Sumac Ridge
Updated 28 December 2013
Sumac ridge is bisected by Highway 97 at the north end of Summerland. The rock comprising the ridge is part of the sedimentary White Lake Formation and includes beds of conglomerate, sandstone, coal and volcanic debris. The White Lake Formation rocks were deposited by a large, high energy river system. In areas of high energy (high flows) the resulting rock has a coarser texture such as conglomerate, while low energy areas have finer textured rock such as sandstone or silt stone. Coal forms through the burial and compaction of organic material that would have been growing in wetlands and off-channel habitats along the river floodplain.
References
Hamblin, AP. 2011. Detailed outcrop measured sections of the Eocene White Lake Formation, southern Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 6605. http://geogratis.gc.ca/api/en/nrcan-rncan/ess-sst/5bd4ccf4-5846-5500-8b96-d0488296c258.html
Roed, MA and Fulton, RJ (eds.). 2011. Okanagan Geology South. Okanagan Geology Committee. p.128.
Sumac ridge is bisected by Highway 97 at the north end of Summerland. The rock comprising the ridge is part of the sedimentary White Lake Formation and includes beds of conglomerate, sandstone, coal and volcanic debris. The White Lake Formation rocks were deposited by a large, high energy river system. In areas of high energy (high flows) the resulting rock has a coarser texture such as conglomerate, while low energy areas have finer textured rock such as sandstone or silt stone. Coal forms through the burial and compaction of organic material that would have been growing in wetlands and off-channel habitats along the river floodplain.
References
Hamblin, AP. 2011. Detailed outcrop measured sections of the Eocene White Lake Formation, southern Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 6605. http://geogratis.gc.ca/api/en/nrcan-rncan/ess-sst/5bd4ccf4-5846-5500-8b96-d0488296c258.html
Roed, MA and Fulton, RJ (eds.). 2011. Okanagan Geology South. Okanagan Geology Committee. p.128.