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Geological Survey Professional Paper 446
Geology of the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico |
SELECTED STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS
About 60 stratigraphic sections were measured during the present investigation; the most useful in illustrating the stratigraphic relations are shown graphically on plate 3. Four of these sections, which can serve as reference sections, are augmented by the following generalized written descriptions. The stratigraphic section numbers refer to numbers given on plates 1 and 3.
| 2. Section of Yates Formation on north wall of North Rattlesnake Canyon in W1/2 sec. 32, T. 24 S., R. 24 E., from canyon bottom opposite Bench Mark 4330 to top of hill east of trail into Walnut Canyon | |
| Top of hill. | Thickness (feet) |
| Tansill Formation: Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; mostly in beds 5 to 10 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 50 |
Yates Formation: | |
| Siltstone, quartz grains and dolomite cement; weathers grayish orange; poorly exposed in slope. | 12 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in beds 2 to 4 in thick; weathers light olive gray | 3-1/2 |
| Siltstone, quartz grains and dolomite cement; weathers grayish orange; poorly exposed in slope. | 17 |
| Dolomite, light-gray, laminated; in beds about 5 ft thick; contains pisolites and fusulinids; weathers light olive gray | 15 |
| Siltstone, quartz grains and dolomite cement; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in beds about 3 ft thick; contains numerous pisolites; weathers pale yellowish brown | 31-1/2 |
| Siltstone, quartz grains and dolomite cement, laminated; weathers grayish orange | 6-1/2 |
| Dolomite, pale-yellowish-brown, laminated; in beds less than 1 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 9 |
| Siltstone, quartzose; weathers grayish orange; poorly exposed in slope | 16-1/2 |
| Dolomite, very pale orange, laminated; in beds less than 1 ft thick; weathers grayish orange | 1-1/2 |
| Siltstone, quartzose; weathers grayish orange | 13 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated: in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown; basal 5-1/2 ft very poorly exposed | 7-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; mostly in beds 2 to 5 ft thick; contains pisolites; weathers pale yellowish brown | 18-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray; in beds less than 1 ft thick; upper 2 ft very poorly exposed | 5 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartz grains and dolomite cement, laminated; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; poorly exposed in slope | 11 |
| Covered in slope | 11 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; one bed | 2 |
| Covered in slope | 6-1/2 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in beds less than 1 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 4 |
| Covered; interval apparently contains thinly bedded dolomite a few hundred feet up the canyon | 23-1/2 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in beds about 6 in thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 6-1/2 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartzose; poorly exposed in slope | 5-1/2 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in one bed; contains pisolites; weathers pale yellowish brown | 4 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartz grains and dolomite cement, laminated; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; contains iron-oxide concretions | 10-1/2 |
| Dolomite, light-olive-gray, laminated; in beds 3 to 5 ft thick; contains pisolites; weathers pale yellowish brown | 9-1/2 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartz grains and calcite cement, laminated | 8 |
| Dolomite, silty, grayish-orange, laminated; in beds less than 1 ft thick | 7 |
| Dolomite, pale-yellowish-orange, laminated; in thick poorly defined beds; contains pisolites | 24-1/2 |
| Covered in slope | 7 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in beds 2 in to 1 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 2 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartzose, laminated | 2-1/2 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in one bed; weathers light olive gray | 3 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartz grains in calcite cement; laminated; contains nodules of iron oxide | 7-1/2 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, laminated; in one bed; weathers pale yellowish brown | 5 |
| Dolomite, light-brown, laminated; in beds 3 in to 1 ft thick; weathers grayish orange; top 1-1/2 ft covered | 4 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartzose; poorly exposed in slope | 6 |
