NMBMMR Open-file Report 430
Petrographic analysis of Upper Paleozoic
rocks in southern Luna County
R. E. Clemons
1
PETROGRAPHIC
ANALYSIS
OF
UPPER
LUNA
PALEOZOIC
IN
ROCKS
SOUTHERN
COUNTY
Russell E. Clemons
Department
of
Geological
Sciences,
New
Mexico
State
University,
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003
INTRODUCTION
Outcrops
sparse.
of
upper
Relatively
Paleozoic
little
has
rocks
been
in
southern
published
on
Luna
their
County
occurrences
and there have been only three reports with some detailed
petrographic data (Wilson, 1989, Buck and Clemons, 1991; Clemons,
in press). Two 2-inch cores drilled during mineral exploration in
the
West
Lime
Hills
1, 2) provide
(Figs.
684-ft
sections of upper Paleozoic rocks in that area.
and
1494-ft
sample
A small knoll
(Fig.2) consists of about75 ft of previously undescribed Lower
Permian rocks. Two additional recently reported outcrops of
2) are at Eagle Nest
Permian rocks in southern Luna County (Fig.
1990) and “Georget1 hill (N$ sec.
3 , T29S, R5W),
(Seager and Mack,
7 mi
south
of
Eagle
Nest.
The
purpose
of
thistoreport
provide is
petrographic descriptions of these rocks and correlate them with
other upper Paleozoic rocks in and near southern Luna County.
Hopefully, data provided here will enhance the understanding of
depositional
conditions
across
the
Florida-Moyotes
theOrograndeandPedregosaBasins(Fig.3A),duringLate
Pennsylvanian
and
Early
Permian
times.
Uplift,
between
a
N
I
"
"
L
a x II,
,.-
Y,RedMtn
I
1
1
1
r
I
0
10 m i
5
0
l
1
I
10 k m
5
I
I
I
I
I
I
Ti'
T
POL Ranch
0
'
+?
+*
I
I
I
SKWo
I
SR
W
,
0
I
I
M E X I C O
"
"
"
"
"
\
e 1
GH I
L"
"
"
"
"
"
M E X I C O
1
I
FIGURE 2-Localities of cores and sections includedin this study. EN, Eagle Nest; GH, Georgehill; GP, Gym Peak; GWLH-1, G W - 1 core;
GWLH-3, GWLH-3 core;SK, small knoll; SKW, Skelly No.1ANew Mexico C well; SRW, SunRay Mid-Continent No.
1New Mexico Fed.
R weU.
W
I
Cores
drilled
1981-1982
in
by
Gulf
Mineral
GWLH-1(TD 2314 ft) and GWLH-3 2309
(TD ft)
holes
Resources
were
from
examined
the
and
a general description of each is in Appendix A. Samples were
chosen
from
fossiliferous
zones
in
the and'at
cores depths
needed
to represent all megascopically distinctive lithologies in the
.cores. Petrographic thin sections were prepared from 67 GWLH-1
core samples and 40 GWLH-3 core samples. Stratigraphic sections
3.5 mi northwest of
were measured and sampled at the small knoll
West
Lime
(29 thin
Hills
sections),
southeast
flank Gym
of Peak
in
the southeastern Florida Mountains (29 thin sections), at Eagle
Nest (17 thin sections) , and I1Georgeg1 hill (8 thin sections)
.
Permian strata in the northeastern Tres Hermanas Mountains were
measured, sampled, and thin sectioned but contact metamorphism
destroyed
most
ofthe original
textures
and
prevents
identification
190. thin
ofbioclasts.Petrographicanalyses'weremadeon
sections.
REGIONAL
GEOLOGY
PennsylvanianandPermianrocksinsouth-centraland
southwestern
New
Mexico
have
received
much
attention
due
primari
to presence of oil and gas reservoirs in these age strata in
southeastern New Mexico. Pennsylvanian strata range in age from
Morrowan (?) to Virgilian and were deposited unconformably on
Precambrian to Upper Mississippian rocks. The PennsylvanianPermian
boundary
is
gradational
in
many
areas;
elsewhere
Permian,
Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks are erosionally unconformable. on
Pennsylvanian strata (Kottlowski, 19.63,
1965).
Pennnnsylvanian
rocks (if ever present) apparently were eroded from the Florida
Mountains area during Early Permian. Erosion during early and
middle Mesozoic time probably stripped Pennsylvanian and Permian
rocks
the Burro
from
Uplift
southwestern
New Mexico
in
1963; Mack
and
Clemons,
1960a,
1960b,
(Kottlowski,
.
1988).
.
Outcrops of Pennsylvanian-Permian strata are scattered in
south-central
and
southwestern
New
Mexico
and
mapping
units
use
workers have varied greatly over the years. Ranges in southcentralNewMexicocontainexposuresofPennsylvanianbeds
deposited in the Orogrande Basin; ranges in southwestern part of
the
state
have
exposures
Pedregosa Basin (Fig.3A).
and
from
New
Pennsylvanian
to'rocks
to
in
Arizona
possess
Pennsylvanian
strata
deposited
in
the
Stratigraphic nomenclature for Permian
rocks
southeastern
Mexico
of
southwestern
whereas
locally
these
New
Mexico
age
named
assigned or
names
rocks
by
has
in
been
ad
south-centra
correlation
4).
the
east and north (Fig.
During the past several decades many workers have compiled
data
about
southwestern
Lower
New
Permian-Pennsylvanian
Mexico.
rocks
(1965) described
Zeller
in
south-central.
about8,000 ft
and
of
1, 4) that were
these strata in the Big Hatchet Mountains (Fig.
deposited in the Pedregosa Basin. Additional studies of some of
these rocks have been made by Ross (1973), Thompson and Sacka
(1981) and Neely
(1982).
Diaz and Navarro
(1964), Wilson and
others (1969), and Holland (1980) measured and described7,000 ft
of
similar
Lower
Permian-Pennsylvanian
rocks
exposed
in
Sierra
(previously named Sierra de Palomas) that were also deposited in
thePedregosaBasin(Fig.
1).
KottlowskiandFoster
(1962)
reported 525 ft of Hueco Limestone and 560 ft of Pennsylvanian
A
.-E
Lo'
0
0 .
E
Y
0
Lo
0
L
0
-0
0
I
I
W N O Z I U V
I
I
Big Hatchet
Mountains
Series
Guadalupian
z
1 1
I
ILeonardian
r:
Ls
IConcha Ls
Sierra
A1ta
Concha
Cooke's
Range
Virgilian
CI
I
z Missourian
6
J
Desmoinesian
Atokan
z
1
Sherrer Ss
Epitaph Dol Epitaph Dol
Colina
Colina Ls
Earp Fm
Abo Fm
Hueco Ls/
Abo Fm
Hueco Gp
Bursum Fm
Missourian
Desmoinesian
Atokan
Morrowan
Fm
Panther
Seep
dagdalena
GP
Abo Fm
Bursum
Sacramento
Mountains
San Andres
Fm
Yeso Fm
Hueco Ls/
Ab0 Fm
San Andres
Fm
Yeso Fm
Bursum
Fm
Panther
Bar B Fm
Fm
Abo Fm/
Hueco Fm
Bursum
Fm
Holder Fm
Seep
Fm
Bishop Cap
Fm
Berino Fm
Nakaye Fm
Lead Camp
Fm
Sandia Fm
La Tuna Fm
Red House
Fm
W
b
Southern San
Andres Mtns
~
Horquilla
Ls
Caballo
Mountains
San Andres
Fm
Yeso Fm
Virgilian
Horquilla
Ls
Franklin
Mountains
Ls
Bursum Fm
4
Robledo
Mountains
FIGURE 4-Stratigraphic chart of Permian-Pmylvmian rocks in south-central and Southwestern New Mexico.
