Mixed regressive-transgressive coastal deposits in Upper Cretaceous prograding sequence, southwest Raton basin, New Mexico

Conference · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6373693

Haymes, S R; Flores, R M

A record of mixed regressive-transgressive deposits of an overall prograding barrier of a deltaic-interdeltaic system is found in the Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale, Trinidad Sandstone, and Vermejo Formation in the southwest Raton basin, New Mexico. The upper Pierre Shale consists of bioturbated and rippled shales, siltstones, and sandstones that coarsen upward into the Trinidad Sandstone. The Trinidad Sandstone consists of an eastward-pinching lower unit and a westward-pinching upper unit separated by an eastward-pinching tongue of the Vermejo Formation. The lower Trinidad consists of coarsening-upward, bioturbated, hummocky, and planar to trough cross-bedded sandstone in the lower part and fining-upward, planar to trough cross-bedded, parallel-ripple laminated, and rooted sandstone in the upper part. This sandstone represents a regressive wave-influenced, barred beach to shoreface complex. Siltstone, mudstone, carbonaceous shale, and coal beds of the overlying Vermejo tongue represent back-beach swamp and estuarine environments. The upper Trinidad Sandstone is basally erosional and coarsens upward. It consists of multiple scoured bodies of trough and planar cross-bedded and convolute-bedded sandstone. The lower sandstone bodies of this unit are bioturbated and contain Toredo-bored wood. The upper Trinidad Sandstone records a transgressive (backstepping) pulse that resulted in tidal-channel inlet and estuarine environments. This unit merges westward into sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, carbonaceous shale, and coal beds of the Vermejo Formation. Sandstones of the Vermejo are interbedded with and grade into carbonaceous shale and coal, mudstone, and siltstone. Some sandstone beds are lenticular, erosional based, and trough cross-bedded; they fine upward and have parallel and ripple laminations.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6373693
• Report Number(s): CONF-8808223-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 72:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SILTSTONES
USA