| Total, Yates Formation | 328 |
Seven Rivers Formation: | |
| Dolomite, very light gray, laminated; in beds 6 in to 5 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 8 |
| Dolomite, pale-yellowish-brown; in beds about 2 in thick; weathers grayish orange | 2 |
| Dolomite, very light gray, laminated; most in indistinct beds from 3 to 15 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 47 |
| Canyon bottom. | |
12. Section of Queen Formation on east wall of Dark Canyon from NW1/4NE1/4 sec. 32, T. 24 S., R. 23 E., at canyon bottom south of abandoned CCC Camp diagonally upward to top of hill in SE1/4SE/4 sec. 29, T. 24 S., R. 23 E. | |
| Top of hill. | Thickness (feet) |
| Seven Rivers Formation: Dolomite, yellowish-gray, faintly laminated; in beds 1 in to 3 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 53 |
Queen Formation: | |
| Siltstone and silty shale; weathers grayish orange | 6 |
| Dolomite, pale-yellowish-brown, faintly laminated; in beds about 6 in thick; weathers grayish orange | 1-1/2 |
| Siltstone, argillaceous; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Dolomite, pale-yellowish-brown, faintly laminated; in beds about 6 in thick; weathers grayish orange | 1-1/2 |
| Siltstone, sandy, pale-yellowish-orange, variably bedded; weathers grayish orange | 35 |
| Dolomite, faintly laminated; in one bed; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Siltstone, shaly, pale-yellowish-orange; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; one bed; weathers light olive gray | 1 |
| Covered; probably siltstone | 1-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in one bed; weathers light olive gray | 1-1/2 |
| Siltstone, shaly, pale-yellowish-orange; weathers grayish orange | 2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-orange, laminated; one bed | 5-1/2 |
| Siltstone, shaly, pale-yellowish-orange; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; one bed | 1 |
| Siltstone; sandy at base, shaly at top; very pale orange; weathers grayish orange | 5 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, faintly laminated; contains fusulinids | 4 |
| Siltstone, shaly, pale-yellowish-orange; weathers grayish orange | 2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; one bed; weathers light olive gray | 1 |
| Siltstone, very poorly exposed | 2 |
| Dolomite, grayish-orange, faintly laminated; contains fusulinids | 5-1/2 |
| Siltstone, sandy, very pale orange, laminated; in beds 1/2 to 6 in. thick | 7-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in two beds; weathers light olive gray | 5-1/2 |
| Dolomite, very thinly bedded and poorly exposed; interbedded with siltstone | 9 |
| Dolomite, very pale orange to light olive gray; in thin to thick beds | 22-1/2 |
| Dolomite, light-olive-gray, laminated; in beds about 2 ft thick; weathers grayish orange | 6-1/2 |
| Sandstone, very pale orange, very fine grained, laminated; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 4-1/2 |
| Dolomite, silty, very pale orange, laminated; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 15-1/2 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, laminated; contains nodules of iron oxide; in beds 6 in to 2 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 17-1/2 |
| Dolomite, slightly silty, very pale orange, faintly laminated; in beds about 3 in. thick; contains scattered nodules of iron oxide in upper 3 ft; weathers pale yellowish brown | 7-1/2 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, laminated; weathers grayish orange | 1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; one bed; weathers light olive gray | 1 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, laminated; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in two beds; weathers light olive gray | 2-1/2 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, laminated; weathers grayish orange | 1-1/2 |
| Dolomite, silty in part, very pale orange, laminated; in beds 2 in to 5 ft thick; contains fusulinids in some beds; weathers light olive gray | 27 |
| Dolomite, silty, grayish-orange, faintly laminated; in beds 1 to 4 in. thick; contains scattered nodules of iron oxide | 13 |
| Dolomite, silty in part, very pale orange, laminated; in beds 2 in to 5 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 80 |
| Dolomite, silty, very pale orange, laminated; in one 1-1/2 bed; contains nodules of iron oxide | 6 |
| Dolomite, very pale orange, laminated; in beds 2 in to 3 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 14-1/2 |
| Dolomite, very sandy, grayish-orange, faintly laminated; in beds 3 to 18 in. thick, transitional into overlying dolomite and underlying sandstone | 11 |