Beeman Fm
Gobbler Fm
limestone and sandstone in the Tres Hermanas Mountains,
northeast of Sierra Alta;
14 mi
a notably thinner section and one
containing more clastic material deposited along the northeast
margin
the
of
the
Pedregosa
Florida-Moyotes
10 mi
Another
Basin.
Uplift,
in
the
to
the
northeast,
southeastern
Florida
on
Mountains,
about 335 ft of Hueco Formation were. deposited on. Mississippian
Farther north, in the .Cookers
rocks (Clemons and Brown, 1983).
(1954) reported
Range, Jicha
ft. of Upper Pennsylvanian
183
limestone resting on Mississippian beds and overlain bya thin
Lower
near
Ab0 section.
Permian
Silver
City,
Jones
Thirty
miles
northwest
of
and (1967)
othersdescribed 810 ft
Cookels
of
Peak,
Lower
Pennsylvanian limestone overlain by165 ft of Lower PermianAb0
redbeds.
East of the late Paleozoic Florida-Moyotes Uplift lay the
north-trending Orogrande Basin between Las Cruces and ALamogordo
(Fig. 3A).. Excellent
exposures
of
about
5,400 ft
of
Lower
Permian
and Pennsylvanian strata in the Sacramento Mountains have been,
extensively
studied
and
interpreted
as
having
been
deposited
along
1961; Toomey and
the eastern edge of the Orogrande Basin (Pray,
others, 1977; Wilson, 1967; Otte, 1959; Bachman and Myers, 1975;
Benne, 1975; Van Wagoner,
Schoderbek, 1991), 5,300 ft
and
1977; Schoderbek and Chafetz,
in
others,1956) and 4,800 ft
the
in
San
the
Andres
Franklin
1988;
Mountains
Mountains
(Kottlowski
(Harbour,
1972; Jordan, 1971;.Jordan and Wilson, 1971) are interpreted to
have
been
sections
deposited
in.theOrogrande
about2,600 ft
Basin.
thickin,the.
Dofia
Permian-Pennsylvanian
Ana
Mountains
(Mack
1976; Goerger, 1993). and Robledo
others, 1988; Seager and others,
and
Mountains (Seager and others, in press; Roepke,
1984) and a Lower
Permian
1,000 ft
about
section
thick
in
the
East
Portillo
Mountains
(Seager and Mack, 1986, in press) represent deposits along the
western
edge
of
the
Orogrande
Basin.
Kottlowski (1958) described a "triangular area between the
Robledo Mountains, Cooke's Peak and Tres Hermanas Mountains, and
probably adjoining areas" as the late Paleozoic Florida islands.
This
area,
County,
covering
overlies
southwestern
part
of
the
DoAa
Ana
County
Florida-Moyotes
and
Uplift
eastern
where
Luna
Permian-
Pennsylvanian strata are thin or absent. No exposures of these
rocks
are
known
between
distance of. 47 mi. Only
the
Robledo
Mountains
and
Cooke's
a
Range,
two small outcrops (Eagle Nest and
40 mi between the East Portillo and
"Georgett hill) occur in the
Tres
Hermanas
Mountains'
gas
data
section
exploration
has
Mountains
been
of
wells
and
it
mi to
is 43another
Permian-Pennsylvanian
have
reported
been
about
drilled
late
the
rocks.
in
Paleozoic
Big
Several
this
rocks
Hatchet
oil
region
but
penetrated.
Cities ServiceNo. 1 Gov.-Corralitos A well, drilled about1 0 mi
1) in 1971, penetrated 776 ft
west of the Robledo Mountains (Fig.
of Yeso-Abo section and578 ft of Pennsylvanian strata (Thompson
and Bieberman, i975). 'The Sunray Mid-Continent No. 1 New Mexico
hill in
Federal R well (Fig. 2) 'drilled 2 mi north of rtGeorgell
southeastern Luna County in 1962, penetrated about 3,000 ft of
interbedded Paleozoic dolostone, limestone, silty limestone and
dolostone, shale, and sandstone but no diagnostic ages were
determined.
3 mi
The
No. 1-A New
Skelly
and
MexicoC well (Fig: 2) , drilled
west of the Sunray well 1964,
in penetrated 500 ft of lower
little
The
Paleozoic rocks, overlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks (Kottlowski
Wilson (1987, 1989) (and Wilson and Jordan,
and others, 1969).
1988) have correlated Lower and Middle Pennsylvanian strata and
depositional environments in the Orogrande and Pedregosa Basins.
The
Lower
Permian
(Fig. 3B) across
described
by
siliciclastic-carbonate
south-central
Mack
and
and
transitional
southwestern
New
zone
Mexico
has
bee
(1986).
James
PETROGRAPHY
Small
Knoll
A limestone knoll less than
20 ft high and
200
ft l'ong
parallel to strike of bedding is SW2.
in sec. 13, T27S, RlOW, 3.5
mi northwest of West Lime Hills.. The outcrop consists
7 5 ft ofof
medium
-
to,dark-gray,medium-bedded, bioclastic, grain supported
limestone. Megascopic fossils include gastropods, brachiopods,
echinoderms
in a few
and
beds.
algae.
Twenty
5 ft.intervals,
and
Large
nine
at
dark-brown
samples
any
change
chert
were
nodules
are
present
collected
at a maxjmum
in orcolor
texture
within
of
that
interval'.
Petrographic analysis showed relatively little change in
depositional
environments
throughout
the
section.
Dominant
bioclasts
include
tubular
foraminifera,
Globivalvulina,
Tuberitina,
gastropods, ostracods and phylloid and dasycladacian algae (Figs.
5,
6).
exposed
Stromatolites (Fig.
section.
andbafflestone
Red
algae
6A) are common at the base of the
(Fig.
6J)
is
abundant
in
are
boundstone
at 40 and 65 ft.Minorbioclastsinclude
6D).
echinoderms, bryozoa, brachiopods and fusulinids (Fig.
bioclasts
the
encrusted
by
tubular
foraminifera
Most
or
less
abunda
12
m
'Et
0
a
0
a,
2
bo
m
m
rl
b
m
e
-
base
A
2
A
5
C
10
t
15
S
20
S
E
U
0
N
E
e
-
P
0
P.
