"
THE STRATIGWIPHY
OF
TIE
LOWER GOBBUR FORMATION
SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
0
0
By
Robert E. Benne
0
e
1975
THE UNIVERSITYOF
OKLAHOMA
GRADUATE COLLEGE
THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE LOWER GOBBLERFORMATION
SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
A THESIS
SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY
i n p a r t i a lf u l f i l l m e n to ft h er e q u i r e m e n t sf o rt h e
degreeof
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Robert E. Benne
Norman, Oklahoma
1975
0
THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE'LOWERGOBBLERFORMATION
SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
A THESIS
APPROVED FOR THESCHOOL
OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS
ABSTRACT
The lowerGobblerFormation(lowerandmiddlePennsylvanian;
Morrowan throughlowerDesmoinesianSeries)
is exposedagbng t h e west
faceoftheSacramentoescarpment,
i n s o u t h - c e n t r a l New Mexico. The
Lower Gobbler Formation contains as
much a s 700 feet of limestones,
T h i s p a r to ft h e
s a n d s t o n e s ,s h a l e s ,s i l t s t o n e s ,
andconglomerates.
f o r m a t i o nc a nb es u b d i v i d e di n t of o u rt i m e - s t r a t i g r a p h i ci n t e r v a l s .
The l o w e s ts u b d i v i s i o n i s termed t h e lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l
and i s e a r l y t o m i d d l e Morrowan i n a g e .T h i si n t e r v a l
i s composed of
a b a s a ls i l t s t o n e ,i n t e r m i t t e n tl i m e s t o n e s ,s p o r a d i cs a n d s t o n e s ,
and
s h a l e s .O v e r l y i n gt h i si n t e r v a l
i s theupper Morrowan i n t e r v a l , which
i s m i d d l et h r o u g hl a t e
Morrowan i n a g e .
The upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l
i n c l u d e sp r i m a r i l ys a n d s t o n e s ,l i m e s t o n e s ,a n ds h a l e s .
Two d i s t i n c t
and b o t h a r e
f a c i e s are p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e o v e r l y i n g A t o k a n i n t e r v a l ,
t e r r i g e n o u s i n n a t u r e . The n o r t h e r n ,l a r g e l ya r e n a c e o u sf a c i e s
is
made up o fs a n d s t o n e s ,i n t e r b e d d e ds h a l e s ,s i l t s t o n e s ,a n d
some c a r bonatemudstones.
The s o u t h e r na r g i l l a c e o u sf a c i e sc o n s i s t so fs h a l e s ,
t h i ni n t e r b e d d e da n di n t e r m i t t e n t
medium-bedded limestones. The upper
subdivision,thelowerDesmoinesianinterval,encompassespartsof
two d i s t i n c t f a c i e s .
The n o r t h e r nt e r r i g e n o u sf a c i e s
i s composed of
thin cyclic interbedsof shales, siltstones,
and sandstones, with
a
few limestones and medium- toverythick-beddedsandstones.
The
s o u t h e r nc a r b o n a t ef a c i e s
i s composed ofgrain-supportedlimestones
.
andinterbeddedshalesandcarbonatemudstones.
.
The d e p o s i t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t s o f
t h e lowerGobblerFormation
r a n g ef r o ms h a l l o wm a r i n e( s h e l f )t on o n m a r i n e( d e l t a i c ) .
The lowerGobbler Formation encompasses an early
Pennsylvanian
t r a n s g r e s s i o n (Morrowan) t o t h e n o r t h e a s t , a n e a r l y - m i d d l e
Pennsylvanian
r e g r e s s i o n ( l a t e Morrowan throughearlyDesmoinesian)tothesouthwest
and a m i d d l e P e n n s y l v a n i a n t r a n s g r e s s i o n ( e a r l y D e s m o i n e s i a n ) a g a i n t o
t h en o r t h e a s t .
Thesesea level changes were p r o b a b l yr e l a t e dt ot h e
upliftofthePedernal
landmassandthesubsidenceof
t h e Orogrande
Basin.
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is g r a t e f u l f o r t h e g u i d a n c e p r o v i d e d
K.
by Dr. P a t r i c k
Sutherland, who s u p e r v i s e dt h i st h e s i s .P r o f e s s o rS u t h e r l a n dh e l p e d
originatetheproject,
made two l e n g t h y t r i p s t o t h e f i e l d , i d e n t i f i e d
themegafossilcollections,
andprovideddetailedassistanceandhelpful
criticism during the preparation
of the manuscript.
Drs. Charles J. Mankinand
C h a r l e s W. Harperreadthe
i t s improvement.
made h e l p f u l s u g g e s t i o n s f o r
The a u t h o r e x p r e s s e s t h a n k s t o o t h e r f a c u l t y
graduatestudents,andthe
a n dt h e
text and
members, f e l l o w
s t a f f s of the School of Geology and Geophysics
Oklahoma G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y f o r t h e i r h e l p
i n theanalysis,pre-
p a r a t i o n , andproductionofspecificdata.
A p p r e c i a t i o n is extended t o t h e New Mexico S t a t e Bureauof
Mines andMineralResourcesand
i t s d i r e c t o r , Dr. Frank E. K o t t l o w s k i ,
f o rf i n a n c i a ls u p p o r t ,f i e l dt r a n s p o r t a t i o n ,f i e l di m p l e m e n t s ,a e r i a l
photographs, and access to restricted printed material concerning the
t h e s i sa r e a .
The writer .is t h a n k f u l t o t h e
leum G e o l o g i s t s f o r
a grantprovidedtohelpdefraythesispreparation
costs.
iv
0
American Association of Petro-
The a u t h o r is g r a t e f u l f o r t h e
assistance providedbythe
Dr. H. Richard Lane for
Amoco P r o d u c t i o n R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , e s p e c i a l l y
Dr. George A . Sanderson
analyzingandpreparingconodontcollectionsand
f o rp r e p a r i n ga n di d e n t i f y i n gf u s u l i n i dc o l l e c t i o n s .
Thanks a r ee x p r e s s e d
t o Dr. James L. W i l s o n , R i c e U n i v e r s i t y , f o r p r o v i d i n g a n u n p u b l i s h e d
stratigraphic section of the investigated strata
fromNigger
Ed Canyon.
A l l three men p r o v i d e d h e l p f u l d i s c u s s i o n a n d p r e v i o u s d a t a r e l e v a n t t o
t h et h e s i sp r o j e c t .
The a u t h o r a p p r e c i a t e s h e l p f u l d i s c u s s i o n a n d f i e l d c h e c k i n g
companionship from John
Van Wagoner, Tom DeKeyser,and
William K. Dahleen.
A p p r e c i a t i o n is extended t o t h e a u t h o r ' s r e l a t i v e s .
i n C l o u d c r o f t , New Mexico, f o r
Seelyallowedtheauthortousehercabin
the d u r a t i o n of t h e f i e l d work.
Mr. William Miller and h i sw i f eM a r i l y n
a s s i s t e d( a n dr e s c u e d )t h ea u t h o ri n
Benne and
M
.rand Mrs.
rockcollections,
Mrs. Gene
many ways.
Mr. and Mrs. E a r l L.
Murre1 W. P e n n i n g t o nh e l p e dt h ea u t h o rt r a n s p o r t
andprovidedhelpfulassistancetowardthecompletion
of t h e t h e s i s .
The,authorappreciatestheuseof
the facilities of
Union O i l
Company o f C a l i f o r n i a f o r d r a f t i n g p u r p o s e s .
A specialthanks
i s e x t e n d e d t o my wife PamelaSue,
who pro-
vided,.moralsupport,encouragement,andunderstandingthroughoutthe
project.
Pam was a l s op h y s i c a l l yi n v o l v e da s
a f i e l da s s i s t a n t ,t y p i s t ,
c h i e fe d i t o r ,e t c . ,e t c .
The a u t h o r is i n d e b t e d t o J o S c o t t f o r t y p i n g t h e r o u g h d r a f t ,
SharonPyleandTudie
Hudson f o r t y p i n g t h e f i n a l
f o rp r o o f r e a d i n g ,a n dP o l l y
copy, Hugh G . White
Hewitt f o r t h e r e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s
V
text.
CONTENTS
B
.........................
ACKNCWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABSTRACT
B
B
..............
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purpose of Investigation. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Methods of Investigation
............
TABLES. ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATES
.......................
STRATIGRAPHY
Previous Investigations of the
Lower Gobbler Formation
Methods of Differentiating Intervals
Pre-Pennsylvanian Surface
Lower Morrowan Interval
Upper Morrowan Interval
Atokan Interval
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
..........
......
B
0
B
B
B
.. ... ... ... ...................... ...
.................
..........
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regional Geologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . .
Lower Morrowan Interval . . . . . . . . . . . .
Upper Morrowan Interval . . . . . . . . . . . .
Atokan Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lower Desmoinesion Interval . . . . . . . . . .
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REFERENCES CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction to Stratigraphic Sections
.....
Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PIATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Measured Section6. Indian Wells. . . . . . . .
Measured
Measured
Measured
Measured
Measured
Measured
Measured
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Section3. Alamo Canyon
Section 1. Mule Canyon
Section 4. MulesKoe Canyon
Section2. Deadman Canyon
Section 7. Escondido
Section8 . Nigger Ed
Section5. Grapevine Canyon
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
......
B
vi
0
Page
iii
iv
vi
1
5
6
9
9
10
12
15
17
21
24
30
30
31
33
.34
35
39
42
49
49
50
52
57
67
80
91
104
119
126
132
.
TABLES
Table
1
Bios,tratigraphic
evidence
...........
Page
8
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure
1
2
3
4
CROSS
SECTION
. . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Index map of s t r a t i g r a p h isce c t i o n
of t h e
t h e s i sa r e a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I s o msettrrai tci g r a p h i c
c r o s ss e c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G e n e r a l iizseodm e tsrt irca t i g r a p h i c
c r o s ss e c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Physiography and Pennsylvanianpaleogeology
of Otero County
......................
2
4
29
38
I n Pocket
PLATES
Plate
I..........................
52
II..........................
54
III............................
56
vii
INTRODUCTION
New Mexico,
The Sacramento Mountains, located in south-central
c o n s t i t u t e a sharplyasymmetricalescarpment
Basin andRange
at the eastern edge of the
The range is
p r o v i n c eo ft h ew e s t e r nU n i t e dS t a t e s .
f a u l t - b l o c kc o n t r o l l e d
and t i l t e d a b o u t
altitudesalongthecrest
one d e g r e e t o t h e e a s t , w i t h
commonly exceeding 9000 f e e t abovesealevel.
The range i s a r b i t r a r i l y bounded by t h e PecosRiver(east),
t h e Otero
Mesa (south),theTularosaBasin(west),andtheSierraBlancaigneous
complex ( n o r t h ) .
S t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y ,t h er a n g ed i s p l a y sa b o u t
g a t et h i c k n e s s )o fs e d i m e n t a r yr o c k s .
8000 f e e t (aggre-
The exposedrockoftheescarp-
ment ranges i n age from l a t e P r e c a m b r i a n t o C r e t a c e o u s , w i t h T e r t i a r y
i g n e o u sr o c k si n t r u d e da s
s i l l s anddikes.
a complexassemblageof
The P e n n s y l v a n i a n s t r a t e i n c l u d e
s h a l e s ,s a n d s t o n e s ,a n dl i m e s t o n e s .
The t h i c k n e s s of thePennsylvanian
i n t h e SacramentoMountainsrangesfrom
mately 3000 feet.
c y c l i c ,o c c u r
L a t e r a l and v e r t i c a l c h a n g e s ,
commonly.
berepresentativeof
less t h a n 2000 f e e t t o a p p r o x i -
I ng e n e r a l ,t h eP e n n s y l v a n i a n
a shelf environment
known astheGobblerFormation.
are
is t h o u g h tt o
(see F i g u r e 1).
The lowest 1200-1600 f e e t o f S t r a t a
matelythelowerone-third
many ofwhich
ofPennsylvanianageare
The i n t e r v a ls t u d i e di n c l u d e sa p p r o x i of t h i sf o r m a t i o n ,e x t e n d i n g
1
upwardfrom
the
e
e
PHYSIOGRAPHYANDPENNSYLVANIAN
PALEOGEOLOGY
e
OteroCounty,NewMexico
e
e
e
e
0
e
:.......:,,.
y:
....
:::;::::,,
.:i....
:.....
:.:.;.
Orogrande Basin
Sacramento Shelf
%.>V.c-;:
e
e
32"
105'
106'
$,.>,0
Pedernal Landmass
/v
2
Pennsylvanian outcrop
PALEOGEOLOGiC
CONTACT
PHYSIOGRAPHIC
CONTACT
Figure 1
Mississippian contact to the base of the
Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member of
300
t h ef o r m a t i o n .T h i si n t e r v a lv a r i e si nt h i c k n e s sf r o ma p p r o x i m a t e l y
t o 700 f e e t and ranges in age from
Morrowan through early Desmoinesian
(see P l a t e I). The d e p o s i t i o n a le n v i r o n m e n tr a n g e s
marine,
Common r o c kt y p e si nt h i s
segment a r es h a l e s ,s i l t s t o n e s ,s a n d -
t o b l a c ks h a l e
stones,conglomerates,andlimestones,Gray
a na p p r e c i a b l e
amount o ft h es e c t i o n .S i l t s t o n e
makes up
is found i n t h e b a s a l
i n thenortherndeltaicfaciesofthe
p a r to ft h ef o r m a t i o na n d
ScuffleLimestone
from t e r r e s t r i a l t o
Bug
The sandstone i s commonly
Member (Pray,1954).
c r o s s - l a m i n a t e da n dl o c a l l yc o n t a i n sp l a n tf o s s i l s .T h i nc o n g l o m e r a t e s
a r e common s p o r a d i c a l l yt h r o u g h o u tt h es e c t i o n .
argillaceous, silty,
and commonly a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c h e r t .
Pennsylvaniansediments
c r o po u ta l o n gt h ee s c a r p m e n ti n
approximately25
from5000
miles.
(Morrowan throughlowerDesmoinesian)
for
a slightlyarcuate-linearpattern
Most e l e v a t i o n s w i t h i n t h i s i n t e r v a l r a n g e
t o 6480 feet abovesea
measuredcanbefound
The l i m e s t o n e sa r e
inpartsof
level.
The s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n
Townships 16, 17, 18, and19South,
andRanges
10 and 11 E a s t ( s e e F i g u r e
Section).
Thelower
2 and the index
p a r t of theGobblerFormation
by t a l u s f r o mt h eo v e r l y i n g
Bug S c u f f l e Member.
map on t h e C r o s s
i s mostlycovered
R a r ee x p o s u r e sa r e
found i n t h e c a n y o n s d i s s e c t i n g t h e e s c a r p m e n t a t r o u g h l y r i g h t a n g l e s .
Lateraltracing
ontheslopes
The s t u d i e d u n i t s a r e
most commonly e x p r e s s e d t o p o g r a p h i c a l l y
exposed slopes between
S c u f f l ec l i f f s
was r e s t r i c t e d by talusandcolluvium.
t h e underlying Mississippian and overlying
or ledges.
t h ei n v e s t i g a t e di n t e r v a l
a s poorly
Bug
Some s a n d s t o n ea n dl i m e s t o n eu n i t sw i t h i n
formminor
3
c l i f f s or ledges.
The a t t i t u d e s
MEASURED SECTION
INDEX
2-Deadrnan Canyon,
3 - A l a m o Canyon
4-Muleshoe Canyon
S-Grapevine Canyon
6-1ndian welts
7 -Escondido
8-Nigger Ed
4
Figure 2
and 34'SE,
i n t e n s ef a u l t i n g
strike
reverse d i p found i n Grape-
5OoNE, a n d 2 5 % d i p , w i t h t h e l a t t e r
v i n e Canyon on t h e f l a n k o f
- NS.O%
N85%
ofthelowerGobblerunitsarevariableandrangefrom
a l o c a la n t i c l i n e .
The s e c t i o n s a r e
free of
or f o l d i n g .
PreviousgeneralinvestigationsdealingwiththePennsylvanian
s e d i m e n t so r i g i n a t e dw i t h
p a r to ft h es e c t i o ne a s to f
G. H. G i r t y ' s g e n e r a l o b s e r v a t i o n s
Alamorgordo,published
i n 1908.
on t h i s
N. H. Darton
(1922) d i f f e r e n t i a t e d a n d t e r m e d t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a n i n t h e S a c r a m e n t o
M. L. Thompson (1942)includedthe
MountainstheMagdalenaFormation.
SacramentoareainhisclassificationofthePennsylvanianSystemof
New Mexico,based
on f u s u l i n i d z o n e s .
Regionalstudiesdealingwith
Permianof
(1960),
some a s p e c t s o f t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a n -
s o u t h - c e n t r a l New Mexicohavebeen
made by Frank E. K o t t l o w s k i
L. Wilson (1970).
Richard F. Mayer (1966),andJames
The r e g i o n -
a l geology and stratigraphy of the Sacramento Mountains has been described
byLloyd
C.
Pray(1961).This
work h a sp r o v i d e da ni m p o r t a n tb a s i sf o r
w i d ev a r i e t yo ff u r t h e ri n v e s t i g a t i o n s
a
by Pray and o t h e r s .T h e s es t u d i e s
have concentrated most heavily on the Mississippian bioherms and also
on
thestratigraphyanddepositionalenvironmentsofthelatePennsylvanian
L i t t l e a d d i t i o n a l work hasbeendone
(Virgilian)andthelowerPermian.
on t h e s t r a t i g r a p h y
of t h e lower p a r t of the Pennsylvanian System except
f o r a few M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t u d i e s w h i c h h a v e o v e r l a p p e d i n t o t h e l o w e r
GobblerFormation
(see p. 9 and 10)
Purpose of I n v e s t i g a t i o n
The g e n e r a l p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y
graphic and possibly
was t o s e t up a l i t h o s t r a t i -
a b i o s t r a t i g r a p h i c framework .for lowerPennsylvanian
5
s t r a t a i n theSacramentoMountains.Recognitionofcorrelations,
facies
changes,depositionalenvironments,relativeagesandunconformities
were pursued.
withintheformation
Methods of Investigation
F i e l d work was l a r g e l y c o m p l e t e d i n
summer of 1974.
a 2% month p e r i o d i n t h e
P r e l i m i n a r yr e c o n n a i s s a n c ea n dl a t e rf i e l dc h e c k i n g
% month.offield
of the thesis area necessitated an additional
A t o t a l of eight detailed stratigraphic sections
a l o n gt h e
face oftheSacramentoescarpment.
were measured
m o partialsections
a l s o m e a s u r e d .L i t h o l o g i cs a m p l e sa n df o s s i lc o l l e c t i o n s
fromeachmeasuredsection.
work.
were
were made
The Mississippian-Pennsylvanianboundary
was t r a c e d a n a p p r e c i a b l e d i s t a n c e i n e a c h o f t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c tions,wherepractical,except
i n the Nigger
Ed Canyon a r e a and Dead-
man Canyon a r e a .
From t h e 255 l i t h o l o g i c s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d ,
and 233 p o l i s h e ds l a b s
s c o p es t u d i e s
were prepared.Binocularandpetrographicmicro-
were made on thesesamples.
.
70 t h i n s e c t i o n s
.
The d e s c r i p t i o no f
the litho-
logic samples can be 'found in the Appendix.
Megafossils were c o l l e c t e d w h e r e o b s e r v e d i n t h e p r o c e s s
m e a s u r i n gt h es t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o n s .I d e n t i f i c a t i o n
o f t h e s es p e c i -
mens was made by P. K. Sutherland.Detailedconodontsamplings
made from limestones throughout the
latedsamples
of
were
Deadman Canyon s e c t i o n , a n d i s o -
weqe takenfromthreeothersequences.Theseconodont
samples were preparedanddescribedby
H. R. Lane.
c o l l e c t e d when o b s e r v e d i n t h e f i e l d
F u s u l i n i d s were
and l a t e r , c u t l i t h o l o g i c s a m p l e s
produced a few a d d i t i o n a lf u s u l i n i d s .F u s u l i n i d s
6
were found i n s i x
d i f f e r e n ts t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o n s .
and i d e n t i f i e db y
The f u s u l i n i ds a m p l e s
were prepared
G . A . Sanderson.Faunallistingscanbefound
t h eA p p e n d i x .D i a g n o s t i cf o s s i l sa r el i s t e di nT a b l e
S p e c i f i cf i e l dt e c h n i q u e s
the i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e
1 (page
and parametersaredescribed
measured s e c t i o n s ( s e e A p p e n d i x ) .
in
8).
in
TABLE I
BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FOR ZONATION OF L M R GOBBLER
INERVALS
SECTIOX
Canyon
INTERVAL
I d i a n Meus
Canyon
Canyon
Muleshoe
Mule
Alamo
Canyon
I
Deadman
I
Escordido
Nigger Ed
&LFusulinids 7O-Brachiopods &-Fusulinids
70-Fusulinids
32-Fusulinids
3l-Brachiouods
21-Fusulini&
3l-COncdO~1tS
&-Brachiopod:
&2-Brachiopcds 684rachiopcdr
Brachiopods
Il-Brachiopods
Corals
Lower
39-Fusulinids
294onodonts
esmoinesian
274onodonts
Fusulinids
Grapevine
Canyon
Corals
39-Fusulinids
194onodonts
14-Brachiopods
Morrowan
Conodonts: H.R. LRNE
Fusulinids: G.A. SANDERSON
00
STRATIGRAPHY
PreviousInvestigationsofthe
Lower GobblerFormation
A s m a l l number o f p u b l i c a t i o n s h a v e d e a l t w i t h i n v e s t i g a t i o n s
oftheGobblerFormation.
However, i n most of these s t u d i e s , t h i s
f o r m a t i o nh a sb e e na n a l y z e do n l yi np a r t i a ld e t a i l .
1959, 1961) haspublished
generalgeology
L. C . Pray(1952,
several e x c e l l e n t s t u d i e s d e s c r i b i n g t h e
of theSacramentoMountains,including
s c r i p t i o no ft h eG o b b l e rF o r m a t i o n .
f o rt h eG o b b l e rF o r m a t i o ni n
a g e n e r a ld e -
He d e s i g n a t e dt h et y p es e c t i o n
MuleCanyon.
Pray(1952)observedthat:
The relief o f t h e p r e - P e n n s y l v a n i a n e r o s i o n s u r f a c e
decreasestowardthesouthandthe
amountandcoarse-
n e s so ft h ed e t r i t a lm a t e r i a li nt h el o w e rp a r to f
the Gobbler Formation decreases correspondingly.
The lower partoftheGobblerFormation(200-500
feet), below t h e c l i f f - f o r m i n g
Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e
Member, w e a t h e r s t o a less s t e e p s l o p e .
The most common r o c k types i n t h i s i n t e r v a l a r e q u a r t z
sandstones(probablynonmarine),darklimestones,and
blacktograyshales.
*
R. Lane ( 1 9 7 4 ) , i n h i s work on Mississippianconodonts
soofu t h e a s t e r n
New Mexico,
confirmed
t htahtei a t to
uhbfsea s a l
9
i n the Sacramentos.
u n c o n f o r m i t yi n c r e a s e si nm a g n i t u d et ot h en o r t h
Lane set up a conodontzonation
i n thelower-
for t h e a r e a t h a t t a k e s
most p a r t of theGobblerFormationandconcludedthat
the basal part
of t h i s f o r m a t i o n i s e a r l i e s t Morrowan.
W. J. Meyers'(1974)
work on t h e Lake ValleyFormation
(Mississippian),SacramentoMountains,discussedthelowermostover-
i n t h en o r t h e r np a r to ft h es t u d ya r e a .
l y i n gP e n n s y l v a n i a nu n i t s
He
made a p e t r o g r a p h i c s t u d y o f t h e s e b a s a l u n i t s .
G. B. Asquith(1974)describedthepetrographyandpetrog e n e s i s of s e v e r a l o f t h e T e r t i a r y i g n e o u s d i k e s a n d
sills t h a t a r e
found i n t h e lowerGobblerFormation.
D. A. Y u r e w i t z ' s t h e s i s p r o j e c t ( 1 9 7 3 U n i v e r s i t y o f
s i n a t Madison) on the Rancheria Formation included
Wiscon-
a d i s c u s s i o n on
the unconformable contact between the Mississippian Rancheria and
theGobblerFormation.
J.
on t h e d e l t a i c p o r t i o n o f t h e
Van Wagoner is in t h e p r o c e s s
of working
Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member i n t h e
n o r t h e r n p a r t of the t h e s i s area as a d i s s e r t a t i o n p r o j e c t a t R i c e
University.
His a n a l y s i s will c a r r y down i n t o t h e
lower p a r t of t h e
GobblerFormation.
Methodsof
Differentiating Intervals
ThelowerGobblerFormationwassubdividedintofourinter-
valsusingprimarilybiostratigraphic
g r a p h i cc r i t e r i a .
I t was n o tp o s s i b l et os u b d i v i d et h e s ei n t e r v a l s
into reliable regional lithologic
c h a n g e s( v e r t i c a l
and s e c o n d a r i l y l i t h o s t r a t i -
members b e c a u s e o f r a p i d f a c i e s
and l a t e r a l ) a n d t h e l a c k
exposures.
10
of c o n t i n u o u s l a t e r a l
A reliable regional
datum c o u l d n o t b e d i s c e r n e d
b i o s t r a t i g r a p h i c ' or l i t h o s t r a t i g r a p h i c means.
by e i t h e r
I n d i v i d u a lu n i t sc o u l d
notbewalkedoutlaterallyandcouldnotbetracedusingaerialphotographs.
Some marker b e d sa r ep r e s e n tb u tt h e s ea r eg e o g r a p h i c a l l y
restricted.
The Mississippian-Pennsylvanianboundary
as a datum,due
of t h i s e r o s i o n a l s u r f a c e .
totheerraticcharacter
six southernsections,
The Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member i s p r e s e n t i n t h e
b u t was notchosenfor
s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l yi n
t h e useofeither
was n o t u t i l i z e d
a datum, s i n c e t h e b a s e o f t h i s
t h e f o r m a t i o nt ot h en o r t h .
member rises
I t i s b e l i e v e dt h a t
oneoftheaforementionedpossibledatumswould
d i s t o r t or b i a s t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ,
tiine-bounded i n t e r v a l s fromkey
A combination of generalized
s e c t i o n s ,c o r r e s p o n d i n gl i t h o l o g i cc o r r e l a t i o n s ,a n ds c a t t e r e df a u n a l
evidence was used t o form the
intervals.
The b i o s t r a t i g r a p h i c c o r r e l a t i o n s a r e b a s e d
t i o n in t h e Deadman Canyon s e c t i o n , f u s u l i n i d z o n a t i o n
on conodontzonai n t h e Muleshoe
Canyon s e c t i o n , and s c a t t e r e dc o n o d o n t ,f u s u l i n i d ,b r a c h i p o d ,a n dc o r a l
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n st h r o u g h o u tt h es t u d i e ds t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o n s( s e e
Table I, page 8 ) .
upper p a r t s o f t h e
Conodontsoccur
i n abundance i n t h e middleand
Deadman Canyon section.Fusulindsoccurmost
com-
It
monly i n t h eu p p e rp a r t so ft h es t r a t i g r a p h i ci n t e r v a ls t u d i e d .
was n o t f e a s i b l e t o
sample more sectionsforcompleteconodont
or
f u s u l i n i ds e q u e n c e s .B r a c h i o p o d s ,c o r a l s ,a n do t h e rm e g a f o s s i l s
were c o l l e c t e d where p o s s i b l e a t s c a t t e r e d l o c a l i t i e s t h r o u g h o u t
t h es e c t i o n .M e g a f o s s i l sd on o to c c u r
commonly enough t o form a
framework f o r t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f r e g i o n a l f a u n a l z o n e s ,
11
0
The l i t h o s t r a t i g r a p h i c c o r r e l a t i o n s a r e b a s e d
0
tionof
on t h e r e c o g n i -
m a r k e rb e d s ,r e l a t i v et h i c k n e s s e s ,c h a r a c t e r i s t i cf e a t u r e so f
simi-
units,lateralcorrelations,positioninlithologicsequenceand
larlithologies.
0
These i n t e r v a l s d o n o t i m p l y c o m p l e t e c o i n c i d e n c e w i t h t h e
system or series s u b d i v i s i o n on a r e g i o n a l s c a l e , b u t a r e a n a t t e m p t t o
displaythedataandconclusions
0
"
Pre-Pennsylvanian
-
on a l o c a l s c a l e .
Erosion
Surface
The Mississippian-Pennsylvanian contact has been described
0
Pray (1952) a n d o t h e r s , a s
SacramentoMountains.
a well-markedunconformitythroughoutthe
below t h e b a s a l u n c o n f o r m i t y a r e p l a c e d
i n t h r e ef o r m a t i o n sw i t h i nt h et h e s i sa r e a .
As i n t e r p r e t e d byLane
these formations in the Sacramento Mountains have
tion.
The u p p e rc o n s t i t u e n t so ft h en o r t h e r n
Lake V a l l e yF o r m a t i o n )i nt h ei n v e s t i g a t e da r e a .
b e r , Osage i n a g e ,
DonaAna
Caballero-
members ( o f t h e
The T i e r r aB l a n c a
The DonaAna
member, l a s t Osage
- early
Meramec i n a g e , is found a t t h e Alamo Canyon s e c t i o n ( s e e u n i t
Appendix).These
mem-
i s found a t t h e n o r t h e r n m o s t s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n
(see u n i t 6-1, Appendix).
0
(1974),
a wedge-on-wedge r e l a wedge,termed
L a k eV a l l e y ,i n c l u d et h eT i e r r aB l a n c at h r o u g h
0
relief a s much a s 100
feet ( c h a n n e lc u t s ) .
The M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a
0
itself
He n o t e dt h ef i e l de x p o s u r eo ft h ec o n t a c t
was e x p r e s s e d a s a m a j o r d i s c o n f o r m i t y w i t h l o c a l
0
by
3-1,
two l i m e s t o n e sa r es i m i l a ri np h y s i c a la p p e a r a n c e
and only w i t h d e t a i l e d f a u n a l e v i d e n c e c a n t h e y b e d i f f e r e n t i a t e d f o r
0
certain.
In t h e r e m a i n i n gl o c a l i t i e so ft h es t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o n
thethesisarea,
t h e s o u t h e r n M i s s i s s i p p i a n wedge,termed
12
0
theLas
in
is r e p r e s e n t e d . . Only theRancheriaand
Cruces-Rancheria-Helmswedge,
Helms F o r m a t i o n sa r ep r e s e n t
i n t h es t u d i e da r e a .
g r a p h i cs e c t i o n sm e a s u r e d ,t h i sf o r m a t i o n
is foundimmediatelyunderlying
1-16, 4-7, 2-L, Appendix).
t h eP e n n s y l v a n i a ns t r a t a( s e eu n i t s
(see 8-1, 5-1, Appendix).
ly can be differentiated from
t h e Helms a n d t h e
The Rancheria commonLake Valley Formation
by i t s t o p o g r a p h i ce x p r e s s i o n .
forms a s t e e ps l o p ew i t hm i n o r ,
medium-bedded,
The upperRancheria
limestoneledges.
