Condensed Geology: Sandstones of Southwest
Spectaular scenery of American southwest is largely defined by massive sandstone cliffs of various age and origin.
Period | Age, MYA | Formation | Origin | Place |
Paleogene | 60-40 | Claron 1 | lake, floodplain | Bruce Canyon, UT Red Canyon, UT Cedar Breaks NM, UT |
Paleogene | 64-61 | Nacimiento 2 | lake, floodplain | De-Na-Zin, NM |
Paleogene | 69-64 | Ojo Alamo 2 | rivers, floodplain | De-Na-Zin, NM |
Cretaceous | 97-94 | Dakota | seashore | Kodachrome Basin, UT Colorado NM, CO Dakota Hogback, CO El Malpais, NM |
Jurassic | 180-140 | Entrada | dunes | Kodachrome Basin, UT Arches, UT Colorado NM, CO El Malpais, NM 3 |
Jurassic | 169-163 | Carmel | seashore | Kodachrome Basin, UT Toadstools, UT Zion Canyon, UT |
Jurassic | 191-174 | Navajo | dunes | Valley of Fire, NV 4 Antelope Canyon, AZ Glen Canyon, AZ Horseshoe Bend, AZ Snow Canyon, UT Kolob Canyons, UT Zion Canyon, UT Canyonlands, UT |
Triassic | 210-200 | Wingate | dunes | Canyonlands, UT Colorado NM, CO |
Permian | ca 275 | Coconino 5 | dunes | Grand Canyon, AZ Sedona, AZ |
Permian | 275-270 | Schnebly Hill 5 6 | seashore | Sedona, AZ |
Permian | 280-270 | De Chelly 5 7 | dunes | Canyon de Chelly, AZ Monument Valley, UT Canyonlands, UT |
Permian | 286-245 | Cedar Mesa 5 | dunes | Canyonlands, UT Natural Bridges NM, UT |
Pennsylvanian | 300-290 | Fountain | streams | Garden of the Gods, CO Red Rock, CO |
1 Claron formation is technically a limestone interbedded with sandy mudstone, but it is included here because it plays the same scenery-forming role as sandstones everywhere else.
2 Nacimiento and Ojo Alamo sandstones are local to San Juan Basin, NM area.
3 Zuni sandstone in New Mexico is correlated with Entrada sandstone of Utah and Colorado
4 Aztec sandstone in Nevada is correlated with Navajo sandstone of Utah and Colorado
5 It is unclear how the Coconino - Schnebly Hill sequence is aligned relative to the De Chelly - Cedar Mesa sequence.
6 Schnebly Hill sandstone is local to Sedona, AZ area.
7 White Rim sandstone of Canyonlands, UT is considered to be equivalent to and continuous with De Chelly sandstone.
Halka Chronic Roadside Geology of Arizona (Roadside Geology Series) Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1983, ISBN: 0-87842-147-5
Halka Chronic Roadside Geology of New Mexico (Roadside Geology Series) Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1987, ISBN: 0-87842-209-9
Halka Chronic Roadside Geology of Utah (Roadside Geology Series) Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1990, ISBN: 0-87842-228-5
Halka Chronic, Felicie Williams Roadside Geology of Colorado (Roadside Geology Series) Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN: 0-87842-447-4
© November 6, 2014, Yuri Wolf / YuriKira.com