0
.ti
m
U
U
0
m
V
rl
m
U
0
m
.rl
F:
.rl
m
m
U
u4
0
5
f
E
U
0
m
u4
-
U
m
M
-
A
t
t
V
0
$U
V
m
m
U
.rl0
rl
rock
SMF
name
0
P
-
t
S
-
C
gackestone
20
t
3oundstone
20
?ackstone
19
:rainstone
18
A
C
C
A
C
S
A
C
S
S
>ackstone
19
S
A
A
t
C
rudstone
19
25
S
C
A
C
C
>ackstone
19
28
t
E
S
C
C
vackestone
19
30
C
A
S
S
>ackstone
19
:rainstone
18
lackstone
19
34
S
t
t
S
A
S
S
C
S
39
S
S
t
S
A
40
A
t
C
t
S
43
t
S
S
t
C
45
C
C
S
C
47
S
t
50
C
53
t
55
A
57
A
58
S
C
S
t
S
loundstone
-9
A
t
C
'udstone
.9
C
C
S
S
.udstone
9
S
S
C
S
A
'loatstone
.9
S
A
C
S
A
'loatstone
.9
t
t
A
S
S
;rainstone
.8
t
s
C
S
S
A
loatstone
9
A
C
S
C
S
ackstone
9
C
A
S
S
C
ackstone
9
A
S
S
C
oundstone
9
ackstone
9
afflestone
7
afflestone
7
S
60
S
62
A
S
C
C
C
C
64
A
S
t
C
t
S
65
A
t
t
S
S
t
A
~~
FIGURE 5"ochem
compositions thin
of sectionsof smallknoll samples.A, abundant;C, common;
S, scarce;t, trace;SMF, standard microfacies
from
Wilson (1975).
!
13
FIGURE &(continued)
66
c
68
t
70
C
172
i
75
c
c
s
s
s
t
s
rudstone
t
9
grainstone
18
grainstone
9
grainstone
18
packstone
9
14
FIGURE &Photomicrographs of representative limestonesamples of small knoll
3.5 mi northwest of West LimeHills.
FIGURE 6A-Stromatolite at base of section; plane light,bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 6ELMicritized and coated foraminifera in grainstone 10 ft above base;
plane light, bar = 0.1 mm.
FIGURE &-Tubular and Globivulvulinaforaminifera (F) and coated algalplate in
packstone 34 ft above base;plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
FIGURE 6D-Neomorphosed fusulinid and bryozoa (2) fragments in packstone
45 ft above base; plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
16
FIGURE 6E"Globivulvulina (F), echinoderm (E), gastropod (G) in packstone 45 A
above base;plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 6F"Tuberitina (T)and ostracod (0)in grainstones 33 A above base;plane
light, bar= 0.1 mm.
17
FIGURE 6GEncmsting foraminifera (F) in packstone 57 ft above base; plane
light, bar= 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 6H-Dasycladacian algae (D),gastropod (G), and ostracod(0)fragments
in packstone 62 ft above base; plane light, bar= 0.2 mm.
18
FIGURE 6I-Foraminifera (F)in micrite between red algae (R) fragments 64 ft
above base; plane light, bar= 0.1 mm.
FIGURE 6J-Red algae bafflestone 65 ft above base; plane light, bar= 0.2 mm.
19
FIGURE 6K-Two
0.1 nun.
GlobivuZvuZim in grainstone 66 ft above base;plane light, bar =
FIGURE 6L-Intraclast grainstone 72 ft above base;plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
20
coated by algae (Fig. 6G).
The small knoll section is composed
primarily
and
of
grainstones
Depositional
circulation
facies
environments
on
a marine
(Mark
packstones.
varied
platform
Brown,
written
between
atoshallow,
commun.,
shallow,
open
1984;
restricted
marine
Buck
lagoonal
1991).
and
Clemons,
The abundant tubular foraminifera can occur in bioherms, normal
marine
and
salinity
lagoonal
and
Stromatolite
environments.
oxygen
levels
boundstone
and
They
thus
(Fig.
6A) present
can
are
at
tolerate
seen
the
variations
through
base
the
and
near
in
section.
the
top of this section indicatea shallow, restricted environment.
This facies grades upward into
a restricted lagoonal environment
dominated by gastropods, tubular foraminifera and ostracods. The
open
marine
lagoonal
facies
is
recognized
by
the
greatest
dive
of bioclasts, containing echinoderms, bryozoans and phylloid and
dasycladacianalgae.Thedasycladacianalgae(Epimastopora?)
indicate
low
energy,
and
.
(Buck and Clemons, 1991)
section
is
to the
similar
very
shallow
. 3 and 5 m
depths, 3between
The abundance of gastropods in this
lagoonal
facies
of
the
Leonardian
Colina
Formation. The abundant tubular foraminifera are also typical of
the
Wolfcampian
to Colina
Hueco
lagoonal
Formation.
facies,
The
indicates
fauna,
this
asaswell
similarity
small
knoll
to be
section
to part of the
Wolfcampian or Leonardian and probably equivalent
Colina
Formation.
GWLH-1
Core
The GWLH-1 core was drilledSW+
insec. 19. T27S,
R9W1.7 mi
ft
southeast of the small knoll. there is another small 50hill,
high,
about
midway
between
the
two
sites
that
consists
of
medium-
21
bedded
dolostone
massive
black
resting
(depositionaly
or in
limestone.
correlated to known
Neither
of
stratigraphic
fault
contact)
these
two
rock
but
may
be
units
upon
units
have
be
Epitaph-Colina
equivalents.MegascopicfossilsintheGWLH-1coreinclude
gastropods,brachiopods,echinoderms,bryozoa,fusulinidsand
rugose corals(?). Generalized lithology of the core section is in
Appendix A-1. Lower Permian rocks were intersected a at
depth of
820 ft and
the
1,494
ft
of
core
to
TD
2,314
ft
is
interpreted
and 1,800 ft
Permian-Pennsylvanian strata. Breccia zones 1,585
at
may indicate. presence of small faults; laminations and bedding
appear to
be
near
horizontal
except
near
these
breccia
zones.
The
core between 820 and 1,000 ft is interbedded shale and laminated
lime
mudstone;
a few
Petrographic
wackestones
analysis
of
mostly bioturbated with only
laminated
zones.'
and
the
packstones
!thin
sections
occur
show
below
the
940
rock
a couple of thin, undisturbed
Dominant
bioclasts
1,000 and 1,500 ft
between
are
brachiopods, echinoderms, foraminifera, gastropods and ostracods
(Fig. 7). Echinoderms appear to be chiefly'echinoids. Fusulinids
are common in 5 thin zones between 1,198-1,300 ft. Charles Ross
(Written commun,
(Skinnerella)
at
1994):
1,198
identified a species of Parafusulina
ft
depth
a species
and
of
Chalaroschwaserina
8)
at 1,224 ft depth. Algae is common at several horizons (Fig.
and bryozoa are common between
950-1,090
and 1,415-1,430 ft.
Bioclasts are generally small, abraded fragments and many have
micritized rims. The
305 ft section between 1,500-1,805 ft is
dominantly finely laminated lime mudstone with minor interbedded
shale and siltstone. Oncoids (Fig. 9B) are abundant at 1,714 ft.
ft
is
22
FIGURE 7"Photomicrographs of GWLH-1 core thin sections.