| Sandstone, very pale orange, very fine grained, quartzose with dolomite cement, cross-laminated; in beds 2 to 10 ft thick; contains numerous nodules of iron oxide; weathers pale yellowish brown | 44 |
| Total, Queen Formation | 378 |
| Grayburg Formation: Dolomite, yellowish-gray; in beds 2 to 5 ft thick | 50 |
| Canyon bottom. | |
13. Section of Seven Rivers Formation on west wall of Bear Canyon in SE1/4 sec. 33, T. 24 S., R. 23 E., from canyon bottom to top of ridge. Base of overlying Yates Formation measured on opposite side of canyon | |
| Thickness (feet) | |
| Yates Formation: Siltstone, pale yellowish orange; in beds about 1 in. thick; weathers grayish orange | 3 |
Seven Rivers Formation: | |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; mostly in beds 1 to 10 ft thick; some beds contain fusulinids; weathers light olive gray | 100 |
| Dolomite, very silty, very thin bedded, poorly exposed | 7 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; mostly in beds 1 to 10 ft thick; some beds contain fusulinids; weathers light olive gray | 55 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; mostly in beds about 10 ft thick; fusulinids common; weathers light olive gray | 16-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, faintly laminated; in beds about 1 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 11 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange; poorly exposed in slope | 4 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; fusulinids abundant; weathers light olive gray | 31 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, faintly laminated; mostly in beds about 1 in. thick; weathers light olive gray; poorly exposed | 8 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; mostly in beds 3 to 10 ft thick; contains some fusulinids; weathers light olive gray | 21-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, faintly laminated; in beds about 1 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 5-1/2 |
| Covered in slope; apparently contains both dolomite and siltstone | 9 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in beds 5 to 10 ft thick; fusulinids abundant in some beds; weathers light olive gray | 18 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange; poorly exposed in slope | 6 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in beds 5 to 10 ft thick; fusulinids abundant in some beds; weathers light olive gray | 112-1/2 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, faintly laminated; in one bed; weathers grayish orange | 4 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in three beds; weathers light olive gray | 5 |
| Dolomite, very silty; weathers grayish orange | 1 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in beds 5 to 10 ft thick; contains abundant fusulinids; weathers light olive gray | 22-1/2 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange; mostly covered in slope | 1 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, faintly laminated; in beds 1 to 5 ft thick | 20 |
| Total, Seven Rivers Formation | 458-1/2 |
Queen Formation: | |
| Siltstone, yellowish-gray, quartzose with calcite cement, laminated; in one bed; weathers light olive gray | 4-1/2 |
| Dolomite, very pale orange, faintly laminated; in beds about 1 ft thick; contains nodules of iron oxide | 3 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, laminated; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; contains scattered nodules of iron oxide | 37 |
| Dolomite, some slightly silty, light-gray to yellowish-gray; mostly in beds less than 1 ft thick; some beds contain fusulinids | 25-1/2 |
| Siltstone, pale yellowish-orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, faintly laminated; weathers grayish orange | 2 |
| Dolomite, light olive gray, laminated; in two beds; contains fusulinids; weathers yellowish gray | 3-1/2 |
| Dolomite, silty, very thinly bedded; mostly covered in slope | 2 |
| Dolomite, laminated; in one bed; weathers yellowish gray | 1-1/2 |
| Dolomite, silty, very thinly bedded; mostly covered in slope | 5 |
| Dolomite, laminated; in beds about 2 ft thick; contains abundant fusulinids; weathers yellowish gray | 7 |
| Siltstone, pale-yellowish-orange, quartzose with calcite cement, faintly laminated; in beds about 1 in. thick; weathers grayish orange | 1-1/2 |
| Dolomite, light olive-gray, laminated; in two beds; contains scattered fusulinids | 5 |
| Siltstone, very pale orange, quartzose with calcite cement, faintly laminated; in beds about 3 in. thick; poorly exposed in slope | 5-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated in part; in beds about 3 ft thick; fusulinids locally abundant; weathers light olive gray | 10 |
| Dolomite, silty, very pale orange; in one bed | 1 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated in part; in beds 3 to 10 ft thick; fusulinids abundant in some beds; weathers light olive gray | 88 |