Helms is commonly exposed a s a slopeofthin-beddedlimestone
bedded s h a l e s a n d s i l t s t o n e s .
s t e e pl e d g e sa n dc l i f f s
The Helms
i s p r e s e n t i n t h e two southernmost
Formation is l a t e C h e s t e r i n a g e a n d
members i n t h e f i e l d
I n t h r e e of t h e s t r a t i -
Chester i n a g e .
from Meramec t h r o u g hm i d d l e - l a t e
s t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o n s
The Rancheriaranges
The
w i t h inter-
The Lake V a l l e y members a r ee x p o s e da s
and areverythick-bedded.
wedge c o n s t i t u e n t s c a n b e r e a d i l y s e g r e g a t e d f r o m
Theuppersouthern
t h e uppernorth
wedge
i n Appendix).
u n i t s by l i t h o l o g i e s ( s e e r e s p e c t i v e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d u n i t s
T h i ss t u d ys u p p o r t st h ed i s c o n f o r m a b l en a t u r eo ft h ec o n t a c t
is,
b e t w e e nt h eM i s s i s s i p p i a na n dP e n n s y l v a n i a ns t r a t a .T h i sc o n t a c t
however, d i f f i c u l t t o d e t e c t i n
many areas because of
i t s a p p r o x i m a t ep o s i t i o nc a n
a n dt h el a c ko fd i s c o r d a n c e ;b u tu s u a l l y ,
b ed e l i m i t e d .
few l o c a l i t i e s .
extens.ive cover
The a c t u a lc o n t a c ts u r f a c eh a sb e e no b s e r v e di no n l y
These a r e s e c t i o n s 4 (MuleshoeCanyon),
and 5 (Grapevine Canyon).
8 (NiggerEd),
L o c a l l yt h i su n c o n f o r m i t yv a r i e si ne r o s i o n -
a l r e l i e f , h i a t a lg a p ,a n dl i t h o l o g i cc h a n g eb e t w e e na d j a c e n ts t r a t a .
The relief between the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian ranges
from negligible to as
place.
much a s p l u s
60 feet where c h a n n e l l i n g h a s t a k e n
Commonly t h ec o n t a c ts u r f a c eu n d u l a t e sw i t h i n
13
limits of 0.5
a
feet of relief or less.
A c h a n n e lo b s e r v e di nt h ew e s t e r np a r to f
Canyon c u t s down 60 feet i n t o M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a
4).
Pray(1959)reported100
Alamo
(see P l a t e 111, Number
feet of r e l i e f , shown by a c h a n n e lc u t ,
i n t h e same a r e a .
The h i a t a l gap between the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian
I n t h e m o s ts o u t h e r ns e c t i o n
i n c r e a s e s from t h e s o u t h t o t h e n o r t h .
studied (Grapevine
Canyon),Lanedetermined
t h e Klado_g-
nathusunicornisandRhachistognathusmuricatusandpossibly
nathus
- Cavusgnathusnaviculusconodontzones
essentially the late Chester
Adetqg-
that at least the
a r e missing.This
is
series, w i t h p o s s i b l y some l a t e t o m i d d l e -
lateChestermissing(Lane,1974).OverlyingPennsylvanianbedsare
e a r l i e s t Morrowan, contakningtheRhachistognathusprimusconodont
zone.
I n t h e most n o r t h e r n s e c t i o n s t u d i e d ( I n d i a n
Wells), Meyers
( 1 9 7 4 )c o n f i r m sP r a y ' sc o n c l u s i o nt h a tt h eP e n n s y l v a n i a no v e r l i e st h e
TierraBlanca
member o f t h e
Lake ValleyFormation.WithSutherland's
a n a l y s i s of Mo'rrowan b r a c h i o p o d s i n t h e l o w e r P e n n s y l v a n i a n ( a t l e a s t
,100 feet of Morrowan p r e s e n t ) a t t h i s l o c a l i t y , a n d L a n e ' s c o n o d o n t
age assignment
of a t l e a s t p o s t l a t e
Osage
h i s Alamo Canyon s e c t i o n , t h e h i a t a l
SacramentoMountainscouldbe
Taphrognathus varians
1974).
gap i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t
immense.
a faunalunitcorrespondingtothe
- e a r l y Meramec missing a t
of t h e
A t Alamo Canyon, Lanefound
combinedGnathodustexanus
- ApatognathuszonesofCollinson
-
e t a 1 (Lane,
And by L a n e ' sr e a s s e s s m e n to fh i sc o l l e c t i o n s ,a na g eo f
l a t e Osage
- e a r l y Meramec was assigned(Lane,1974).Lane'searli-
est Morrowan conodontzone
was a l s o found i n Alamo Canyon o v e r l y i n g
14
M i s s i s s i p p i a ns t r a t a .W i t ha na p p a r e n ti n c r e a s i n g
Wells s e c t i o n b e i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y
(theIndian
Alamo Canyon s e c t i o n o f L a n e ) , t h e p r o b a b l e
time gapnorthward
4.5 miles n o r t h o f t h e
time gaprangesfrom
at
l e a s t l a t e Osage t o e a r l y Morrowan i n thenorthernmostsection.
I nt h en o r t h ,b a s a lP e n n s y l v a n i a ns i l t s t o n e so v e r l i em a s s i v e
t o t h i c k - b e d d e dl i m e s t o n e s .I nt h es o u t h ,t h eb a s a lP e n n s y l v a n i a n
c o n s i s t s commonly of s i l t y s h a l e w i t h
a t h i nb a s a lc o n g l o m e r a t el o c a l -
lypresent,overlyingMississippianinterbeddedlimestoneandshale.
Lower Morrowan I n t e r v a l
Definition.
The Lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l i s approximately 55
t o 95 f e e t t h i c k and i s boundedbelowby
unconformity.
Theupperboundary
c o n t a c t( s e e ni ns e c t i o n s
(packstone,with
is a r b i t r a r i l yp l a c e da tt h es h a r p
6 , 1, 4 , 7 )
between a d i s t i n c t i v e l i m e s t o n e
a 4-6 inch median black chert band) and an overlying
or t h e v a r i a b l e c o v e r e d i n t e r v a l ( u p t o
s a n d s t o n e( o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ) ,
f e e t ) b e t w e e nt h e s eu n i t s
6
or F i g u r e 3 )
(see C r o s sS e c t i o n
Biostratigraphy.
lyearlytomiddle
the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian
The lower Morrowan i n t e r v a i i s approximate-
Morrowan i n a g e , b a s e d
Lane, i n a n a n a l y s i s o f c o n o d o n t s f r o m t h e
recognized two e s t a b l i s h e dz o n e s .
on local conodont information.
Deadman Canyon s e c t i o n , h a s
The lowestoccurrenceofconodonts
i s e a r l i e s t Morrowan i na g e .T h i sc o r r e s p o n d sw i t ht h eR h a c h i s t o g n a t h u s
primus Zone o f LaneandStraka
lowest Pennsylvanian in the
Canyon,and
at least the
(1974).
Thisfauna
was a l s o found i n t h e
Deadman Canyon Branch of
Grapevine Canyon byLane
(1974).
lower 30 f e e t o f t h e i n t e r v a l
Alamo Canyon, Dog
Thiszone
i s p r e s e n ti n
andcouldrangehigher
stratigraphically.
The uppermostsampleofconodontscollectedfrom
thisintervalcorrespondstothe
Zone ofLaneandStraka
Neognathodus bassherisymmetricus
(1974).
l
In n o r t h w e s t e r nA r k a n s a st h i sz o n e
is m o s t l y e a r l y Morrowan i n a g e b u t e x t e n d s i n t o t h e m i d d l e
Morrowan.
Foraminifera,largelyoftheEostaffellaandMillerella
t y p e s , were common i n some ofthelowerlimestones,but
were n o t
studiedindetail.
Brachiopods,corals,andotherfauna
butcouldnotbeutilized
were foundsparingly,
f o r c o r r e l a t i o n or ageapproximations.
Lithostratigraphy.
The lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l i s c h a r a c -
t e r i z e d by a b a s a l s i l t s t o n e , i n t e r m i t t e n t l i m e s t o n e , a n d s p o r a d i c
sandstone.
The s i l t s t o n e s a r e c o n f i n e d l a r g e l y t o t h e
o ft h ei n t e r v a l .
lowerone-fourth
They a r et y p i c a l l yp a l eo l i v ei nc o l o r ,r h y m i t i c a l l y
bedded and bioturbated.
L i m e s t o n e so c c u ri n t e r m i t t e n t l y
t h el e n g t ho ft h ee s c a r p m e n t ,b u t
e r ns e c t i o n s .
i n t h i si n t e r v a lt h r o u g h o u t
are much morenumerous
i n t h es o u t h -
Most common arepackstonesandwackestones,withminor
occurrencesofcarbonatemudstonesandgrainstones.Theselimestones
(which are commonly p a r t i a l l y r e c r y s t a l l i z e d a n d s i l i c i f i e d ) c o n t a i n a n
a p p r e c i a b l e amount o f c h e r t i n t h e f o r m
of n o d u l e s , s t r i n g e r s , a n d
bands.
The sandstones are g e n e r a l l y l a t e r a l l y e x t e n s i v e , a n d t h i n
t ot h es o u t h .
Most a r ec r o s s - b e d d e d( t a b u l a ra n dt r o u g h )o r t h o q u a r t z -
i t e s , havingplantfragments,
a basalconglomeraticzone,andchannel-
lingrelationshipsintounderlyinglayers
(see P l a t e 111, Number 3 ) .
The lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l h a s m o d e r a t e t o s m a l l
black-gray,
f i s s i l e s h a l e ,w h i c ht h i n st ot h es o u t h .
16
amounts of
Unique u n i t s of t h i s lower i n t e r v a l i n c l u d e
arenaceous,limestonepebbleconglomerate
(see 2 - 1 5 ) ;a no o l i t i cg r a i n -
11, Number 3 ) ; and a s u b a r k o s i c s a n d s t o n e
s t o n e (see 4-14 a n d P l a t e
with an opaline matrix
-
a thinbedded,
(see 4-17).
Correlations.
The b a s a l s i l t s t o n e c a n b e c o r r e l a t e d i n a l l
thesectionswhereexposed.
A thin-mediumbedded,limestonepebble,
arenaceousconglomerateandorthoquartziticsandstonesequenceoccur-,
ringinthemiddleoftheintervalcanberecognizedinsectionsinthe
of theescarpment.
middleandnorthernparts
A breccia-conglomerate,
w i t hc h e r ta n dl i m e s t o n ep e b b l e s ,o c c u r si nt h es o u t h e r n m o s ts e c t i o n
a n do c c u r si nt h e
same s t r a t i g r a p h i c p o s i t i o n s a s t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d
sequence.
Theupperboundary
befollowedalongthelength
of the lower
Morrowan i n t e r v a l c a n r e a d i l y
of theSacramentos
w i t h a d i s t i n c t i v e median 4 t o 6 - i n c h b l a c k c h e r t
by a p a c k s t o n eu n i t
b a n d .T h i su n i t
r a n g e si nt h i c k n e s sf r o m
4 t o1 2 - f e e t ,i n c r e a s i n gt ot h es o u t h .
thenorththislimestone
i s c h a n n e l l e d l o c a l l y by a no v e r l y i n gs a n d s t o n e
To
u n i t (see P l a t e 11, Number 5).
G e n e r a l l y ,p o s i t i o ni ns e q u e n c e ,r e l a t i v et h i c k n e s s e s ,s i m i l a r
l i t h o l o g i e s , keymarkerbeds,andtheRhachistognathusprimusconodont
o c c u r r e n c e s were used i n c o r r e l a t i n g w i t h i n t h i s
lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l
(see F i g u r e s 3 , 4 , andCrossSection).
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
Definition.
Theupper
t o 150 feet t h i c k .T h i si n t e r v a l
Morrowan i n t e r v a l is approximately 55
is bounded by t h e s h a r p b a s a l c o n t a c t
of a n o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ( p r e s e n t i n f i v e s e c t i o n s )
17
or by a v a r i a b l e c o v e r e d
of t h e d i s t i n c t i v e p a c k s t o n e u n i t t h a t
6 feet) a t t h e t o p
interval(upto
makes theupperboundaryfor
t h e lower Morrowan interval.Brachiopod-
conodontagedeterminationsoflatest
Morrowan t o e a r l i e s t Atokan(from
Deadman Canyon) make p o s s i b l e t h e a r b i t r a r y s e l e c t i o n
of anupperbound-
Morrowan i n t e r v a l a t t h e c o n t a c t b e t w e e n
aryoftheupper
a ledge-form-
ing packstone to wackestone (below) and an overlying shale sequence with
These l i t h o l o g i cu n i t sc a nb er e c o g n i z e d
t h i ni n t e r b e d so fl i m e s t o n e .
i n one s e c t i o n (8) t o t h e south.
However, t ot h en o r t h ,t h eo v e r l y i n g
s h a l e s change f a c i e si n t os a n d s t o n e s .
is chosenfortheupperboundary
The base of t h i ss a n d s t o n ef a c i e s
i n t h e n o r t h e r ns e c t i o n sb e c a u s el a t e
Morrowan brachiopodsarepresentimmediately
i s markedby
below.
U s u a l l yt h i sf a c i e s
thinbasalconglomeratesandappearstochanneltheunder-
(see F i g u r e s 3 and 4 ) .
lyingbeds
The upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l i s middlethrough
Biostratigraphy.
l a t e Morrowan i n age.Conodonts
were o b t a i n e df r o mt h i sp a r to ft h e
Pennsylvaniansection,andthecorrelationwith
two e s t a b l i s h e d conodont
zones was made by Lane. Lower u n i t s w i t h i n t h i s i n t e r v a l
conodonts a t t h e
conodontreferencesection
were recoveredfromanisolatedsample
p r o x i m a t e l yi nt h em i d d l e
(Deadman Canyon).Conodonts
a t t h e Mule Canyon s e c t i o n , a p -
of t h e upper Morrowan interval.Thesefauna
p r o b a b l yc o r r e s p o n dt ot h eI d i o g n a t h u ss i n u o s i s
(1974).
were b a r r e n of
T h i sc o u l dd i c t a t ea ne a r l y - m i d d l e
Zone of Lane andStraka
Morrowan age.Conodonts
c o l l e c t e da p p r o x i m a t e l yt h r e e - f o u r t h st h ed i s t a n c ea b o v e
t h e b a s e of
t h i s i n t e r v a l a't Deadman Canyon (2-41) were a s s i g n e d a g e n e r a l a g e
l a t et ov e r y
l a t e Morrowan.
Near t h et o p
o f t h e upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l
i n Deadman Canyon, conodontscorrespondingtotheIdiognathoides
18
of
n. sp.
'
Zone of LaneandStraka
(1974) were recovered.
Atokan i n a g e , b u t
t h i s zone a s b e i n g e a r l i e s t
t h o i d e sf o s s a t u s( B r a n s o n
an.
andMehl)
The l a t t e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
Lane p r e v i o u s l yr e g a r d e d
now s t a t e s t h a t I d i o g n a -
r a n g e s down i n t o t h e u p p e r m o s t
Morrow-
is a c c e p t e di nt h i st h e s i s .
Brachiopods were c o l l e c t e d from s c a t t e r e d l o c a l i t i e s , w i t h i n
t h i s upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l , i n t h e f i v en o r t h e r ns e c t i o n s .
From Dead-
man Canyon, u n i t . 2 - 1 ( u p p e r p a r t o f t h i s i n t e r v a l ) , S u t h e r l a n d i d e n t i f i e d
brachiopodswith
a l a t e Morrowan a g e . I n
MuleshoeCanyon,,brachiopods
of t h e i n t e r v a l were a s s i g n e d a d e f i n i t e Morrowan age.
from near the top
Brachiopods,fromtheisolatedconodont-sampledunitin
Mule Canyon,con-
Two s e p a r a t eb r a c h i o p o dc o l l e c t i o n s
firmedtheconodontageassignment.
the
from Alamo Canyon, from approximately one-third the distance above
b a s e of t h i s i n t e r v a l ,
by S u t h e r l a n d .
were d e s i g n a t e d a s p r o b a b l e l a t e
From t h e I n d i a n Wells s e c t i o n , b r a c h i o p o d s c o l l e c t e d
fromthemiddlepartoftheupper
only as being
Morrowan in age
Morrowan i n t e r v a l , c o u l d b e i d e n t i f i e d
of Morrowan age.
Foraminiferaofthetextularid,Eostaffellaand
were common i n mostof
Millerella t y p e s
the limestoneswithinthisinterval,but
were n o t
analyzed in detail.
Lithostratigraphy.
The upper Morrowan i n t e r v a lc o n s i s t sl a r g e -
l y of wackestones t o g r a i n s t o n e s , s u b g r a y w a c k e s t o o r t h o q u a r t z i t e s ,
minoramountsofshales.
and
The l i m e s t o n e s a r e t y p i c a l l y p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i -
f i e d or r e c r y s t a l l i z e d , have appreciable amounts of chert segregations,
and are dominant i n t h e s o u t h e r n s e c t i o n s .
The s a n d s t o n e s w i t h i n t h e u p p e r
restrictedtothenorthernpartof
Morrowan i n t e r v a l a r e la.rge1y
the thesisarea,especially
19
i n strati-
of the
g r a p h i c a l l yh i g h e rp o r t i o n s .S a n d s t o n e si nt h en o r t h e a s t e r np a r t
s t u d i e da r e ar a n g e
ites.
fromsubgraywackes
toprotoquartzitestoorthoquartz-
The n o n o r t h o q u a r t z i t e sa r eg e n e r a l l yv e r yf i n et o
t h i n - b e d d e d ,h a v ef i n e l yd i v i d e dp l a n tm a t e r i a l ,
g r a i n s , and s h a l e or s i l t p a r t i n g s .
c u r r e n c e sa r eo r t h o q u a r t z i t e s .
medium-grained,
mica or g l a u c o n i t e
The l o w e ra n ds o u t h e r na r e n i t e
oc-
These t y p i c a l l yc o n t a i np l a n tf r a g m e n t s ,
coarseangulargrains,tabularcrossbedding,have
a thinbasal
conglom-
111, '.'
e r a t i c z o n e ,a n ds o m e t i m e sd i s p l a yl o c a lc h a n n e l l i n g( s e eP l a t e
Numbers 5 and 6).
The s h a l e s of t h i s i n t e r v a l
calcareous,andhave
s i l t y andmicaceous
a r e commonly b l a c k , b i t u m i n o u s t o
f i s s i l e tolaminatedbedding.
They a r eg e n e r a l l y
t o t h e n o r t h and f o s s i l i f e r o u s t o t h e s o u t h .
D i o r i t e andcamptonite
Morrowan i n t e r v a l , e s p e c i a l l y
s i l l s are common w i t h i n t h e u p p e r
i n t h en o r t h e r ns e c t i o n s( s e eC r o s sS e c -
tion).
Unique u n i t s w i t h i n t h i s i n t e r v a l i n c l u d e
formationalconglomerate(see
of silicified shale
a l i m e s t o n ei n t r a -
3-42) and, i n t h r e es e c t i o n s ,o c c u r r e n c e s
(see 5-31).
Correlations.
T h i s i n t e r v a l i s generallypoorlyexposedand
h a sa p p a r e n tr a p i df a c i e sc h a n g e sw i t h i n
it, making,correlationdifficult.
The b o u n d a r i e s r e a d i l y c o r r e l a t e , e s p e c i a l l y i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e s t r a t a
outsidethisupper
boundarysouthof
Morrowan i n t e r v a l , w i t h t h e . e x c e p t i o n o f t h e u p p e r
Deadman Canyon.
W i t h i n t h ei n t e r v a l ,t h eb a s a lo r t h o -
q u a r t z i t ec o r r e l a t e si nf i v es e c t i o n sa l o n gt h ee s c a r p m e n t .A n o t h e r
sequenceofsandstone(mainlyorthoquartzites),generally
35 t o 45 feet
stratigraphicallyhigher,canbetracedinthenorthernfivesections.
20
I n t h es o u t h e r np o r t i o no ft h et h e s i sa r e a ,
a 20footthick,ledge-formi n foursections,withinthe
ingpackstone-wackestonecanberecognized
(see F i g u r e s 3 , 4 , andCrossSection).
m i d d l ep a r to ft h ei n t e r v a l
I n general, correlations
b e d s ,p o s i t i o n
were madeby
r e c o g n i z i n g keymarker
i n l i t h o l o g i cs e q u e n c e ,s i m i l a rl i t h o l o g i e s ,r e l a t i v e
thicknesses,and
by f a u n a l e v i d e n c e .
AtokanInterval
Definition.
The Atokan i n t e r v a l v a r i e s
proximately 65 t o 155 feet.
The lowerboundary
in thicknessfromap-
i s the previously described upper boundary of the upper
The upperboundaryof
d e t e r m i n a t i o n s .I n
this interval
interval
f o rt h eA t o k a n
Morrowan i n t e r v a l .
is d e r i v e d f r o m f a u n a l a g e
Deadman Canyon, conodontsfromunit2-15suggest
l a t e Atokan age assignment, and from unit 2-19, definite early
ianconodonts
were recovered.Thisnarrows
w i t h i n a s t r a t i g r a p h i ci n t e r v a lo f2 0
placedatthetopofunit
wackestonehas
capping i t ,
feet.
a
Desmoines-
a p o s s i b l e time boundary t o
The boundary was a r b i t r a r i l y
2-15becausethisledge-formingpackstone-
a d i s t i n c t i v ea r e n a c e o u sl a y e r( a p p r o x i m a t e l y
O v e r l y i n gt h i su n i t ,a na d m i x t u r e
ofcarbonatemudstones-wackestones,andsiltstones
extensions to the north
and south
1-1.5 feet)
of s h a l e s ,t h i ni n t e r b e d s
i s common.
Boundary
were l a r g e l y a r b i t r a r y anddependent
on t h i c k n e s s of t h e s e q u e n c e , s i m i l a r l i t h o l o g i e s , a n d i s o l a t e d f u s u linidinformation.
B i o s t r a t i g r a p h L .F o s s i lc o l l e c t i o n s
Atokaninterval,and
a good,continuouszonationcouldnotbedis-
cerned.Conodontscollectedfrom
o ft h ei n t e r v a l( 2 - 3 ,
were s c a t t e r e di nt h e
Deadman Canyon, i n t h e b a s a l p a r t
2-6, 2-13), were d e t e r m i n e d t o be no e a r l i e r
21
t h a n e a r l y Atokan i n age byLane.Conodonts
recoveredfrom
t h e upper
p a r t of t h e i n t e r v a l ( 2 - 1 5 ) were a s s i g n e d a l a t e Atokanage.
Brachiopods were c o l l e c t e d a t s c a t t e r e d l o c a l i t i e s ,
were t h e r u l e w i t h i n t h i s i n t e r v a l .
p o o r l yp r e s e r v e dc o l l e c t i o n s
t i c u l a r l y well p r e s e r v e d c o l l e c t i o n
the interval)
was a s s i g n e d a d e f i n i t e Atokanage
t h eI n d i a n
for faunafound
by S u t h e r l a n d .
by S a n d e r s o n r e l a t e d
i n t h e upper p a r t o f t h e i n t e r v a l
Wells s e c t i o n ( 6 - 3 4 ) .
A l s o ,t h e
a
from
same assignment is t e n t a -
i n Grapevine Canyon from t h e
tivelypossibleforfusulinidscollected
upper p a r t o f t h e i n t e r v a l
A par-
from 2-14 ( n e a r t h e upper p a r t of
Tentativefusulinidageassignments
l a t e Atokanage
and s p a r s e ,
(5-39).
Lithostratigraphy.
The Atokan i n t e r v a lh a s
3 and 4 ) .
f a c i e s (see C r o s sS e c t i o na n dF i g u r e s
exists.
g e n o u s ,l a r g e l ya r e n a c e o u sf a c i e s
i n t e r m i x e dt h i ns h a l e s ,s i l t s t o n e s ,a n d
two dominant
To t h e n o r t h ,
a terri-
O r t h o q u a r t z i t e so v e r l a i n
by
some s i l t y carbonatemudstones
To t h es o u t h ,t h e
interval is
c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a na r g i l l a c e o u sf a c i e s .S h a l e sw i t hi n t e r b e d s
of t h i n
a r et y p i c a ll i t h o l o g i e sf o rt h i sf a c i e s .
limestonesand
stonesare
intermittent a r g i l l a c e o u s c a r b o n a t e mudstones t o pack-
facies.
common l i t h o l o g i e s f o r t h i s s o u t h e r n
The t e r r i g e n o u s s t r a t a o f t h e A t o k a n i n t e r v a l a r e d o m i n a n t
a l o n g mostof
theescarpment.
micaceousand
s i l t y i n thenortheastportionof
To t h e s o u t h w e s t , t h e s h a l e s a r e
The s h a l e s a r e
brown t og r a yt ob l a c k ,
t h e investigatedarea.
commonlymedium
l i m e s t o n es t r i n g e r s ,a n da r el o c a l l yf o s s i l i f e r o u s .
a r el a m i n a t e d ,a r g i l l a c e o u s ,a n dc a l c a r e o u s .
s h a l e s andcarbonatemudstones,andoccur
22
graytoblack,
have
The s i l t s t o n e s
They a r ei n t e r b e d d e dw i t h
commonly i n t h e u p p e r p a r t o f
t h ei n t e r v a lt ot h en o r t h e a s t .
n o r t h e a s t e r np o r t i o n
of t h e t h e s i s a r e a . T h e s e s a n d s t o n e s a r e u s u a l l y
o r t h o q u a r t z i t i ce x c e p tf o r
quartzite.
The a r e n i t e s a r e a l s o c o n f i n e d t o t h e
which is a p r o t o -
one u n i t (6-32) i n t h e n o r t h
The o r t h o q u a r t z i t e s have medium t o v e r y c o a r s e a n g u l a r g r a i n s ,
t a b u l a rc r o s s - b e d d i n g ,a n di n v e r s eg r a d i n g( f o rt h ee n t i r eu n i t ) .
glomeratesare
Con-
commonly a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e o r t h o q u a r t z i t e s ,
Some are arenaceous,havinggranule-
v a r i a b l e i n c o n t e n ta n dt e x t u r e s .
s i z e dq u a r t zc l a s t sw i t h
have an argillaceous, silty
and a r e
a f e r r u g e n i o u sc o a t i n g
on t h eg r a i n s .O t h e r s
matrix w i t h q u a r t z p e b b l e s
or pebble-sized
in
i s a limestoneintraformational-typeconglomerate
c l a yg a l l s .T h e r e
thenorthernportionofthethesisarea,
whichhas
a l i m e s t o n e matrix
of c l a y ,b i o c l a s t i c ,a n dq u a r t zg r a i n s .T h i su n i t
w i t ha na d m i x t u r e
has a d i s t i n c t i v e l y banded t o p s u r f a c e .
The c a r b o n a t e s of t h e A t o k a n i n t e r v a l
t o wackestoneswith
are g e n e r a l l y mudstones
some p a c k s t o n e ( e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e s o u t h a n d
p a r to ft h ei n t e r v a l ) .
upper
br
The l i m e s t o n e su s u a l l yh a v es h a l ep a r t i n g s
i n t e r b e d s ,a r et h i n - b e d d e d ,a n df o r ms t e e pt om o d e r a t es l o p e s .
D i o r i t e and camptonite, s i l l s a r e common t o t h i s p a r t
of t h e
Pennsylvaniansection,butareconfinedtothenorthernpartofthe
studied area.
Correlations.
The o r t h o q u a r t z i t eb e d s
canbetracedacrossthreesectionsin
t h e s i sa r e a .
of t h e A t o k a ni n t e r v a l
t h e n o r t h e r np o r t i o no ft h e
A d i s t i n c t i v ec o n g l o m e r a t e( w i t h
a color-bandedtop
s u r f a c e ) above t h e o r t h o q u a r t z i t e s e q u e n c e c a n b e r e c o g n i z e d d i s tinctly in the
two northernmostsections,andcan
be extended two
s e c t i o n s s o u t h w a r d by a s i m i l a r o c c u r r e n c e o f a n a r e n a c e o u s
erate.
23
conglom-
Above thissandstone-conglomeratesequence,
thickness(usually10
theescarpment
a shaleintervalofvariable
feet) c o u l d b.e p o s t u l a t e d a s c o r r e l a t i n g a c r o s s
by i t s p o s i t i o n i n s e q u e n c e w i t h i n t h i s i n t e r v a l ( s e e
F i g u r e s 3, 4 , a n dc r o s sS e c t i o n ) .
C o r r e l a t i o n s made w i t h i n t h i s i n t e r v a l
definite.
were n o t l a t e r a l l y
In g e n e r a l , .however, t h eA t o k a ni n t e r v a lc a nb ec o r r e l a t e d
and d i f f e r e n t i a t e d fromtheother
intervals by t h e f o l l o w i n g c r i t e r i a :
1) t h e g e n e r a l t e r r i g e n o u s c h a r a c t e r o f t h e s t r a t a ,
2) anabundanceof
c o v e r e di n t e r v a l sa n dg e n t l et a l u ss l o p e s ,a s s o c i a t e dw i t ht h ea r g i l l a c e o u sc o n t e n to ft h es t r a t a( e x p e c i a l l yi nt h es o u t h e r np o r t i o n ) ,a n d
3) t h e g e n e r a l a b s e n c e o f c h e r t w i t h i n t h e c a r b o n a t e s t r a t a .
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
Definition.
The lowerDesmoinesianinterval
is boundedbelow
by thepreviouslydescribedupperboundaryoftheAtokaninterval.
upperboundaryof
t h e lowerDesmoinesian
The
i n t e r v a l is a r b i t r a r y andun-
It i s p l a c e d a t t h e b a s e o f t h e
d o u b t e d l yv a r i e si na g e' l a t e r a l l y .
l o c a l Bug Scuffle Limestone Member and t h i s t r a n s g r e s s i v e l i t h o l o g i c
A s defined by Pray
c o n t a c t rises s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y t o t h e n o r t h .
(1961),
t h i s member is a l m o s t t o t a l l y d e v o i d
of o t h e rr o c kt y p e s ,
ranges frompredominantlymudstonestograinstones,
c l i f f s a l o n gt h ef a c e
thick-bedded,andformssheer,conspicuous
theescarpment.
The upperboundaryofthe
was d e s i g n a t e d t o p o g r a p h i c a l l y w h e r e
is thicktovery
lower Desmoinesianinterval
a sheer cliff
of limestone ap-
i n all sections
pearedinthestratigraphicsections,hence
is n o t e x a c t
due t o v a r y i n g amountsof
of t h i s c l i f f . T h i s
t a l u sa tt h eb a s e
a t i m e - s t r a t i g r a p h i cb o u n d a r y .