FIGURE 7A"Echinoderm (E)and trilobite (T) fragments in floatstone at 944 ft;
crossed nicols, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE %Brachiopod spine (S), echinoderm (E), and abundant unidentified
neomorphosed bioclastsat 983 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
23
FIGURE 7C-Echinodem (E)and bryozoa (Z) in silty lime mudstone at 1,065 ft;
plane light,bar = 0.2 nun.
FIGURE 7D-Brachiopod spines (S) and valves (V) in wackestone at 1,086 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
24
FIGURE E-Laminated packstone with echinoderm and ostracod valves 1,088
at
ft;plane light,bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 7F"Fusulinid in rudstone at 1,224 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
25
FIGURE 7G"Globular foraminifera (F), ostracod (0),and gastropod (G) fragments in packstone at 1,216 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 7H-Fusulinid and globular foraminifera (F) in packstone at 1,293 fi;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
26
FIGURE 7I"Fusulinid in packstone at 1,300 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 7J-Encrusting foraminifera in bindstone at 1,362 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2
mm.
27
FIGURE X-Dasycladacian algae in packstone at 1,412 ft;plane light, bar = 0.2
mm.
28
m
e
U
m
V
core
0
.rl
c
m
m
h
0
depth
m
m
M
(ft)
r(
0
U
0
N
0
h
d
m
$4
0
U
m
D
D
-
"
V
0
$4
m
w
.rl
E
.rl
V
0
0
0
'c1
h
U
m
0
n
a
3U
U
m
rcI
-
-
E
c
U
-
0
s
950
C
S
S
S
954
S
C
C
983
s
U
m
m
M
m
0
-
.rl
rock
m
a
name
m
-
-
A
floatstone
.9
S
wackestone
9
s
C
wackestone
9
A
t
S
packstone
9
S
rudstone
9
t
floatstone
9
S
packstone
9
t
lime
:mudstone9
t
lime
mudstone 9
C
wackestone
9
A
packstone
9
A
A
wackestone
9
A
A
rudstone
9
A
C
packstone
9
t
t
A
wackestone
9
A
floatstone
9
wackestone
9
packstone
9
rudstone
9
packstone
9
1003
C
C
C
C
1005
C
C
S
C
1021
t
C
s
t
C
t
s
S
1065
0
.rl
944
1060
'c1
C
C
C
1086
A
C
C
1088
C
s
A
1198
S
1199
C
t
t
t
t
S
1216
C
t
S
1224
s
s
C
1229
s
s
C
t
A
t
1232
S
C
C
A
t
t
1236
S
t
C
A
S
t
1237
C
C
S
A
S
S
C
t
5
t
A
C
S
packstone
9
C
A
S
A
C
packstone
9
5
A
S
s
bindstone
7
C
C
C
t
packstone
9
1241
S
C
1293
s
1300
t
A
C
S
C
I
1362
1396
!
C
S
t
S
C
.-
FIGURE 8-Allochem compositions of G W H - 1 core thinsections.A, abundant;C, common.
,s, scarce;
t, trace;SMF, standard microfacies Wilson
from (1975).
29
FIGURE %-[continued)
1412
A
1414
1418
t
S
1419
C
C
A
A
C
A
S
packstone
9
rudstone
19
S
C
C
A
A
C
packstone
9
A
S
s
A
S
t
rudstone
9
S
A
C
C
packstone
9
t
packstone
9
1420
t
1421
A
S
s
S
S
A
1422
C
C
C
t
s
C
t
wackestone
9
1427
A
C
C
C
t
S
rudstone
9
1428
C
A
A
s
S
packstone
9
s
S
A
S
packstone
9
S
packstone
.9
1448
C
A
1500
C
1551
lime
mudston, .9
1601
t
lime
mudston, .9
1700
S
lime
mudston, .9
C
lime
mudston,!2
A
siltstone
1714
A
1750
.-
1790
lime
mudston< .9
1802
lime
mudston, .9
C
t
t
A
C
t
t
S
A
1807
C
A
1808
C
1824
C
t
s
1852
t
t
packstone
9
t
packstone
9
packstone
9
t
C
lime mudston1 .9
s
wackestone
.9
1862
S
A
C
1865
C
A
C
S
t packstone
9
1868
S
A
A
t
packstone
9
1872
s
C
t
C
wackestone
.9
1875
t
A
t
C
wackestone
.9
1876
s
A
t
S
Lackestone
.9
I
30
FIGURE &(continued)
1878
A
A
wackestone
9
1882
S
S
wackestone
19
1883
S
S
wackestone
19
1886
A
A
rudstone
12
1888
C
A
rudstone
12
1890
C
A
packstone
10
1900
t
t
lime mudstone
1927
S
A
lime mudstone 12
1948
2013
lime mudstone
S
A
t
t
8
9
grainstone
12
2073
A
grainstone
12
2100
A
grainstone
12
2150
A
grainstone
12
C
lime mudstone
2190
t
9
31
FIGURE 9-Photomicrographs of GWH-1 core thin sections.
FIGURE 9A-Red algae (R) and gastropod (G) bioclasts in packstone at 1,421 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 9B-Gncoids in lime mudstoneat 1,714 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
32
FIGURE 9C”Bryozoa ( Z ) and echinoderm (E) bioclasts in packstone at 1,807 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 9D-Bryozoa
bar = 0.2 mm.
(Z) in laminated silty wackestone at 1,872 ft; plane light,
33
FIGURE 9E-Brachiopod (B), echinoderm (E), and bryozoa (2)bioclasts in packstone; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 9F-Echinoderm (E) and bryozoa (Z) bioclasts in grainstone at 1,927 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
34
Dominantbioclasts
1,900 ft are
in
the packstones
small,
abraded
.
echinoderms(Fig.
and
wackestones
fragments
of
between
1,805-
brachiopods,
bryozoa
and
Quartzsiltisintermittentlycommon
9)
throughout this95 ft of section. Echinoderm-bryozoa grainstones
(Fig. 9E) and
two
thin
lime
mudstones
comprise
the
section
between
1,900-2,190 ft. The lower124 ft of core is massive white marble
to
TD
of
2,314
ft.
Depositional
with
the
with
constant
core
environments
winnowing
section
for
were
the
represents
predominantly
lower
shallow,
or restricted
protected
intermittent
400
ft
shelf-edge
in
the
core.
open-circulation
shelf
lagoons
shoal
Upward,
shelf
facies
and.minor
influxes of siliciclastic sediments. The fusulinids (Fig. 7F,
H,
I) at 1,199, 1,224,
1,293 and 1,300 ft are Early Permian forms
so
this part of the section is probably Colina
or possibly Earp
Formationequivalents.Thelowerpartofthecoremaybe
Wolfcampian
Horquilla
Formation.
GWLH-3 Core
1 mi
The GWLH-3 core was drilled in SWi, sec. 30, T27S,
R9W
1.5 mi north of West Lime Hills. Apparently
south of GWLH-1 and
there is a northwest-trending
the
southwest
intersected
TD
downthrown
between
GWLH-1
because
the
and
GWLH-3
with
Tertiary/Permian
cont
800 ft lower in GWLH-3. Lower Permian rocks were
is about
to
block
fault
of
ata depth
2,309
ft
of1,625 ft
is
in
interpreted
GWLH-3
to
and
be
the
Lower
684
ft
Permian
of
core
strata
ba
upon lithologic and faunal, similarities and proximity to GWLH-1.
