The Pembina River Member of the Cardium Formation at Pembina is composed of a series of prograding and clinoforming parasequences which comprise the main sandstone reservoir units of the Pembina oilfield. All parasequences have similar sedimentologic characteristics. Well-developed parasequences show an upward change in ichnofossil assemblages from Cruziana/Zoophycos Ichnofacies to Skolithos Ichnofacies.

The parasequences are truncated on their updip edges by a major marine erosion surface. In the western and northeastern parts of the field, this transgressive erosion surface appears to bifurcate into two separate erosion surfaces. The transgressive surface marks the termination of sandstone deposition in the Pembina area.

Both erosion surfaces underlie accumulations of conglomerate. In western Pembina, the older erosion surface underlies well sorted conglomerates and conglomeratic sandstones and mudstones. In the central and eastern part of Pembina, the older erosion surface underlies bioturbated pebbly sandstones and mudstones. The younger erosion surface underlies poorly sorted conglomerates.

Subsurface members of the Cardium Formation at Pembina can be correlated to outcrop members using ammonites discovered in core and outcrop. The Cardinal Member at Seebe, Alberta can be biostratigraphically correlated to the upper parts of the subsurface Pembina River Member at Pembina. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)