Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup in the Yellowstone National Park Region
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·- STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK OF THE ABSAROKA VOLCANIC SUPERGROUP IN THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK REGION Stratigraphic Framework of the Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup in the Yellowsto-ne National Park Region By HARRY W. SMEDES and HAROLD J. PROSTKA GEOLOGY OF YELLOWSTONE NA1~IONAL PARK GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 729-C A brief description of the stratigraphy of the Eocene Absaroka volcanic field) Wyoming and lVf. ontana. The Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup) three groups) five formations) and five members are defined UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1972 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. 72-600072 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 50 cents Stock Number 2401-2151 Yellowstone National Park, the oldest of the areas set aside as part of the national park sys· tern, lies amidst the Rocky Mountains in north western Wyoming and adjacent parts of Montana and Idaho. Embracing large, diverse, and complex geologic features, the park is in an area that is critical to the interpretation of many significant regional geologic problems. In order to provide basic data bearing on these problems, the U.S. Geological Survey in 1965 initiated a broad pro gram of comprehensive geologic and geophysical investigations within the park. This program was carried out with the cooperation of the National Park Service, and was also aided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which supported the gathering of geologic information needed in testing and in interpreting results from various remote sensing devices. This professional paper chapter is one of a series of technical geo logic reports resulting from these investigations. CONTENTS Page Page Abstract.................................................................................... C1 Sunlight Group - Continued Introduction .............................................................................. 1 Mount Wallace Formation- Continued Acknowledgments ............................................................ 4 Age.............................................................................. C23 General geologic relations .............................................. 4 Crescent Hill Basalt......................................................... 23 Washburn Group .................................................. 8 Wapiti Formation............................................................. 24 Sepulcher Formation ............................................. 14 Jim Mountain Member............................................ 25 Conglomerate facies ............................................. 15 Age.............................................................................. 25 Elk Creek Basalt Member .................................... 16 Trout Peak Trachyandesite....... .................................... 25 Lost Creek Tuff Member .................................... 17 Pacific Creek Tuff Member..................................... 27 Daly Creek Member ............................................... 17 Age.............................................................................. 27 Fortress Mountain Member .................................. 18 Thorofare Creek Group........................................................... 27 Andesite lavas ......................................................... 18 Langford Formation........................................................ 28 Age ............................................................................ 19 Promontory Member............................................ 29 Lamar River Formation .... 19 Age.............................................................................. 29 Cathedral Cliffs Formation ......................................... 21 Two Ocean Formation..................................................... 29 Sunlight Group ................. 21 Tepee Trail Formation.................................................... 29 Mount Wallace Formation ............................................. 22 Wiggins Formation.......................................................... 30 Slough Creek Tuff Member .............. 23 References cited........................................................................ 32 ILLUSTRATIONS Page FIGURE 1. Index map of geographic features in the Absaroka volcanic field and vicinity .............................................. C2 2. Index map showing extent of mapping and stratigraphic information ........................................................... 3 3. Generalized geologic map of the Absaroka volcanic field ................................................................................... 5 4. Generalized geologic map of the Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup in Yellowstone National Park. .............. 6 5. Schematic section showing stratigraphic relations in the Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup .......................... 8 6. Hypothetical cross section showing relationships of vent facies and alluvial facies .................................... 9 7. Hypothetical cross section showing facies relationships of two vent complexes and the intervening volcanic sediments derived from them ...................................................................................... 9 8. Diagram showing nomenclature, stratigraphic relations, and proposed correlation of units in the Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup .............................................................................................. 10 9. Index map of geographic features in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park and vicinity........ 12 10-13. Photographs of rocks of vent and alluvial facies: 10. Alluvial facies of the Sepulcher Formation ........................................................................................... 15 11. Well-bedded alluvial facies of the Lamar River Formation ............................................................. 20 12. Vent facies autoclastic flow breccias of the Wapiti Formation ........................................................ 24 13. Vent facies autoclastic flow breccia of the Wapiti Formation ........................................................... 25 14. Index map of geographic features in the southeastern part of Yellowstone National Park and vicinity ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 15. Photograph of indistinctly bedded vent facies of the Langford Formation .................................................... 28 16. Photograph of alluvial facies of the Wiggin's Formation ................................................................................... 31 v GEOLOGY OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK OF THE ABSAROKA VOLCANIC SUPERGROUP IN THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK REGION By HARRY \V. SMEDEs and HAROLD J. PROSTKA ABSTRACT The stratigraphic framework proposed in this This report briefly describes the stratigraphy of the Absa paper is based on 6 years of detailed and reconnais roka volcanic field in and near Yellowstone National Park. sance mapping by us in and near Yellowstone Na The volcanics, mainly andesitic, basaltic, and dacitic volcani tional Park, field conferences with other workers clastic rocks, are herein named the Absaroka Volcanic Super in selected critical areas, and published detailed group. The supergroup comprises, from oldest to youngest, the Washburn Group, Sunlight Group, and Thorofare Creek maps and stratigraphic studies (fig. 2). This report Group (new names). Within these groups, the following five is intended to be used in conjunction with the new new formations and five new members are defined: In the bedrock geologic map of Yellowstone National Park Washburn Group- Sepulcher Formation and its Daly Creek (U.S. Geological Survey, 1972). and Fortress Mountain Members, and Lamar River Forma The Absaroka volcanic field is the largest of the tion. In the Sunlight Group- Mount Wallace Formation and its Slough Creek Tuff Member, and the Pacific Creek Tuff many volcanic fields emplaced during an episode of Member (of the Trout Peak Trachyandesite). In the Thoro major widespread Eocene volcanism in the North fare Creek Group -Langford Formation and its Promontory ern Rocky Mountains (Steven and others, 1972). Member, and the Two Ocean Formation. The usage of some The field covers about 9,000 square miles (23,310 formerly established units is modified on the basis of new square kilometers) ; the volume of rock exceeds data, and correlations with rocks in outlying parts of the volcanic field are proposed. 7,000 cubic miles (29,000 cubic kilometers) ; and This stratigraphic framework has been established by map the maximum thickness in any one place is about ping of lithologic units and by potassium-argon age data and 5,000 feet (1,500 meters). In addition, volcanic ash fossils. from this field is an important component of some of the Eocene sedimentary strata of the Wind River INTRODUCTION Basin (Love, 1939) and probably of other Tertiary The Absaroka volcanic field of northwestern Wy basins farther away. oming and southwestern Montana (figs. 1, 3) Some of these volcanic rocks constitute part of consists of deeply eroded andesitic and basaltic the Beartooth Mountains and are present north of stratovolcanoes and the coalesced deposits of epi the crest of that range;