24
of
is not
The Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member is c o n f i n e d t o t h e s o u t h e r n
t h r e e - f o u r t h s of t h et h e s i sa r e a .T h e . t h i c k n e s so ft h e
ianintervalcapped
approximately25
MuleCanyon).
lowerDesmoines-
by t h e Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member ranges from
375 feet ( i n
feet ( i n t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t s e c t i o n ) t o
The Bug S c u f f l eL i m e s t o n e Member c h a n g e sf a c i e st ot h e
n o r t h and is absent between
Canyon ( s e eF i g u r e
Mule Canyon n o r t h - n o r t h e a s t t o F r e s n a l
2-where t h e term "tunnel" is).
is a terrigenousfacies
bonatefacies
q u a r t zs a n d s t o n e s ,w i t ho n l y
Box
R e p l a c i n gt h i sc a r -
composed l a r g e l y o f s h a l e s a n d
minoramountsoflimestones.
p a r to ft h i st e r r i g e n o u sf a c i e s( a sd e s c r i b e d
The b a s a l
by Pray) i s notdefined.
The base of an interbedded dark shale and carbonate mudstone sequence
is c h o s e n a s a n a r b i t r a r y u p p e r b o u n d a r y
t i o n s .T h i su n i t
(see 3-73) i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by i t s weatheredappear-
ance of t h i n w h i t e s t r e a k s
lowerDesmoinesian
i n t h e two northernmost sec-
on a d a r kg r a ys u r f a c e .
The t h i c k n e s so ft h e
i n t e r v a l i n t h e s e two s e c t i o n s v a r i e s f r o m a p p r o x i -
mately 225 t o 245 feet ( s e e C r o s s S e c t i o n ) .
were c o l l e c t e d
B i o s t r a t i g r a p h y .S c a t t e r e df a u n a lo c c u r r e n c e s
were
fromthelowerDesmoinesianinterval.Limitedconodontfauna
collectedwithinthisintervalat
( l o w e rp a r t
Deadman Canyon.
of t h e i n t e r v a l ) , c o n o d o n t s r e c o v e r e d
From u n i t 2-19
were a s s i g n e d by
Lane a s e a r l y D e s m o i n e s i a n i n a g e .
M e g a f o s s i l s , w e r e c o l l e c t e d from t h i s i n t e r v a l i n
From Grapevine Canyon, u n i t 5 - 4 2 , S u t h e r l a n d i d e n t i f i e d c o r a l s
c h i o p o d sa sb e i n ge a r l yD e s m o i n e s i a ni na g e .
t i o n )b r a c h i o p o d s
25
andbra-
U n i t 7-31 (Escondidosec-
were a s s i g n e da ne a r l yD e s m o i n e s i a na g e .I n
Canyon, brachiopodsandcoralscollectedfrom
most s e c t i o n s .
t h e u p p e rp a r t
Deadman
of t h e
i n t e r v a l were determinedtobedefinitelyDesmoinesian.Brachiopods
fromthe
lower and middle part
of t h e i n t e r v a l
i n Muleshoe Canyon were
notspecificallydiagnostic,butprobablyrepresent
Brahiopod collections from
MuleCanyon
a Desmoinesianage.
(middle and upper portion
of t h e
A d e f i n i t e Desmoinesian
i n t e r v a l )a r ep r o b a b l yD e s m o i n e s i a ni na g e .
b r a c h i o p o d c o l l e c t i o n was p r o c u r e d f r o m t h e t o p p a r t
of t h e i n t e r v a l i n
t h e Alamo Canyon section.Poorlypreservedbrachiopodsandcoralsfrom
were i d e n t i -
t h e I n d i a n Wells s e c t i o n ( m i d d l e p o r t i o n o f t h e i n t e r v a l )
f i e d by Sutherland as probable Desmoinesian.
in
F u s u l i n i d s were c o l l e c t e d from a sequenceoflimestones
Muleshoe Canyon (approximatelytheupper
collection extends into the
theupper
360 feet o f . s t r a t a ) . .T h i s
Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member (approximately
230 feet of t h ea f o r e m e n t i o n e ds e c t i o n ) .C o l l e c t i o n s
obtained i n the basal part of the
were
Bug S c u f f l e Limesone Member from .
t h r e eo t h e rs e c t i o n s F
. usulinids'were
commonly foupd i n t h e
southernfaciesas
low a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y
50 f e e t below t h e Bug S c u f f l e
i nf o u rs e c t i o n s .
A 1 1 of these f u s u l i n i dc o l l e c t i o n sa r eD e s m o i n e s i a n
i n a g e ,a si d e n t i f i e d
by Sanderson.
He a l s o t e n t a t i v e l y p o s t u l a t e s
become younger t o t h e n o r t h
thatthefusulinidswithinthisfacies
(coinciding with the stratigraphic
rise of t h e Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e
Member t o t h e n o r t h ) .
Fusulinidsrecoveredfromthenorthernterrigenousfacies
Wells s e c t i o n .C o l l e c t i o n s
a r er e s t r i c t e dt ot h eI n d i a n
lowerandmiddlepartsof
from t h e
t h e i n t e r v a l were i d e n t i f i e d a s Desmoines-
i a n i n age bySanderson.
L i t h o s t r a t i g r a p h x .T h e r ea r e
t h e lowerDesmoinesianinterval.
two d e f i n i t ef a c i e sw i t h i n
A t e r r i g e n o u sf a c i e s
26
is dominant.
It i s ' b e s t d e v e l o p e d i n t h e n o r t h e r n p o r t i o n o f t h e s t u d i e d a r e a a n d
t h i n st ot h es o u t h( i nt h e
I t is charac-
lower p a r t of t h ei n t e r v a l ) .
t e r i z e d by t h i n i n t e r b e d s o f s h a l e s , s i l t s t o n e s , s a n d s t o n e s , w i t h
limestonesand
medium t ov e r yt h i c k - b e d d e ds a n d s t o n e s .
minor
The c a r b o n a t e
f a c i e s is a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member and i s b e s t
developed i n t h e u p p e r p o r t i o n o f t h e l o w e r D e s m o i n e s i a n i n t e r v a l i n
t h es o u t h e r ns e c t i o n s .
I t is c h a r a c t e r i z e d by wackestones,packstones,
andgrainstones,withinterbedsofthinshales.
The t h i n i n t e r b e d s o f s h a l e s , s i l t s t o n e s , a n d s a n d s t o n e s
theterrigenousfaciesareespeciallydominant
t h e lowerDesmoinesian
interval.
of
i n t h e lower p a r t o f
These s t r a t a a r e c y c l i c w i t h t h e
s h a l e s s i l t y a n dm i c a c e o u s ,t h es i l t s t o n e ss l i g h t l yc a l c a r e o u s ,a r g i l l a c e o u s ,a n dm i c a c e o u s ,a n dt h es a n d s t o n e s( l a r g e l yp r o t o q u a r t z i t e s )
micaceous,and cross-bedded (small scale and minor) with varying perc e n t a g e s of g l a u c o n i t ea n df e l d s p a rg r a i n s .
The medium t o v e r y t h i c k -
bedded a r e n i t e s a r e f r o m s u b a r k o s i c t o p r o t o q u a r t z i t i c t o o r t h o q u a r t z ;
i t i c i n natureandoccur
i n t h eu p p e rp a r to ft h ei n t e r v a l .T h e s e
s a n d s t o n e s are generallypoorlysoried,medium-grained,micaceous,
glauconitic,slightly
l i m y , andhaveminorcross-bedding.
The c a r b o n a t e s o f t h e s o u t h e r n f a c i e s t y p i c a l l y a r e g r a i n supported,haveinterbeds
of s h a l e , andminoramountsofglauconite,
mica,andquartzgrains.,Tothesouththesecarbonatesarebioturbated
and s l i g h t l y s i l t y .
C o r r e l a t i o n s .R e g i o n a lc o r r e l a t i o n s
were d i f f i c u l t w i t h i n t h e
lowerDesmoinesianinterval,duetothelargeamounts
c y c l i ct e r r i g e n o u sr o c k s
especiallytrueinthe
of fine-grained
and i n t e r f i n g e r i n gf a c i e sc h a n g e s .T h i s
lower and t h e n o r t h e r n p o r t i o n s
27
is
of t h e i n t e r v a l .
The medium t o v e r y t h i c k - b e d d e d s a n d s t o n e s o f t h e u p p e r p o r t i o n
northern facies can be traced between
s t o n et ow a c k e s t o n e s( a p p r o x i m a t e l y
'
two s e c t i o n s . .. A .sequence.of,pack-
3-5 feet t h i c k ) i n t h e upper p o r t i o n
i n t h e t h r e en o r t h e r n m o s ts e c t i o n so f
o ft h ei n t e r v a lc a nb er e c o g n i z e d
s o u t h e r nc a r b o n a t ef a c i e s .
of t h e
C h a r a c t e r i s t i co f
t h i s sequence is t h e f i r s t
occurrence of p h y l l o i d a l g a e a n d f u s u l i n i d s t o g e t h e r
(see P l a t e 11,
Number 1). Theupperboundaryofthenorthernfaciescorrelatesacross
two s e c t i o n s a n d
The baseof
i s e x t e n d e dt e n t a t i v e l y
one s e c t i o n further south.
t h e Bug Scuffle Limestone Member c o r r e l a t e s i n t h e s i x
s o u t h e r ns e c t i o n s .T e n t a t i v ef u s u l i n i dc o r r e l a t i o n sa r ep o s s i b l e
t h eu p p e rp a r t
of t h e i n t e r v a l
and Cross S e c t i o n ) .
i n thesouthfacies(seeFigures
in
3, 4 ,
L
ISOMETRIC CROSS SECTION of the LOWER
b
GOBBLER
FORMATION
shale
sandstone
limestone
5
siltstone
conglomerate
igneous
2
29
Figure 3
DEPOSITIONALENVIRONMENTS
Regional Geologic Setting
The u n d e r l y i n g M I s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a a r e b e l i e v e d t o b e
t i n u a t i o no fs h e l fs e d i m e n t a t i o n ,
c e n t r a l New Mexico.
common t o t h e P a l e o z o i c o f s o u t h -
were
N e g a t i v ea r e a sd u r i n gt h el a t eM i s s i s s i p p i a n
thePderegosaBasin(tothesouthwest)
east).
a con-
and t h e DelawareBasin(tothe
The Penasco Dome (to t h e n o r t h ) i s t h e o n l yd i s c e r n a b l ep o s i -
t i v e a r e ap r e s e n td u r i n gl a t eM i s s i s s i p p i a n
s t r a t a were e r o d e d a n d t i l t e d t o t h e s o u t h
time.
The pre-Pennsylvanian
by r e g i o n a l u p l i f t .
This
u p l i f t was pre-Pennsylvanian i n o r i g i n or c o n c u r r e n t w i t h t h e P e d e r n a l
time (see F i g u r e 1).
upliftofearlyPennsylvanian
The Pedernallandmass
wag a n o r t h - s o u t h s t r u c t u r a l e l e m e n t
located east of the'present
daySacramentoMountains.'
t h et h e s i sa r e a ,K o t t l o w s k i
(1960) h a s p o s t u l a t e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t d a y
area of Sierra Blanca, located approximately
36 miles n o r t h ofAlamor-
gordo, was a highland area of thePedernallandmass.
time.
The Pedernalland-
for t h e s o u t h - c e n t r a l
mass was thedominantterrigenoussource
areathroughoutPennsylvanian
In relation to
New Mexico
The l a t eM i s s i s s i p p i a nP e n a s c o
(thesouthernedgelocatedinnorth-central
Dome
New Mexico)probablyprovid-
ed l i t t l e i f any i n f l u x o f t e r r i g e n o u s ' s e d i m e n t t o
t h e south.
The Orogrande Basin was the dominant depocenter during the
entire Pennsylvanian epoch i n s o u t h - c e n t r a l New Mexico ( s e e F i g u r e 1).
30
A t times d u r i n gt h ee a r l y - m i d d l eP e n n s y l v a n i a n ,t h i sb a s i nc o u l dh a v e
connectedwiththeDelaware
Basin (to the east), the
SanMateo,Lucero,
andpossiblyEstanciaBasins(fromnorthwesttonorthrespectively),
(1961)
of the Orogrande Basin, corresponding with the thesis area, pray
believedtheshorelines
.
For t h ee a s t e r ns e c t i o n
and t h e P e d r e g o s aB a s i n( t ot h es o u t h w e s t ) .
were orientednorth-southduringmostofthe
(1968) h a sp o s t u l a t e da n
P e n n s y l v a n i a n( p r e - V i r g i l i a n ) .K o t t l o w s k i
east-west s h o r e l i n e d u r i n g t h e e a r l i e s t p a r t o f t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a n f o r
thisarea.
Lower Morrowan I n t e r v a l
The lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l h a s d e p o s i t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t s
rangingfromnonmarine
t os h a l l o w marine.
The s t r a t a o f t h i s i n t e r -
v a l r e p r e s e n t a t r a n s g r e s s i o no fs h a l l o w . P e n n s y 1 v a n i a n
M i s s i s s i p p i a ns e d i m e n t s .U p l i f to f
seas overthe
t h e Pedernallandmass(locatednorth-
e a s t of t h e t h e s i s a r e a ) o c c u r r e d p o s s i b l y p r i o r t o , a n d p r o b a b l y a t
times concomitantwith,
t h e transgression..
T h i s seaadvanced
t ot h e
northeast,alonganirregularnorth-northwesttosoutheastshoreline.
Thisencroachment
was n o t s t e a d y a n d r e g r e s s i v e f l u c t u a t i o n s o c c u r r e d
(see F i g u r e s 3 and 4 ) .
The b a s a l P e n n s y l v a n i a n s i l t s t o n e o v e r l i e s t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n
or t h e f i l l i n g of k a r s t
a s a b l a n k e td e p o s i t .L o c a lb a s a lc h a n n e l l i n g
d e p r e s s i o n s i n t h eM i s s i s s i p p i a n
is common i n t h e n o r t h e r n a r e a .
concordant contact between these systems
basinwardareas.
A
e x i s t s i n ~ t h e s o u t h e r nand
However, t h e r e is a h i a t u s here, as shown by cono-
d o n ta s s e s s m e n t ,b a s a lc o n g l o m e r a t e si nt h eP e n n s y l v a n i a n ,a n d
mud
i n t h e Helms f o r m a t i o n( s e eP l a t e
This
c r a c kc a s t s
31
111, Number 2).
s i l t s t o n e is gray-brown,subangular,laminated,andhasmarinefossils
i n thesouthwest(basinward),but
becomes g r a y ,a n g u l a r ,b i o t u r b a t e d
(see P l a t e 11, Number 6 ) , a n d h a s p l a n t f o s s i l s t o t h e n o r t h e a s t ( l a n d -
c r i t e r i a i n d i c a t e a m a r g i n a lm a r i n ee n v i r o n m e n tf o rt h i s
ward).These
lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l .
siltstone and the basal portion of the
The i n t e r m i t t e n t l i m e s t o n e s o f
the lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l
a r e more numerous i n t h es o u t h e r np a r to f
t h e s t u d i e da r e a .
The lime-
stonesaregenerallydarkpackstonestowackestones,arepartially
s i l i c i f i e d o r r e c r y s t a l l i z e d , haveappreciableamountsofchertsegreg a t i o n s ,a n da r es l i g h t l ys i l t y .F e a t u r e s
(more r a r et h a n
common)
suchasanooliticgrainstone,herringbonecrossbeddinginanarenaceouswackestone,andthepresenceofglauconitegrains
seem t o i n d i c a t e a shallowmarine
The c l a s t i c t e r r i g e n o u s
i n some l i m e s t o n e s
tonearshoreenvironment.
s t r a t a ofthelower
Morrowan i n t e r v a l '
are s p o r a d i c i n n a t u r e ,b u ta r ec o n f i n e dt od e f i n i t eh o r i z o n s .
b e d sa r e
more numerous i n t h e n o r t h e r np a r t
These
of t h et h e s i sa r e a .
s h a l e sa r ec a l c a r e o u st ob i t u m i n o u sa n dp r o b a b l ym a r i n e .
The
The sand-
s t o n e sa r eg e n e r a l l yo r t h o q u a r t i i t i c ,c o a r s e - g r a i n e d ,c r o s s - b e d d e d ,
have p l a n tf o s s i l s ,
and sometime d i s p l a yc h a n n e l l i n g .
The cross-bedding
is t r o u g h or t a b u l a r a n d t h e f o r e s e t s h a v e b i m o d e l d i p s , g e n e r a l l y t o
t h en o r t h e a s t
or n o r t h w e s t .T h e s ec h a r a c t e r i s t i c sa r ei n d i c a t i v e
d i s t r i b u t a r yc h a n n e l s
n e a rt h et o po ft h i sl o w e r
or e s t u a r i n ed e p o s i t s .
of
A uniquesandstoneunit
Morrowan i n t e r v a l is s u b a r k o s i c w i t h p o t a s s -
i u m - f e l d s p a rg r a i n s .T h i sp r o b a b l yi n d i c a t e sn e a r n e s st oa ni n t r u s i v e
igneoussource.
The terrigenousrocksofthelower
g e n e r a l l y h a v ea n g u l a rg r a i n s .T h i ss u g g e s t sp r o x i m i t yt o
32
Morrowan i n t e r v a l
a source.
T h i n - b e d d e d ,l i m e s t o n e - p e b b l ec o n g l o m e r a t e sa r ei n t e r p r e t e da s . r e p r e s e n t a -
tive of d e p o s i t i o n i n a nearshoreenvironment.
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
The upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l h a s d e p o s i t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t s r a n g i n g fromnonmarine
The s t r a t a o f t h i s i n t e r v a l a p p e a r
be a c o n t i n u a t i o n of thelower
i ng e n e r a lt o
e v e r ,t h e r e
toshallowmarine.
Morrowan t r a n s g r e s s i o n .
How-
seems t o b e more p r o m i n e n tf l u c t u a t i o n so fr e g r e s s i o n ,p r o -
g r a d a t i o n , or s t i l l s t a n dc o n d i t i o n sw i t h i nt h i si n t e r v a l .
The P e d e r n a l
landmass could have experienced rejuvenation during the regressive pulses.
The l i m e s t o n e s o f t h i s i n t e r v a l r a n g e
fromwackestonestopack-
s t o n e st og r a i n s t o n e s .T h e s ec a r b o n a t e sa r et y p i c a l l yd a r k ,p a r t i a l l y
s i l i c i f i e d or r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ,a n d
a n da s s o c i a t e dc h e r t s
have chertnodules.Theselimestones
sometimehavereddish,brownish,
or g r e e n i s h t i n g e s
i n c o l o r ,s u g g e s t i n ga ss h a l l o wm a r i n et on e a r s h o r ee n v i r o n m e n t
ofde-
position.
M o t t l e dt e x t u r e s ,g l a u c o n i t eg r a i n s ,a l g a lf r a g m e n t s ,( D v i n e l l a ,
among o t h e r s ) a n d s h a l e p a r t i n g s
and i n t e r b e d s are f a i r l y common c h a r a c -
t e r i s t i c s o f t h e s eu p p e ri n t e r v a ll i m e s t o n e s .
These f e a t u r e st e n dt o
i n d i c a t e a nearshore-marginal marine environment.
D e l i c a t ef o s s i l s ,s u c ha sb r y o z o a n s ,a r er a r e l yf o u n di n t a c t .
T h i s would seem t o s u g g e s t e i t h e r t u r b i d c o n d i t i o n s ,
or t h ef r a g m e n t s
t h e s ed e l i c a t ef o r m sa r ea l l o g e n i c .T h e r ea r ed e f i n i t eb i o t u r b a t i o n
f e a t u r e sf o u n d
i n t h el i m e s t o n e s ,b u tt h e s ef e a t u r e s
s t r i c t e dt ot h en o r t h e r ns e c t i o n s .G e n e r a l l y
s u g g e s t a probable pattern of slow sedimentation
s t a n dc o n d i t i o n s .
seem t o b e re-
these c r i t e r i a t e n d t o
or possible still-
However', ,brachiopodsfoundingrowthpositionmight
33
of
s u g g e s tr a p i dd e p o s i t i o n .
The b i o t u r b a t i o n p r e s e n t c o u l d b e d u e t o s o f t
bottom sediment conditions.
are l a r g e l yc o n f i n e d
The t e r r i g e n o u s s t r a t a o f t h i s i n t e r v a l
t o t h e northernpartofthestudiedarea(especiallythesandstonefaction).
The s h a l e sa r ed a r k ,c a l c a r e o u st ob i t u m i n o u s ,m i c a c e o u s ,a n d
sometimes s i l i c i f i e d .
its.
The s h a l e sa r ep r o b a b l y( s h a l l o w ? )m a r i n ed e p o s -
The s a n d s t o n e sa r eg e n e r a l l yo r t h o q u a r t z i t i c ,
g r a i n sp, l a nft r a g m e n t s ,
and
haveangularcoarse
d i s p l a yc h a n n e l l i n g .
They a l s od i s p l a y
p l a n a rc r o s s - b e d d i n gw i t ht h ef o r e s e t sb i m o d a l l yo r i e n t e dt ot h en o r t h e a s t a n dn o r t h w e s t .T h e s ea r e n i t e sa r ep r o b a b l yr e p r e s e n t a t i v e
of a
d e l t a i cd i s t r i b u t a r yc h a n n e ld e p o s i t .I nt h en o r t h e a s t e r np a r t
of t h e
t h e s i sa r e a ,p r o t o q u a r t z i t e sa n ds u b B a y w a c k e sa r e
"dirty"arenites
common.
have marine f o s s i l f r a g m e n t s
These
and a r e s l i g h t l y c a l c a r -
seem t o r e l a t e a n i n t e r d e l -
e o u s ,m i c a c e o u s ,a n ds i l t y .T h e s ec r i t e r i a
t a i c environment of deposition.
A tokan Interval
Depositional environments withi,n
fromnonmarine
t os h a l l o wm a r i n e .D u r i n gt h i s
t h e Atokan i n t e r v a l r a n g e
time r e g r e s s i v ec o n -
d i t i o n s were dominantandthePedernallandmassprobablyexperienced
r e j u v e n a t i o n or p o s s i b l ye p e i r o g e n e s i s .D e l t a i cp r o c e s s e sa r eb e l i e v e d
t ob et h ed o m i n a n ts e d i m e n t a t i o nf a c t o r
s t u d i e da r e a .T h i sr e g r e s s i v e
i n thenorthernpartofthe
or p r o g r a d a t i o n a l s t a t e was n o ts t e a d y ,
andperiodicminortransgressiveandstillstandconditionsexisted(see
Figure 4).
The a r e n a c e o u s f a c i e s
withangular,
i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by o r t h o q u a r t z i t e s
medium t o v e r y c o a r s e g r a i n s , t a b u l a r c r o s s - b e d d i n g ,
34
a n di n v e r s eg r a d i n g .
The f o r e s e t s of thecross-beddinghave
d i s t r i b u t i o nt ot h en o r t h e a s t
a bimodal
These a r e n i t e s a r e a l s o
andsouthwest.
w i t h these a r e n i t e s
s l i g h t l y micaceousandferrigenous.Associated
a r e c o n g l o m e r a t e s ( b a s a l and l a t e r a l ) which are arenaceousand
i n one
c a s ec o n t a i nc l a yg a l l s .T h e s ec h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,c o u p l e dw i t ht h e
l e n t i c u l a rg e o m e t r yo ft h es a n d s t o n e s( s e eC r o s s ' S e c t i o ni np o c k e t )
are i n t e r p r e t e d a s b e i n g i n d i c a t i v e
deposit.
of a d e l t a i c d i s t r i b u t a r y c h a n n e l
The o v e r l y i n gs e q u e n c eo ft h i ni n t e r b e d so fs i l t ys h a l e s ,
s i l t s t o n e s , and a r g i l l a c e o u s - s i l t y c a r b o n a t e
mudstones i s probably
i n t e r d e l t a i c .T h i ss e q u e n c eh a sa p p r e c i a b l ea m o u n t s
ofmica
plantmaterial,
and b i o t u r b a t i o n f e a t u r e s .
The s h a l e f a c i e s
ern p o r t i o n so f
flakes,
is bestdevelopedinthecentral
The shales a r e medium g r a y t o
t h e A t o k a ni n t e r v a l .
b l a c k ,l o c a l l yf o s s i l i f e r o u s ,
Thesesedimentsappear
andsouth-
andhaveinterbedsofthinlimestones.
t o b er e p r e s e n t a t i v e
of a r e s t r i c t e d s h a l l o w
marine environment.
The l i m e s t o n e s o f t h i s i n t e r v a l a r e c o n f i n e d t o t h e u p p e r
p o r t i o no ft h es t r a t i g r a p h i c
column.
S i l t yc a r b o n a t e
mudstones a r e
found i nt h en o r t h .T h e s ea r ep r o b a b l ys h a l l o w( t i d a lf l a t ? )m a r i n e
deposits.Wackestonestopackstoneswith
p r o b a b l yr e p r e s e n t
some i s o l a t e dg r a i n s t o n e s
minor t r a n s g r e s s i v ef l u c t u a t i o n s .
o fa p p r e c i a b l ea m o u n t so fa l g a lf r a g m e n t s( e s p e c i a l l y
some limestonesimplies
The presence
Dvinella) i n
a shallowsedimentaryenvironment.
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
DepositionalenvironmentswithinthelowerDesmoinesian
i n t e r v a lr a n g e
fromnonmarine
t os h a l l o wm a r i n e .T h e r ea r e
35
two
0
A n o r t h e r nt e r r i g e n o u sf a c i e s
s e d i m e n t a r yf a c i e sw i t h i nt h ei n t e r v a l .
0
is c o n f i n e d t o t h e
lower p o r t i o n s of t h e e n t i r e i n t e r v a l a n d u p p e r
p o r t i o n si nt h en o r t h .
to the
0
upperportionoftheintervalandclimbsinthestratigraphic
s e c t i o nf r o ms o u t ht on o r t h .
The n o r t h e r nf a c i e s
d e l t a i c - r e g r e s s i v es e q u e n c e .
The d e l t a i cf a c i e s . a p p e a r st ot r e n d
a n o r t h e a s tt o
e
west d i r e c t i o n . T h i s f a c i e s
u a t i o n of t h e Atokanregression.
is i n t e r p r e t e da s a
is b e l i e v e dt ob e
The two f a c i e s d i s p l a y i n t e r f i n g e r i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s
The t h i n c y c l i c i n t e r b e d s
from
a contin-
is a t r a n s g r e s s -
The s o u t h e r nf a c i e s
to t h e n o r t h e a s t .
ive sequence,probablyrisingfromthewest-southwest
0
is confined
And a s o u t h e r nc a r b o n a t ef a c i e s
(see F i g u r e 4 ) .
of s h a l e s , s i l t s t o n e s ,
andsand-
s t o n e sa r ei n d i c a t i v eo fd e l t af r i n g ed e p o s i t s .T h e s es t r a t aa r e
ceous,glauconitic,andhave
0
mica-
small scalecross-bedding,brachiopods,
i s b e s td e v e l o p e di nt h et h r e e
a n dp l a n tf o s s i l s .T h i sc y c l i c' s e q u e n c e
n o r t h e r n m o s ts e c t i o n sa n di n t e r f i n g e r st ot h es o u t h .
The medium t o
verythick-beddedsandstonesofthenorthern,upperportionofthe
0
interval are characteristically
medium-grained, poorly sorted, cross-
b e d d e d ,m i c a c e o u s ,g l a u c o n i t i c ,a n dl e n t i c u l a r .T h e s ec r i t e r i aa r e
s u g g e s t i v eo fd e l t a i cd i s t r i b u t a r y
0
or i n t e r - d e l t a i cd e p o s i t s .
The
Pedernal landmass could have experienced rejuvenation through the
e a r l y Desmoinesian i n c o i n c i d e n c e w i t h t h i s r e g r e s s i v e f a c i e s .
The grain-supported carbonates with
0
minor carbonate mudstones
a n di n t e r b e d d e ds h a l e so ft h es o u t h e r nf a c i e sr e p r e s e n ts h a l l o wm a r i n e
to n e a r s h o r ed e p o s i t i o n .T h i ss e q u e n c e
is commonly b i o t u r b a t e d ,s i l t y ,
h a s v a r i o u s amounts of glauconite, mica, and quartz grains, and con-
e
t a i n sa l g a la n dc o r a lf o s s i l s .T h e s ec r i t e r i as u b s t a n t i a t e
36
0
a shallow
D
s e d i m e n t a r ye n v i r o n m e n t .B r a c h i o p o d sf o u n di ng r o w t hp o s i t i o n
D
suggestrapidsedimentatiom.
p l a y sb a s a lc h a n n e l l i n g
The Bug S c u f f l eL i m e s t o n e Member d i s -
i n t h e s o u t h e r n m o s ts e c t i o n .
o r d e r of 6 feet was recorded with limestone boulders
B
overlyinglimestoneconglomerate.Thiscould
regressiveconditions
may
Relief on t h e
admixed i n t h e
mark a diastemwhere
were modified t o t r a n s g r e s s i v e p r o c e s s e s
P l a t e 111, Number 1).
B
B
8
8
8
0
0
37
(see
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
0
e
0
0
0
SUMMARY A M ) CONCLUSIONS
i s composed o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y . 3 0 0
The lowerGobblerFormation
e
t o 700 feet of s a n d s t o n e s ,l i m e s t o n e s , s h s l e s ,c o n g l o m e r a t e s ,a n d
stones.
It c a nb es u b d i v i d e di n t o
intervals ranging in age from
0
silt-
four g e n e r a l i z e dt i m e - s t r a t i g r a p h i c
Morrowan through early Desmoinesian.
The s t r a t a w i t h i n t h e s e i n t e r v a l s
were d e p o s i t e d i n e n v i r o n m e n t s
r a n g i n gf r o ms h a l l o wm a r i n e( s h e l f )t oi n t e r d e l t a i c .
Complex f a c i e s
t h e vary-
c h a n g e s a r e common w i t h i n t h e s e i n t e r v a l s a n d c o r r e s p o n d w i t h
ing transitional environments.
The lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l is c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a b a s a l silts t o n e ,s h a l e s ,i n t e r m i t t e n tl i m e s t o n e s ,a n ds p o r a d i cs a n d s t o n e s .T h i s
i n t e r v a l i s e a r l yt om i d d l e
Morrowan i n age.
The d e p o s i t i o n a l e n v i r o n -
ments of t h e lower Morrowan i n t e r v a l r a n g e fromshallow
t o nonmarine ( d e l t a i c or e s t u a r i n e ) .
p r e s e n t a m a r i n et r a n s g r e s s i o n .
marine ( s h e l f )
The s t r a t a o f t h i s i n t e r v a l
T h i s encroachmentrose
re-
t ot h en o r t h -
east,followinganirregularnorth-northwesttosoutheastshoreline.
The upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l i s l a r g e l y composed of l i m e s t o n e s ,
i s middlethrough
s a n d s t o n e s ,a n ds h a l e s .T h i si n t e r v a l
i n age.
l a t e Morrowan
The depositionalenvironmentsrangefromshallowmarine
upper Morrowan i n t e r v a l i s a con-
t o nonmarine ( d e l t a i c ) .O v e r a l lt h e
t i n u a t i o no ft h e
lower Morrowan t r a n s g r e s s i o n s .
a n dr e g r e s s i v et r e n d s
(shelf)
were p r e s e n td u r i n g
39
However, s t i l l s t a n d
t h i s time.