| Siltstone, grayish-orange, quartzose with dolomite cement, faintly laminated; in beds 3 in to 1 ft thick; contains scattered nodules of iron oxide | 3 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray, laminated; in beds 3 to 5 ft thick; contains abundant fusulinids; weathers light olive gray | 14 |
| Dolomite, very silty, very pale orange, laminated in part; in beds about 2 ft thick; weathers grayish orange | 6-1/2 |
| Total exposed, Queen Formation | 225-1/2 |
| Canyon bottom. | |
18. Section of Grayburg Formation on Shattuck Valley Escarpment from W1/2 SW1/4 sec. 16, T. 25 S., R. 21 E., to near top of escarpment. Upper beds were traced southward and measured near center of sec. 21, T. 25 S., R. 21 E. | |
| Thickness (feet) | |
| Queen Formation: Sandstone, very pale orange, very fine grained, quartzose with calcite cement; in beds 1 in to 2 ft thick | 55 |
Grayburg Formation: | |
| Dolomite, very light gray to very pale orange; in beds 2 to 5 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 43 |
| Dolomite, sandy, grayish-orange, very thinly bedded | 11 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick | 6-1/2 |
| Covered in slope | 5 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray; one bed | 1 |
| Sandstone, silty, very light gray to pale-yellowish-gray, very fine grained; quartzose with calcite cement, laminated; mostly in beds less than 6 in. thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 26-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray; mostly in beds 5 to 10 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 61 |
| Siltstone, sandy, very light gray, quartzose with calcite cement; grades into overlying dolomite | 17 |
| Dolomite, light-gray; in beds about 2 ft thick; 3-1/2 weathers light olive gray | 8 |
| Dolomite, very sandy, light-gray; transitional into underlying sandstone and overlying dolomite | 3 |
| Sandstone, very light gray, very fine grained, quartzose with calcite cement; in two beds; weathers pale yellowish brown | 3-1/2 |
| Dolomite, light-gray; in beds 1 to 6 ft thick; weathers light olive gray | 18-1/2 |
| Covered interval; probably sandy dolomite in lower part and fine-grained sandstone in upper part | 20-1/2 |
| Dolomite, yellowish-gray; in beds 1 to 4 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 7 |
| Covered in slope | 5-1/2 |
| Limestone, dolomitic, sandy, grayish-orange; in beds 2 in to 2 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 4 |
| Sandstone, very pale orange, very fine grained, quartzose with calcite cement; in irregular beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; weathers grayish orange | 6 |
| Limestone, dolomitic, yellowish-gray, laminated; in beds 2 to 4 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish orange | 15 |
| Covered in slope | 9-1/2 |
| Dolomite, calcareous, very pale orange, laminated; in beds 1 to 4 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish orange | 22-1/2 |
| Dolomite, very thinly bedded; weathers grayish orange; very poorly exposed | 13 |
| Dolomite, pale-yellowish-orange; in beds 1 to 2 ft thick; weathers very pale orange | 6 |
| Sandstone, very fine grained, quartzose with calcite cement; weathers grayish orange; poorly exposed | 11-1/2 |
| Limestone, dolomitic, slightly sandy, very pale orange, oolitic near base; in beds 1 to 4 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 13-1/2 |
| Limestone, dolomitic, very sandy at base, yellowish-gray, faintly laminated; a 6 ft-thick bed at base and beds less than 1 ft thick at top; weathers pale yellowish brown; poorly exposed at top | 12-1/2 |
| Sandstone, silty, very pale orange, very fine grained; in beds 6 in to 1 ft thick; weathers yellowish gray; grades into overlying limestone | 7 |
| Dolomite, very pale orange; in beds 6 in to 3 ft thick | 13-1/2 |
| Sandstone, silty, very pale orange, very fine grained; in beds 6 in to 1 ft thick; weather yellowish gray; grades into overlying limestone | 7 |
| Dolomite, sandy, pale-yellowish-brown, laminated; in beds 3 in to 3 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish orange | 25 |
| Sandstone, pale-yellowish-orange, very fine grained, quartoze with calcite cement; in beds 2 to 6 in. thick; weathers grayish orange | 11 |
| Limestone, dolomitic, grayish-orange, laminated; in beds 1 in to 1 ft thick; weathers pale yellowish brown | 11 |
| Sandstone, pale-yellowish-orange, very fine grained, quartzose with calcite cement; very poorly exposed | 7 |
| Total, Grayburg Formation | 425 |
| San Andres Limestone: Limestone. dolomitic, very pale orange, thickly bedded; contains fusulinid molds; weathers pale yellowish brown | 100± |
| Fault. | |
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Last Updated: 13-Feb-2008