33(3), 177-180.
    • SG Pemberton, JA MacEachern and MK Gingras. The use of trace fossils in delineating and interpreting discontinuities. Berita Sedimentologi 19 (2004).
    • MK Gingras, SG Pemberton, K Muelenbachs and H Machel. Conceptual models for burrow-related, selective dolomitization with textural and isotopic evidence from the Tyndall Limestone. Geobiology (2004). v. 2, 21-30.
    • SM Hubbard, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton. Paleo-environmental implications of trace fossils in estuarine deposits of the Cretaceous Bluesky Formation, Cadotte Region, Alberta. Fossils and Strata (2004): v. 51, 1-20,
    • MK Gingras, C Mendoza, and SG Pemberton. Fossilized worm-burrows influence the resource quality of porous media. Bulletin of AAPG (2004): v. 88(7), 875-883.
    • MK Gingras, JA MacEachern, and R Pickerill. Modern Perspectives on the Teredolites ichnofacies: Observations from Willapa Bay, Washington. Palaios (2004): v. 19, 79-88.
    • SG Pemberton and MK Gingras. The Reverend Henry Duncan (1774-1846) and the Discovery of the First Fossil Footprints. Ichnos (2003): v. 10, 69-75.
    • Q Chen, MK Gingras and BJ Balcom. A magnetic resonance study of pore filling processes during spontaneous imbibition. Journal of Chemical Physics (2003): v. 119, 9609-9616.
    • MJ Ranger and MK Gingras. Discussion of C.W. Langenberg, F.J. Hein, D. Lawton and J. Cunningham Seismic modeling of fluvial-estuarine deposits in the Athabasca oil sands using ray-tracing techniques, Steepbank River area, northeastern Alberta. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2003): v. 51(3), 347-353.
    • JA MacEachern, KA Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton. "Application of Ichnofacies to the Sedimentary Record." In Facies Models. Editors RW Dalrymple and N James. Geological Association of Canada (accepted for publication February 2009): 53 pages total (41 text, 11 pages figures). In Press
    • SG Pemberton, JA MacEachern, and MK Gingras. "The Antecedents of Invertebrate Ichnology in North America: The Canadian and Cincinnati Schools". In "Trace Fossils", W Miller III ed. (2007): 14-31.
    • JA MacEachern, SG Pemberton, MK Gingras, and KL Bann. "The ichnofacies paradigm, a fifty year retrospective". In "Trace Fossils", W Miller III ed. (2007): 52-80.
    • SG Pemberton, MK Gingras, and JA MacEachern. "Edward Hitchcock and Roland Bird: two early titans of vertebrate ichnology in North America". In "Trace Fossils", W Miller III ed. (2007): 32-51.
    • JA MacEachern, SG Pemberton, MK Gingras, KL Bann and L Dafoe. "Use of trace fossils in genetic stratigraphy". In "Trace Fossils", W Miller III ed. (2007): 110-134.
    • MK Gingras, KL Bann, JA MacEachern, J Waldron and SG Pemberton. "A conceptual framework for the application of trace fossils". In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 1-25.
    • JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton. "The ichnofacies paradigm: High-resolution paleoenvironmental interpretation of the rock record". In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 26-63.
    • JA MacEachern, SG Pemberton, KL Bann and MK Gingras. "Departures from the archetypal ichnofacies: Effective recognition of environmental stress in the rock record. In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 64-91.
    • JA MacEachern, MK Gingras, KL Bann, SG Pemberton and LT Reich. "Applications of ichnology to high-resolution genetic stratigraphic paradigms. In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 92-126.
    • MK Gingras, SG Pemberton, F Henk, JA MacEachern, C Mendoza, B Rostron, R O´Hare, M. Spila and K Konhauser. "Applications of ichnology to fluid and gas production in hydrocarbon reservoirs". In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 127-141.
    • CD Lettley, SG Pemberton, MK Gingras, MJ Ranger and BJ Blakney. "Integrating sedimentology and ichnology to shed light on the system dynamics and paleogeography of an ancient riverine estuary". In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 142-160.
    • CD Lettley, MK Gingras, NJ Pearson and SG Pemberton. "Burrowed stiffgrounds on estuarine point bars: Modern and ancient examples, and criteria for their discrimination from firmgrounds developed along omission surfaces". In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 298-306.
    • MV Spila, SG Pemberton, B Rostron and MK Gingras. "Biogenic textural heterogeneity, fluid flow and hydrocarbon production: bioturbated facies Ben Nevis Formation, Hibernia Field, Offshore Newfoundland". In "Applied Ichnology" Editors JA MacEachern, KL Bann, MK Gingras and SG Pemberton.  Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Course Notes 52 (2007): 335-352.

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      AWARDS:


    2009 - Recipient The Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award. This award is given by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists to recognize distinguished and outstanding contributions to geological education.

    2009 - Recipient University of Alberta Faculty of Science Research Award. The Faculty of Science Research Award provides recognition and career enhancement for the Faculty's most outstanding and highly promising young researchers. 2008 - Co-author Best Paper, International AAPG (Johannesburg).

    2008 - Received the CSPG Medal of Merit, awarded annually to the authors of the best paper published during the previous year on a subject related to petroleum geology.

    2007 - Co-author SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Outstanding Paper, Annual CSPG (Calgary).

    2006 - Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Medal of Merit. Awarded annually by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists to the authors of the best paper published during the previous year on a subject related to petroleum geology. 

     

    Outreach

    I Have trained four high-school students under the University of Alberta WISEST program (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology) to encourage young women to consider careers in the fields of science, engineering and technology. I have conducted several geological field trips for geological societies (14 in the past 6 years). Participant in University of Alberta "Science Sunday" public exhibition.