Megascopic
fossils
include
gastropods,
brachiopods
and
2,281Breccia zonesat 1,712-1,726, 2,159-2,176, 2,272-2,279 and
echinoderms
35
2,283 ft intervals may be faults. Laminations and bedding are
nearly horizontal except near the breccia zones.
lithologic
description
of
the
core
general
A
From 1,625in A-2.
Appendix
is
1,805 ft the core is mostly lime mudstone, s.andy mudstone and
siltstone. Packstones and wackestones domina the rest of the
%I
core
with
2,000 ft and
interbedded
dolostone
and
siltstone
below
2,160 ft.
siltstone
1,885- between
common
Dominant bioclasts are echinoderms and gastropods (Fig.
10B,
C,
G) with foraminifera (globular, tubular, encrusting, uniserial
and Tuberitina) common between1,800-2,000 ft (Fig. lOC, D, 11).
Ostracodsarescarce,butpresentthroughoutthesection.
Brachiopods
(Fig.10B, E) and
present below 1,790 ft.
bryozoa
(Fig.
10H) are
intermittently
A sponge fragment (Fig.10F) occurs with
peloids, gastropods, echinoderms and trace amounts of trilobites,
foraminifera, 'bryozoa and brachipods at
ft and sponge
2,133
spicules (Fig. 101) are abundant at2,305 ft.
Depositional
environments
were
predominantly
restrictedmarine
shelf lagoons and bays, indicated by the gastropod-foraminiferaechinoid-ostracod fauna in the lime mudstones and wackestones.
Intermittently
there
was
some
open
circulation
on
the
shelf
dur
wbichthefewgrainstonesandbioturbatedpackstoneswere
deposited. Minor influxes of silt and sand at the base, upper
middle,
and
depositional
upper
site
parts
was
of
the
relatively
11) (Fig.
probably
core
near
the
indicate
the
shoreline.
Gym Peak
About 430 ft
of
Lower
Permian
rocks
are
well
exposed
in
southeastern Florida Mountains,16 mi northeast of the West Lime
the
36
FIGURE 10-Photomicrographs of GWLH-3 core thin sections.
FIGURE 10A-Ooid grainstone at 1,635 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
FIGURE 10E”Echinoderm (E) and brachiopod (E)bioclasts in packstone at 1,792
ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
37
FIGURE 10C-Echinoderm (E), foraminifera (F), bryozoa (Z), and gastropod (G)
bioclasts in rudstone at 1,830 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 10D-Foraminifera in grainstone at 2,002 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
38
FIGURE 10E-Whole brachiopod (B) and echinoderm (E) columna1in wackestone
at 2,039 ft;plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE IOF-Sponge
fragment in rudstone at 2,135 ft;plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
39
FIGURE 10GPeloids and gastropod fragments in rudstone at 2,133 ft; plane
light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 10H-Echinodenn (E), bryozoa (Z), and brachiopod (B) bioclasts in
wackestone at 2,255 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
40
FIGURE 101-Encrusting algae on gastropod (G) and brachiopod (B) fragments;
small white fragments are sponge spicules in packstone at 2,305 ft; plane light, bar
= 0.2 mm.
41
m
core
depth
(ft)
6
'ct
0
R
0
:
M
rl
.d
f
U
m
$4
m
P
--
&-
m
m
0
N
0
c
P
-
'0
rl
m
&-
0
0
.rl
5
$4
m
ru
.rl
c
U
0
fi
$4
m
+J
$4
.rl
m
$4
0
a
0
m
m
QJ
%I
M
- -
1635
m
0
0
+I
m
a
.rl0
rock
m
a
name
rl
0
-
t
1750
t
1791
t
1792
A
S
A
t
A
15
t
Lime mudstone
19
t
Lime mudstone
19
t
Lime mudstone
19
S
lackstone
1798
1801
t
1807
1830
1864
t
1952
t
t
S
A
A
t
S
S
1999
S
C
2002
t
S
2006
S
S
2025
t
t
A
t
t
S
2027
C
-
:rainstone
S
1680
SMF
9
Lime mudstone
19
Lime mudstone
19
C
grainstone
18
S
A
C
S
A
S
t
:udstone
9
C
C
S
)ackstone
9
C
S
rackestone
19
)ackstone
19
:rainstone
18
rackestone
19
)ackstone
9
iloatstone
19
A
A
A
C
S
A
A
C
t
2029
s
C
S
vackestone
19
2030
S
s
S
rackestone
19
s
S
rackestone
19
s
A
rackestone
9
S
S'
rackestone
9
2033
2038
S
2039
S
t
t
S
2043
2091
2133
A
t
t
C
S
t
A
A
Lme mudstonf
:9
rackestone
19
xdstone
19
FIGURE11-AUochem compositions ofGWLH-3 core thin sections. A, abundant; C, common; s,
scarce; t, trace; SMF, standard microfacies from Wilson (1975).
42
FIGURE Il-(continued)
I
2154
2190
t
A
2254
S
A
wackestone
19
t
C
grainstone
12
S
packstone
9
2255
s
C
C
packstone
9
2263
s
C
C
packstone
9
2305
C
t
packstone
19
A
43
Hills. Darton
(1916, 1917) included this Permian limestone south
(1953) assigned the name
of Gym Peak in his Gym Limestone. Bogart
Hueco
to
these
rocks
based
on
gastropod 'fauna that he thought
lithologic
similarity
a study and
of
to be very similar to the
Wolfcampian Hueco Limestone, but Jordan
(1971) stated that the
Permian-age strata resembled more closely Colina Limestone in
Sierra Alta and Big Hatchet Mountains. Clemons and Brown(1983)
referred to these strata as Hueco Limestone. Total thickness
of
theHuecohereisdifficulttodetermineduetofault
complications.
a minimum.
A thickness of 430 ft is considered
The
southeastern
Florida
Mountains'
Permian
strata
1 mi
disconformably overlie Mississippian Rancheria Formation
southeast of Gym Peak and are angularly overlain by the early
Tertiary
Lobo
Formation.,
The
Hueco
(Colina)
Formation
consists
of
thin-,
mediumand
massive-bedded,
dark-gray
wackestones,
packstones,
and
minor
grainstones.
Chert
development
to a few scattered brown nodules. Abundant large (up
to
is
8
restricted
cm)
bellerophonid
gastropods
are
common.
Scattered
high-spired
gastropods, solitary corals, brachiopods, and echinoid fragments
are also common throughout. Thin section examination reveals
bioturbatedmaterial(Fig.