The t r a n s g r e s s i o n
encroachedfromthesouthwest,whiletheregressivepulsesoriginated
fromthenortheast.
The Atokan i n t e r v a l has two f a c i e s , b o t h b e i n g t e r r i g e n o u s
i nn a t u r e .
A n o r t h e r n ,l a r g e l ya r e n a c e o u sf a c i e sc o n t a i n so r t h o -
quartzitesoverlain
mudstones.
by i n t e r b e d d e d s h a l e s , s i l t s t o n e s , a n d c a r b o n a t e
The s o u t h e r na r g i l l a c e o u sf a c i e s
w i t h t h i ni n t e r b e d d e dl i m e s t o n e sa n d
i s composed of s h a l e s
some s p o r a d i cl i m e s t o n e s .T h i s
i n t e r v a l is r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f s h a l l o w m a r i n e ( r e s t r i c t e d ) t o d e l t a i c
The lowerDesmoinesian
i n t e r v a lc o n t a i n s
ern t e r r i g e n o u s f a c i e s , c o n s i s t i n g
s t o n e s ,a n ds a n d s t o n e s ,
two f a c i e s .
o f c y c l i ci n t e r b e d so fs h a l e s ,
A northsilt-
w i t h medium-to v e r y thick\.bedded.sandstones is
d o m i n a n tw i t h i nt h i si n t e r v a l .
or prograda-
It i s l a r g e l yr e g r e s s i v e
A s o u t h e r nc a r b o n a t ef a c i e s ,
t i o n a l( t ot h es o u t h w e s t )i nn a t u r e .
associatedwiththe
were dominant.
time r e g r e s s i v ec o n d i t i o n s
sedimentation.DuringAtokan
Bug S c u f f l e L i m e s t o n e Member (extending less t h a n
50 f e e t down below t h i s a r b i t r a r y boundary) is composed o f g r a i n supportedlimestones,and
faciestrends
north.
some carbonatemudstonesandshales.
w i t h t h e Bug S c u f f l e a n d
rises s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y t o t h e
The s o u t h e r nc a r b o n a t ef a c i e st r a n s g r e s s e st o
e a s t .T h e s e
This
t h e east-north-
two f a c i e sa r el a r g e l ys i m u l t a n e o u sd e p o s i t s ,w i t ht h e
transgressivefacieseventuallypredominating,especiallyinthesouth
and extreme n o r t h ( F r e s n a l
ity).
Canyon
The lowerDesmoinesian
- see F i g u r e 2 - t h e " t u n n e l " l o c a l -
i n t e r v a lh a se n v i r o n m e n t sr a n g i n gf r o m
shallowmarine(shelf)tononmarine(deltaic).
WithinthelowerGobblerFormation,thereare
t r a n s g r e s s i o n ss e p a r a t e d
by a r e g r e s s i o n .
40
two d i s t i n c t
The encroachments seem t o
I,
beoriginatingfromtheOrograndeBasinfollowinganirregularnorth-
D
n o r t h w e s tt os o u t h e a s ts h o r e l i n e .
ly concomitant with rejuvenation
The r e g r e s s i v ec o n d i t i o n
or epierogenicpulsesofthePedernal
landmass t o t h e e a s t - n o r t h e a s t .
0
D
D
0
0
0
0
0
41
e
i s probal-
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No. 18, p. 133-190.
Econ.Geol.
V.
20, p. 513-523.
Meyer, R. F.,
1966,Geology
of PennsylvanianandWolfcampianrocks
s o u t h e a s t New Mexico:
Mem. 17,123
in
N. M. Bur. o f MinesandMiner.Resc.
p.
Meyers, W. J., 1974, C h e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d c a r b o n a t e c e m e n t a t i o n i n t h e
M i s s i s s i p p i a n Lake Valley Formation, Sacramento Mountains,
New Mexico:
R i c eU n i v e r s i t yd i s s e r t a t i o n ,
, 1974,Carbonatecementstratigraphy
p. 353.
of t h e Lake V a l l e y
Formation (Mississippian), Sacramento Mountains,.New
Jour. Sed. P e t . , V. 44, p. 837-861.
Mexico:
General highway map, O t e r o
New Mexico S t a t e Highway Department,1966,
County, New Mexico:
Planningand
programming d i v i s i o n ,s c a l e
1: 126720.
P e t t i j o h n , F. J.,
1949,Sedimentaryrocks:HarperandBrothers,
(2nd p r i n t i n g ,1 9 5 7 ) ,
Pray,
L.
C.,
N. Y.,
718 p.
1952, StratigraphyoftheescarpmentoftheSacramento
Mountains,OteroCounty,
d i s s e r t a t i o n ,1 6 5
, andGraves,
New Mexico:
C a l .I n s t i t .o f
Tech.,
p.
R. W. Jr., 1954,Desmoinesian
SacramentoMountains,Otero
f a c i e so ft h e
Count$,New,Mexico:Geol.
SOC.
Amer. Bull., V. 65, p. 1295-1296.
, 1954,
O u t l i n eo f
the stratigraphyandstructureofthe
SacramentoMountainescarpment:
N. M. Geol. SOC. Guide-
p. 92-106.
book, F i f t h f i e l d c o n f . ,
, 1 9 5 9 ,S t r a t i g r a p h ya n ds t r u c t u r eo f
the Sacramento
Mountains: 5,Guidebook f o rj o i n tf i e l dc o n f e r e n c ei n
the Sacramento Mountains of Otero County,
RoswellGeol.
SOC. andPermianBasinSec.ofSOC.of
Econ. Paleo.and
, 1961,
Miner;
Publ.,
Resc. Bull.,
N. M. Bur. o f MinesandMiner.
No. 35,144p.
andSingh,
environments:
Ross, C. A.,
p. 86-130.
Geology of theSacramentoMountainsescarpment,
OterO Count$, New Mexico:
Reineck, H. E.,
New Mexico:
'
I. B.,
1973,Depositionalsedimentary
Springer-VerlagPubl.,
N. Y. 439 p.
1973Pennsylvanian'and'earlyPermiandepositional
h i s t o r y ,s o u t h e a s t e r nA r i z o n a :
Bull., V. 57, p. 887-912.
46
Amer. Assoc.Petrol.Geol.
S e l l e y , R. C.,
1970,Ancientsedimentaryenvironments:CornellUniver-
s i t yP r e s s ,I t h a c a ,
S h e l t o n , 3 . W., 1973,Models
N. Y., 237 p.
of sandandsandstonedeposits:
a
methodology f o r determiningsandgenesisandtrend:
S u r . , B u l l . 118, 122 p.
Okla.Geol.
, and
Rowland, T. L., 1974Guidebook
t ot h ed e p o s i t i o n a l
environments o f selectedPennsylvaniansandstonesand
caebonates o f Oklahoma:
S u t h e r l a n d , P. K . ,
Geol. S o . h e r . Publ.,75
1973,Pennsylvanianbrachiopodsandbiostratigraphy
i ns o u t h e r nS a n g r ed eC r i s t oM o u n t a i n s ,
Bur. of Mines andMiner.
Thompson, M. L . ,
p.
New Mexico:
ReSc. Mem., No. 27,173
p.
i n New Mexico:
1942,Pennsylvaniansystem
N. M.
N, M. Bur.
Bull, No. 17, 92p.
of Mines andMiner.Resc.
V i s h e r , G. S., 1965, Use of v e r t i c a l p r o f i l e i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e c o n struction:
Amer. Assoc.Petrol.Geol.
Bull.,
V. 49, p. 41-61.
Wilson, J. L., 1967,Cyclicandreciprocalsedimentation
s t r a t a o f southern New Mexico:Geol.SOC.
i.n V i r g i l i a n
Amer. B u l l . , V.
78, p. 805-817.
, 1970,
Upper P a l e o z o i c h i s t o r y
West Texas and south-central
deen,eds.,
belt:
of the western Diablo Platform,
New Mexico:
2 Seewaldand
Sun-
The g e o l o g i c framework o f t h eC h i h u a h u at e c t o n i c
West TexasGeol.SOC.Publ.,
, 1973,Genesis
of theRancheriaand
No. 71-59,
Laa Cruces (?) Formations
( M i s s i s s i p p i a n ) of s o u t h - c e n t r a l New Mexicoand
U n i v e r s i t y o f Wisconsin-Madisonthesis,
47
p. 57-64.
p. 249.
west Texas:
Yurewicz., D. A . ,
1975, SedimentologyofMississippianbasinfacies
c a r b o n a t e s , New Mexicoand
tion:
Amer. A s s o c . ,P e t r o l .
westTexas
- theRancheria
G e O l . Abst.,
Forma-
V. 2, p. 83-84.
APPENDIX
IntroductiontoStratigraphicSections
I n t h e m e a s u r e m e n to ft h es t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o n s ,f i e l dm e t h o d s
describedbyKottlowski(1965,
pp.59-91)
mon t e c h n i q u e f o r v e r t i c a l m e a s u r e
were employed.
was t h e Abney l e v e l h e l d on top of
f e e t and t e n t h so f
f i v e - f o o tJ a c o b ' ss t a f f ,g r a d u a t e di n t o
eye height and
casionally the Brunton compass
The most com-
feet.
a
Oc-
s t e e l tapemeasurement
methods were used.
Fielddescriptions
were compiled a t t h e o u t c r o p a n d
were 1) l i t h o l o g y , 2) c l a s s i f i -
p l e t e di nt h el a b o r a t o r y .D a t ar e c o r d
3) c o l o r (-fresh/weathered), 4) c l a s t i c
c a t i o no fm o d i f i e ro fl i t h o l o g y ,
5) compositional
g r a i np a r a m e t e r s( s i z e ,r o u n d n e s s ,s o r t i n g ,c o n t a c t s ) ,
a d j e c t i v e (example:cement,
d e t r i t a lm i n e r a l s ,
t h i c k n e s s , 7) modifierofbedding
bioturbatedm
, ottled,
were com-
e t c . ) , 6)bedding
or i n t e r n a lt e x t u r e( e x a m p l e :
wavy,
e t c . ) , 8) uniquecharacteristics(example:con-
9) topo-
t a c tr e l a t i o n s h i p s ,c h e r tn o d u l e s ,w e a t h e r i n gt r a i t s ,e t c . ) ,
graphicandexposureexpression,
t y p e ) , 11) a t t i t u d eo fs t r a t a ,
10) fossiloccurrences(abundanceand
and 1 2 ) u n i tt h i c k n e s s .
The d a t a i s
p r e s e n t e di nt h i sa p p e n d i xw i t ht h ea f o r e m e n t i o n e df o r m a t .
Eachmeasuredsection
s e c t i o n number i s followedby
was a s s i g n e da na r b i t r a r y
a u n i t number.The
number.
u n i t number was
p a i n t e d on t h e s u r f a c e o f s e l e c t e d c l i f f - f o r m i n g u n i t s w i t h y e l l o w
49
1
This
highway paint.Measurementsbegin
theunit
a tt h eb a s eo ft h es e c t i o n s .
When
a lower-cased letter o r i s u n d e r l i n e d ,
number i s followedby
were d i s c o v e r e d or t h e o r i g i n a l u n i t
i t means t h a t a d d i t i o n a l b e d s
hasbeensubdivided.
The g e n e r a l l o c a t i o n f o r t h e
measured s e c t i o n i s g i v e na c -
c o r d i n gt ot o w n s h i p ,r a n g e ,a n ds e c t i o n .
A f o u r - w h e e ld r i v ev e h i c l e
or motorcycle i s recommended f o r access t o a11 o f t h e s e c t i o n s .
Locationsofstratigraphicsectionsand
m o s th o r i z o n a ld i s maps, a county
t a n c e s were d e r i v e d f r o m a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h s , f o r e s t
highway map, a n d t h e g e o l o g i c
(1961).
Rock samples,averaging
10 c u b i ci n c h e s ,
A l l rockspecimens
were slabbedandabout
most u n i t s .
made.
map ofPray
In t h e l i s t i n g
were c o l l e c t e d from
70 t h i n s e c t i o n s
of e a c hd e s c r i p t i v el i t h o l o g y ,t h ef i e l dd a t a
or t h i n s e c t i o n d a t a , b a s e d
m o d i f i e dw h e r ep o s s i b l eb ye i t h e rs l a b
binocularand/orpetrographicmicroscopeexamination.
was
on
The t h i n sec-
t i o n d a t e is designatedbybrackets.
M e g a f o s s i l c o l l e c t i o n s were made w h e r e p o s s i b l e w i t h p a r t i c u l a re m p h a s i s
on brachiopodsandcorals.Limestonesamplestobepro-
cessedforconodonts
were t a k e n a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s ( w h e r e p o s s i b l e )
i n Deadman Canyon and a t s c a t t e r e d l o c a l i t i e s e l s e w h e r e . F u s u l i n i d
samples were takenwhereverexamples
were s e e n i n t h e f i e l d . F a u n a l
l i s t s ( i nb r a c k e t s )f o re a c hs t r a t i g r a p h i cs e c t i o nf o l l o we a c hl i t h o g r a p h i cu n i td e s c r i p t i o n .
Terminology
TheWentworth
mentaryrockswasused,
(1972) c l a s s i f i c a t i o nf o rt e r r i g e n o u ss e d i in addition to the
5:o
more s p e c i f i c c l a s s i f i -
c a t i o n s by Dunham (1962) f o r c a r b o n a t e
rocks a n d P e t t i j o h n
(1957)
f o rs a n d s t o n e s .
Descriptivemodifiersareplacedinorderofincreasing
i m p o r t a n c ea d j a c e n tt ot h e
noun, i n t h e l i t h i c d e s c r i p t i o n s .
The w e a t h e r e d a n d f r e s h c o l o r d e t e r m i n a t i o n s
u s i n g t h e Rock C o l o r c h a r t d i s t r i b u t e d
were made
by t h e G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y
of America.
Features such as sorting
p r o c e d u r e so u t l i n e d
arethoseproposed
androundnessaredescribedusing
by Folk (1968).
The beddingthicknessparameters
by Ingram (1954).
A u n i t ,a su s e di nt h i si n v e s t i g a t i o n ,
a distinctlithologiccharacter,
a n dd i f f e r s
ofbeddingcharacterchanges.
i s d e f i n e da sh a v i n g
which is r e c o g n i z a b l e i n t h e f i e l d
f r o ms u p e r j a c e n ta n ds u b j a c e n tu n i t .
t h ea u t h o rh a ss u b d i v i d e d
i
a singlelithologic
I n some i n s t a n c e s ,
e n t i t e , on t h e b a s i s
A u n i t may change l a t e r a l l y a s well
as vertically.
51
B
B
B
PLATE I
1. Alamo Canyon S e c t i o n ( 3 ) .
B
Long Ridge.
View i s towardthenorth,from
The Bug SucffleLimestone
t h i sl o c a l i t ya s
a d e t r i t a lf a c i e s( d e l t a i c ) .S t u d i e di n t e r -
v a l( r i g h t - m e d i a ns i d e
o f photo)rangesfromeroded
t i o n( l o w e r
l e f t s i d eo fp h o t o )
unit(right
median s i d e o f p h o t o ) .
2, Muleshoe Canyon S e c t i o n ( 4 ) .
0
up t o j u s t
The Bug S c u f f l eL i m e s t o n e
thislocality(and
( l e f t s i d eo fp i c -
commonly a l o n gt h ee s c a r p m e n t )a s
Bug S c u f f l e c l i f f ( c a p s e s c a r p m e n t ) .
0
0
0
52
0
below l i g h t c o l o r e d
Member i s r e p r e s e n t e da t
s l o p e dc l i f f .S t u d i e di n t e r v a lr a n g e sf r o mb i o h e r m
o ft h e
dome p o s i -
View i s t o w a r dt h ee a s t ,f r o mt h e
TularosaBasin.NoteMississippianbioherm
ture).
0
Member i s p r e s e n t a t
a steepup t ob a s e
PJATE I1
1. U n i t 4-50, Packstone-wackestone.Uniquemarkerbedof
Des-
moinesianage,inthemiddlepartoftheescarpment.Phylloid
a l g a ea r et h e
light.
dominantallochems.Magnification
-
X 3.5, p o l a r i z e d
Sponge s p i c u l e s a r e dominate.
2. Unit 2-25, S i l i c i f i e d l i m e s t o n e .
M a g n i f i c a t i o n X 6.5, p o l a r i z e d l i g h t .
3 . U n t t 4-14, G r a i n s t o n e .C o a t e dg r a i n sa n do o l i t e sa r ec e m e n t e db y
m i c r o s p a rc a l c i t e .P e l m a t a z o a n , .f o r a m i n i f e r a ,a n do s t r a c o d e
allochems a r e common t ot h i sl i m e s t o n e .M a g n i f i c a t i o n
X 4.2,
crossed nicols.
4 . U n i t 1-26, Packstone.
Datum bed forthelowerGobblerFormation.
C h a r a c t e r i s t i cf o r a m i n i f e r ao f
Morrowan a g e .C o n d i t i o n so fb e i n g
s l i g h t l y r e c r y s t a l l i z e d and a l s o commonly s l i g h t l y s i l i c i f i e d a r e
t y p i c a lt ot h el i m e s t o n e so ft h e
f i c a t i o n X 4.2,
Lower GobblerFormation.Magni-
crossed nicols.
5. Unit 6-53, Subarkose.Notefeldspargraininthecentershowing.
t w i n n i n g .o p a q u eg r a i n sa r eg l a u c o n i t e ;
q u a r t z .M a g n i f i c a t i o n
-
large w h i t eg r a i n sa r e
X 4 . 2 , c r o s s e dn i c o l s .
6 . Unit 2-6, Siltstone.Bioturbatedandburrowed.Magnification
X 1, p o l a r i z e d l i g h t .
54
PLATE 111
1. Atokan
- Desmoinesiancontact,Grapevine
s i x - i n c hr u l e r
l a r andhas
lowerstratum
Canyon (5).
Hammer and
(?).The c o n t a c t i s angu-
mark t h i s l o c a l d i a s t e m
a s much a s s i x feet of relief i n l o c a l c h a n n e l s .
is a packstone,loaded
The upperstratum
The
w i t h p s e u d o z a p h r e n t o i d e s( c o r a l ) .
is a l i m e s t o n e c o n g l o m e r a t e w i t h c l a s t s a s l a r g e
a s two feet i n d i a m e t e r .
2. Helms Formation,mudcracks,Grapevine
Canyon (5).
S i x - i n c hr u l e r
lies upon s u r f a c e of a carbonatemudstonebed.Polygonalpatterns
a r e mud c r a c k c a s t s .
3 . Lower Morrowan sandstonesandconglomerates,
cobble-sizedmudstoneclastbehind
Mule Canyon (1).
Note
Dark p a r t of
hammer handle.
hammer handle is six i n c h e s i n l e n g t h .
4 . Channelsand,
Lower Morrowan, Alamo Canyon "west" l o c a l i t y .N o t i c e
troughcross-bedding.
5. Channelsand,
Canyon ( 1 ) .
UpperMorrowan,Mule
cross-bedding.Ruler
6. Channelsand,
Hammer head is 7 incheslong.
Note sets of p l a n a r
i s s i x inches i n length.
UpperMorrowan,
I n d i a n Wells (6).
marks planarcross-bedding.
56
S i x - i n c hr u l e r
Stratigraphic Section
6
I n d i a n Wells
General Location
The s e c t i o n was measured trending northeast in the
SWk ofSection
11, T.16.S,
R.lO.E.,
New Mexico.
OteroCounty,
Description of Locality
The s e c t i o n i s located3.75
and gravelroads,from
a point on U.S.
of its i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h
are:
70.
U.S.
t u r n east o f f of U.S.
miles n o r t h e a s t a l o n g
54,3.25
paved
miles n o r t h
local landmarksand
directions
54 on I n d i a n Wells S t r e e t andproceed
east 1.75 miles t o i t s intersection with Scenic Drive; proceed
east t h r o u g h t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n
and t u r n s o u t h a l o n g
miles; t u r n east, c r o s s b r i d g e a f t e r 0 . 3
miles followinggravelroad
a l l e y f o r 0.18
miles; proceed east 1.5
t o i t s end.Proceednortheast
on
foot to first north trending tributary.
The s e c t i o n b e g i n s i n t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d t r e n d i n g t r i b u -
tary.
Measurement is o f f s e t e a r l y
tributary.
t o t h en e x tn o r t ht r e n d i n g
The s e c t i o nt r e n d sg e n e r a l l yn o r t h
t o north-northwest.
General Remarks
The s e c t i o n was measuredAugust10-15,1974.
s e c t i o n i s generallypoorlyexposed,
The
especially i n t h e u p p e r p o r -
t ion.
The g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e o f t h e
averaging 150 t o thenorthwest.
57
strata is N 290 E w i t h . d i p s
Approximate Thickness
(in feet)
Lower
Atokan
Desmoinesian
Interval
155
Interval
Upper
Morrowan
Interval
Lower
Morrowan
Interval
55
57
Total
490
Unit
6-54
Lower
6-53
223
(ft.)
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone
and
Shale; olive black/buff; thin bedded,
rhythemitric, shale partings; distinct
white on black banding or streaks; forms
aslope,fairexposure;trace(debris)
5.0
Desmoinesian
Interval
Sandstone,
calcarous
subarkose;
light
olive graylmedium gray-buff; mediumvery coarse grained, angular-subrounded,
poor sorting, [point-concavo-convex
contracts]; glauconite; thin-thin medium
bedded; forms a ledge, good exposure;
(brachiopod,
moderate
coral)
15.0
12 .o
6-52
Covered
6-51
Limestone,
grainstone-packstone,
arenaceous; medium olive black-graylmedium
bedded,
gray-buff; glauconite; thin medium
minor crossbedding; coated grains; forms
a ledge, good exposure; abundant (brachiopod, pelmatazoan, bryozoan, coral)
N7OE 14ONW
5.3
6-50
siltstone
probably
Covered;
45.0
58
Unit
6-49
6-48
Lithology
Thickness
(ft
.)
S a n d s t o n e ,f e r r u g e n i cc a l c a r e o u s
p r o t o q u a r t z i t e ;g r a y i s ho r a n g e - l i g h to l i v e
gray/buff;coarse-granulegrained,suba n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,[ p o i n tc o n t a c t s ] ;
glauconite,ferrugenic;thin
medium bedded,
minorcrossbedding;forms
a ledge, good
exposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,bryozoan,
b r a cfhuoisosutplro
iandci,odd, e )
4.8
Limestone,mudstone,andSiltstone;
lightgray-yellowishbrowdbuff;laminatedt h i n bedded;poorexposure;unfossiliferous
5.5
6-47
Covered
6-46
Sandstone,calcareoussubgraywacke;
g r a y i s ho r a n g e - l i g h tg r a y / b u f f ;
mediumcoarse grained, subangular,, fair-poor
sorting,[concavo-convexcontacts];
g l a u c o n i t e ,f e l d s p a r ,f e r r u g e n i c ;t h i n t h i n medium bedded;coatedgrains
(?),
minorconglomerate a t t h e b a s e ; a ledge
c o n s t i t u e n t , good exposure;trace(pelfusulinids)
bryozoan,
matazoan,
6.5
Limestone,packstone-wackestone,slightly
s i l t y ; medium o l i v e g r a y - l i g h t o l i v e
brown/
medium d a r k g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y r e c r y s tallized or silicified; thin
medium bedded,
algal"texture";forms
a minorledge, good
exposure;moderate-abundant(pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,gastropod,bryozoan,algae,
coral)
5.0
6-45
6-44
6-43
15.0
S i l t s t o n e andShale,limy;lightgray
/ l i g h tt a n - b u f f ;f i s s i l e - t h i nb e d d e d ,p o o r
exposure;moderate(brachiopod,pelmatazoan)
[brachiopod:Neospirifersp.,Desmoinesiasp.,
Composita
Beecheria
sp.,
sp.]
6-44'
probably
Covered;
59
5.0
60.0
Unit
6 -42
Lithology
Thickness
( f t.I
Sandstone,ferrugenouscalcareousprotoquartzite; dark yellowish brown-moderate
b r o w d l i g h tt a n - b u f f ;v e r yf i n e - m e d i u m
grained,subrounded,
fair s o r t i n g ;m i c a ,
b i o c l a s t s ; t h i n - t h i n medium bedded,biot u r b a t e d ;f a i n tc o l o rb a n d i n g ;f o r m s
a
ledge, good exposure;moderate(brachiopod,
pelmatazoan)
N70°E 13ONW
5.2
6-41
Covered
6-40
Limestone,packstone;oliveblacko l i v eg r a y / b u f f ;t h i nb e d d e d ;m o d e r a t e
(foraminifera,pelmatazoan,bryozoan,
brachiopod)
0.4
L i m e s t o n e ,g r a i n s t o n e ;o l i v eb l a c k - l i g h t
a minor
g r a y / b u f f ; t h i n bedded;forms
ledge, good exposure;moderate(fusulinid,
brachiopod,pelmatazoan)
0.6
S i l t s t o n e ,c a l c a r e o u s ;m i c a ;l a m i n a t e d t h i n bedded; rare e x p o s u r e ;t r a c e ( p e l matazoan,brachiopod)[brachiopod:
Linoproductus s p . ]
3.0
6-39
6-38
13.0
6-37
Covered
6-36
S a n d s t o n e ,p r o t o q u a r t z i t e ,c a l c a r e o u s ;
medium o l i v e - y e l l o w i s h g r a y f b u f f ; f i n e medium grained,subrounded,
fairsorting;
g l a u c o n i t e , mica, f e r r u g e n i c ;t h i n bedded,
bioturbated;minorbench,
f a i r exposure;
moderate-abundant(coral,brachiopod,
pelmatazoan,bryozoan,plant)
6-35
10.0
2.2
10.3
Covered
Partial thickness of
Interval
60
Lower Desmoinesian
223.0
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.1
Atokan I n t e r v a l
6-34
L i m e s tgornaei,n s t oglnrieav;ye / b u f f ;
g l a u c o n i t e , mica, q u a r t z ; t h i n bedded,
s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;f o r m s
a bench, good
e x p o s u r e ;a b u n d a n t( f u s u l i n i d ,c o r a l ,
pelmatazoan,foraminifera,gastropod,
bryozoan)[brachiopod:Linoproductus
SP.
1
6-33
6-32
Limestone,mudstone,SiltstoneandShale;
medium g r a y - l i g h t g r a y j b u f f ;
fissilet h i n bedded; p a r t i a l l yc o v e r e d ,p o o r l y
(pelmatazoan)
trace
exposed;
S a n d s t o n e ,p r o t o q u a r t z i t e ,f e r r u genous,calcareous;moderateyellowish
brownlbuff;fine-mediumgrained,suba n g u l a r ,f a i r - g o o ds o r t i n g ;g l a u c o n i t e ;
t h i n bedded,burrowed,bioturbated,
a bench,goods h a l ep a r t i n g s ;f o r m s
f a i r ( de extbprraoicsseu) r e ;
6 - 3shale
1
probably
Covered;
6-30
6-29
9.0
30.0
14.0
44.0
Conglomerate,arenaceous,limy;grayish
black-olive gray-grayish red/yellow-buff;
medium-pebble grained,subangular,poor
sorting,floating-concavo-convexcontacts;
t h i n bedded,blocky;topsurfacehas
retangularcoloredbands;forms
a broken
minorledge,fair-goodexposure;
trace
(pelmatazoan,coral)
o f f s e t t o t h e n e x t west t r i b u t a r y
1.0
Covered
5.0
61
Unit
6-28
Lithology
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ,f e r r u g e n i c ;
verylightgray-yellowishgray/buff;
medium-very coarse-granulegrained,suba n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,[ s t y l o t i t i c
contacts]; mica;verythickbedded,crossbedding,gradedbedding;
r i l l marks (?) on
s u r f a c e ,t o p2 - 3
f t . darkerandcoarser:
forms a- l e d g e ; t r a c e ( b r a c h i o p o d )
N27OE
14ONW
6-27
Covered
6-26
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ,f e r r u g e n i c ;
grayish orange-dark yellowish orange/
b u f f ;f i n e - c o a r s eg r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,
poorsorting;verythickbedded,crossa ledge, good exposure;
bedding;forms
trace ( p l a n t )
6-25
Thickness
(ft )
.
33.0
16.0
S h a l e ;b l a c k / b u f f ;
mica; f i s s i l e
bedded;forms
a s l o p e , fair exposure;
unfossiliferous
P a r t i a l t h i c k n e s s of A t o k a n I n t e r v a l
10.0
7.0
155.0
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
Covered
6-24
7.0
S a6n- 2d 3sptroont oe ,q u a rf tezrirtueg, e n i c ;
grayishorange-moderatebrown/buff;
fine-mediumgrained,angular,poor
s o r t i n g ;g l a u c o n i t e , mica; t h i n bedded;
forms a minorledge,
f a i r exposure;
abundant-moderate(pelmatazoan,bryozoan,brachiopod,plant)
N27OE 1 4 O W
62
2.2
Unit
6-22
6-21
6-20
Lithology
Thickness
Ut.)
S a n d s t o n e ,p r o t o q u a r t z i t e ,f e r r u g e n i o u s
c a l c a r e o u s ;g r a y i s hr e d ,g r a y i s ho r a n g e /
buff;mica,glauconite;laminated-thin
alterb e d d i n g ,s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;d i s t i n c t
nating color banding from pinkish white
t o maroonish p u r p l e ; forms a s l o p e , f a i r
exposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,bryozoan,
brachiopod) [brachiopod:. Sandia welleri
( M a t h e r ) ,P u n c t o s p i r i f e r sp., Anthrac o s p i r i f e r n e w b e r r v i ( s u t h e r l a n d h Harlow),
C l e i o t h v r i d i n a sp.]
probablyCovered;
7.5
4.0
6-22
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ,c a l c a r e o u s ;
y e l l o w i s h g r a y f b u f f ; medium-very c o a r s e
g r a i n e d ,s u b r o u n d e df a i rs o r t i n g ,
concavo-convex t o s t y l o l i t i c c o n t a c t s ;
l i m e s t o n e g r a i n s ; medium-very t h i c k bedded,
c r o s s b e d d i n g ;f o r m sa ni n t e r m i t t e n tl e d g e ,
euxnpfoosfsuasr2i erl2i;.f0e r o u s
6-19
0.8
Limestone,grainstone; medium g r a y / b u f f ;
t h i n bedded;sharpuppercontact;forms
a discontinuousbench,rareexposure;
(pelmatazoan) moderate
6- 18
6- 17
Limestone,wackestone;brownishblackdarkgray/buff;thin
bedded,wavy;
forms a minor "ledge", rare exposure;
abundant(foraminifera,pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,
bryozoan,
sponge
spicules)
0.22
Shale and interbedded Limestone,
wackestone;gray-black/darkgray-buff;
f i s s i l eb e d d e d - s h a l e ,t h i nb e d d e d - l i m e s t o n e ,n o d u l a r ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,f a i r
(brachiopod)
2.2
trace
exposure;
3.0
6-16
shale probably
Covered;
P a r t i a l t h i c k n e s s ofUpper
Interval
63
Morrowan
55.0
Unit
Lower
6-15
6-
14
(ft.1
Morrowan
Interval
Limestone,
packstone-grainstone;
dark
yellowish brown, medium olive gray/buff;
glauconite; medium bedded, shale partings;
light bluish gray chert stringers; forms
a bench, fair exposure; moderate-abundant
(bryozoan, pelmatazoan, foraminifera,
coral)
4.6
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black-gray/buff;
thin bedded; coated grains, black-blue
gray chert nodules and layers; forms
a
bench and ledge, fair-good exposure;
moderate (gastropod, pelmatazoan, brachiopod)
N3SoE 20oNW
2.2
6- 13
Covered
8.5
6-12
Sandstone,
orthoquartzite,
ferrugenious;
grayish orange, pale brown/buff; medium
coarse grained, subangular, fair sorting,
concavo-convex to stylolitic contacts;
thin-medium bedded; crossbedding; basal
conglomerate 6 in. thick; formsa ledge
and bench, fair exposure; trace (plant)
N80W 2 5
15.5
6-11
Shale;
black/buff;
fissile-laminated
bedded; forms a slope, rare exposure;
unfossiliferous
6- 10
6-9
shale
probably
Covered;
2.0
9.0
Limestone,
packstone;
medium
olive
gray-dusky yellow/buff; glauconite;
thin bedded, mottled; forms
a ledge,
good exposure; abundant (brachiopod,
bryozoan, pelmatazoan, pelecypod, coral,
algae)
NISOE 14%
offset east to next tributary
64
1.2
Unit
Lithology
6-8
sp.]
