# Assistance Formation

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{{Short description|Geologic formation on Devon and Ellesmere Islands in Nunavut, Canada}}
{{Infobox rockunit
| name           = Assistance Formation
| image          =
| caption        =
| type           = [Formation](/source/Formation_(stratigraphy))
| age            =  [Permian](/source/Permian) ([Roadian](/source/Roadian))
| period         = Permian
| prilithology   =
| otherlithology =
| namedfor       =
| namedby        =
| region         = [Nunavut](/source/Nunavut)
| country        = [Canada](/source/Canada)
| coordinates    =
| unitof         =
| subunits       =
| underlies      =
| overlies       =
| thickness      =
| extent         =
| area           =
| map            =
| map_caption    =
}}

The '''Assistance Formation''' is a [geologic formation](/source/Formation_(geology)) located on [Devon Island](/source/Devon_Island) and [Ellesmere Island](/source/Ellesmere_Island) in [Nunavut](/source/Nunavut). It preserves [fossils](/source/fossils) dating back to the [Permian](/source/Permian) [period](/source/Period_(geology)). The formation rides along the southeastern edges of the [Sverdrup Basin](/source/Sverdrup_Basin), as well as on [Melville Island](/source/Melville_Island_(Northwest_Territories_and_Nunavut)) and [Grinnell Peninsula](/source/Grinnell_Peninsula).

==Discovery==
The Assistance Formation was discovered in 1955 by [Raymond Thorsteinsson](/source/Raymond_Thorsteinsson), during [Operation Franklin](/source/Operation_Franklin). Although the [Trold Fiord Formation](/source/Trold_Fiord_Formation) and [Degerbols Formation](/source/Degerbols_Formation) were generally recognized as part of the Assistance Formation, Thorsteinsson clarified various terminology problems and cleared any naming discontinuities.

==Lithology==
Fine grained, green/gray [sandstone](/source/sandstone) and [mudstone](/source/mudstone) compose a large part of the formation. The lower portions and beds of the stone are generally recessive, with and occur in beds up to .6 meters in length and depth. Outside of sandstone and rust-colored rocks, the loose components of the fiord usually include [limestone](/source/limestone) and a plethora of perpetually eroding organic debris. In the upper half of the formation, oxidized, calcareous [ironstone](/source/ironstone) buildups remain abundant. On Melville Island and Grinnell Peninsula, the depth of the [fiord](/source/fiord) is usually its lowest, averaging around 60 meters. The thickest parts of the fiord occur on Ellesmere Island.

==Stratigraphic importance==
In 2009, fossil fauna of Assistance Formation was used to confirm the invalidity of the Ufimian stage in the Russian [geologic time scale](/source/geologic_time_scale). [Conodont](/source/Conodont)s ''[Mesogondolella gracilis](/source/Mesogondolella)'' and [ammonoid](/source/ammonoid)s ''[Sverdrupites harkeri](/source/Sverdrupites)'' from this formation are characteristic of the [Roadian](/source/Roadian) (Kazanian) stage, while ''Mesogondolella idahoensis'' and ammonoids ''[Epijuresanites](/source/Epijuresanites)'' from the underlying [Sabine Bay Formation](/source/Sabine_Bay_Formation) are typical for Upper [Kungurian](/source/Kungurian) stage. Such correspondence to the stages completely excludes the presence of a "gap" between Sabine Bay and Assistance Formations for an additional Ufimian stage.<ref name=Zhamoida2010>{{cite book|author=A. I. Zhamoida|year=2010|url=https://www.vsegei.ru/ru/structure/others/msk/postanovleniya/msk2010_39.pdf#page=74|title=Результаты деятельности региональных межведомственных стратиграфических комиссий 2000—2009 гг. [Results of the activities of regional interdepartmental stratigraphic commissions, 2000-2009]|volume=39|publisher=FGBU|page=73|isbn=978-5-93761-160-4|lang=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025834/https://www.vsegei.ru/ru/structure/others/msk/postanovleniya/msk2010_39.pdf#page=74|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Earth sciences|Canada|Paleontology}}
* [List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Nunavut](/source/List_of_fossiliferous_stratigraphic_units_in_Nunavut)

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite web|title= Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database|author= ((Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database))|url= https://www.fossilworks.org|access-date= 17 December 2021}}
* Nassichuk, Walter & Hodgkinson, Kenneth. (1976). Scaphopods from the Permian Assistance Formation, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Journal of Paleontology. 50. 1150–1156. 
* Nassichuk, W. W. "Assistance Formation." Weblex Canada, Weblex, 6 Mar. 2009, weblex.nrcan.gc.ca/html/000000/GSCC00053000522.html.

Category:Permian Nunavut
Category:Permian northern paleotemperate deposits
Category:Geologic formations of Nunavut
Category:Sandstone formations of Canada
Category:Mudstone formations of Canada

{{Permian-stub}}
{{Nunavut-geologic-formation-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Assistance Formation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistance_Formation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistance_Formation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.