12)
withabundantfragmentsof
gastropods, echinoderms, (probably echinoids), ostracods, peloids,
and foraminifera (Globivalvulina, Tuberitina, paleotextularids,
tubular
and
neomorphosed
.
fusulinids) The
and
algae (Fig. 12B, C,
fusulinids
30 and 250 ft
occur
(Fig.
above
F, H) are abundant
the
12E,
G) are
base.
severely
Dasycladacian
in, some zones. Minor
and bryozoa
amounts of trilobite, brachiopod, sponge (Fig. I)12D,
44
FIGURE12-Photomicrographs
Florida Mountains.
of LowerPermianrocks
in the Southeastern
FIGURE 12A-Whole and collapsed ostracods in wackestone at 25 ft; plane light,
bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 12B”Dasycladacian algae @) and encrusted echinoderm (E) and gastropod (G) bioclasts in grainstone at 39 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
45
FIGURE 12C”Dasycladacian algae (D) and echinoderm (E) bioclasts in packstone
at 154 ft; plane light, bar= 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 12-Sponge
fragment in wackestone at 164 ft;plane light, bar = 0.2 nun.
46
FIGURE 12E--Fusulinid, dasycladacian algae (D) and gastropod (G) bioclasts in
packstone at 231 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 12F-Dasycladacian algae (D), gastropod (G),
and echinoderm (E) bioclasts in packstone at 231 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
47
FIGURE 12GFusulinid (F), bryozoa (Z), and gastropod (G) bioclasts in packstone at 250 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 1W-Dasycladacian algae (D), globular foraminifera(F), and gastropod
(G) bioclasts in packstone at 278 ft;plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
48
FIGURE121-Large
sponge fragment (top half of photo), echinoderm (E) and
ostracod (0)bioclasts in packstone at 308 ft;plane light, bar= 0.2 mm.
FIGURE l2J-Peloids (I?),globular foraminiferap),and gastropod (G) bioclasts in
packstone at 308 ft; plane light, bar= 0.2 nun.
49
(Fig.
12G)
fragments
interfingers
with
occur
intermittently.
limestone
near
the
Reddish-brown
top
of
the
siltstone
faulted
section.
Bioturbated
foraminiferal
wackestones,
packstones
and
grainstones(Fig.
13)
characteristicoftheHueco(Colina)
Limestone southeast of Gym Peak are considered typical shallowshelffacies.Presenceofabundantgastropods,echinoderms
12, 13) in some
(probably echinoids), ostracods, and peloids (Fig.
dark-gray beds indicates possible lagoonal conditions at times.
Dasycladacian
algae
indicate
very
shallow
marine
water.
The
strat
probably represent shallow-subtidal deposits. Influx of silt and
fine sand probably indicates near-shore marine conditions and
possibly represents regression of the shoreline during times of
deposition (Clemons, in press). No new evidence on the age of the
Hueco
(Colina)
strata Gym
atPeak
was
Eagle
Eagle Nest
southeast
and
820
the
ft
of
during
the
Florida
hills
Lower
Mountains.
northwest
Permian
this
of
strata
The
the
crest
ridge
thrust
over
mi
17
of
are
Eagle
Nest
composed
Lower
of
ridge
about
Cretaceous
(Seager and Mack, 1 9 9 0 ; Schuster,
1991).
Permian section consists of
ft of thick-bedded, dark-gray
325
study.
Nest
is in southeastern Luna County about
small
of
discovered
rocks
The lower part of the
limestones. Abundant chert nodules occur in several horizons.
Megascopic fossils include large planispiral gastropods, solitary
rugose corals, branching corals
(75
ft above base), coild and
orthoconic nautiloids. Seventeen samples for petrographic study
were collected at
that
might
be
20-50
ft intervalsto represent
present
in
the
apparently
any
variations
uniform
lithologic
se
rt
rt
rt
r t r t
trilobite
sponge s p i c u l e
silt
peloid
ostracod
intraclast
gastropod
foraminifera
echinoderm
I c' o r a l
bryozoa
brachiopod
algae
thickness
(ft)
51
FIGURE 13-(continued)
288
A
t
308
s
s
326
A
335
L
I
s
C
t
S
t
packstone
19
t
packstone
19
packstone
19
wackestone
19
52
~
Seager and Mack (1990) described the upper part of the Permian
section,
exposed
in
of 328 ft of light
small
-
hills
north
of
-
to medium-gray, thin
Eagle
Nest,
as
consisti
to medium-bedded,
cherty, dolomitic limestone. They correlated the lower limestone
section to the Colinaor upper Hueco Formations. No petrography
was
done
on
A brief
the
upper
dolomitic
section
in
this
study.
petrographic
analysis
showed
no
change
in
deposition
environments throughout the section. Small, abraded echinoderm
bioclasts (Fig. 14E,H, I) are dominant, followed by Climacammina
i
(Fig.
,F)Globivalvulina
14A,
globular
foraminifera,
(Fig.
14B),
brachiopods
I, K) and bryozoa (Fig. 14G).
Tuberitina,
(Fig.
14E,I),
uniserial
and
ostracods F,(Fig.
Trace amounts of small trilobite
fragments (Fig. 14H, J) are present in most thin sections (Fig.
~
Even though megascopic corals and gastropods are present
15).
throughout the525 ft section, coral bioclasts were only seen in
7 5 ft and gastropod bioclasts in the
thin sections of the lower
upper 200 ft (Fig. 15).
The
shelf
basal
silty
or bay.
lagoon
lime
mudstone
Depositional
probably a represents
restricted
environment
of
the
overlying
500
ft of strata was shallow, open circulation, marine shelf as
evidenced
by
the
consistent
bioturbated
bioclastic
wackestones
an
packstones., Diversity of organisms, relatively few peloids, and
absence of algae or micritized
rims.support
the
open circulation
environment interpretation. Megascopic and microscopic lithology
of
this
I believe
the
section
the
Colina
is
Eagle
Formation
unlike
Nest
and
any
of
limestone
agree
the
other
section
with
is
sections
best
in
this
correlated
(1990)
Seager
andthat
Mackthe
w
53
FIGURE 14-Photomicrographs
of Lower Permian rocks at Eagle Nest.
FIGURE 14A"CZimacammina? in wackestone at 20 ft; plane light, bar = 0.1 mm.
FIGURE 14B--GlobivalvuZina? in wackestone at 20 ft; plane light, bar = 0.1 mm.
54
FIGURE 14C-Transverse section of branching coral in wackestone at 75 ft;plane
light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 14I)-Paleotextularid and globular foraminifera in wackestone at 75 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
55
FIGURE 14E-Echinoderm (E) and brachiopod (B) bioclasts in packstone at 110 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 14F-Climucumrnim?, globular foraminifera (F) ,and ostracod (0)valve
in wackestone at 285 ft; plane light, bar= 0.2 mm.
56
FIGURE 14GBryozoa (Z) and foraminifera in wackestone at 340 ft; plane light,
bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 14H-Echinoderm (E) and trilobite (T) bioclasts in packstone at 380 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
57
FIGURE 141-Echinoderm (E), brachiopod (B), and ostracod (0)bioclasts in packstone at 410 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
u),
FIGURE 14J-Trilobite
echinoderm (E), and foraminifera (F) in laminated
packstone at 460 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
58
FIGURE 14K"Ostracod (0)and foraminifera (F) in laminated packstone at 460 ft;
plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
59
m
m
$.
rn
rn
;z
Y W
u-
.A
5
-
“2
Em d
2 52
.d
5m u0
- 44.
0
p.