6-7
6-6
6-5
6-4
Thickness
(ft )
.
Limestone,
wackestone;
blackolive
g r a y i s ho r a n g e / b u f f ;p a r t i a l l y
silicified or recrystallized; thin
bedded,
shalepartings,algal
"mat", wavy;
forms a ledge,fair-goodexposure;
abundant-moderate(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,
bryozoan,foraminifera)[brachiopod:
AntracosDirifer
2.0
1.3
shale black
probably
Covered;
Limestone,
packstone;
yellowish
dark
b r o w d g r a y i s h o r a n g e - b u f f ;f e r r u g e n i c
c o a t i n g s ;t h i n bedded,mottled;coated
g r a i n s ;f o r m s a minorledge,
fair
exposure;moderate(bryozoan,pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,
foraminifera,
algae)
2.3
Sahraelne a, c esbiollaut cys k,; / o r a n g e brown-buff; f i s s i l e bedded; s l o p e
unfossiliferous
constituent,poorexposure;
0.15
Shale,
arenaceous;
black,
tan-brown/olive,
maroon, g r a y - b u f f ;f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e db e d d e d ;
forms a ledge,poorexposure,trace
(brachiopod)
0.8
6-3
Covered, c toaul luds ;
6-2
Limestone, s i l i c i f i e d ; medium l i g h t
gray-lightgray/tan,green,blue-buff;
thin-mediumbedded,nodular,wavy;
c o a t e dg r a i n s ,l i m o n i t ec r y s t a l s
and
c o n c r e t i o n s ,f i s s u r e s ;f o r m s
a discontinuousledge,fairexposure;moderate
(pelmatazoan)
N6oE 20OW
P a r t i at hl i c k n e sosf
Interval
65
be s i l 6t s. 5t o n e
Lower Morrowan
3.0
57.0
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft .I
Tierra Blanca Member (Mississippian)
6-1
Limestone, grainstone;
yellowish
gray/
mediumb u f f ; partiallyrecrystallized;
very thick bedded; lightbluish gray
chertnodules,limonite
replacement;
forms a c l i f f , good exposure; abundant
(pelmatazoan, brachiopod)
N7OE 14%
5.0
3
Stratigraphic Section
Alamo Canyon
General Location
The s e c t i o n was measured trending north-northeast
i n t h e W/2 o f S e c t i o n
6 , T. 16.S., R . U . E . ,
OteroCounty,
New
Mexico.
D e s c r i p t i o n of L o c a l i t y
The s e c t i o n i s l o c a t e d 7.7 m i l e s e a s t a l o n g
1.5 miles n o r t h of i t s i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h U.S. 70.
Local
2.5 miles fromhighway
landmarksanddirectionsare:
s e c t i o n t u r n e a s t on 1st. S t r e e t ; p r o c e e d
turnsoutheast
U.S. 54,
a point on
g r a v e l , and dirt-arroya bottom roads from
paved,
inter-
east one mile and
on Canyon Road; proceed 1.8 m i l e s s o u t h e a s t
and a l a r g e w a t e r t a n k ( s i l v e r ) c a n
be seen on t h e s o u t h s i d e
of the road; proceed southeast another
1.0 m i l e a n d t u r n e a s t
i n t o Alamo Canyon; proceed as f a r as p o s s i b l e by v e h i c l e o r
foot for approximately
3.9 m i l e s .
The s e c t i o n b e g i n s i n
a northeast trending
main
t r i b u t a r y a n df o l l o w st h i st r i b u t a r yi nt h el o w e rh a l f ,t h e n
trends in a northeast direction.
General Remarks:
The s e c t i o n was measured J u l y 3-14, 1974.
s e c t i o n i n g e n e r a l is well exposed, but the largest
of igceous sills anddikeswerefound
undoubtedlyalteringthetruenature
67
at this local,
of t h e s t r a t a .
This
amount
The g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e of t h e strata i s N70oW w i t h
dipsaveraging
27O t o t h e n o r t h e a s t .
Approximate Thickness
(in feet)
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
241
Atokan Interval
155
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
124
Lower Morrowan I n t e r v a l
91
6 12
Total
Unit
3-73
Lithology
.
Thickness
(ft
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone,
and
S h a l e ;o l i v eb l a c k / b u f f ;t h i nb e d d e d ,
r h y t h m e t r i c ,s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;d i s t i n c t
whiteonblackbanding;forms
a slope,
( ed xetpbr oraficsasuei)r e ;
5.0
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
3-72
3-71
Limestone,
mudstone,
interbedded
and
S h a l e , s i l t y ; darkgray-grayishblack/
buff;laminatedbedded-shale,thin
b e d d e d - l i m e s t o n e ;s i l t . p w t i n g s ;f o r m s
a slope, f a i r e x p o s u ruen; f o s s i l i f e r o u s
1.5
Conglomerate,arenaceous,limy;grayb l a c k - g r a y i s ho r a n g e / b u f f ;f i n e - p e b b l e
grained,angular-subrounded,poorsorting,
f l o a t i n g - p o i n tc o n t a c t s ;f e l d s p a rg r a i n s ,
g l a u c o n i t e ,l i m e s t o n ep e b b l e s ;t h i nb e d d e d ;
forms a minorledge,
f a i re x p o s u r e ,m o d e r a t e
(pelmatazoan,
algae)
bryozoan,
0.2
68
0
0
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
0
(ft
.I
3-70
Limestone,
packstone,
silty;
dark
yellowish brown/buff; thin bedded,
shale partings; gradation lower
contact; formsa discontinous ledge,
fair-good exposure; abundant (brachiopod,
pelmatazoan, bryozoan) [brachiopod:
Kozlowskia havdenensis (Girty), Neespirifer sp., Buxtonias p . , LinoDroductus
sp., Phricodothvris sp., Crurithvris sp.,
Punctospirifer sp., Anthracospirifer sp.] 3.1
3-69
Conglomerate, limy; moderate yellowish
browdbuff; medium-granule grained,
subangular, poor sorting; limy matrix,
glauconite, limestone and quartz
granules; thin bedded; forms
a ledge,
good exposure; moderate (bryozoan, coral,
brachiopod, pelmatazoan)
2.1
3-68
Sandstone, protoquartzite, limy; light
olive graylbuff; fine-medium grained,
subrounded, fair sorting; glauconite,
mica; thin-thick bedded, silty-shale
partings, crossbedded; formsa ledge,
good exposure; trace (brahiopod)
29.9
3-67
Covered, probably 3-66or 3-68
11.8
3-66
Sandstone, protoquartzite; dark yellowish
browdbuff: medium-coarse - grained, subangular, poor sorting; glauconite, mica,
limestone grains; laminated-thin bedded;
forms a slope, poor exposure; trace (plant) 7.0
3-65
Sandstone, protoquartzite, ferrugenious
and Limestone, packstone; dark-moderate
yellowish browdbuff; fine grained, subrounded, fair-good; ferrugenious coatings;
thin bedded; clay galls and nodules; caps
top of ledge, fair exposure; abundant
(brachiopod, gastropod, pelmatazoan, coral) 2.0
69
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft
.)
3-64
Sandstone, protoquartzite, ferrugenious,
micaceous; dark yellowish brownlbuff;
fine-medium grained, angular, fair
sorting, point contacts ; glauconite,
mica, ferrugenious coatings, limestone
grains; medium-very thick bedded, crossbedded; forms a ledge, good exposure;
trace
30.0
3-63
Siltstone, argillaceous; tan-gray/
buff; mica; laminated-thin bedded; clay
nodules and galls; forms bottom of
ledge,
fair
exposure;
trace
(plant)
23.0
Shale, silty,and Partially Covered;
tan-gray/buff; mica; fissile-laminated
bedded; formsa slope, poor exposure;
trace (brachiopod)
49.0
(plant)
3-62
3-61
coral)
Limestone, packstone, and Siltstone,
limy; medium dark
gray-tadbuff; finecoarse grained; glauconite, mica,
ferrugenious coatings;, thin beddedlimestone, laminated-siltstone, shale
partings; formsa slope, fair exposure;
trace-moderate (pelmatazoan, brachiopod,
bryozoan,
27.0
Limestone, packstone, arenaceous; grayish
black-olive blacklbuff; mica, glauconite,
feldspar grains; thin bedded, coated
grains; caps ledge,good exposure;
moderate-trace (brachiopod, coral, pelmaforaminifera) tazoan,
2.4
3-60
3-59
0
Limestone, grainstone; rose-pale reddish
brown-light gray/buff; glauconite, mica;
medium bedded, cross-bedded; basal contact
is a weathered yellow zone, arenaceous in
upper portion; formsa ledge, good exposure;
abundant (pelmatazoan, brachiopod, bryozoan,
coral)
N80% 21°N
11.0
70
e
"
Unit
3-58
(ft
Limestone,
packstone;
grayish
brown/
buff; ferrugenic coatings, glauconite;
medium bedded; coated grains; forms
bottom of ledge, good exposure;
moderate-abundant (brachiopod, pelmataforaminifera,
zoan,
bryozoan)
3-57 shaleprobably
Covered;
Partial
Atokan
.)
4.7
49.7
thickness
Interval
of
Lower
Desmoinesian
241.0
Interval
3-56
Siltstone,
limy,
Shale
and
Limestone,
mudstone; olive gray-grayish black/buff;
fine grained; mica; fissile-thin bedded,
bioturbated; sand casts; forms
a slope,
fair exposure; trace (pelmatazoan, sponge
spicules, debris)
N48W 21ONE
20.0
3-55
Conglomerate,
limy,
argillaceous;
grayish
black-olive black/buff; fine-pebble grained,
angular, poor sorting, floating contacts;
limy matrix, quartz pebbles, feldspar grains,
glauconite; thin bedded; forms
a minor ledge,
fair exposure; trace (coral, pelmatazoan)
0.86
3-54
Shale; gray-black/buff; fissile bedded;
forms a slope, fair exposure; unfossili17.1
ferous
3-53
Covered;
probably
shale
3- 52
Conglomerate, arenaceous, limy; grayish
black-olive gray-grayish red/yellow-buff;
medium-pebble grained, subangular,
sorting, concavo-convex to stylolitic contacts;
mica; very thick bedded, cross-bedded; top
3 ft. weathers rust-maroon: formsa massive
ledge, good exposure; unfossiliferous
N53%39%
offset 5-70 yards west
28.0
71
12 .o
a
a
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(Et.
0
3-51
Covered;
probably
shale
3-50
S a n d sot rotnheo,q u a ryt ze il tl eo;w i s h
gray/buff ; medium-granule grained, suba n g u l a r ,f a i r - p o o rs o r t i n g ,c o n c a v o convex t o - s t y l o l i t i c c o n t a c t s ; m i c a ;
v e r y t h i c k bedded,cross-bedded;top
3 ft.
a massive
weathersrust-maroon;forms
ledge, good e x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
0
N530W 39%
o f f s e t 50-70 yards west
28.0
3-49
Covered;probablyblackshale
33.7
3-48
Igneous s i l l
21.0
3-47
Conglomerate,arenaceous,argillaceous;
l i g h to l i v eg r a y l b u f f ;f i n e - p e b b l eg r a i n e d ,
a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,p o i n t
to stylolitic
c o n t a c t s ;m i c a ,c l a yp e b b l e - c l a s t s ;
l a m i n a t e d - t h i n bedded; c l a y g a l l s ; s l o p e
c o n s t i t u e n pt ,o oerx p o s u r et r; a c(ep l a n t )
0
0
4.9
a
P a r t i a tl h i c k n e s s
of
Atokan
Interval
155.0
1.1
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
0
3-46
a
3-45
Sandstone,
subgraywacke;
medium o l i v e
graylduskyyellowishgreen-maroon,buff;
veryfine-mediumgrained,subangular,poor
sorting, [concavo-convex to s t y l o l i t i c
contacts] ; mica,limestonegrains;thin
a slope,
bedded, s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;f o r m s
f a i re x p o s u r e ;t r a c e( b r y o z o a n ,p e l m a t a zoan,plant)
Shale and Partially Covered; black/
a
buff;fissile-laminatedbedded;forms
s l o p e ,f a i r - p o o re x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
1.6
4.5
a
72
0
1
e
Unit
Lithology
3-44
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ;y e l l o w i s h
gray/buff;medium-granulegrained,angular,
poor sorting, concavo-convex contacts;
some limestonegrains;thin-mediumbedded,
g r a d e d ;m i n o rl e d g ef o r m e r ,f a i re x p o s u r e ;
unfossiliferous
0
0
3-43
0
3-42
I)
3-41
0
3-40
bryozoan)
0
S h a l e ;g r a y i s hb l a c k / y e l l o w i s h
brownb u f f ; f i s s i l e b e d d e d ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
p o o r - f a i re x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
Conglomerate,limestone;olivegraymedium g r a y / b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ,
p y r i t e ; t h i n bedded,wavy,nodular;
i n t r a f o r m a t i o n a l ; f o r m s a minorledge,
fair-goodexposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,pelecypod,bryozoan)
S h a l e ,s l i g h t l yl i m y ;g r a y i s hb l a c k / b u f f ;
mica;fissile-laminatedbedded;forms
slope,poorexposure;moderate(brachiopods)
1.9
a
Limestone,packstone;olivegray-dark
g r a y f b u f f ;g l a u c o n i t e ;t h i nb e d d e d ;
a minorledge,
good
coatedgrains;forms
exposure;abundant(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,
pelecypod,
1.9
3.0
Sandstone,subgraywacke;olivegrayfmaroonbuff;veryfine-mediumgrained,subangular,
; mica;
f a i rs o r t i n g ,f l o a t i n g - p o i n tc o n t a c t s
t h i n bedded,burrowed,bioturbated,shale
partings;limestonenodules;forms
a slope,
f a i re x p o s u r e ;t r a c t( b r a c h i o p o d ,p l a n t )
N160W 50%
3.6
3-38
Shale,limy;
medium gray/olive-maroon,buff;
pyrite;laminatedbedding;forms
a s l o p e , good
e x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
3.1
3-37
Igneous s i l l
9.6
73
0
0.20.5
3-39
0
0
6.7
Unit
Lithology
3-36
S h a sl el i,g h t l y
s i l t y and limy; o l i v e
gray-darkgray/buff;mica;laminated
f a i r expob e d d i n g ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
sure;
unfossiliferous
3-35
Thickness
(ft )
3-36
Covered;
probably
.
1.8
1.5
3-34
Limestone,
grainstone;
medium dark
grayo l i v e g r a y / b u f f ; medium bedded; forms a
ledge, good exposure;abundant(pelmatabrachiopod)
bryozoan,
man,
3-32
Limestone,
packstone-grainstone;
olive
gray-medium g r a y / b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ;t h i nb e d d e d ;f o r m s
a minor
ledge, fairexposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,
debris)
2.9
1.78
3-31a
Sandstone,
subgraywacke,
limy,
and
Siltstone;
olivegray-oliveblack/buff;silty-veryfine
grained;quartzandlimestonegrains,mica;
a slope,
laminated-thinbedded,mottled;forms
f a i re x p o s u r e ;t r a c t( p l a n t )
10.0
o f f s e t measurement
3-31
Igneous
dike,
camptonite;
light greenish
gray-moderate yellowish greedbrowngreen-buff;diketrendsalongminorfault
possibly
3-30
Limestone,
packstone;
dark
graymedium g r a y / b u f f ; g l a u c o n i t e ; t h i n
bedded;
capsledge,poor-goodexposure;moderate
(pe1matazoan;debris)
74
10.0
0.5
Unit
(ft
.)
3-29
Limestone,
packstone;
medium
dark
grayolive gray/buff; glauconite, pyrite; thin
bedded, shale partings; intraformational
conglomeratic basal zone (arenaceous,
limy matrix), has a distinct 1 ft. thick
tan-rust weathered zone 5at
ft. above
base; formsa ledge,,good exposure; abundant
(pelmatazoan, brachmpod, wood, bryozoan) 12.4
3-28
Limestone, packstone; olive graylmedium
gray-buff; thin bedded, mottled;
forms a
ledge, good exposure; abundant (pelmatazoan,
2.0
foraminifera,
bryozoan)
coral,
3-27
Limestone, wackestone, and Shale; olive
black/medium dark gray-buf
f ; mica; thin
bedded-limestone, laminated bedded-shale,
nodular, wavy; slope constituent, fair
exposure; abundant (brachiopod, pelmatazoan,
sponge spicules) [brachiopod: Antiquatonia
coloradoensis (Girty), Desmoinesia sp.; coral:
1.3
Amplexocarinia corru.zata (Mather)]
3-26
Limestone, packstone; brownish black/
dark gray-buff; mica, ferrugenic coating
on grains; thin bedded, mottled; bituminous;
slope constituent, fair exposure; moderate
(foraminifera, pelmatazoan, brachiopod,
0.8
algae)
3-25
Limestone, wackestone, silty, and Shale;
brownish blackldark gray-buff; mica, pyrite;
fissile-thin bedded; slope constituent, poor
exposure;trace(brachiopod,pelmatazoan)
2.8
3-24
Limestone, packsgone; medium dark gray/
green, red, buff; partially silicified, mica,
glauconite; thin bedded, algal (?);
mat
slope constituent, poor exposure; trace
(pelmatazoan, brachiopod)
0.87
N52W 2 l0NE
,
Unit
Lithology
3-23
Limestone,
wackestone;
olive
black/
medium,darkgray-buff;partiallysilicif i e d and r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ; t h i n b e d d e d ,
n o d u l a r , wavy;forms
a slope,poor
exposure;abundant(brachiopod,pelmataman)[brachiopod:Antiauatoniacolora d o e n s i s ( G i r t y ) , Linoproductus s p . ,
Spirifer cf.
(?) s p . , P h r i c o d o t h v r i s s p .
1.2
P a r t i a l l y Covered, Shale and Siltstone;
g r a y - b l a c k / l i g hg tr e e n - b u f f i; s s i l e - t h i n
bedded;coveredpart-probablyshale;forms
a slope,poorexposure;trace(brachiopod)
4.7
3-22
.
Thickness
( f t .I
3S
- 2h1asliel i, c i f im
e do;d e rbaltuegi sr ahy brownishblack/buff;mica;laminated-thin
bedded; forms a slope,poorexposure;
t r a c e( b r a c h i o p o d )
Covered;
3-20probably
shale
gray
3-19
0.87
28.0
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
gray/medi&
g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ,g l a u c o n i t e ; t h i n bedded; i r o n c o n c r e t i o n s ,
a minor
blue-graychertstringers;forms
ledge,fairexposure;moderate-abundant
(pelmatazoan,foraminifera,brachiopod,
o s t r a c o d e ,d e b r i s )
3-Covered;
18 probably
gray s h a l e
P a r t i a l t h i c k n e s s ofUpper
Interval
2.5
5.7
Morrowan
124-0
D
B
y
Unit
Ut.)
*
b
LowerMorrowan
Interval
3-Limestone,
17
packstone;
o l i v e black/medium
g r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,g l a u c o n i t e ;t h i nb e d d e d ;i r o ns t a i n e dc o n c r e t i o n s ,c o a t e dg r a i n s ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
f a i r exposure;abundant(coral,bryozoan,
pelmatazoan,foraminifera,brachiopod,
algae)
N710W24ONE
3- 16
3-15
0
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black/
medium d a r k g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y
silicif i e d and r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ; t h i n b e d d e d ;
caps Ledge,good
exposure;abundant
(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,coral,foraminifera, bryozoan,algae)
1.1
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black/
medium gray-buff;thin-mediumbedded;
bioturbated;blackchert
seam andnodules;
l e d g ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
good exposure;moderate
(pelmatazoan, f o r a m i n i f e r a ,s p o n g es p i c u l e s ,a l g a e
(?>)
5.2
3- 14
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black/medium
g r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l yr e c r y s t a l l i z e d
and
s i l i c i f i e d : t h i n bedded, s h a l ep a r t i n g s ,
m o t t l e d ;d a r kg r a yc h e r tn o d u l e s ;l e d &
c o n s t i t u e n t , good exposure;moderate(foraminifera, pelmatazoan,bryozoan,brachiopod,
pelecypod,algae)
N6OoW 2OoNE
4.1
3- 13
Limestone;
olive
gray/medium
gray-buff;
p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ; medium bedded;gray
a ledge, goodexpochertnodules;forms
s u r e ;m o d e r a t e( b r a c h i o p o d ,f o r a m i n i f e r a ,
bryozoan,pelmatazoan,gastropod,coral,
algae)
N75% 27ONE
0
I,
..
0
0.4
77
3.2
logy
Unit
(debris)
(ft.)
3- 12
Limestone,
packstone,
arenaceous;
olive
blacklmedium gray-buff; mica; thin
bedded; formsa slope, fair exposure;
trace
0.6
3-11
Sandstone,
subgraywacke,
argillaceous;
olive gray, moderate pale yellowish
brownlmedium gray-buff; fine-medium
grained, angular, poor sorting, floating
contacts; some portions have an opaline
matrix, glauconite, mica, limestone
grains; laminated-thin bedded, bioturbated; bituminous; formsa slope, fair
exposure; trace (brachiopod)
N73W 25ONE
5.8
3- 10
Shale,' arenaceous; blackldark gray-buff;
glauconite, mica; fissile-laminated
bedded, burrowed; sand casts; forms
a
slope, good-fair exposure; moderate
(brachiopod)
3-9
3-10
probably
Covered;
3.0
11.7
3- 8
Sandstone, orthoquartzite, calcareous;
yellowish graylbuff; medium-very coarse
grained, subangular, poor sorting,,
floating-stylolitic contacts; glauconite,
mica; laminated-thin bedded; slope constituent, fair exposure; trace (pelmatazoan,
plant)
N70°W 260NE
4.2
3-7
Shale; blackldark gray-buff; mica; fissile
bedded; slope constituent, poor exposure;
unfossiliferous
0.54
3-6
Shale, silty and slightly limy; olive
black/medium dark gray-buff; mica;
laminated bedding, nodular; forms
a
slope,
fair
exposure;
unfossiliferous
78
..
0.56
Lithology
Unit
Thickness
(ft.1
Limestone,
3-5 mudstone,
argillaceoussilty, and Shale; olive black/medium
gray-buff; thin bedded-limestone,
laminated bedding-shale; forms
a slope,
poor exposure; trace (brachiopod, debris)
18.2
N700W 36ONE
3-4
Shale; black/dark gray, brown, yellowbuff; laminated-fissile bedded; caliche
veins; formsa slope, poor exposure;
trace (brachiopod)
10.0
3-3
Siltstone, limy and argillaceous;
yellowish gray-pale olive/pale greenish
yellow-buff; partially silicified, glauconite; thin-laminated bedded, nodular;
coated grains, gypsum-caliche replacement
veins; formsa slope, poor-fair exposure;
trace-abundant (pelmatazoan, bryozoan,
pelecypod,
brachiopod,
19.9
plant)
3-2a
Sandstone, orthoquartzite; conglomeratic
zones; found in the "west" Alamo Canyon
60.0
locality
3-2
Tierra
3-1
3-3
probably
Covered;
Blanca
3 .O
Partial
thickness
Interval
of
Member
(Mississippian)
Lower
Morrowan
Limestone,grainstone;lightolivegray/
olive gray-yellowish gray, light gray;
[stylolitic contacts]; partially recrystallized; medium-very thick bedded;
white-moderate bluish gray chert nodules;
resistant cliff, good exposure; moderate
(pelmatazoan)
N60W 27"NE
5.0
79
9
0
Stratigraphic-'Section 1
e
Mule Canyon
General Location
The s e c t i o n was measured trending approximately
0
NW/4 S e c t i o n 15, T.17.S, R.lO.E, OteroCounty,
e a s t - w e s ti nt h e
New Mexico.
e
D e s c r i p t i o n of L o c a l i t y
The s e c t i o n i s l o c a t e d 5.25 miles s o u t h e a s t a l o n g
pavedand
e
soofu t h
dirtroads,
from a p o i n t on U.S. 5 4 , 0.65 miles
i t s i n t e r s e cw
t iiot nh
a n dd i r e c t i o n s
are:
70.
U.S.
t u r n east o f fo f
marks
Local
land
U.S.
54 andproceed
east, passingCountryClubandgravelpitoperation,for
0
0.95 miles; tsuor un t h
0 . 3 5 miles; veer i n a
proceed
and
s o u t h e a s t d i r e c t i o n f o r 1.5 m i l e s ; t u r n
f o r 0.95 m i l e st o
0
i t s end
/
a
l o c a ls u r r o u n d i n g si n c l u d e
cement-lined pond, woodent hseb
ohraftuahascin
enkds ,
escarpment;walk
1.5 miles east t h r o u g h t h e
The s e c t i o n b e g i n s i n
a
east and follow road
maincanyon.
a minornortheasttrending
t r i bcuotianrcyi d i n g
w i easternmost
t h theexposure
of
Mississippianbeds.
The s e c t i o nt r e n d s
N800E withonlyone
minor o f f s e t t o t h e n e x t t r i b u t a r y t o t h e s o u t h e a s t ,
0
spart
e ct ht ieoonf.
moitcdhcdeulirenr i n g
General Remarks
@
The s e c t i o n was measuredJune
15-21, 1974.
section essentially coincides with Pray's type section
80
0
This
of
It is poorly
t h eP e n n s y l v a n i a ni nt h i sm o u n t a i nr a n g e .
exposed i n t h e
basal p o r t i o n and i n t e r v a l s u n d e r l y i n g
thicksandstoneunits,but
f a i r t o well exposed i n o t h e r
parts o f t h e s e c t i o n .
The g e n e r a l s t r i k e o f t h e
N35W
'
t o N33'E
withdipsrangingfrom
s t r a t a averagesfrom
4O
t o 25O t o t h e
n o r t h e a s t and southwest respectively.
Approximated Thickness
(in feet)
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
37 1
Atokan I n t e r v a l
141
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
103
Lower Morrowan I n t e r v a l
75
-
. Total
6 90
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.)
Bug Scuffle Limestone Member
1- 50
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black-grayish
black-light bluish grayhedium gray-buff;
p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ; thin-mediumbedded;
d i s t i n c t l e d g e and c l i f f f o r m e r , well
exposed;moderate(fusulinid,pelmatazoan,
debris)
'
5.0
Lower Desmoinesian Interval
shale
e
probably
Covered;
11.0
1-49
81
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.
1-42
Interbedded
Shale,
Siltstone
and
Limestone,
mudstone; olive black-brownish black/
medium dark gray-buff; mica; thin beddedlimestone, laminated bedding-silstone,
fissile bedded-shale;1 ft. thick limestone
units at25, 30, 50, 7 1 and 90 ft. above
the base; formsa slope, fair exposure;
trace (brachiopod) (brachiopod: Echinarias p . ]
N76OE 6ONW
144.0
1-41
Silstone, limy; light olive gray-moderate
yellowish brown/medium dark gray-buff;
very fine-medium grained; ferrugenous
grains (bioclastic); thin bedded; friable
surface; formsa blocky slope, poor-fair
exposure; abundant (brachiopods) -[brachiopod:
Neospirifer sp., Linoproductus sp., Buxtonia
( ? ) sp., Composita s p . ]
E-W .9OS
5.1
1-40
Sandstone, orthoquartzite; grayish orangeyellowish gray-whitelbuff; medium-very coarse
grained, subrounded, fair sorting, concavoconvex to stylolitic contacts; some limestone
grains, glauconite; medium-very thick bedded;
cross-bedded; distinctive cliff former, good
exposure; trace (plant)
N39'E
54.5
6'SE
talus 1-39
Covered,
103.0
Partial thickness of Lower
interval
Atokan
1-38
Desmoinesian
371.0
Interval
Interbedded
Silstone,
Shale
and
Limestone,
mudstone; grayish black-olive black/medium ,
dark gray-buff; mica; laminated thin bedding;
gradational lower contact; forms a slope,
fairexposure;trace(spongespicules)
34.0
82
0
0
Unit
Lithology
e
1-37
0
1-36
0
1-35
0
1-34
0
1-33
e
1-32
0
S h as illeit,m
y ,y ,
and interbedded
'
S i l t s t o n ea, r g i l l a c e o u sg; r a y i s h
black-dark gray-olive graylmedium dark
g r a y - b u f f ;p y r i t e ,
mica; l a m i n a t e d - t h i n
bedding,bioturbated;forms
a ledge,
good e x p o s u r e ;t r a c e( s p o n g es p i c u l e s )
N2% 5"SW
5.8
Igneous s i l l , c a m p t o n i t e ;l i g h to l i v e
gray-moderate yellowish greenlbrownbuff;whitephenocrysts;forms
a ledge,
f a i r exposure
3.0
C o v e r e d ,t a l u s ;p r o b a b l yc o n t a i n s
a
sandstone with conglomeratic upper portionapproximately 15 f t . t h i c k
L i m e s t o n e ,g r a i n s t o n e ;l i g h to l i v e
browno l i v eg r a y l g r e e n i s hg r a y - b u f f ;g l a u c o n i t e ;
medium bedded;coatedgrains;forms
a
brokenledge,
good exposure;moderate
(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,algae)
N4OE 12ONW
S a n d s t o n e ,. p r o t o q u a r t z i t e (?); g r a y i s h
yellow/green-buff;fine-mediumgrained,
subrounded, good s o r t i n g ;m i c a ;t h i n
bedded;forms
a steepslope,fair
exposure
NZOE 1Z0SE
Igneous s i l l , c a m p t o n i t e ;l i g h to l i v e
gray,moderateyellowishgreedbrownbuff;forms
a blockyslope,poor
exposure
N l l O E 10°NW
0
83
0
Thickness
(ft.)
