Cutler Formation

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Coordinates: 38°05′46″N 107°42′07″W / 38.096°N 107.702°W / 38.096; -107.702
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Cutler Formation
Leonardian
Approximate paleocoordinates
0°42′N 36°06′W / 0.7°N 36.1°W / 0.7; -36.1
RegionColorado Plateau
CountryUnited States
ExtentArizona
Colorado
New Mexico
Utah
Type section
Named forCutler Creek, north of Ouray, Co
Named byCross & Howe
Year defined1905
Cutler Formation is located in the United States
Cutler Formation
Cutler Formation (the United States)
Cutler Formation is located in Colorado
Cutler Formation

The Cutler Formation or Cutler Group is a

epoch
.

Description

At its type area north of

formation to group rank and its subunits are themselves designated as formations.[4] The unit in its type area remains at formation rank and is often described as the "undifferentiated Cutler".[5][6]

The formation overlies the

Dolores Formation (near its type area)[7] or the Moenkopi Formation (further west).[8] It is laterally equivalent to the Abo Formation of central New Mexico, to which it seamlessly transitions in the Jemez Mountains.[9]

The formation has been dated to

fluvial (river) and marine influences became important and produced the lithological variety of the Cutler Group.[6]

The undifferentiated Cutler consists of

sheet flood events.[13]

Subunits

The Cutler has been placed at either

formation or group
stratigraphic rank, depending on the publication. Its subunits, therefore, are variously called formations or members. Subunits on the Colorado Plateau are:[11]

  • De Chelly Sandstone
    (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah) — youngest
  • White Rim Sandstone (Utah)
  • Organ Rock Shale
    (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah)
  • Cedar Mesa Sandstone (Arizona, Utah)
  • lower Cutler beds (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah) — oldest

Beds formerly assigned to the

Halgaito Shale,[14] or the Rico Formation are included in the lower Cutler beds.[15]

The stratigraphy of the lower Cutler beds has long been controversial.

lithostratigraphic distinction, and by a subtle angular unconformity that was not easily recognized in the field. This led to abandonment of the Elephant Canyon Formation and designation of all beds between the Honaker Trail Formation and the Cedar Mesa Sandstone as simply the lower Cutler beds. These also include beds previously assigned to the Halgaito Formation.[16]

In the Chama Basin of New Mexico, the Cutler Group has been divided into two formations:[20]

A sandstone unit resembling the De Chelly Sandstone is present above the Arroyo del Agua Formation in the southernmost part of the basin, but in this region it is assigned to the Yeso Group.[20]

Extent

Cutler outcrops are found in these geologic locations in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

History of investigation

There is no designated type locality for the Cutler. It was named by Charles Whitman Cross and Ernest Howe in 1905 after Cutler Creek, which enters Uncompahgre River about 4 miles north of Ouray, Colorado.[23] They found that nonfossiliferous red beds provisionally assigned to the Dolores Formation were separated from overlying fossiliferous Triassic beds by a significant angular unconformity. The lower beds were tentatively identified as Permian beds, and were removed from the Dolores Formation to the newly designated Cutler Formation.[3]

Baker and Reeside revised Cross and Howe's work in 1929, tracing the Cutler across the Colorado Plateau and dividing the formation into the Halgaito Tongue, Cedar Mesa Sandstone Member, Organ Rock Tongue, and White Rim Sandstone Member. They also confirmed Cross and Howe's dating of the formation to the Permian.[21] The Cutler was traced through the Jemez Mountains and found to be laterally equivalent to the Abo Formation by Wood and Northrop in 1946.[9]

In 1958, Wengerd and Matheny raised the formation to

group rank.[24]

  • Cutler and Chinle formations in Lisbon Valley, San Juan County, Utah
    Cutler and Chinle formations in Lisbon Valley, San Juan County, Utah
  • Cedar Mesa Sandstone overlaying Organ Rock Shale, Canyonlands, Utah
    Cedar Mesa Sandstone overlaying Organ Rock Shale, Canyonlands, Utah

References

  1. U.S. Department of the Interior
    . Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Stratigraphy of Canyon de Chelly National Monument". Geology of National Parks, 3D and Photographic Tours. United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  3. ^
    hdl:1969.1/2953
    .
  4. ISBN 9781607810049
    .
  5. ^
    doi:10.1306/BC74376F-16BE-11D7-8645000102C1865D
    .
  6. ^ a b c Fillmore 2010, p. 105.
  7. ^
    doi:10.3133/pp1505A
    .
  8. doi:10.1306/0BDA5E73-16BD-11D7-8645000102C1865D
    .
  9. ^
    Wikidata Q62639452
    .
  10. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1984)95<109:ASOTCF>2.0.CO;2
    .
  11. ^ a b Fillmore 2010, p. 107.
  12. ^ Moore, K.D.; Soreghan, G.S.; Sweet, D.E. (2008). "Stratigraphic and Structural Relations in the Proximal Cutler Formation of the Paradox Basin: Implications for Timing of Movement on the Uncompahgre Front". The Mountain Geologist. 45 (2): 49–68. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  13. ^ Fillmore 2010, pp. 108–109.
  14. ^ a b Fillmore 2010, pp. 115–117.
  15. ^ Loope, David B.; Sanderson, George A.; Verville, George J. (October 1990). "Abandonment of the name "Elephant Canyon Formation" in southeastern Utah: Physical and temporal implications". The Mountain Geologist. 27 (4): 119–130. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  16. ^
    doi:10.3133/b00P
    .
  17. doi:10.3133/ar21_2
    .
  18. doi:10.3133/b896
    .
  19. doi:10.1306/5CEAE07C-16BB-11D7-8645000102C1865D
    .
  20. ^ a b Lucas, Spencer G.; Krainer, Karl (2005). "Stratigraphy and correlation of the Permo-Carboniferous Cutler Group, Chama Basin, New Mexico" (PDF). New Mexico Geologic Society Field Conference Series. 56: 145–159. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  21. ^
    doi:10.1306/3D932893-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D
    .
  22. ^
    doi:10.1306/0BDA5E70-16BD-11D7-8645000102C1865D
    .
  23. ^ Keroher, Grace C., Lexicon of Geologic Names of the United States for 1936-1960, Part 1, p. 1019, at Google Books
  24. doi:10.1306/0BDA5BA9-16BD-11D7-8645000102C1865D
    .

External links
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