Depositional history of the Cretaceous Cliff House Sandstone, San Juan basin, New Mexico

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7158827

Templet, P L; Nummedal, D ^[1]

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1. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge (United States)

The basal portion of the Cliff House Sandstone (A, B, and C benches and lowermost La Ventana) in northwestern New Mexico records a major regional transgression (third order sea-level fluctuation). Retrogradational parasequence stacking reflects this overall transgression. Parasequence development during an overall transgression is probably due to fourth order sea-level fluctuations. A measured section through benches A and B (lowermost Cliff House) contains two complete parasequences. Part of a third parasequence is observed before reaching the end of the section. At the base, a flooding surface separates fluvial deposits from a complete regressive shoreface sequence. A second flooding surface precedes deposition of a coarsening-upward parasequence consisting of marine shale, inner shelf transition strata, and finally lower shoreface strata. A flooding event again precedes deposition of a shelfal marine shale/inner shelf transition deposit. The next overlying sandstone unit is found translated at least 16 km, and up to 50 km landward of the previously described section. This unit consists of the C bench and its correlative, the lowermost portion of the La Ventana encounters the following succession: a flooding surface separates fluvial deposits from 8 m of overlying back-barrier strata. Above the back-barrier strata is a 9 in. transgressive lag deposited by marine ravinement processes. Above the transgressive lag is a coarsening-upward succession of inner shelf transition strata overlain by lower shoreface sands. Finally, a flooding surface separates the lower shoreface sands from inner shelf transition strata.

• OSTI ID: 7158827
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
USA