31.5
3.4
17.8
8.1
1-31
Thickness
( f t.I
Lithology
Unit
S a n d sotrot hn oe ,q u a rctazlict ae r, e o u s ;
pale o l i v e - l i g h t g r a y / b u f f ;
fine-medium
grained,subangular,poorsorting,
s t y l o l i t i c c o n t a c t s ; mica;thin-very
forms a
t h i c k bedded;cross-bedded;
r e s i s t a n t l e d g e , good exposure; trace
(plant)
N37'E 7OSE
P a r t i atlh i c k n e s os f
Atokan i n t e r v a l
33.0
141.0
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
1-30m
1-301
(plant)
1-30j
16.0
Covered
Sandstone,
sub-protoquartzite;
yellowish
graylbuff;fine-mediumgrained,suba n g u l a r , fair s o r t i n g , f l o a t i n g t o p o i n t
c o n t a c t s ;l i m e s t o n e
and q u a r t zg r a i n s ,
g l a u c o n i t e , mica, f e r r u g e n i cc o a t i n g s
on some g r a i n s ; v e r y t h i c k
bedded,crossa l e d g e ,f a i r
b e d d e d ; ' c l a yg a l l s ;f o r m s
t r a c ee x p o s u r e ;
Limestone,packstone;olivegrayjmedium
g r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,g l a u c o n i t e ; t h i n bedded, s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;f o r m s
a s t e e p s l o p e , good exposure;moderate
(brachiopod,pelmatazoan,coral,ostracode,
algae)[conodonts:
Upper 6 i n .I d i o a n a t h o d u s
s i n u o s i s ( E l l i s o n & Graves) ( l e f t ) ,
I d i o a n a t h o d u s s i n u o s i s ( E l l i s o n & Graves)
(right),Adetognathusgigantus(right),
Adetognathusgigantus(left),Adetonnathus
s p . ,H i n d e o d e l l a s p . ; brachiopod: Antrac o s p i r i f e r n e w b e r r v i ( S u t h e r l a n d & Harlow),
Buxtonianrandis (?) (Sutherland & Harlow),
Antiauatoniacf.'coloradoensis(Girty),
sp.; coral:
Desmoinesiasp.,Linoproductus
Rhynchopora
maanicosta
(Mather)]
84
10.0
6.0
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
( f t.I
1-30h
Limestone,
wackestone;
o lbi lvaec k /
medium d a r k g r a y - b u f f ; t h i n bedded;
slopeconstituent,poorexposure;moderate
(coral,brachiopod,pelmatazoan,sponge
spicules)
0.5
1-30g
Limestone,
packstone;
grayish
blackf
b l a c k - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ;
thin-mediumbedded,bioturbated;black
chertstringers;forms
a brokenledge,
good-fairexposure;abundant(brachiopod, coral,bryozoan,pelmatazoan,
debris)
N20E 3 o m
7.2
1-30f
Limestone,packstoneandShale;olive
b l a c k - o l i v eg r a y - l i g h to l i v e
brown/
medium gray-brown-buff; p a r t i a l l y
s i l i c i f i e d ;t h i nb e d d e d - l i m e s t o n e ,
fissile-laminatedbedded-shale;forms
a s t e e p s l o p e , f a i r exposure;moderate
(brachiopod,bryozoan,pelmatazoan,
debris)
3.2
1-30e
Covered;probably
1-f
1.3
1-30d
Limestone,packstone;brownishblacko l i v eb l a c k i d a r kg r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l y
s i l i c i f i e d ; medium bedded,mottled;
bitumenous, black-bluish ‘gray chert
nodules and layers;forms a ledge, f a i r
exposure;moderate(coral,brachiopod,
pelmatazoan,foraminifera,bryozoan,
algae)
4.7
1-3Oc
Covered, t a l u s ;p r o b a b l ys h a l e
85
22.2
Unit
( f t.I
1-30b
Sandstone,
protoquartzite,
calcareous;
o l i v e gray/mediumgray-medium d a r k
gray-buff;medium-coarsegrained,subto
a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,f l o a t i n g
mica,
p o i n tc o n t a c t s ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,
g l a u c o n i t e ;t h i n bedded,crossbedded;
forms a r e s i s t a n t l e d g e , good exposure;
abundant-moderate(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,
plant)
N37OE 7OSE
1-30a
1-29
1-28
1.0
Limestone,packstone;black-oliveblackgrayish blackldark gray-light gray-buff;
p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ; thin-mediumbedded,
m o t t l e d ,s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;b l u eo rg r a y i s h
blackchertnodules;forms
a ledge, fairgood exposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,foraminifera,bryozoan,brachiopod,algae,
debris)
NlOW 6OSW
12.3
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ;
pale y e l l o w i s h
brown-yellowishgraylbuff;medium-coarse
grained,subrounded,
f a i r sorting,concavoconvex t o s t y l o l i t i c c o n t a c t s ; c h e r t g r a i n s ;
v e r yt h i c kb e d d e d ,t a b u l a rc r o s s b e d d i n g ;
l o c a ld i s c o n t i n u o u sl e d g e ,f a i r - g o o de x p o s u r e ;
t r a c e( p l a n t )
N35W 3osw
10.5
Conglomerate,arenaceous;dark-moderate
yellowishbrown-oliveblacklbuff;
mediumc o b b l eg r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,
p o i n t t o s t y l o l i t i cc o n t a c t s ;l i m e s t o n e
c o b b l e s ,b i o c l a s t i c ,c h e r t ,
andquartz
g r a i n s ,g l a u c o n i t e ,f e l d s p a r ;t h i nb e d d e d ;
channelslower
strata; l o c a ll e d g ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
fair-goodexposure;tract(pelmatazoan,
plant)
1.6
P a r t i a l t h i c k n e s s ofUpper
interval
86
Morrowan
103.0
Unit
Lower
Lithology
Morrowan
Thickness
(ft )
.
Interval
1-27
Limestone,
wackestone;
dark
gray/
tingy green-buff; thin bedded; is channelled; locallya ledge constituent,
exposure,
(debris)
poor
trace
0.2
1-26
Limestone, packstone; olive grayldark
gray-buff; partially recrystallized
and silicified; medium bedded; medium
black chert seam; forms
a cliff, good
exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan, brachiopod,
foraminifera, debris)
N650E 40SE
4.6-7
1-25
Siltstone, argillaceous and limy, and
Shale; grayish black-olive black/
medium dark gray-buff; fine-medium
grained, .subrounded, fair sorting;
mica; fissile thin bedded, bioturbated;
forms a slope, poor-fair exposure;
trace (pelmatazoan, brachiopod)
12.2
1-24
Covered; probably 1-25
1-23
Limestone, packstone, arenaceous,
silty, Shale and Siltstone; dark graydark yellowish orangelmedium graybuff; glauconite, pyrite, mica,
ferrugenic coatings; thin bedded-limestone
and siltstone, fissile bedded-shale;
herringbone crossbedding; forms
a slope,
fair exposure; moderate (brachiopod,
bryozoan, pelmatazoan)
N17'W 4ONE
11.0
87
2.0
Urii t
1-22
Lithology
Conglomerate,
arenaceous,
slightly
limy;olivegray-moderateyellowish
brown/medium d a r k g r a y - b u f f ; mediump e b b l eg r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,
concavo-convex t o s t y l o l i t i c c o n t a c t s ;
f e r r u g e n i cc o a t i n g s ,l i m e s t o n ep e b b l e s ,
b i o c l a s t i c a n dq u a r t zg r a i n s ;
medium
bedded,graded;coatedgrains;forms
a
s t e e ps l o p e ,p o o re x p o s u r e ;t r a c t moderate(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,pelecyoffsettothenorth
1-2 1
1-20
1-19
Thickness
(ft.)
15-30 f t .
2.6
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ,s l i g h t y l y
l i m y ;l i g h to l i v eg r a y ,y e l l o w i s hg r a y ,
p a l ey e l l o w i s hb r o w d b u f f ;
medium-very c o a r s e
g r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,s t y l o l i t i c
c o n t a c t s ;c h e r t ,l i m e s t o n eg r a i n s ;t h i n
bedded,graded,minortroughcrossbedding;
basal conglomeraticzone 10 i n .t h i c k ;f o r m s
a steep s l o p e ,p o o re x p o s u r e ;t r a c t( p e l m a t a z o a n ,
plant,brachiopod)
4.83
N51% 2 5 9
S a n d s t o n e ,p r o t o q u a r t z i t e
(?), s l i g h t l y
limy;yellowishgray-paleyellowish
brown/buff; medium-very c o a r s e g r a i n e d ,
s u b a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ;l i m e s t o n e
g r a i n s ,f r i a b l e ;l a m i n a t e db e d d i n g ;
s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,p o o re x p o s u r e ;
unfossiliferous
0.14
Limestone,wackestone;darkgray-olive
g r a y / b u f f ;t h i n bedded,nodular,
wavy
s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,p o o re x p o s u r e ;
trace
(pelmatazoan)
0.33
Unit
1- 18
1-17
1-16a
Lithology
Conglomerate,
arenaceous,
slightly
limy; light olive gray-yellowish graypale yellowish brownlbuff; medium-cobble
grained, angular-subrounded, poor sortting; limestone, mudstone cobbles,
quartz grains, friable; thin bedded;
slope constiruent,poor exposure;
unfossiliferous
Covered, talus, colluvium; possible
igneous sill3 ft. thick at 2 1 ft. above
base; proceeded out of minor tributary
trending
N7 50E
1.0
30.1
Siltstone; pale olive-light olive gray/
reddish brown-buff; medium-coarse grained,
subrounded, fair sorting; partially
silicified; laminated-thin bedded, bioturbated; is found in channels or prePennsylvanian valleys, fair exposure;
(pelmatazoan,
plant)
trace
10.0,
Partial thickness of Lower Morrowan
interval
-
Rancheria Formation (Mississippian)
1- 16
Limestone,
wackestone;
light
graymedium gray/buff; thin bedded;
gray-tan chert nodules, vuggy; forms
a minor ledge, good exposure; moderate
(pelmatazoan, brachiopod)
N13OW 4OSW
1.5
0
0
0
0
0
Unit
Lithology
1-15
Limestone,packstone-grainstone;
miedum g r a y - o l i v e grayfrnedium grayb u f f ; t h i n bedded; b a s a l p r o t i o n is
f r i a b l e ,g r a y - b l u e ,r e d ,
brown, and
1-4
b l a c kc h e r ts t r i n g e r s
andnodules,
is vuggy,
in. zone on upper surface
weathers a r u s t - o r a n g e c o l o r , h a s i r o n
c o n c r e t i o n s ,a n ds i l i c i f i e dc o r a l s ;
forms a ledge, good exposure;abundant
(pelmatazoan,bryozoan,coral,brachiopod)
N18W 6OSW
measured up minor
Mississippian
0
0
0
0
0
90
0
Thickness
( f t. I
tributary through
7.7
Stratigraphic Section 4
Muleshoe Canyon
General Location
The s e c t i o n was m e a s u r e d , t r e n d i n g n o r t h i n t h e
27 and t h e NE14 p a r t of S e c t i o n
west-central p a r t ofSection
28, T. 17.S, R.lO.E.,
OteroCounty,
New Mexico.
D e s c r i p t i o n of L o c a l i t y
The s e c t i o n i s l o c a t e d 6 . 3 m i l e s s o u t h e a s t a l o n g
a point on
g r a v e l and d i r t roads,from
southof
i t s i n t e r s e c t i o nw i t h
U.S.
and d i r e c t i o n s a r e : t u r n e a s t o f f t h e
U.S.
70.
54,5.0miles
Loca1,landmarks
U.S.
54, t u r n south
a t i n t e r s e c t i o n and proceed 0.55 miles; turn east
tank and proceed east 0.5
along dirt road for 0.15
a t water
miles; v e e r n o r t h e a s t a n d p r o c e e d
miles p a s t w a t e r w e l l s ,
to minor
1.0 mile
a r r o y a .I fp o s s i b l ef o l l o we a s tt r e n d i n gr o u g hr o a d
and v e e r n o r t h e a s t f o r a n o t h e r 0 . 5 m i l e s
The s e c t i o n b e g i n s i n
to roads end.
MuleshoeCanyon,
in the major
The s e c t i o n i s o f f s e t to t h e
n o r t h e a s tt r e n d i n gt r i b u t a r y .
w e s ti nm i n o rt r i b u t a r i e sw h e r ea d v a n t a g e o u s .
The measurement
trends in a northern direction.
General Remarks
The s e c t i o n was measured J u l y 16-21, 23-28,1974.
T h i s s e c t i o n is w e l l e x p o s e d i n t h e l o w e r a n d e s p e c i a l l y
upperportion.
It i s poorlyexposedinthemiddleportion.
The g e n e r a l s t r i k e of t h e strata is N30°E and
91
0
N500W with dips averaging
80 and
0
loo
to the
northwest and
southwest respectfully.
Approximate Thickness
(in feet)
0
Lower
Atokan
0
Desmoinesian
123
Interval
95
Interval
Upper
Morrowan
Interval
Lower
Morrowan
Interval
132
67
4 17
Total
0
Litho
0
Unit
Bug Scuffle Limestone Member
4-71
Limestone,
grainstone;
olive
grayllight
olive gray-buff; thin-thick bedded; forms
a ledge-cliff, good exposure; moderate
(fusulinid, foraminifera, coral, pelmata5.0
zoan, debris)
4-70
Limestone, wackestone-packstone; .olive
blacklmedium dark gray-buff; partially
recrystallized; thin-thick bedded, wavy,
shale partings; formsa slope with minor
ledges, fair exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan, fusulinid, phylloid algae, debris) 33.0
4-69
Covered
4-68
Limestone, wackestone, slightly silty;
brownish blackhedium dark graybuff; thin
bedded, shale partings; forms
a ledge,
good-fair exposure; moderate-abundant
(pelmatazoan, brachiopod, fusulinid,
gastropod, sponge spicules) [brachiopod:
Antiquatonia hermosana (Girty), Koslowskia
havdenensis (Girty), Composita sp.; corals:
Pseudozaphrentoides sp.11
17.0
0
0
0
(ft.)
7.0
"
0
92
0
Unit
4-67
4-66
4-65
Lithology
probablyCovered;
55.0
4-66
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone,
slightly
s i l t y ; brownishblack/mediumgray-buff;
p y r i t e ; t h i n bedded, b i o t u r b a t e d ,s h a l e
p a r t i n g s ; forms a s t e e p s l o p e , p o o r
expos u r e ; trace (pelmatazoan,fusulinid,sponge
spicules)
20.0
Limestone,packstone-wackestone;olive
black-dark gray/buff; minor pyrite and
mica; t h i c k bedded, f a i n t l y m o t t l e d ; c h e r t
nodules and s t r i n g e r s ; forms a ledge, good
exposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,brachiopod, c o r a l ,s p o n g es p i c u l e s ,d e b r i s )
5.0
4-64
Covered
9.0
4-63
L i m e s t o n e ,g r a i n s t o n e ;l i g h to l i v eg r a y /
remedium l i g h t g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y
c r y s t a l l i z e d ; t h i c k bedded;coatedgrains;
forms a ledge, good exposure;abundantmoderate(coral,brachiopod,pelmatazoan,
fusulinid,bryozoan)
4.0
Limestone,mudstone;darkgray/buff;thin
bedded,shalepartings;forms
a slope,
poorexposure;
trace (brachiopod)
4.2
4-62
4-6 1
4-60
Covered;probably
4-62
Limestone,wackestone-packstone,slightly
s i l t y ;o l i v eb l a c k - g r a y - b r o w n i s hb l a c k /
medium g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ;
t h i n bedded, s h a l e p a r t i n g s , m o t t l e d ,
b i o t u r b a t e d ;b l a c kc h e r tn o d u l e sa n d
s t r i n g e r s ; forms a s t e e p s l o p e , f a i r
exposure;trace-moderate(brachiopod,
p e l m a t a z o a n ,f u s u l i n i d ,s p o n g es p i c u l e s ,
coral,bryozoan)
93
17 .O
10.0
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft
.)
4-59
Shale
and
interbedded
Limestone,
mudstone;
dark gray/buff; fissile-laminated beddedshale, thin bedded-limestone, nodular, wavy;
round limestone nodules; forms
a slope,
exposure;
unfossiliferous
fair
5.0
4-58
Limestone, packstone-grainstone; olive
gray/olive gray-medium gray-buff;
partially silicified; very thick bedded,
mottled; coated grains ; forms a ledge,
good exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan,
brachiopod, fusulinid, foraminifera,
sponge spicules, bryozoan, algae)
6.5
4-57
Limestone, mudstone, and Shale; dark grayolive black/buff; thin bedded-limestone,
fissile-laminated bedded-shale, nodular,
wavy; formsa slope, fair exposure;
moderate
4.0
(coral)
4-56
debris)
Limestone, packstone; olive black/medium
gray-buff; thin bedded; forms
a ledge,
good exposure; trace (pelmatazoan, fusulinid,
brachiopod,
2.0
4-55
Limestone, wackestone-packstone; olive black/
medium gray-buff; partially recrystallized;
thin bedded; bluish chert nodules; forms
a
cliff, good exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan,
coral, bryozoan, fusulinid, foraminifera,
34.0
gastropod)
4- 54
Limestone, wackestone-packstone; brownish
black-olive black/dark gray-buff; thin
bedded; chert nodules and stringers; forms
a ledge, good exposure; trace-moderate
(pelmatazoan, foraminifera, fusulinid,
algae)
2.8
Unit
4- 53
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.)
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black/medium
dark gray-buff; partially recrystallized;
thin bedded; ledge constituent, good
exposure; moderate-abundant (fusulinid,
bryozoan) pelmatazoan,
1.2
Lower
Desmoinesian
Interval
4-52
Limestone,
mudstone-wackestone
and
interbedded Shale; dark gray-olive black/
medium dark gray-buff; mica; thin beddedlimestone, fissile-laminated bedded-shale;
forms a cliff, fair exposure; trace
(debris)
32 .O
4-51
Shale; dark gray-grayish black/buff;
fissile-laminated bedded; thin limestone
stringers; formsa slope, good exposure;
unfossiliferous
1.6
4-50
Limestone, wackestone-packstone; olive
gray/medium gray-buff; thin to medium
bedded; forms a cliff, good exposure;
abundant (pelmatazoan, fusulinid, phylloid
9.2
brachiopod,
bryozoan)
algae,
4-49
Limestone, wackestone and interbedded
Shale; grayish black/dark gray-buff; mica;
thin bedded-limestone, fissile-laminated
bedded-shale; formsa ledge, fair exposure;
trace (pelmatazoan, brachiopod, coral, debris)
[brachiopod: Linoproductus planiventralis
(Hoare)]
33.0
N21°E ZOSE
4-48
Limestone, packstone, slightly silty;
dark gray, olive black/medium gray-buff;
thin bedded; forms base of cliff, good
exposure; abundant (pelmatazoan, foraminifera,
coral)
2.8
4-47
Shale, slightly silty; dark gray/buff;
laminated bedding; formsa slope, poor
exposure; unfossiliferous
95
1.5
Lithology
Unit
4-45 or
shale
7 .O
4-46
Covered,
talus;
probably
4-45
Limestone,
mudstone-wackestone;
olive
black-grayish black/mediumdark graybuff; mica; thin-medium bedded, shale
partings; formsa steep slope, fairgood exposure; trace (debris, brachiopod)
[brachiopod: Linoproductus planiventralis
@are)
N40°E 8ONW
17.5
1.
4-44
Limestone, grainstone-packstone; medium
dark graylmedium light gray-buff;
thin-massive bedded, shale partings;
forms a cliff, good exposure; abundant
(fusulinid, bryozoan, coral, gastropod,
nautioloid, pelmatazoan, brachiopod)
[brachiopod: Hustedia sp., RhvnchoDora sp.,
Composita sp., Kowlowskia cf. havdenensis
(Girty), Pustula (?) sp.]
18.1
N80W &ONE
Partial
Atokan
thickness of
Interval
Lower
-
Desmoinesian
123.0
Interval
4-43
Limestone,
wackestone,
slightly
silty;
olive black; grayish blacklmedium dark
gray-buff; thin bedded, shale partings,
mottled; formsa steep slope, fair
exposure; trace-moderate (coral, brachiopod,
pelmatazoan)
23.0
4-42
Limestone, slightly silty; olive blackdark gray-brownish blacklmedium graybuff; quartz grains, glauconite, mica;
thin bedded; coated grains; forms
bottom of ledge, good exposure; moderate
(pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,
algae)
1.0
96
Unit
4-41
4-40
Lithology
Thickness
(ft
.)
S hsal il g
el,higm
trl ayy; - b l a c k f b u f f ;
mica; f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e db e d d e d ;
t h i n limestonestringers;forms
a s l o p e , good
e x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
9.2
Limesto
mnued, s t o
s lni eg,shitlltyy
a n di n t e r b e d d e dS i l t s t o n e ,a r g i l l a c e o u s
andlimy;darkgray-oliveblackhedium
d a r k g r a y - b u f f ; mica; t h i n - t h i c k bedded,
shaleDartinns,bioturbated:forms
a steep
. *
s l o p e , f a i r exposure; t r a c e( d e b r i s )
mow 2osw
15.3
-_
4-39
4-38
4-37
4-36
S a n d s t o n e ,c a l c a r e o u sp r o t o q u a r t z i t e ;
moderate yellowish brown-medium g r a y /
b u f f ; medium-very c o a r s e g r a i n e d , a n g u l a r ,
p o o rs o r t i n g ,s t y l o l i t i cc o n t a c t s ;
m i c a ,f e l d s p a r ,q u a r t z ,b i o c l a s t i cg r a i n s ,
limy matrix; t h i n bedded;gradational
b a s a lc o n t a c t ;l e d g ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
good
exposure, trace (pelmatazoan)
Conglomerate,arenaceousandlimy;
light olive gray-yellowish browdbuff;
granule-finegrained,angular-subrounded,
poorsorting,concavo-convexcontacts;
l i m e s t o n e ,q u a r t z ,f e l d s p a rg r a i n s ,l i m y
m a t r i x ;t h i n bedded;ledgeconstituent,
e xfpa(oitpsreaulcrm
e ;a t a z o a n )
Conglomerate,arenaceous;darkyellowish
orangeldark yellowish brown-buff; fineg r a n u l eg r a i n e d ,a n g u l a r ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,
p o i n t to concavo-convexcontacts;feldspar,
b i o c l a s t i c ,q u a r t zg r a i n s ,l i m o n i t i c - l i m y
matrix; t h i n bedded;formsbottomofledge,
f a i r exposure;trace-moderate(pelmatazoan,
brachiopod)
Covered;
probably
some s h a l e
97
0.7
1.4
1.1
43.0
Unit
4-35
pelmatazoan)
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.)
Conglomerate, limy, arenaceous;
moderate
y e l l o w i s h brown,dusky
orange-black/buff;
fine-granulegrained,subrounded,poor
s o r t i n g , concavo-convex t o s t y l o l i t i c
c o n t a c t s ;l i m o n i t i c - l i m ym a t r i x ,q u a r t z ,
l i m e s t o n e ,c h e r tg r a i n s ;t h i nb e d d e d ;
at
bottomof
s l o p e ,p o o re x p o s u r e ;t r a c e
(coral,
P a r t i a l t h i c k e n s s ofAtokan
Interval
0.5
- .
95.0
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
4-34
Igneous s i l l , c a m p t o n iltiego;hl igtvrea y moderategreenish yellow/brown-green-buff;
a t bottom
slope,
poor
of
exposure
4-33
shale probably
Covered;
0.68
17.0
4-32
Limestone,packstone;oliveblack-dark
grayhedium dark gray-buff; partially
silicified;verythick
bedded,shale partings;,top weathers rusty orange,; has
a ledge,
silicifiedshalepartings;forms
good exposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,bryozoan;spongespicules)
[ b r a c h i o p o d :R h i p i d o m e l l ac f .t r a p e z o i d e a
(Sutherland 61 Harlow), Neochonites s p . ,
A n t i q u a t o n i ac f .c o l o r a d o e n s i s( G i r t y ) ,
Hustedia s p . , Derbvia s p . , A n t h r a c o s p i r i f e r
s p . , Zia c f . novamexicana(Sutherland
&
Harlow)]
N 2 0 E 2oNw
o f f s e t to f i r s t main t r i b u t a r y e a s t o f l a r g e
Mississippian bioherm
12.4
4-31
S h a l e ,s i l i c i f i e d ;o l i v eb l a c k l o l i v e
g r e e n - r u s t - b u f f ;f i s s i l e - t h i nb e d d e d ;
forms a slope,poorexposure;trace
(debris)
N250E 6ONw
98
5.0
Unit
Lithology
4-30
Thickness
( f t.I
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone;
medium
d a r k g r a y - o l i v e black/mediumgray-buff;
partially recrystallized or silicified;
t h i n - v e r y t h i c k bedded, f a i n t l y m o t t l e d ;
a c l i f f , good
chertnodules;forms
exposure;moderate(foraminifera,
pelmatazoan,
18.0
4-29
shale
Covered;
probably
black
33.0
4-2 8
S a n d s t o n e ,s l i g h t l yl i m y ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ;
lightolivegray-grayishorange/dusky
red,copper,buff;fine-mediumgrained,
subangular, f a i r sorting,
concavo-convex
c o n t a c t s ; mica; medium bedded,minor
c r o s s b e d d i n g ;t ot h ew e s tg r a d e si n t o
s i l t ys h a l e ;l e d g ef o r m e r ,f a i re x p o s u r e ;
trace ( p l a n t )
N60W 9OSW
brachiopod)
4-27
debris)
Limestone,packstone;oliveblack/
medium l i g h tg r a y ;l i m o n i t er e p l a c e m e n t
o r s t a i n on b i o c l a s t i c g r a i n s ; t h i n
bedded;forms
a brokenledge,
good
exposure;trace-moderate(pelmatazoan,
foraminifera,
4-26
shale probably
Covered;
4-25
4-24
3.9
2.0
1.0
Limestone,packstone;oliveblack/medium
d a r kg r a y - b u f f ;l i m o n i t er e p l a c e m e n to r
s t a i n on b i o c l a s t i c g r a i n s ; t h i n
bedded,
a minorledge,
mottled,nodular;forms
fair-poorexposure;trace-moderate(foraminifera,pelmatazoan,brachiopod,
bryozoan)
1.0
4-23
0.5
probablyCovered;
Unit
4-23
4-22
4-2 1
4-20
4- 19
Lithology
Thickness
(Et. 1
S h a l e , s i l i c i f i e d , and S i l t s t o n e ;
medium gray-medium bluish gray-brownish
gray/maroon-buff; mica, p y r i t e ; fissilet h i n bedded.bottled:forms
a slooe.
f a i r exposure; trace ( p l a n t )
N22OE 8 O N w
Limestone,packstone-grainstone;olive
reb l a c k / d a r kg r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l y
c r y s t a l l i z e d ; thin-mediumbedded,
shale
p a r t i n g s , forms a s t e e p s l o p e , f a i r - g o o d
exposure;moderate(coral,pelmatazoan,
foraminifera,bryozoan,brachiopod,algae)
N85OE 5 O N w
6.0
10.1
Igneous s i l l , c a m p t o n i t e ;l i g h to l i v e
gray-moderate greenish yellow/brown-buff;
forms a d i s c o n t i n u o u sl e d g e ,f a i r - g o o d
exposure
N l O W 7OSW
5.1
Limestone,packstone;grayishblack/
medium d a r k g r a y - b u f f ; p y r i t e ; t h i n
bedded,mottled,shalepartings;forms
a minorledge,poorexposure;moderate
(brachiopod,pelmatazoan,foraminifera,
algae,debris)[brachiopod:
Phricodothvris
sp.,Compositasp.J
N30°E 9ONW
3.0
S a n d s t o n e ,o r t h o q u a r t z i t e ;l i g h to l i v e
g r a y / b u f f ;f i n e - v e r yc o a r s eg r a i n e d ,s u b angular,poorsorting,concavo-convexto
s t y l o l i t i c c o n t a c t s ; mica; t h i c k bedded,
minorcrossbedding,inversegrading;
forms two ledges, good e x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f erous
N32ow ll0SW
12 .o
0
0
0
Unit
Lithology
4-18
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
gray/
medium gray-buff;thickbedded,nodular
i n parts; gray-blue medium c h e r t band
andnodules;forms
a weak continuous
ledge, good exposure;trace-moderate
(pelmatazoan,foraminifera,brachiopod,
bryozoan)
0
P a r t i a l t h i c k n e s s of Upper Morrowan
Interval
0
LowerMorrowan
4- 17
132 .O
Interval
S a n d s t o n e ,s u b a r k o s e ;g r a y i s ho l i v e /
buff;medium-coarsegrained,angular,
f a i r s o r t i n g , [ f l o a t i n g to s t y l o l i t i c
c o n t a c t s ] ;f e l d s p a rg r a i n s ,o p a l i n e
martix; t h i n bedded;channels
lower
strata; forms a ledge,fair-good
e x p o s u r et ;r a c(ep l a n t )
N18OW lloSW
2.1
- 3.5
Limestone,packstone;black-olive
blackfmediumdarkgray-buff;thin-medium
bedded,mottled;grayolive-grayblue
c h e r t l a y e r s andnodules,
is c h a n n e l l e d ;
forms a discontinousslope,poorexposure;
moderate(pelmatazoan,brachiopod,
debris)
N26% 10°SW
4.0
- 5.4
4- 15
Covered
4.0
4- 14
L i m e s t o n e ,g r a i n s t o n e ;o l i v e
gray-medium
gray/dusky yellow-pale olive-grayish olive;
[ m i c r o s p a r c a l c i t e cement] ; t h i n bedded,
n o d u l a r ,s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;c o a t e dg r a i n s ,
c o l i t e s ,c h e r tn o d u l e s ;f o r m s
a discontinuous
ledge, good exposure;moderate-abundant(foramin i f e r a ,o s t r a c o d e ,p e l m a t a z o a n ,a l g a e
coatings)
N15OE 130NW
5.1
4- 13
Covered
0
0
5.0
-
4- 16
6.9
101
0
0
Unit
Thickness
( f t .I
Lithology
0
4-12
0
0
S a n d s t oonr teh, o q u a r t zgi rt e ;e n i s h
gray/maroon-darkgreen,buff;very
fine-coarsegrained,subangular,poor
s o r t i n g ,f l o a t i n gc o n t a c t s ;p a r t i a l l y
r e c r y s t a l l i z e d , o p a l i n e martix; mediumthickbedded;forms
a ledge,poor
e x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
N29OE 6ONW
4- shale
11
probably
Covered;
4- 10
0
4-9
0
4-8
0
11.0
S h a l e ;g r a y i s hb l a c k / g r a y i s hb l a c k ,
maroon, r u s t b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ,
m i c a ;f i s s i l e - t h i n
bedded;forms
a slope,
f a i re x p o s u r e ;t r a c e( d e b r i s )
offset west to next north trending tributary
10.5
Limestone,packstone;oliveblack-medium
darkgrayllightgray-buff;
p a r t i a l l y rec r y s t a l l i z e d ; t h i n bedded;forms
a ledge,
good exposure;moderate(brachiopod,
coral,,foraminifera,bryozoan,pelmatazoan,
pelecypod)
N30E 4ONW
2.9
S i l t s t o n e and i n t e r b e d d e dS h a l e ;l i g h t
olivegray-grayishblack/olivegrayb u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,
mica, p y r i t e ;
f i s s i l e - t h i nb e d d e d ,b i o t u r b a t e d ;
forms
a steepslope,fairexposure;trace
(debris)
9.0
Partial t h i c k n e s s o f
0
6.5
LowerMorrowan
Interval
67.0
Rancheria Formation (Mississippian)
4-7
0
0
Limestone,
packstone;
black/medium
olive
g r a y - b u f f ;t h i n bedded,"rhythmitic";
c o a t e dg r a i n s ;c a p sc l i f f ,
good exposure;
abundant(brachiopod,pelmatazoan,pelecypod
102
1.1
Unit
4-6
4- 5
algae)
Lithology
S h a l e ; medium dark
gray/buff;
laminated
b e d d i n g ;l e d g ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
poor exposure;
trace (brachiopod)
0.2
Limestone,
packstone-grainstone;
medium
darkgrayllightgray-buff;thin-thick
bedded,vuggy,shalepartings;darkgraypale b l u e c h e r t n o d u l e s ; f o r m s
a cliff,
good exposure;abundant-moderate(pelmatam a n ,b r a c h i o p o d ,c o r a l ,b r y o z o a n ,
pelecypod,
8.5
Stratigraphic Section 2
Deadman Canyon
General Location
The s e c t i o n was measured trending approximately
14, T.M.S.,
northeastinthecentralpartofSection
R.lO.E.,
New Mexico.