0
.d
5m
m
P
0
4
N
0
h
m
u
U
U
-
- -
P
n
0
0
43
a
a,
0
0
u
u
m
R
0
0
P
‘rl
$.
U
l.4
rn
rn
m
M
-
U
0
-
0
rl
0
a
e
0
rock
.rl
u
name
U
-
lime
A
base
MF
rl
mudstonc 9
wackestone
9
wackestone
9
wackestone
9
t
S
A
C
t
S
S
C
C
C
C
C
S
A
S
S
t packstone
9
110
A
A
S
packstone
9
145
C
A
t
t
t
packstone
9
195
A
S
A
t
S
t
packstone
9
230
S
t
A
S
S
t
packstone
9
255
t
A
C
S
t packstone
9
285
S
S
C
A
C
t wackestone
9
340
S
S
A
S
S
C
t
wackestone
9
380
S
C
A
t
t
S
t
packstone
9
410
C
S
A
t
S
t
packstone
9
460
C
S
C
C
S
t
packstone
9
510
S
C
A
t
S
S
wackestone
9
C
C
S
t
packstone
9
20
S
35
C
75
S
100
525
C
C
S
t
S
A
C
~
FIGURE 15-Allochem compositions of thin sectionsfrom Eagle Nest. A, abundant;C,common;s,
scarce;t, trace;SMF, standard microfacies
from Wilson (1975).
overlying,
dolomitic
rocks
are
probably
Epitaph
equivalents.
frGeorgerf
Hill
An
R5W,
7 mi
hill
unnamed
is
composed
south
mostly
of
of
Nest,
N f , sec.
in 3 , T29S,
Eagle
fossiliferous
Hueco
Limestone
by clastic Cretaceous beds (Kottlowski and others,
1969).
S.
Geological
George
on
Survey
top
of
topographic
map
I refer to
this so
hill
shows
a signal
this
-
hill. About 100 ft of dark-gray, medium
The U.
station
section
overlain
as
named
"George"
to massive-bedded
limestone is exposed in the north slope of the hill. Megascopic
fossils
include
large
planispiral
gastropods,
solitary
corals,
and
cephalopods. Abundant large, dark-gray chert nodules occur at
several horizons. Seven samples were collected .from
95 ft of
section at 10-20 ft intervals in order to include all possible
representative
lithologies.
Petrographic analysis showed a rather uniform depositional
environment for the95 ft of strata. Dominant bioclasts include
echinoderms, Tuberitina, paleotexularid, globular and tubular
foraminifera, gastropods and ostracods. Dasycladacian algae (Fig.
16A) is common in the upper half of the section. Small fragments
of brachiopods, corals, and trilobites are scarce and
a few
fragments of poorly preserved fusulinids (Fig. 16B) occur only in
one
from
thin
the
section.
top
of
Six
the
of
the
exposed
samples
are
section
a slightly
is
grainstones
a sample
and
silty
packstone
(Fig. 17).
Depositional environment appears to be shallow shelf with
mostly restricted marine.shoals. Dasycladacian algae throughout
the section indicates nearby,
low energy, very shallow water
61
FIGURE 16A”Photomicrograph of DasycladaciG algae (D) and peloids in grainstone at 80 ft; plane light, bar = 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 16B”Fhotomicrograph of fusulinid fragments and peloids in grainstone
at 80 A in ”George” hill section; plane light, bar= 0.2 mm.
62
m
a
m
w
rn
rn
a,-.
K U
YLk
u.V
I
m
m
3
5
m
-
base
S
rl
35
0
N
0
h
h
rl
.rl
K
.rl
m
0
0
U
e -
0
U
m
E
m
h
V
u
u
rcI
-
"
.
.
'D
.rl
0
U
rn
rl
m
rock
SMF
name
0
a
-
t
C
C
A
rains tone
16
t
C
S
A
rainstone
16
C
S
A
rainstone
16
50
60
S
S
S
A
rainstone
16
70
S
C
t
C
rainstone
16
80
A
A
S
A
rainstone
16
95
C
t
C
A
sckstone
16
t
FIGURE 17"AUochem compositions of thin sections from
scarce; t, trace; SMF,standard microfacies from Wilson
(1975).
"George"
hill. A,abundant; C,common; s,
63
depths.
Essentially all the bioclasts are small, abraded fragments
and many have micritized rims. The echinoderms are probably mostly
echinoids which along with the gastropods and peloids typify a
lagoonal facies.
SUMMARY
Fauna represented by bioclasts.is typical of Lower PermianUpper Pennsylvanian rocks
contains
five
zones
of
to the east and west. GWLH-1 core
fusulinids
(Fig.
18) between
1,198-,1300
Leonardian.
Sparse
ft
depths
that
include
Parafusulina
ISkinnerellal
and
Chalaroschwacrerina
that
are
early
fusulinids
in
the small knoll, Gym Peak and t*Georgelt hill sections are poorly
preserved but also are probably early Leonardian
or Wolfcampian.
Early Leonardian conodonts have been reported from dolostones
(probably
Epitaph)
capping
the
ridge
in
West
Lime
Hills
(Thompson
1982).
All sections, except "George8* hill, contain
a generally
300 ft (1,500-1,800
diverse fauna. However, GWLH-1 core has about
ft
depth)
of
unfossiliferous
section
and
below
1,800
ft
the
s
is more silty and bioclasts limited
to brachiopods, bryozoa and
echinodens.
Peloids
are
abundant
in
Gym knoll,
Peak and
small
the
llGeorgel*
hill sections and at 1,200-1,400 ft depths in GWLH-1 core. They
are
sparse
in
Eagle
Nest
and
GWLH-3
sections.
Silty limestones are common in the .GWLH-1 and GWLH-3 cores;
interbedded
siltstones
cores. No silt
was
recognized
but siltstones overlie
Florida
.and
a few
sandstones
in
the
are
other
interbedded
four
studied
in
the
sections,
tihe limestone section in the southeast
Mountains.
Algae is abundant in the small knoll and Gym Peak sections;
sparse
Nest
in
the
section.
GWLH-1
and
GWLH-3
cores
and
not
observed
in
t
65
FIGURE18A-Purufisulina
(Skinnerella) at FIGURE 18B-Chaluroschwugm'nu at 1,224 ft
1,198 ft depth in GWLH-1 core; x10 (photo depth in GWLH-1 core; x10 (photo providprovided by W. E.King).
ed by W. E. King).
FIGURE 18C-Chaluroschwugerinu at 1,224 ft
depth in GWLH-1 core; x10 (photo provided by W. E. King).
66
Southeast Luna County lies on the northeastern shelf of the
PedregosaBasin(Figs.
stratigraphic
the
nomenclature
following
3A)
1,
tentative
so
recommendusingthe
I
developed
in
correlations
the
are
Pedregosa
Basin.
suggested:
1.
Small knoll section
(75 ft) is Colina Limestone.
2.
Upper
part
of
(1,494 ft)
section
Paleozoic
Thus
in
GWLH-1
core
is probably Colina Formation: lower part is probably
Horquilla or possibly
Earp
Formation.
Pa1eozoi.c section (684 ft) in GWLH-3 core is probably
3.
