Nomenclature and Correlation of Some Upper Precambrian and Basal Cambrian Sequences in Western Utah and Southeastern Idaho

Research Article| March 01, 1971 Nomenclature and Correlation of Some Upper Precambrian and Basal Cambrian Sequences in Western Utah and Southeastern Idaho MAX D CRITTENDEN, JR.; MAX D CRITTENDEN, JR. U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar FREDERICK E SCHAEFFER; FREDERICK E SCHAEFFER Southern Colorado State College, Pueblo, Colorado 81001 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. E TRIMBLE; D. E TRIMBLE U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar LEE A WOODWARD LEE A WOODWARD University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information MAX D CRITTENDEN, JR. U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025 FREDERICK E SCHAEFFER Southern Colorado State College, Pueblo, Colorado 81001 D. E TRIMBLE U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 LEE A WOODWARD University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 04 May 1970 Revision Received: 21 Oct 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1971, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1971) 82 (3): 581–602. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[581:NACOSU]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 04 May 1970 Revision Received: 21 Oct 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation MAX D CRITTENDEN, FREDERICK E SCHAEFFER, D. E TRIMBLE, LEE A WOODWARD; Nomenclature and Correlation of Some Upper Precambrian and Basal Cambrian Sequences in Western Utah and Southeastern Idaho. GSA Bulletin 1971;; 82 (3): 581–602. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[581:NACOSU]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Recent stratigraphic studies in three widely separated localities in southeastern Idaho and western Utah have revealed a startling continuity of both individual rock units and of rock sequences over a distance of some 300 mi parallel to the strike of a late Precambrian and Cambrian depositional trough. Between 15,000 and 25,000 ft of beds were deposited in the axis of the trough, whereas only 1000 to 3300 ft of correlative rocks were laid down on the shelf to the east. In several areas a diamictite is present near the base of the sequence; this is underlain locally and overlain generally by argillites containing lenticular limestones and dolomites; these in turn are succeeded by quartzitic rocks containing a thick grayish-red to maroon unit—the Mutual Formation. In each area the sequence includes, at the top, quartzites typical of the basal Cambrian. Deposition in the basin was essentially continuous from late Precambrian into Cambrian time but was interrupted by uplift and erosion on the shelf. The hinge line of the ancient seaway is inferred to have coincided roughly with the present “Wasatch line,” but erosion prior to deposition of the Tintic Quartzite has removed most of the data needed to establish this with certainty.Rocks in each of the three areas described here in detail are regarded as allochthonous and appear to have been thrust eastward during the Sevier orogeny. A precise reconstruction of the sedimentary basin must therefore await not only additional stratigraphic studies in such areas as the Promontory Range of Utah and the Bannock and Malad Ranges of southern Idaho, but also final resolution of the structural events. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.