A petrographic and geochemical study of the Wilkeson Sandstone, Eocene Carbonado Formation, at the quarry near Wilkeson, Washington
The Wilkeson Sandstone is a light-gray (N 7--8), very well-indurated, fluvial, lenticular, well-sorted, medium- to coarse-grained, arkosic sandstone. Located near the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, west-central Washington State, the Wilkeson Sandstone is an important key rock that was included in part of the former Wilkeson Sandstone(s)/Wilkeson Formation (Willis, 1898). Incorporated into the Eocene Carbonado Formation (Gard, 1968), it is often referenced in Puget Group geological studies. The Wilkeson Sandstone was derived from an eastern highland of plutonic, metamorphic and marine sedimentary rocks, and contains minor carbonized wood debris, and rare siltstone and mudstone clasts. The cross-bedded, subangular, bimodal, first-cycle sand grains are cemented by silica, with secondary nodules of specular hematite. The unit weathers grayish-orange (10YR 7/4) and black (N 1). In the Wilkeson quarry, the bedding strikes north 30 degrees west, and dips 53 degrees northeast. In an effort to distinguish the Wilkeson Sandstone from other sedimentation units, 120 selected samples were analyzed for 25 major and trace elements using an automated x-ray spectrometer. Petrography was done with scanning electron and polarizing light microscopes. Heavy mineral separation also was performed.
- OSTI ID:
- 5024880
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9305259-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 25:5; Conference: 89. annual meeting of the Cordilleran Section and the 46th annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Reno, NV (United States), 19-21 May 1993; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
PETROGRAPHY
SANDSTONES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
WASHINGTON
EOCENE EPOCH
GEOCHEMISTRY
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGY
MICROSCOPY
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SPECTROSCOPY
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA
580000* - Geosciences