Colina or Earp
Formation.
Gym Peak section
4.
ft)maybeHorquilla(with
(335
or Colina Limestone.
overlying Earp siltstones)
(525 ft)
section
5.
Eagle
Nest
6.
l1Georget1hillsection
is
(95
probably
Colina
Limestone.
ft)isprobablyColina
Limestone.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The
New
financial
and
,
Mexico
support
Charles
E.
Bureau
for
this
Chapin,
of
Mines
and
I thank
study.
Drs.
f o r their
Directors,
Mineral
Resources
provi
Frank
E. Kottlowski
continued
support
of
my
geologic projects in southern New Mexico. Special thanks are
extended to Ben
the
two
cores
Donegan
and
and
Leonard
information
Mineral
about
the
Resources
West
Lime
for
providi
Hills
area
Charles A. Ross for fusulinid information. Mark Brown assisted by
doing
helped
thefirst 'study
in
choosing
of
the
small
knoll section
core,samples
for
thin
and
Pete
sections.
Sanders
67
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d
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Jordan, C.P.,
1971, Lower Permian stratigrpahy of southern New
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New
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Jordan, C.G.
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Wilson,
J.L.,
1971, The Late Paleozoic
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Kottlowski,
F.E.,
1960a,
Depositional
features
the
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southeastern
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New
Mexico
6 6 , 187 pp.
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southwestern
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Mesozoic' strataof
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New
Mexico
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pp.
Bulletin100
79.
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v. 46,
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in
1969, Key oil
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70
~
Mack, G.H., and James, W.C.,
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Neely,L.L.,
1982,
BiostratigraphicstudyoftheHorquilla
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D.A., 1991, Environments
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~
~
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!
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Seager,W.R.,andMack,G.H.,1990,EagleNest-GraniteHillarea,
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Resources
74
APPENDIX A-1
General
Description
of
GWLH-1 Core
unzt
total
thick
depth
( ft)
1.
Alluvium, no core.
( ft)
110
110
2.
Interbedded pale grayish-red, silty,
sandy, and conglomeratic volcaniclastic
rocks
with
andesite-latite
clasts.
438
548
3.
Interbedded light-grayish-red and pale
red,
calcareous
siltstones
and
.
very
fine
sandstones.
to fine
122
670
4.
Interbedded limestone-chert pebble-cobble
conglomerates
silty
and
with
sandy
reddish
and
matrices,
orange-gray
coarse
'siltstones
and medium sandstones. Abundant mudstone
and
shaleas well
subrounded
as
limestone
conglomerates.
very
angular
to
clasts
in
basal
150
820
7s
"5.
---
probable top of Lower Permian
-
Interbedded
light to medium-gray
limestone
and shale: mostly laminated: some mottled
medium-dark
gray
shale;
laminated
light-gray
lio
at910-912 ft.
siltstone
930
6.
Interbedded dark-gray shale, laminated
limestone,
and
limestone
with
- to
light
medium-gray shale at1 , 1 7 3 - 1 , 1 8 5 ft.
255
'
1,185
7.
-
Medium
to dark-gray
limestone
and 1 , 3 0 0 ft;
at 1 , 1 9 8 ,1 , 2 2 4 ,1 , 2 4 1 ,1 , 2 9 3
poorly
1,213
cemented,
(fusulinids
coarse
208sandstone 1 , at
and 1 , 2 2 0 - 1 , 2 2 3 ft; 2-ft medium-gray
siltstone
bedat 1 , 3 7 7 ft;
2-ft
breccia
zone
at 1 , 5 8 3 - 1 , 5 8 5 ft.
420
1,605
8.
Medium
-
to
dark-gray
bedded to laminated,
some
mottled
limestone;
few
medium-to
at 1 , 6 1 5 - 1 , 6 2 0 ,1 , 7 5 7 - 1 , 7 6 2
ft,
1,692
limestone
ft,
pebble
breccia
thick-bedded
dark-gray
thin
zones,
shale
zones
and 1 , 9 1 6 - 1 , 9 2 0
conglomerate 1 ,at
690-
zone
cement 1 , 7 9 9 - 1 , 8 0 1 ft.
mostly
with
white
spar
315
1,920
76
9.
Medium
-
to dark-gray limestone: thin
medium-bedded'with
- to
some dark-gray, thin bedded
limestone.
129
2,049
10.
White marble; some recognizable crinoid
fragments: dark-gray, thin-bedded
limestone/marble at 2,190 ft.
265
2,314
General
no1.
APPENDIX
A-2
Description
of
GWLH-3
Alluvium,
Core
unit
total
thick
depth
(ft)
(ft)
91
91
2.
Interbedded, fine-grained and conglomeratic
rocks. volcaniclastic
200
3.
Pale-red,
calcareous
siltstone.
221
421
4.
Grayish-red-purple, biotite-hornblende
latite.
22
443
5.
Pale-red, porous, muddy very-fine
sandstone
and
limestone-chert
siltstone
pebble
with
minor
conglomerate.
70
513
6.
Light-gray
chert
pebble-cobble
conglomerate with siliceous, grayishorange-pink,
muddy
matrix.
339
852
7.
Interbedded
conglomerate
medium-gray
with
chert
calcareous,
pebble
muddy
matrix;
limestone clasts 1,400-1,405; sandstone and siltstone clasts
1,435-1,440
ft;light-brownish-grayanddark-grayish-red
78
calceous
siltstone,
grayish-red,
and
calcareous
-
lightto
granular
medium-gray
and
medium
sandstone.
588
l;440
8.
Interbedded light-gray calcareous siltstone
and
medium-gray
breccia
limestone
with75 ft
of
and
coarse
siltstone
sandy
limestone
conglomerate
pebble
base.
at
185
1,625
"9.
probable
top
of
Lower
---
Permian
Medium-gray lime mudstone and ooid grainstone.
11
1,636
10.
Interbedded, pinkish-gray, conglomeratic
sandy mudstone (1,636-1,655 ft), mediumto dark-gray
brecciated
(1,655-1,697 ft),
lime
mudstone
light-gray marble and
breccia (1,712-1,726 ft), dark-gray lime
mudstone (1,726-1,744 ft) , and light-gray,
calcareous
siltstone
(1,744-1,749 ft).
113
1,749
11.
Interbedded dark-gray lime mudstone(1,7491,823 ft), olive-green shale(1,823-1,828 ft),
laminated,
mottled
(1,828-1,884 ft)
1,856 ft)
.
dark-gray/black
limestone
with shaly zone at
(1,836135
1,884
12.
Mottled light/medium-gray, laminated
dolostone.
42
1,926
13.
Medium
-
to dark-gray, limestone.
38
1,964
14.
Interbedded olive-green siltstone and
very-fine sandstone, laminated grayishyellow-green mudstone and greenish-gray
dolostone.
41
2,005
15.
Mottled dark-gray/black limestone.
154
2,159
16.
Limestone breccia with coarse white
spar filling pores.
17
,
2 176.
17.
Interbedded dark-gray limestone and
light
stone
-
to medium-gray, calcareous silt-
withbreccia zones at 2,272-
2,279 and 2,281-2,283 ft.
133
2,309