Investigating the potential of thecamoebians (testate amoebae) as bio-indicators of impact of oil sands mining operations on freshwater environments in Northeastern Alberta, Canada

Thecamoebian (testate amoeba) species diversity and assemblages in reclamation wetlands and lakes in northeastern Alberta respond to chemical and physical parameters associated with oil sands extraction. Ecosystems more impacted by OSPM (oil sands process-affected material) contain sparse, low-diversity populations dominated by centropyxid taxa and Arcella vulgaris. More abundant and diverse thecamoebian populations rich in difflugiid species characterize environments with lower OSPM concentrations. These shelled protists respond quickly to environmental change, allowing year-to-year variations in OSPM impact to be recorded. Their fossil record thus provides corporations with interests in the Athabasca Oil Sands with a potential means of measuring the progression of highlyimpacted aquatic environments to more natural wetlands. Development of this metric required investigation of controls on their fossil assemblage (e.g. seasonal variability, fossilization potential) and their biogeographic distribution, not only in the constructed lakes and wetlands on the oil sands leases, but also in natural environments across Alberta.

Integrating vitrinite reflectance, rock-eval pyrolysis, flourescence microscopy and palynology of the Athabasca oil sands, Kearl Lake area, northeastern Alberta

Three cores from the Kearl Lake Oil Sands area within the Athabasca deposit of northeastern Alberta have been analyzed to understand the thermal history of the McMurray and Clearwater formations of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group. The approach involves the integration of vitrinite reflectance (VR), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, fluorescence microscopy, and palynology. Mean VR varies between 0.21 and 0.43% Ro and indicates thermally immature levels equivalent to the rank of lignite to sub-bituminous coal. Although differing lithologies have influenced VR to some extent (i.e., coals and bitumen-rich zones), groundwater influence and oxidation seem not to have measurably altered YR. Rock-Eval analysis points to Type III/IV kerogen, and samples rich in amorphous organic matter (ADM) show little to no fluorescence characteristics, implying a terrestrial source of origin. Palynology reveals the presence of some delicate macerals but lack of fluorescence and abundant ADM suggests some degradation and partial oxidation of the samples.

Certificate for Sixty Shares of Capital Stock in High Pressure Oil and Gas Syndicate, Limited

Certificate for 60 shares of capital stock in High Pressure Oil and Gas Syndicate, Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, Nov. 1, 1922.

Certificate for Five Hundred Shares in La Paz Oil Corporation

Certificate for 500 shares in La Paz Oil Corporation to Hamilton K. Woodruff, Jan. 24, 1923.

Province of Ontario Patent issued to Cyrus Dean of St. Catharines for a machine for effecting more perfect combustion of fuel in the furnaces of locomotives

Province of Ontario Patent issued to Cyrus Dean of St. Catharines for a machine for effecting more perfect combustion of fuel in the furnaces of locomotives. This patent was listed in the Records Office of the Registrar General of Canada in Lib. JE, folio 361. This patent is accompanied by a 36 cm. x 57 cm. detailed sketch and explanation of the machine. [Samuel D. Woodruff was the assignee of Cyrus Dean in a in a patent for a rotary washing machine in November of 1869 according to The Commissioners of Patents' Journal by the Great Britain Patent Office], March 23, 1870.