Sequence stratigraphy of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Morrison and Cedar Mountain Formations, NE Utah--NW Colorado
- Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences
The Jurassic-Cretaceous Morrison and Cedar Mountain of NE Utah and NW Colorado record nonmarine deposition during early development of the Cordilleran foreland basin. Contained within these formations are three distinct depositional sequences that represent changes in sedimentary architecture due to fluctuations in development of basin accommodation. The first of these sequences comprises the Oxfordian transition from marine to nonmarine sedimentation. Morrison Formation marginal marine and nonmarine facies prograded across shallow marine facies of the Stump Formation (Redwater Member), during a period of increased accommodation. The base of the second depositional sequences within the Morrison Formation was produced by a decrease in regional accommodation. The Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation unconformably overlies the Morrison Formation and its base marks the lower boundary of the third depositional sequence. The unconformity surface represents a decrease in regional accommodation and is marked by fluvial incision and evidence of subaerial exposure and intense weathering of the upper Brushy Basin Member. Increased basin accommodation during the early Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian ) resulted in valley fill deposition of the braided fluvial Buckhorn Conglomerate Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation. This conglomerate is overlain by Cedar Mountain anastomosing fluvial and lacustrine facies which were deposited during continued accommodation development. The Sequence is capped unconformity by the Albian-Cenomanian Dakota Formation.
- OSTI ID:
- 5436541
- 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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