Otero County,
Description of Locality
The s e c t i o n i s located 4.35
miles east a l o n g d i r t
a p o i n t o n U.S. 54, 8.93 miles s o u t h of i t s i n t e r -
roads,from
s e c t i o nw i t h
U.S.
t u r n east o f f U.S.
70.
Localland
marksand
54 a t Dog Canyon e x i t , p r o c e e d
3.25 miles; t u r n s o u t h
housesfor
d i r e c t i o n s are:
a t i n t e r s e c t i o n and veer
s o u t h e a s t 1.10 miles; walk,roughlydueeast1.9
The s e c t i o n b e g i n s i n
miles.
a n o r t h e a s t t r e n d i n g main
t r i b u t a r y and a l i t t l e o v e r h a l f o f t h e
is measured i n t h i s t r i b u t a r y .
east past
lower part o f t h e s e c t i o n
The r e m a i n i n gp a r to ft h e
section i s offsetalongthesoutheastslopeofthemaintributary.
General Remarks
The s e c t i o n was measured June
1974.
23-30 andAugust
1-4,
This l o c a l i t yh a st h eb e s te x p o s e dl o w e rP e n n s y l v a n i a n
section that
was measured.
The s t r i k e o f t h e
dipsaveraging
strata is g e n e r a l l y N22% w i t h
4O to the northeast.
Approximate Thickness
(in feet)
138
Lower Desmoinesian I n t e r v a l
84
Atokan I n t e r v a l
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
147
Lower Morrowan I n t e r v a l
90
459
Total
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
.)
(ft
Bug Scuffle Limestone Member
2-32
Limestone,
packstone;
gray-dark
light
g r a y f t a n - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ;t h i n t h i c k b e d d e d ,m o t t l e d ,s h a l ep a r t i n g s ;
moderate(algae,pelmatazoan,sponge
s p i c u l e s ,b r a c h i o p o d ,f u s u l i n i d ,o s t r a code)
W38% 5OSW
5.0
Lower D e s m o i n e s i a n I n t e r v a l
2-31
Limestone,
packstone;
dark
gray-olive
gray/
buff;thinbedded;[coatedgrains];
forms
a s l o p e ,p o o r - f a i re x p o s u r e ;m o d e r a t e( c o r a l ,
ostracodes,pelecypod,spongespicules,
brachiopod,bryozoan,pelmatazoan)
[conodont: 12 f t . frombase.Idiomathodus
sp.;
brachiopod:
Echinaria
cf.
knighti
A
(Dunbar & Condra), Calliprotonia n. sp.
(Sutherland & Harlow);coral:Pseudozaphrentoides s p .
2-30
1
Covered;probably
2-29
o f f s e t s o u t h 25 f t .
17 .O
2.0
Unit
Lithology
2-29
13.0
(Gunnell)]
2-28
Thickness
et.)
Limestone,
packstone-grainstone;
light
gray-olive gray/buff; thin-medium bedded;
minor shale interbeds, [coated grains];
forms two ledges, good exposure; abundant
(foraminifera, algae, sponge spicules,
pelmatazoan, brachiopod, bryozoan)
conodont: top 1 ft. Idioanathodus delicatus
Gunnell), basal 1 ft. Idionnathodus
delicatus
F
probably
Covered;
2-27
6.1
2-27
Limestone, packstone-wackestone, and Shale
interbeds; grayish black-olive black/medium.
dark gray-buff; thin bedded-limestone, laminated
bedded-shale, nodular; [coated grains
1;
slope former, poor exposure; abundant (phylloid
algae, fusulinid, ostracode, bryozoan, brachiopod,
sponge spicules, pelmatazoan)
[conodont: Idionnathodus delicatus (Gunnell)
17.1
2-26
Limestone, packstone; grayish black-brownish
blackhedium dark gray-buff; "laminated"
bedding; [coated grains]; minor ledge former,
good-fair exposure; abundant (fusulinid,
pelecypod, bryozoan, ostracode, pelmatazoan,
coral, algae, sponge spicules, brachiopod)
0.75
2-25
Limestone, wackestone-packstone; dark grayolive graylbuff; "laminated" bedding, banded;
bituminous; slope constituent, fair-good
exposure; abundant-moderate (fusulinid,
pelmatazoan,
spicules)
sponge
0.26
2-24
Limestone, packstone-grainstone; olive
gray/dark gray-medium dark gray; thin
bedded, mottled;forms a ledge, good exposure;
moderate (foraminifera, brachiopod, ostracode,
algae)
N58OW 1%
2.6
106
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
et.)
2-23
Sandstone,
protoquartzite
(?); light
greenish yellow/light bluish green-buff;
fine-medium grained, subangular, poor
sorting; feldspar grains(?); thin
bedded; forms a discontinuous minor ledge,
fair exposure;unfossiliferous
2.0
2-22
Limestone, packstone-grainstone; light
gray-light olive gray/buff; partially
silicified; thin bedded; [oolites];
[coated grains], bituminous; forms a
discontinuous minor ledge, fair exposure;
abundant-moderate (brachiopod, sponge
spicules, pelmatazoan, bryozoan, pelecypod,
coral)
1.4
2-2 1
19.8
Covered;
probably
shale
black
2-20
Shale, slightly silty and limy, and
interbeded Limestone, wackestone; dark
gray-olive gray-reddish brown-buff; mica;
laminated bedded-shale, thin-medium bedded
limestone; bituminous; forms a slope, fair
exposure; trace (foraminifera, brachiopod,
sponge spicules)
N22W 12ONE
45.0
2-19
Limestone, packstone-wackestone; dark grayolive gray/buff; medium bedded; black chert
nodules and stringers; forms a minor ledge,
good exposure; moderate (sponge spicules,
brachiopod, pelmatazoan, algae, foraminifera,
ostracode) [conodont: 1-2 ft. above base.
Gnathodus co-loradoensis n. subsp., Gnathodus
n. sp., Idiomathodus delicatus (Gunnell),
Neognathodus colombiensis (Stibane),
Spathoanathodus minutus (Ellison), Liaonodina
sp. Hindeodella sp.]
N44% 3ONE
2.6
'
2-18
Shale, limy; dark grayfgray-buff; fissilelaminated bedded; forms a slope, fair exposure;
abundant (brachiopod)
offset to the south to east-west tributary 4.6
107
Unit
Thickness
Lithology
(ft
.)
2-17
Limestone,
packstone;
dark
gray-olive
gray/buff; thin-medium bedded, shale
partings; formsa resistant ledge, good
exposure; trace-moderate (brachiopod,
sponge spicules, foraminifera)
3.0
mow lorn
2-16
138.0
Atokan
Shale; dark gray-black/buff; mica;
fissile-laminated bedded; bituminous;
slope former, fair exposure; trace
(sponge spicules)
offset south 20 ft.
Partial
thickness
Interval
of
Lower
9.0
Desmoinesian
~
~~
Interval
2-15
Limestone,
packstone
to wackestonemudstone; dark gray-olive graylbuff;
thin-thick bedded; shale partings, top
1-1.5 ft. arenaceous; forms
a resistant
cliff, good exposure; moderate (gastropod,
pelmatazoan, sponge spicules, brachiopod,
bryozoan, algae) [conodont: 1-1.5 ft. below
top. Neognathodus cf. & colombiensis
(Stibane), Neognathodus colombiensis (Stibane),
Spathognathodus minutus (Ellison),
Idiognathodus delicatus (Gunnell), 2-3 ft.
above base. Idiognathodus delicatus (Gunnell),
& Plummer),
Idiognathodus magnidicus (Stauffer
Neognathodus colombiensis (Stibane),
Spathognathodus orphanus (Merrill)
, Ozarkodina
delicatula (Stauffer& Plummer), Svnprioniodina
microdentata
(Ellison),
Hindeodella
Ozarkodina sp.]
N 1 P W 4oNE
17.0
-
2-14
Shale; dark graylbuff; fissile-laminated
bedded; formsa slope, good exposure;
abundant (brachiopod, coral) [prachiopod:
(Sutherland & Harlow),
sp., Desmoinesia sp., Antiquatonia sp.
11.0
offset approximately50 ft. South
108
-
sp.,
Unit
Lithology
2- 13
Limestone,
mudstone,
argillaceous;
black-dark graylbuff; pyrite; thin bedded,
wavy; shale partings0.2 ft. thick, has a
1-3 in. grainstone layer near top; [coated
grains-from grainstonej; forms a steep slope,
good exposure; trace (brachiopod) from
grainstone (foraminifera, brachiopod,
pelmatazoan, bryozoan) [conodont: top1 ft.
Idioanathodus parvus (Dunn), Idioenathodus
delicatus (Gunnell), Idiopnathoides
fossatus (Branson& Mehl) (right), Neoanathodus
colombiensis (Stibane); brachiopod: Buxtonia
SP. 7
19.0
2-12
Igneous sill, camptonite; light olive
gray-moderate greenish yellow/brown-buff;
forms a ledge, fair-good exposure;
offset in direction of dike (ENE)
NloW lOSW
3.0
2-11 shale
probably
Covered;
2- 10
5.1
Shale, limy; dark graylbuff; fissile-laminated
bedded; forms a slope, poor exposure; un3.5
fossiliferous
2 - 9 shaleprobably
Covered;
2-8
2-7
2-6
6.5
Shale; medium grayldark gray-buff;
fissile-laminated bedded; forms
a slope,
exposure;
unfossiliferous
poor
shale
probably
Covered;
4.0
2.0
Shale; dark graylbuff; fissile-laminated
bedded; thin limestone, wackestone stringers;
slope former, poor exposure; abundant
(brachiopod) [conodont: 4-5 ft. above base.
Idioanathodus
(Dunn);
brachiopod:
Neochonetes ( ? ) sp., Derbvis sp., Anthracospirifer curvilateralis (Easton), Punctospirifer sp., Composita sp., Neospirifer
(?)
Rhipidomella
sp.sp.,
]
9.0
109
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.1
1.0
2-5shale probably
Covered;
2-4
Shale;
dark
gray/buff;
fissile
bedded;
thin limestone stringers; forms a slope,
poor exposure; trace (brachiopod)
offset into main tributary
2.8
2-3
Limestone,
packstone;
dark
gray-olive
gray/buff; partially recrystallized ;
thin-thick bedded, bioturbated, nodular;
forms a discontinous ledge, poor exposure;
moderate (brachiopod, pelmatazoan, sponge
spicules, bryozoan) [conodont: basal 1 ft.
Idiomathodus parvus (Dunn), Spathonnathodus
minutus
4.6
(Ellison)]
Partial thickness of Atokan Interval
Upper
2-2
2-1
Morrowan
84.0
Interval
Limestone,
packstone;
dark
gray-olive
gray/dark gray-buff; thin bedded, bioturbated; forms a ledge, good exposure;
moderate (brachiopod, bryozoan, pelmatazoan, foraminifera, sponge spicules,
ostracode)
1.5
Shale and Limestone, wackestone-packstone;
dark gray-olive gray/dark gray-buff; thin
bedded-limestone, fissile-laminated beddedshale, nodular; coated grains limestone
in 6 in. thick bed 2.5 ft. up; forms a
steep slope, good exposure; abundant-moderate
(bryozoan, brachiopod, sponge spicules, pelmatazoan, ostracode, algae) [brachiopod:
Spirifer goreii (Mather), Neospirifer sp.,
Anthracospirifer curvilateralis (Easton),
Antiquatonia coloradoensis (?)(Girty),
Hustedia nibbosa(?)(Lane),
Desmoinesia.sp.,
Spiriferellina (?) sp.; coral: Amplexocorinia
(Mather)
corrugata
]
5.42
110
0
0
Unit
Lithology
e
2 -44
0
2 -43
0
e
2 -42
.
Thickness
(ft
Limestone,
packstone;
dark
gray-olive
gray/ dark gray-buff; thin bedded;
[coated grains], bituminous; caps ledge,
good exposure; abundant (pelmatazoan,
brachiopod, bryozoan, sponge spicules,
foraminifera) [conodont: Idionnathoides
fossatus
(Branson
& Mehl)
(right)]
0.6
Limestone, wackestoneto packstone to
mudstone; olive gray-olive black/medium
light gray-light olive gray-buff; thick
bedded; forms a resistant ledge, good
exposure; abundant (foraminifera, sponge
spicules, pelmatazoan, brachiopod,
ostracode, nautiloid).
offset to northern face of slope
30.0
Shale and partially covered; black/buff;
fissile-laminated bedded; forms a slope,
exposure;
unfossiliferous
poor
10.0
'
r)
-
2-41
Limestone, packstone; olive black-grayish
blackhedium dark gray-buff; [partially
silicified and recrystallized]; thick
bedded, mottled; black chert nodules and
layers, [oolites]; forms a ledge, good
exposure;' trace-moderate (foraminifera,
brachiopod, pelmatazoan, sponge spicules,
bryozoan) [conodont: Approx. 1 ft. below
top. Streptognathodus angustus (Dunn),
Adetognathusgigantus(Gunnell)(right)
]
5.3
2-40
Shale;
black/green-maroon,
buff;
laminatedthin bedded; forms a slope, poor exposure;
unfossiliferous
5.6
a
I
e
-
2-39
5.0
Covered
e
111
0
Unit
2 -38
2 -37
2 -2
2-35
2 -34.
2 -3
2-32
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.)
S i l t s t o nlei g
; ohlti g
v rea y - d u s ky ye l l o w medium b l u i s h g r a y l p a l e o l i v e - d u s k y r e d d i s h
b u f f ;f i n e - c o a r s eg r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,
f a i r - p o o rs o r t i n g ,[ f l o a t i n g - p o i n tc o n t a c t s ] ;
mica; t h i n bedded;forms a minorledge,
f a i r exposure; trace (plant,
brachiopod)
4.0
S h a l e ;b l a c k / b u f f ;f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e d
a s l o p e , f a i r exposure;
bedded;forms
unfossiliferous
2.0
Limestone,packstone;olivegray,
medium
dark gray-dark gray-light
medium b l u i s h
graylreddishgray-buff;partiallysilicified;
t h i n - v e r yt h i c kb e d d e d ,b i o t u r b a t e d ;s l i g h t l y
b i t u m i n o u s ,b l a c kc h e r ts t r i n g e r sa n dn o d u l e s ,
brachiopod i n growthposition;forms
a bench
andledge,goodexposure;trace-moderate
(brachiopod,bryozoan,spongespicules,
15.0
foraminifera)
2.8 shale
Covered;
probably
black
L i m e s t o n e ,p a c k s t o n e ;l i g h to l i v eg r a y d u s k yy e l l o w - o l i v eg r a y / b u f f ;p a r t i a l l y
s i l i c i f i e d ,p y r i t e ;t h i n
bedded;forms
a ledge, f a i r exposure;
moderate
(forarninifera,pelmatazoan,brachiopod,algae,
gastropod,
bryozoan,
ostracode)
1.4
S i l t s t o n e ,s l i g h t l ya r e n a c e o u sa n d
a r g i l l a c e o u s ;l i g h to l i v eg r a y - d u s k y
y e l l o w / l i g h to l i v eg r a y - b u f f ;c o a r s e
g r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,f a i r - p o o rs o r t i n g ,
[ f l o a t i n g - s t y l o l i t i cc o n t a c t s ] ;p y r i t e ;
f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e db e d d e d ,b i o t u r b a t e d ;
s l i g h t l yb i t u m i n o u s ,s h a l ep a r t i n g s0 . 1
ft.
thick;forms a s t e e p s l o p e , f a i r e x p o s u r e ;
trace (brachiopod)
5.0
Covered
1.5
112
..
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft.1
2 -31
Sandstone,
orthoquartzite;
light
olive
gray-dusky yellow/buff; fine-very coarse
grained, subangular, poor sorting, [concavoconvex-stylolitic contacts]; [some
calcite cement]; thick bedded;forms a
ledge,fair-goodexposure;trace(plant)
5.3
2-30
Limestone, packstone; dark gray/medium
dark gray-dark gray; pyrite; thin bedded,
mottled; shale partings1/2 in. thick, black
chert nodules; forms
a ledge, good exposure;
moderate
(foraminifera,
pelmatazoan)
11.0
2 -2
2 -28
Sandstone, orthoquartzite; light olive
gray/dusky yellow, light grayish red, rustbuff; very fine-coarse grained, subangular,
poor sorting, concavo-convex contacts; thin
bedded; bituminous inclusions;forms a ledge,
exposure;
unfossiliferous
fair
2.0
Covered
Partial
Lower
2
-a
Morrowan
sp.
2 -3
30.0
thickness
Interval
of
Upper
_._.
Morrowan
1&7 .O
Interval
Limestone,packstone;olivegray-darkgray/
medium gray-buff; partially silicified;
thin bedded; [coated grains]; forms a ledge,
good exposure; moderate-trace (coral,
bryozoan, brachiopod, pelecypod, gastropod,
foraminifera, pelmatazoan) [conodont:
Neoanathodus bassleri symmetricus (Lane),
Hindeodella
]
1.8
Shale; black/buff; fissile-laminated
bedded; forms a slope, fair exposure;
unfosslliferous
1.0
113
Unit
(ft.)
2 -GA
2 -21.
Conglomerate,
arenaceous;
olive
blackblack/darkgray-buff;coarse
silt size/
f i n e - g r a n u l es a n ds i z eg r a i n s ,s u b a n g u l a r ,
poorsorting,[concavo-convex
to stylolitic
c o n t a c t s ] ;l i m e s t o n e
and q u a r t zg r a n u l e s ;
t h i n b e d d e d ;b i t u m i n o u s ,i r r e g u l a rb a s a l
contact;capsledge,
good e x p o s u r e ;t r a c e
brachiopod)
(pelmatazoan,
L i m e s t o n e ,s i l c i f i e d ;l i g h to l i v eg r a y o l i v eg r a y ,l i g h tb l u i s h - l i g h t
medium
bluish gray/light olive
gray-medium
b l u i s hg r a y - b u f f ;t h i c kb e d d e d ;u p p e r
c o n t a c ts h a r pa n di r r e g u l a r ;f o r m s
a
ledge, good exposure;trace-moderate
(sponge
spicules,
pelmatazoan,
pelecypod)
2 -24.
S h a l e ;b l a c k l b u f f ;f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e d
u n f o s s i l i f e r o u sb e d d e d ;
2-23
2 -22
pelmatazoan)
2 -21
2-20
Covered;
lower
5 feet probably
limestone
0.1
3.1
6.0
18.0
Conglomerate,arenaceous,slightlylimy;
lightolivegray-olivegrayllightolive
gray-buff;fine-pebblegrained,angular,
p o o rs o r t i n g ,[ f l o a t i n g - s t y b l i t i cc o n t a c t s 3
l i m e s t o n ep e b b l e s ,c h e r ta n dq u a r t zg r a i n s ,
mica, b l a u c o n i t e ;t h i nb e d d e d ;l e d g e
c o n s t i t u e n t , f a i r exposure; trace (brachiopod,
1.0
S a n d s t o n e ,s l i g h t l yl i m y ;g r a y i s ho r a n g e /
b u f f ; medium-very c o a r s eg r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,
p o o rs o r t i n g ;t h i nb e d d e d ;l e d g ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
f a i r ue nx fpoosssui rl ief;e r o u s
0.4
S i l t s t o n e ,s l i g h t l ya r e n a c e o u s ;g r a y i s h
black-medium d a r k g r a y - o l i v e g r a y l b l a c k b u f f ;c o a r s eg r a i n e d ,s u b a n g u l a r ,
fair
sorting,concavo-convexcontacts;mica,
g l a u c o n i t e ,p y r i t e ;l a m i n a t e d - t h i nb e d d e d ,
bioturbated;bituminous;forms
a ledge,
f a i r ue nx fpoosssuirl ei f;e r o u s
2.2
114
Unit
-a
2
2-2
Lithology
Conglomerate,
arenaceous;
light
olive
gray/buff; granule to fine grained,
subangular, poor sorting, [point to
concavo-convex contacts:]; limestone and
quartz granules, mica; thin bedded; forms
a minor bench, fair exposure; trace (plant,
brachiopod)
1.0
Shale, black-gray/buff; fissile bedded;
unfossiliferous
2 -17
Igneous dike, camptonite; light olive
gray-moderate greenish yellow/brown-buff;
discontinuous, fair exposure;
2-&
Sandstone, slightly limy; grayish orange/
buff; fine-very coarse grained, subangular,
poor sorting; mica; thin bedded; forms
a
discontinuous ledge, fair exposure; trace
(brachiopod,
4.3
plant)
2-2
2 -14
Conglomerate, arenaceous, slightly argillaceous; olive graylgrayish black-medium graybuff; medium-pebble grained, angular, poor
sorting, [point-long-stylolitic contacts];
limestone pebbles, quartz grains, mica; thin
bedded; gradation upper contact, coated
grains ; forms a ledge, fair exposure;
moderate (plant, coral, brachiopod, pelmatazoan,
bryozoan,
foraminifera,
pelecypod)
1.4
Conglomerate, arenaceous and slightly argillaceous; black-dark yellowish brown, light
olive gray/dusky buff; medium-granule grained,
angular, poor sorting, floating-long contacts
1;
limestone and quartz granules; thin bedded;
forms a ledge, fair exposure; trace (plant,
brachiopod)
2.0
115
D
0.9
Lithology
Unit
2-13
2 -12
2 -11
2 -g
2 -2
Shale;
black/gray-red,
yellow-buff;
f i s s i l e b e d d e d ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
f a i r uenxfpoosssui lrief;e r o u s
1.0
S a n d s t oo
n ret,h o q u a r t z igt er a; y oi srha n g e /
b u f f ; medium-very coarsegrained,suba n g u l a r , f a i r s o r t i n g ;t h i nb e d d e d ,g r a d e d ;
f a i r exposure;
minordiscontinuousledge,
unfossiliferous
2.0
Shale;
black/green-buff;
mica; becomes
s l i g h t l y s i l t y u p w a r d s ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
f a i r uenxfpoosssui rl ief;e r o u s
1.0
2-a
20.0
probably
Covered;
Limestone;
grayish
black-olive
black/medium
l i g h tg r a y - b u f f ;p y r i t e ;t h i n
bedded,
a bench, good exposure; tracemottled;forms
moderate(coral,brachiopod,bryozoan,
foraminifera,plematazoan)
N280E 4 w a
2 -8
1.5
Limestone,packstone;grayishblack-olive
black/darkgray-buff;glauconite
,[ p a r t i a l l y
p y r i t e ; thin-medium bedded;
recrystallized
forms a weak ledge, good exposure;moderate
(brachiopod,foraminifera,pelmatazoan,
bryozoan,spongespicules)[conodont:
Rhachistomathus
(Dunn), Adetovnathus
ginantus (Gunnell) (right), Adetonnathus
ginantus (Gunnell) ( l e f t ) , Adetonnathus sp,,
3.5
Hindeodella sp. ]
1,
2 -2
Shale;black/buff;forms
a s l o p e , poor
e x p o s u r e ;u n f o s s i l i f e r o u s
2.0
Unit
logy
Thickness
(ft.)
2 -6
Siltstone,slightlylimy,arenaceousand
argillaceous; grayish black-olive black,
dusky yellowishbrown/black-gray-maroonbuff; coarse grained, rounded-angular,
fair sorting, [floating
to point contacts];
mica; thin bedded, bioturbated; bituminous;
forms a bench, good exposure; trace (sponge
6.0
spicules,
brachiopod,
pelmatazoan)
2 -5
Siltstone,
argillaceous
to
arenaceous;
grayish black-olive black/olive black-buff;
coarse grained, subangular to subrounded,
fair sorting, [floatingto point contacts];
mica; fissile-laminated bedded, bioturbated,
rhythmitic; bituminous; steep slope constituent, good exposure; trace (brachiopod) 13.5
2 -A
Shale;black/buff;mica;fissilebedded;
forms a slope on one side
of stream cut,
good but intermittent exposure; moderate
(brachiopod)
2-2
3.6
Litho
pelmatazoan)
2-2
2.0
Siltstone,slightlylimy;olivegray-olive
black/light olive gray; coarse grained,
angular, well sorted, [point contacts];
partially silicified and recrystallized ;
medium bedded,faint.interna1'laminations;
black plant markings on surface; stream cut
bench, good-fair exposure; trace-moderate
(plant,
1.0
-
Covered
Partial thickness of Lower Morrowan
Interval
90.0
117
0
0
Unit
Lithology
0
Thickness
et.)
Rancheria Formation (Mississippian)
0
0
2
-z
Limestone,grainstone;lightolivegray/
olive gray-yellowish gray; jsparry calcite
cement], partially recrystallized; medium
to very thick bedding; [coated grains],
slightly vuggy; resistant bench in stream
cut, good exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan,
brachiopod, bryozoan, debris) [conodont:
Gnathodus bilineatus (Roundy)
,-Gnathodus
texanus (Roundy), Cavusmathus spa1
5.0
N14OE loNW
0
0
0
0
e
118
0
Stratigraphic Section7
Escondido
General
Location
The section was measured trending approximately
northeast in the
SWk of Section25 and theNE% of
Section
36,
T.18.S., R.lO.E., Otero County, New Mexico.
Description
of
Locality
The section is located 13.4 miles northeast along
various dirt roads, from
a point onU.S. 54, 19.9 miles south
of its intersection with
U.S. 70. Local land marks and directions
are: turn east off U.S. 54 and proceed east, stop sign and
military fence gate mark this turn; veer to right fork after 3.6
miles, continue east; abandoned bunkers, fences, concrete pads,
and storage tank at
0 . 3 miles mark this route; veer north around
pond; turn north at intersection
2 . 3 miles from pond; proceed in
a NNE direction for1.2 miles and turn north at intersection;
will end within2 miles; walk approximately
cross arroya, and road
4 miles to theNNE.
The section begins on the southern and western slope of
Moore Ridge. The section trends gennerally N55OE.
General
Remarks
The section was measured August
6-7, 1974. This section
is poorly exposed, with limestone ledges, commonly the only visible
strata. The Mississippian-Pennsylvanian "contact-interval" could
not readily be determined at this locality, hence no attempt was
119
Interval
made to define definite Mississippian (probably Ranchera
(?))
rocks.
The strike of strata is gemerally
N12W with dips
averaging 150 to the northwest.
Approximate Thickness
(in feet)
Interval
Desmoinesian
Lower
80
Atokan
64
14Interval
Morrowan
Upper
7
Interval
Morrowan Lower
80
I _
Total
371
Unit
Bug
Litholoky
Scuffle
Limestone
Member
7-34
Limestone,
packstone;
olive
black/
medium dark gray-buff; thin bedding,
bioturbated; black chert nodules and
stringers, limestone in
1 ft. thick
less than .2
beds, shale partings in
ft. beds; slope former,
semi-fair
exposure; trace-moderate (algae, pelmatazoan)
Lower
Desmoinesian
5.0
Interval
7-33
Limestone,
mudstone-wackestone,
Shale
slightly silty; olive
grayhedim light
gray-buff; thin bedded, bioturbated;
. sporadic black chert nodules; intermittent ledge and slope, fair exposure,
partially covered; moderate (coral,
pelmatazoan)
18.5
7-32
Shale;
black-gray/buff;
fissile
bedded;
slope former, fair exposure, unfossiliferous
120
1.2
t
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft
.)
b
7-31
D
B
7-30
Covered, t a l u s ;
7-29
Limestone,grainstone;olivegray1
medium gray-buff;thinbedded;caps
ledge,fair-goodexposure;abundant
(coral,brachiopod,pelmatazoan,
f o r a m i n i f e r a ,p e l l e t s )
B
7-28
7-2 7
0
Limestone,mudstoneandShale;olive
g r a y( l i m e s t o n e ) ,b l a c k( s h a l e ) / b u f f ;
t h i n bedded ( l i m e s t o n e ) , f i s s i l e small
laminated bedding(shale);
b u l b u l a r sand casts; s l o p e former,
semi-fair exposure;moderate(brachiopod)
[brachiopod:Linoproductuscf.
L. p l a t yumbonus(Dunbar
& Condra),Neospirifer
sp. ]
cameratus
(Morton),
Orbiculoidea
C o n g l o m e r a t e ,l i m e s t o n e ;l i g h to l i v e
g r a y - o l i v eg r a y l b u f f ;
medium-pebble
g r a i n e d ,r o u n d e d ,p o o rs o r t i n g ,f l o a t i n g
c o n t a c t s ;l i m e s t o n eg r a i n s ;t h i nb e d d e d ;
i n t r a f o r m a t i o n a l ,b l u e - g r a yc h e r tn o d u l e s
and s t r i n g e r s ; forms baseofledge,
good
exposure;trace-moderate(pelmatazoan,coral,
bryozoan,spongespicules,brachiopod,
algae)
12 1
0
10.0
Limestone,packstoneandShale;olive
blackhedium dark gray-buff;
mediumv e r y t h i c k bedded (limestone), f i s s i l e laminatedbedded(shale);gray-bluechert
s t r i n g e r s ,l i m e s t o n ei n
3-1 f t . t h i c k
b e d s ,s h a l ei n
less t h a n 0.2 f t . beds;
forms a r e s i s t a n t l e d g e , good exposure;
abundant(coral,brachiopod,pelmatazoan,
algae)
Partial thickness of
Interval
7.5
Lower Desmoinesian
1.4
35.5
2.1
80.0
D
D
Unit
Lithology
D
Thickness
(ft.)
Atokan I n t e r v a l
7-26
D
0
Limestp
o an ce k, s t solni egs,hitlltyy
a n dS h a l e ;o l i v eb l a c k( l i m e s t o n e ) ,b l a c k
(shale)/medium dark gray-buff; thin
bedded
( l i m e s t o n e ) ,f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e db e d d i n g
( s h a l e ) ;l i m e s t o n ei n
1.0-0.4 f t . beds,
s h a l e i n less than 0.4 f t . beds;forms
a
s l o p e ,f a i r - p o o re x p o s u r e ;m o d e r a t e
( b r a c h i o p o d ,s p o n g es p i c u l e s ,c o r a l )
7-25
Covered,
probably
7-24
S hl biam
llaeyc, ;k / bf iusfsfi;l e - l a m i n a t e d
bedded;limestone,madstonestringers;
unfossiliferous
1.0
L i m e s tgornaei,n s toglnrieav;ye - b l a c k /
medium l i g h t g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ;t h i n - t h i c kb e d d e d ;c o a t e dg r a i n s ,
l i n e a t i o np a r t i n g s ;f o r m s
a ledge, goodfair exposure;abundant(brachiopod,coral,
pelmatazoan, foraminifera)[brachiopod:
N e o s p i r i f e r sp.]
8.5
0
7-23
e
7-22
0
7-24
19.4
Covered, t a l pu rso; b a bs hl yai nl edt e r bedded, t h i n beddedlimestone
Partial thickness of Atokan Interval
2.0
64.0
93.0
Upper Morrowan I n t e r v a l
a
e
7.-2 1
7-20
L i m e s t o nwea,c k e s t o ns lei,g hst li y
lty;
o l i v e g r a y , o l i v e black/mediumgray-buff;
p a r t i a l l yr e c r y s t a l l i z e d ;t h i n - t h i c kb e d d e d ,
bioturbated; has '"string-streak" weathered
s u r f a c e ,s t y l o l i t e s ,g r e e nc h e r tl a y e r sa n d
nodules;ledgeformer,
good exposure;moderate
(brachiopod,
pelmatazoan)
coral,
26.0
Covered, t a l u s ;
122
0
16.0
Lithology
Unit
7-19
talus;7-18
Bickness
(ft )
.
Limestone,
grainstone-packstone;
olive
graylmedium gray-buff; partially silicified; very thick bedded; blue-gray,
black chert nodules and stringer; forms
a ledge, fair exposure; trace-moderate
(algae, foraminifera, brachiopod, coral,
9.4
pelmatazoan)
Covered,
h.0
7-17
Limestone, packstone and Chert; olive
gray (limestone), black (chert)/medium
gray-buff; partially silicified; thin
bedded; bluish-light olive-maroon chert
nodules and layers; steep slope constituent,
poor exposure; moderate-abundant (pelmatazoan,
1.6
sponge
spicules,
algae,
foraminifera)
7- 16
Limestone, packstone; olive graylmedium
gray-buff; glauconite; thin bedded; stream
cut bench, poor exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan,
coral,
bryozoan,
brachiopod,
algae)
1.5
talus; 7- 15
7- 14
talus;7- 13
Covered,
1.0
Limestone, packstone; light olive gray/
medium gray-buff; partially silicified;
thin-very thick bedded, faintly mottled;
stringlike bands of rust-orange on weath'ered
surface; formsa ledge, fair exposure; abundant
(foraminifera, pelmatazoan, bryozoan, coral,
algae)
6.3
Covered,
17.5
Unit
7- 12
Lithology
7-11
.
Sandstone,
orthoquartzite;
light
olive
gray-yellowish graylbuff; medium-coarse
grained, angular-subrounded, fair-good
sorting, [concavo-convex, stylolitic
contacts]; partially recrystallized
,
[heavy minerals]; thin-medium bedded;
stream cut ledge, semi-poor exposure; trace
(plant)
offset east to west minor tributary on
7-11
5.5
Partial
Lower
Thickness
(ft )
Morrowan
thickness
Interval
of
Upper
-
Morrowan
147.0
Interval
Limestone,
packstone;
brownish
blackfdark
gray-buff; partially silicified; mediumvery thick bedded; blue chert layers and
nodules; formsa ledge, fair-good exposure;
moderate-abundant (foraminifera, bryozoan,
coral, algae)
N3% 16ONE
12.5
7- 10shaleprobably
Covered:
0.5
Sandstone, orthoquartzite; light olive
gray/buff; fine-very coarse grained,
angular-subangular, poor sorting, stylolitic
contacts; minor calcite cement, heavy minerals;
thin bedded; discontinuous bench, poor
(plant) trace
exposure;
1.3
7-9
11.0
7-8
Covered
7-7
Limestone, packstone and Chert; black
(chert), olive black (limestone) /medium
light gray-buff; silicified in spots; thin
bedded; chert layer718 of total, fractured;
chert caps ledge, semi-rare exposure; abundant
(pelmatazoan, coral, bryozoan, foraminifera)0.2
124
0
0
Unit
0
Limestone,
7-6 wackestone-packstone;
olive
blackimedium gray-buff; thin-medium bedded,
mottled; fractured, blue-gray, black chert
nodules and layers; formsa broken ledge,
fair exposure; abundant (coral, brachiopod,
pelmatazoan, bryozoan)
. 6.1
N14W 14ONE
0
7-5
0
pellets)
0
talus 7-4
Limestone, packstone-grainstone; blackolive black/medium gray, yellowish pinkish
buff; thin bedded, faint banding;
forms a minor ledge, fair-poor exposure;
abundant (coral, pelmatazoan, foraminifera,
bryozoan,
3.1
10.0
Covered,
7-3
Limestone, packstone; light olive gray/
olive gray-buff; partially silicified; thick
bedded; gray blue, black chert layers and
nodules; ledge former, good exposure; abundant
(coral, brachiopod, pelmatazoan, bryozoan,
5.0
foraminifera, spongespicules)
7-2
Limestone, packstone; olive gray/medium dark
gray-buff; partially silicified; very thick
bedded; black chert layers and nodules; forms
a broken ledge, fair exposure; moderate-abundant
(algae, coral, brachiopod, pelmatazoan, sponge
spicules, foraminifera)
N15'E 160SE
7-1 talus
Covered,
0
0
7.2
0
Lithology
;
-
Partial thickness of Lower Morrowan
Interval
80.0
0
125
0
5.0
Stratigraphic Section 8
Nigger Ed
General Location
The s e c t i o n measured trends approximately east-west
i n t h e Nw/4 S e c t i o n 1 8 ,
T. 19.S., R . U . E . ,
OteroCounty,
New
Mexico.
D e s c r i p t i o n of L o c a l i t y
The s e c t i o n i s l o c a t e d 11.3 m i l e s n o r t h e a s t a l o n g
v a r i o u sd i r tr o a d s ,f r o m
a p o i n t on U.S. 54, 1 9 . 9 m i l e ss o u t h
of its i n t e r s e c t i o nw i t h
U . S . 70.
t u r n e a s to f fo f
d i r e c t i o n sa r e :
U . S . 54 andproceedeast,
s t o p s i g n and m i l i t a r y f e n c e g a t e
forkafter
Locallandmarksand
mark t h i s t u r n ; v e e r to r i g h t
3.6 miles,continueeast;abandonedbunkers,fences,
c o n c r e t e pads, and s t o r a g e t a n k a t 0 . 3 m i l e s
veernortharound
pond; t u r n n o r t h
a t i n t e r s e c t i o n 2.3 miles
i n a NNE d i r e c t i o n f o r 1 . 2 m i l e s a n d t u r n n o r t h
frompond;proceed
at intersection;crossarroya,
walk2.2miles
mark t h i s r o u t e ;
androad
w i l l end w i t h i n 2 m i l e s ;
i n a N75OE d i r e c t i o n .
The s e c t i o n b e g i n s
Canyon, roughlywestofTable
on t h e s o u t h e r n s l o p e o f N i g g e r
Top B u t t e .
Ed
The s e c t i o n t r e n d s
g e n e r a l l y N58OE.
General Remarks
The s e c t i o n was measuredAugust8,1974.
exposedwithresistantlimestoneledges
visiblestrata.
It i s poorly
commonly t h e o n l y
The writer l a t e r v i s i t e d a l o c a l i t y 0.5 m i l e s
126
to the north, and noted
a sandstone-limestone interval
8-5.
interpreted as being part of unit
This section is close to the frontal fault of the'
escarpment. At the northern locality, faulting was
noticed and the lower Gobbler stratigraphic section appeared
to be distorted. Detailed measurement of the section at
this northern locality was not procured.
The strike of strata is generally
N30oE with dips
averaging 30'
to the southeast.
Approximate Thickness
(in feet)
Interval
Desmoinesian
Lower
erval
31
Atokan
69
Interval
Morravan Upper
Lower
142
Morrowan
-
Interval
66
308
Total
Unit
Bug
8-2 1
algae)
(ft
Scuffle
Limestone
.)
Member
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone,
slightly
silty, and Shale; light olive gray/light
olive gray-buff-limestone, black/buffshale; partially silicified; fissile-thin
bedded-shale; brachiopod in growth position;
massive cliff former, excellent exposure;
moderate (pelmatazoan, fusulinid, brachiopod,
5.0
127
0
0
Unit
Lithology
Thickness
(ft . I
0
Lower
0
Desmoinesian
Interval
8-20
Covered
8-19
Limestone,mudstone to wackestone,
slightly silty, interbedded Shale, partially covered; grayish blackfdark gray-buff;
thin bedded-limestone, fissile beddedshale; limestone in 1.5 ft. thick beds,
shale in 1 ft. thick beds; forms a slope,
poor-fair
exposure;
trace
(debris)
35.0
0
Partial
0
Atokan
20.0
thickness
Interval
of
Lower
-
Desmoinesian
Interval
45.0 8-18 talus
-
Covered,
Partial thickness of Atokan Interval 69.0
0
Upper
Interval
8-17
Limestone,
packstone-wackestone;
olive
blackfmedium gray-buff; partially silicified;
thin-medium bedded; black chert stringers;
ledge former, good exposure; trace (foraminifera, pelmatazoan, coral)
15.0
8-16
Covered; two limestone beds approximately
2 ft. thick each within this interval
20.0
0
0
Morrowan
8-15
talus; 8-14
Limestone, mudstone-wackestone; olive graymedium dark grayfmedium gray-buff; thin
bedded; forms a ledge,
fairpoor exposure;
(brachiopod,
trace
pelmatazoan)
6.5
Covered,
9.0
0
128
0
3
e
0
Unit
0
8- 13
0
0
talus; 8- 12
Limestone,
packstone-wackestone;
olive
grayfmedium gray-buff; glauconite grains;
thin-thick bedded; green-tan-black chert
bands and nodules and black chert stringers
9-19 ft. up, coated grains,limestone (mudstone-wackestone, slightly silty) grains;
ledge former, good exposure; moderate (pelmatazoan, bryozoan, coral, brachiopod,
foraminifera)
19.0
7.5
Covered,
8- 11
Limestone, packstone-wackestone; olive
gray/olive gray-medium gray-buff; partially
silicified; thin-medium bedded; forms a
discontinuous ledge, fair exposure; moderatetrace (coral, bryozoan, brachiopod, foraminifera, pelmatazoan)
10.0
8- 10
Covered-partially covered, Shale; black/
buff; fissile bedded; forms a talus slope,
shale is exposed intermittently; unfossili14.0
f
8-9
Limestone, grainstone-packstone; dusky
yellowish brown-grayish orangeldark graylight gray-buff; thin bedded, mottled;
forms minor broken ledge, good-fair exposure;
trace (pelmatazoan, bryozoan, foraminifera) 1.0
8-8
Limestone, packstone; medium olive gray/
medium dark gray-buff; glauconite grains;
thin-medium bedded; black chert layer
3 ft.
up; ledge former, good exposure; moderate
(coral foraminifera, bryozoan, brachiopod)
5.0
8-7
Shale; gray-black/light gray-red-black;
fissile-laminated bedded; forms a slope,
3.0
partially covered at top; unfossiliferous
e
erous
0
0
9
Lithology
e
129
e
Lithology
Unit
8-6
Limestone,
wackestone,
slightly
silty;
olive black/medium gray-buff; thin bedded;
fractured; minor ledge former, intermittent
exposure; trace-abundant.(foraminifera,
bryozoan,
pelmatazoan,
brachiopod)
3.0
a- 5
Covered; probably contains
a sandstone bed
overlain bya limestone approximately
15 ft.
63.5
thick
Partial
Lower
8-4
8-3
8-2
Morrowan
thicknessof Upper
Interval
Morrowan
142.0
Interval
Limestone,
grainstone;
olive
grayllight
olive gray-buff; sparry calcite cement;
thin-medium bedded; [coated grains]
; forms
a ledge, good exposure; trace (pelmatazoan,
bryozoan, debris)
N4OE 340SE
10.5
shale
probably
Covered;
4.0
Siltstone, arenaceous and limy, and
interbedded Limestone, mudstone and Shale;
light olive gray/light olive gray-buff;
medium-coarse grained, subangular, fairgood sorting, floating-point contacts;
calcite cement; thin bedded, banded, bio8 - 1 , upturbated; concordant contact with
ward coarsening; forms
a slope, fair
exposure; trace (debris)
N3oE 240SE
15.0
Partial thickness of Lower Morrowan
Interval
66.0
_
I
_
130
e
0
Unit
Lithology
0
Thickness
( f t.I
Helms Formation(Mississippian)
8- 1
0
0
S i l t s t o nl iem
, y
and s l i g h at lrye n a c e o u s
and interbeddedShaleandLimestone,
muds t o n e ; medium d a r k g r a y - o l i v e g r a y - l i g h t
o l i v e graylmediumgray-buff;medium-coarse
grained,subrounded,
good s o r t i n g ,f l o a t i n g p o i n tc o n t a c t s ;c a l c i t ec e m e n t ;
fissilet h i n bedded, finelylaminatedbanding;
silts t o n e i n 1 f t . t h i c kb e d sa n ds h a l ei n
0.3
f t . thickbeds;forms
a s l o p e ,f a i r
u n f o s s i l i f e reoxupso s u r e ;
5.0
e
0
0
e
0
131
0
0
Stratigraphic Section 5
Grapevine Canyon
General Location
The s e c t i o n was measuredon
Grapevine Canyon i n t h e
NWh,
SWk, S e c t i o n 2 2 , T.19.S.,
the northern slope
S e c t i o n 2 7 , T. 19.S.,
R.U.E.,
OteroCounty,
of
R. 11.E.,
and
New Mexico.
D e s c r i p t i o n of L o c a l i t y
The s e c t i o n i s l o c a t e d 14.5 m i l e s e a s t a l o n g v a r i o u s
a p o i n t on U.S.
dirtroads,from
i n t e r s e c t i o nw i t h
turn east off of
fence gate
70.
U.S.
storagetank
U.S. 54 and p r o c e e d e a s t , s t o p s i g n a n d m i l i t a r y
3.6 m i l e s ,
pads, and
abandonedbunkers,fences,concrete
a t 0.3 m i l e s mark t h e r o u t e ; v e e r n o r t h a r o u n d
a t 2.5 m i l e s ; t u r n n o r t h
proceed in
Locallandmarksanddirectionsare:
mark t h i s t u r n ; v e e r t o r i g h t f o r k a f t e r
c o n t i n u ee a s t ;
of i t s
5 4 , 19.9 miles south
a t i n t e r s e c t i o n 2.3 miles from
a NNE d i r e c t i o n f o r
pond;
at inter-
4 milesandthenveerleftingravelarroya;
section;proceedeast
0.1 m i l e s f u r t h e r f o l l o w
e a s t 0.5 mile; walk
1.2 m i l e s a n d t u r n e a s t
pond
main t r i b u t a r y andproceed
up t r i b u t a r y a p p r o x i m a t e l y
east to north-
0.75 of a
mile.
The sectionbeginsalongthelowest
s l o p ea d j a c e n tt h et r i b u t a r y .
part of t h e n o r t h e r n
The s e c t i o n t r e n d s
i n small t r i b u t a r i e s whereadvantageous.
NNW and is o f f s e t
The uppermost p a r t of t h e
s e c t i o n i s measured i n t h e main t r i b u t a r y w e s t of t h e o r i g i n , w h e r e
t h e Bug S c u f f l e i s c u t by t h e t r i b u t a r y .
132
General
Remarks
The section was measured July
2 1 and August10-11,
1974. It is well exposed in the basal and upper portions, but
is poorly exposed in the middle portion; with limestone ledges
generally the only visible strata.
N25w
The general strike of the strata iswith dips
averaging 250 to the southwest.
Approximated Thickness
(in feet)
Lower
Desmoinesian
Atokan
Interval
26
75
Interval
Upper
Morrowan
Interval
148
Lower
Morrowan
Interval
65
Total
3 14
Lithology
Unit
Bug
Scuffle
5-44
(53)
Limestone
Thickness
(ft
.I
Member
Conglomerate,
limestone,
slightly
silty
andshale;lightolive
grayhedim graybuff; medium-pebble grained, subrounded,
poor sorting, floating contacts; limestone
grains; fissile-thin bedded; intraformational,
basal contact channelled as much4-5
as ft.;
ledge constituent, good exposure; moderate
(coral,
brachiopod,
foraminifera)
5.0
133
Unit
Lower
5-43
(5-f)
5-43
(5-e)
Litholoty
Desmoinesian
Interval
Limestone, packstone; pale brown-olive
gray/olive gray buff; glauconite; thinthick bedded, mottled; channelled upper
contact; ledge former,good exposure;
abundant (brachiopod, pelmatazoan, coral,
foraminifera, bryozoan) [brachiopod:
Antiquatonia cf. coloradoensis (Girty);
coral: PseudozaDhrentoides sp.]
11.0offset west approximately 50 ft. on 5-43
15.0
Shale and Limestone, wackestone-mudstone;
black (shale), dark gray (limestone)/buff;
mica; fissile-laminated bedding-shale, thin
bedded-limestone; formsa wall, good exposure;
moderate-abundant (coral, brachiopod, pelmatazoan)
-
Partial thickness of Lower Desmoinesian
Interval
26 .O
Atokan Interval
5-41
Limestone,
grainstone-packstone;
medium
olive
(5-d)
gray-dusky
yellow/medium
olive
gray-buff;
partially silicified, quartz, glauconite
grains; thin-medium bedded; ledge former, good
exposure; abundant (pehatazoan, bryozoan,
algae)
brachiopod,
coral,
4.8
5-40
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone,
slightly
(5-c)
silty;
olive
black-grayish
orange/light
graybuff; thin bedded, bioturbated, burrowed;
stream cut slope, good exposure; trace
(brachiopod,
algae,
worm,
debris)
1.1
15.0
Lithology
Unit
Thickness
(ft
.)
5-39
(5-b)
L i m e s t o n e ,p a c k s t o n e ,s l i g h t l ys i l t y ;
partiallysilicified;thin-verythick
bedded;
coarser grained in basal portion of unit;
forms a ledge, good exposure;abundant(pelmatazoan,bryosoan,brachiopod,foraminifera,
f u s u l i n i d ,d e b r i s )
11.3
N15'E 14ONW
5-38
(5-1
Shale and Limestone, wackestone with packs t o n em i c r o l e n s e s ,a r g i l l a c e o u s ,s l i g h t l y
silty;darkgray-yellowisholive
brown/
darkgray-buff;
mica; f i s s i l eb e d d e d - s h a l e ,
t h i nb e d d e d - l i m e s t o n e ;s t r e a mc u ts l o p e ,
fair-goodexposure;moderate(pelmatazoan,
brachiopod,bryozoan,foraminifera)
[brachiopod:Neospirifersp.]
o f f s e t west t o main t r i b u t a r y on t h e base
of 5-38
2.2
5-37
Covered
20.0
5-36
L i m e s t o n e ,w a c k e s t o n e ,s l i g h t l ys i l t y ;o l i v e
black/medium darkgray-buff;thinbedded;
small blackchertnodules;forms
a ledge,
f a i r exposure;trace(pelmatazoan,brachiopod)
10.3
5-35
Covered
10.0
5-34
L i m e s t o n e ,g r a i n s t o n e ;l i g h tg r a y - d a r k
grayfmedium dark gray-buff; partially
r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ; t h i n bedded;forms
a minor
ledge, good exposure; abundant(pelmatazoan,.
brachiopod, bryozoan, d e b r i s )
1.3
0
0
~~
Unit
0
Lithology
5-33
Limestone,
mudstone,
Shale;
and
grayish
b l a c k( l i m e s t o n e )g r a y - b l a c k( s h a l e ) / b u f f ;
t h i nb e d d e d - l i m e s t o n e ,f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e d
bedded-shale;formsdiscontiousminor
ledges and s l o p e s , poorexposure;moderate
(coral)
0
P a r t i at lh i c k n e sosf
0
9.0
Atokan I n t e r v a7l5 . 0
Lower Morrowan I n t e r v a l
55
Covered
5-31
S h a l e ,s i l i c i f i e d ;d a r kr e d d i s h
brown,
moderatereddish brown, moderateyellowish
b r o w d b u f f ;t h i n bedded, i n t e r n a ll a m i n a t i o n s ;
capsbench,
good exposure;trace[sponge
spicules]
5-30
e
0
.O
5-32
0
L i m e s t opnaec,k s t osnl ieg, hs ti l yt y ;
pale
reddishbrown-yellowishgray/mediumlight
g r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ;t h i n - t h i c k
bedded;brachiopod
i n growthposition;forms
a minorbench,
good exposure;moderate
( b r a c h i o p o d ,c o r a l ,b r y o z o a n ,a l g a e ,p e l matazoan,foraminifera)
0.3
24.5
5
L-i 2m9e s tsoinl iec, i fwi eadc ,k e s tdoanrek;
r e d d i s h brown, l i g h t o l i v e g r a y / p a l e g r e e n i s h
yellow-buff;thinbedded;streamcutminor
trace (brachiopod)
1.5
ledge,
poor
exposure;
5-28
0
5-2 7
(debris)
Covered
S hballaec; k / m a r o o n - bfui sf fs;i l e - l a m i n a t e d
bedded;blockyslope,poorexposure;minortrace
0
0
~
..
136
7.0
0
0
0
Unit
Lithology
5-26
Limestone,
packstone-grainstone;
dark
reddish brown-light olive brown/dark reddish
brown-buff; partially recrystallized, ferrugenic coating or cement; thin bedded;
coated grains, color bands; stream cut
slope, poor-fair exposure; moderate (coral,
brachiopod, pelmatazoan, bryozoan, foraminifera)
5.2
5-25
Covered
5-24
Limestone, grainstone; pale yellowish brownlight olive gray-light gray/yellowish graybuff; partially recrystallized; thin bedded;
blue gray-black chert nodules; forms a minor
ledge, semi-fair exposure; trace-moderate
(algae, foraminifera, bryozoan, pelmatazoan)5.0
5-23
Covered
5-22
Limestone, grainstone, slightly silty;
light olive gray-browdlight gray-buff; thin
bedded; hasa pitted (weathered) surface,
dusky-very dark red dissemanations; forms
a minor bench, good exposure; moderate
(foraminifera, algae, brachiopod, pelmatazoan)
offset north to intersection of northwest
slope anda northeastern branch of main
tributary
on
9.5
5-16
0
0
0
0
0
0
unit
3.5
15.0
5-2 1
Covered
5-20
Limestone, grainstone-packstone; medium olive
grayldark gray-buff; thin bedded; forms a
minor bench, fair-good exposure; moderate
(pelmatazoan, foraminifera, pellets, debris)1.0
5- 19
Covered
5.0
4.0
0
137
0
Thickness
(ft .)
0
0
0
Unit
5- 17
Partially Covered and Sandstone, ferrugenic
protoquartzite; dark reddish brown/grayish
red purple-buff; very fine-fine grained,
[ subangular], fair-good sorting, [floatingconcavo-convex contacts]; partially recrystallized, biotite, feldspar, [glauconite],
pyrite grains; thin bedded; discontinuous
minor ledge, poor exposure; unfossiliferous 8.0
Partial
thickness
Interval
Upper
Morrowan
-
148.0
5- 16
Limestone,
packstone;
yellowish
gray-olive
grayllight olive gray-buff; partially
silicified and recrystallized; medium-very
thick bedded; blue gray-black chert layers
3 ft. up, light gray chert8 ft. up; ledge
former, fair exposure; trace-moderate (brachio17.0
pod, coral, foraminifera, bryozoan, debris)
5- 15
Partially Covered and Sandstone, orthoquartzite; moderate yellowish brown-grayish orange
pink-pale red/light buff; fine-coarse grained
subangular, fair-poor sorting, concavo-convexstylolitic contacts; glauconite, feldspar,
heavy minerals, biotite, limonite; thin bedded,
faint banding, minor cross-bedding; discontinuous ledge,poorexposure;trace(plant)
1.5
0
138
0
of
Lower Morrowan Interval
0
0
.)
Limestone,
packstone;
brownish
black-olive
black/medium dark gray-buff; partially recrystallized, pyrite; thin bedded; blue
gray-black chert layers and stringers; forms
a minor ledge, fair exposure; trace-moderate
(foraminifera, brachiopod, pelmatazoan,
2 .o
bryozoan)
0
0
(ft
5-18
0
0
Thickness
Lithology
0
0
Unit
Lithology
e
5- 14
0
bryozoan)
0
Limestone,
wackestone-packstone;
olive
grayl i g h t o l i v e grayfmediumgray-buff;partially
s i l i c i f i e d and r e c r y s t a l l i z e d ; thin-medium
bedded;blue-gray
t ob l a c kc h e r tn o d u l e s
and
s t r i n g e r s ;l e d g ef o r m e r ,
f a i r exposure;
trace (spongespicules,pelmatazoan,foraminifera,
4.5
Covered
5- 12
Breccia-Conglomerate, l i m y , s l i g h t l y s i l t y ;
olivegray-darkgray-darkyellowish
brown/
d a r kg r a y - b u f f ;f i n e - p e b b l eg r a i n e d ,a n g u l a r subrounded,poorsorting,floating-point
or
styloliticcontacts;partiallysilicified,
b l a c kc h e r tp e b b l e s ,l i m e s t o n eg r a i n sa n d
pebbles; thin-mediumbedded;
intraformational
(?), c h e r t s t r i n g e r s 2 f t . up;forms
a minor
l e d g e ,f a i re x p o s u r e ;t r a c e( b r y o z o a n ,f o r a m i n i fera,
c o rbarl a) c h i o p o d ,
6.0
5- 11
7.0
8.0
Covered
5-10
Limestone,packstone-wackestone,slightly
silty;oliveblack-olive
grayfmediumgrayb u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,p y r i t e ;t h i n medium bedded; c h e r t n o d u l e s i n r o u n d t u b e l i k el a y e r s ,c o a t e dg r a i n s ,b r a c h i o p o di n
growthposition;ledgeformer,
good exposure;
abundant(bryozoan,pelmatazoan,foraminifera,
s psopni gcbu
erlaecsh, i ocpoor adl, )
4.3
5-9
Limestone,packstone-wackestone;brownish
black-lightolivegray/dark
gray-medium l i g h t
g r a y - b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,p y r i t e ;t h i n medium bedded, m o t t l e d ;b l a c kc h e r tn o d u l e s
and layers;forms a ledge, good exposure;
abundant(foraminifera,
p e l l e t s , brachiopod,
coral,pelmatazoan,bryozoan,spongespicules,
algae)
5.3
0
0
139
~
.)
5- 13
0
0
Thickness
(ft
Unit
Lithology
Shale;
5-8
black/maroon,
yellowish
f i s s i l e bedded;forms
unfossiliferous
5-7
0.95
5-6
22OSW
5- 5
brown, b u f f ;
a slope,poorexposure;
0.9
Limestone,
packstone-wackestone;
olive
gray-grayish black/medium g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y s i l i c i f i e d ; t h i n bedded; s l o p e
c o n s t i t u e n t , good exposure;trace-moderate
pelmatazoan)
(brachiopod,
Limestone,packstone;brownishblack-olive
black/dark gray-medium g r a y - b u f f ; p a r t i a l l y
s i l i c i f i e d ; t h i n bedded, s l i g h t l y m o t t l e d ;
f r a c t u r e d ;l e d g e former, good exposure;
moderate-abundant(brachiopod,pelmatazoan,
bryozoan,spongespicules,algae)
N350W
3.9
S h a l e ;v e r yl i g h tg r a y / m a r o o n ,g r e e n i s hg r a y ,
pale y e l l o w i s h o r a n g e ; f i s s i l e
bedded;forms
a s l o p e , rare e x p o s u r et;r a c e( b r a c h i o p o d )
1.0
5-4
L i m e s t o n e ,p a c k s t o n e ,s l i g h t l ya r e n a c e o u s ;
o l i v e b l a c k / d a r k gray-medium g r a y , l i g h t
b l u eg r e e n ,b u f f ;p a r t i a l l ys i l i c i f i e d ,
g l a u c o n i t e ,q u a r t zg r a i n s ;t h i nb e d d e d ,a l g a l
s t r u c t u r e s ,m o t t l e d ;f r i a b l e
1 i n .l a y e r
c a p p i n gt h eu n i t ;l e d g ef o r m e r ,
f a i r exposure;
moderate-abundant(brachiopod,coral,
pelmatazoan,bryozoan,foraminifera,algae,
0.8
sponge
5-3
S h a l e and i n t e r b e d d e d S i l t s h a n e ; medium l i g h t
g r a y - p a l er e d d i s hb r o w d l i g h tg r a y ,y e l l o w i s h
brown,maroon,
p a l ey e l l o w i s ho r a n g e ;
mica;
f i s s i l e - l a m i n a t e db e d d i n g ;b l a c ks p l o t c h e so n
s u r f a c e ;s l o p ec o n s t i t u e n t ,
semi-rare exposure;
traceplant)
(brachiopod,
1.2
spicules)
140
Unit
5-2
Lithology
Thickness
(ft. 1
Conglomerate,
limy-arenaceous;
light
olive
brown-light medium olive gray/brownish
black-pale yellowish orange, buff-yellowish
orange; medium-cobble grained, subangular,
poor sorting, concavo-convex-stylolitic
contacts; quartz and limestone grains,
chert cobbles; thin bedded; abrupt basal
contact; slope constituent, semi-rare
unfossiliferous
exposure;
0.4
Partial
thickness
Interval
of
Lower
Morrowan
65.0
Helms Formation (Mississippian)
5- 1
Limestone,mudstoneandshale,slightly
silty and limy; olive gray-light olive
gray/ light olive gray-light buff;
[ microclastic micrite]; thin bedded, wavy, faintfine banding; mud crack casts, limestone in
1 ft. thick beds, shale 0.6
in ft. thick
beds; talus ledge unless stream cut, goodexcellent exposure; unfossiliferous;
started measurement in main tributary floor
trending north-northwest
NlO% 27OSW
5.0