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Depositional Environments for Strata of Composite Section of Frontier Formation, Madison Range, Southwestern Montana

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Depositional Environments for Strata of Composite Section of Frontier Formation, Madison Range, Southwestern Montana Depositional Environments for Strata of Composite Section of Frontier Formation, Madison Range, Southwestern Montana U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1949 AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the cur­ rent-year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Sur­ vey publications released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" Publications that are listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" are no longer available. Prices of reports released to the open files are given in the listing "U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports," updated month­ ly, which is for sale in microfiche from the U.S. Geological Survey, Books and Open-File Reports Section, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225. Reports released through the NTIS may be obtaine.d by writing to the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161; please include NTIS report number with inquiry. Order U.S. Geological Survey pu\)lications by mail or over the counter from the offices given below. BY MAIL OVER THE COUNTER Books Books Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water-Supply Papers, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Circulars, publications of general in­ Books of the U.S. Geological Survey are available over the terest (such as leaflets, pamphlets, booklets), single copies of Earthquakes counter at the following Geological Survey Public Inquiries Offices, all & Volcanoes, Preliminary Determination of Epicenters, and some mis­ of which are authorized agents of the Superintendent of Documents: cellaneous reports, including some of the foregoing series that have gone out of print at the Superintendent of Documents, are obtainable by mail from • WASHINGTON, D.C.--Main Interior Bldg., 2600 corridor, 18th and C Sts., NW. U.S. Geological Survey, Books and Open-File Reports • DENVER, Colorado--Federal Bldg., Rm. 169, 1961 Stout St. Federal Center, Box 25425 • LOS ANGELES, California--Federal Bldg., Rm. 7638, 300 N. Denver, CO 80225 Los Angeles St. • MENLO PARK, California--Bldg. 3 (Stop 533), Rm. 3128, Subscriptions to periodicals (Earthquakes & Volcanoes and 345 Middlefield Rd. Preliminary Determination of Epicenters) can be obtained ONLY from • RESTON, Vlrglnla--503 National Center, Rm. 1C402, 12201 the Sunrise Valley Dr. • SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Federal Bldg., Rm. 8105, 125 Superintendent of Documents South State St. Government Printing Office • SAN FRANCISCO, California--Customhouse, Rm. 504, 555 Washington, D.C. 20402 Battery St. • SPOKANE, Washington--U.S. Courthouse, Rm. 678, West (Check or money order must be payable to Superintendent of Docu­ 920 Riverside Ave .. ments.) • ANCHORAGE, Alaska--Rm. 101,4230 University Dr. • ANCHORAGE, Alaska--Federal Bldg, Rm. E-146, 701 C St. Maps For maps, address mail orders to U.S. Geological Survey, Map Distribution Maps Federal Center, Box 25286 Maps may be purchased over the counter at the U.S. Geologi­ Denver, CO 80225 cal Survey offices where books are sold (all addresses in above list) and at the following Geological Survey offices: Residents of Alaska may order maps from • ROLLA, Mlssourl--1400 Independence Rd. Alaska Distribution Section, U.S. Geological Survey, • DENVER, Colorado--Map Distribution. Bldg. 810, Federal New Federal Building - Box 12 Center 101 Twelfth Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701 • FAIRBANKS, Alaska--New Federal Bldg., 101 Twelfth Ave. Depositional Environments for Strata of Composite Section of Frontier Formation, Madison Range, Southwestern Montana By R.G. TYSDAL U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1949 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1991 For sale by the Books and Open-File Reports Section U.S. Geological Survey Federal Center Box 25425 Denver, CO 80225 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tysdal, Russell G. Depositional environments for strata of composite section of Frontier Formation, Madison Range, southwestern Montana I by R.G. Tysdal. p. em. - (U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 1949) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.3:1949 1. Geology, Stratigraphic-Cretaceous. 2. Geology-Montana-Madison Range. 3. Frontier Formation. I. Title. II. Series. QE75.B9 no. 1949 [QE685] 557.3 s-dc20 90-19939 [551.7'7'09786] CIP CONTENTS Abstract 1 Introduction 1 Purpose of study 3 Previous work 3 Lincoln Mountain measured section 3 Lower delta front facies 4 Sandstone and siltstone 4 Interpretation 7 Delta plain facies 7 Tuff 7 Interpretation 7 Mudstone and siltstone 8 Interpretation 8 Clayey sandstone 8 Interpretation 8 Finely laminated sandstone 8 Interpretation 8 Limestone coquina 9 Interpretation 9 Upper delta front facies 9 Rhythmically interbedded sandstone and siltstone or mudstone 9 Interpretation 9 Contact relationships of facies in Lincoln Mountain measured section 9 Big Sky measured section 10 Interbedded delta front and prodelta facies 10 Rhythmically interbedded sandstone and siltstone or mudstone 10 Interpretation 13 Hummocky crossbedded sandstone 13 Interpretation 13 Bioturbated muddy fine-grained sandstone 15 Interpretation 15 Delta front facies 15 Tabular and trough crossbedded salt-and-pepper sandstone 15 Interpretation 15 Delta plain facies 15 Bioturbated salt-and-pepper sandstone 15 Interpretation 16 Carbonaceous mudstone 16 Interpretation 16 Clayey siltstone and mudstone 16 Interpretation 16 Tuff and bentonite 16 Interpretation 17 Laminated and burrowed sandstone 17 Interpretation 17 Contents Ill Claystone 18 Interpretation 18 Conglomerate, sandstone, and lenticular-bedded siltstone 18 Interpretation 20 Contact relationships of facies in Big Sky measured section 20 Conclusions 20 References cited 21 FIGURES 1. Map of southwestern Montana showing geographic features and location of measured sections of the Frontier Formation in the Madison Range 2 2. Sequence of Cretaceous formations directly above and below Frontier Formation in Madison Range 2 3. Generalized graphic measured section of lower part of composite section of Frontier Formation, measured at Lincoln Mountain 4 4. Generalized graphic measured section of upper part of composite section of Frontier Formation, measured near Big Sky 5 5. Schematic diagram of delta showing environments interpreted from strata of composite measured section 6 6. Classification of sedimentary environments 7 7-11. Photographs showing: 7. Rhythmically interbedded strata overlain and underlain by hummocky cross-laminated sandstone 11 8. Rhythmically interbedded sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone 11 9. Thick sandstone beds in rhythmically interbedded strata 12 10. Ball-and-pillow structure in rhythmically interbedded strata 12 11. Hummocky cross-laminated sandstone 14 12. Sequence of sedimentary structures in hummocky crossbedded strata 14 13-14. Photographs showing: 13. Ball-and-pillow structure in tuff bed of delta plain strata 17 14. Tidal channel sandstone and mudstone in upper part of delta plain strata 19 IV Contents Depositional Environments for Strata of Composite Section of Frontier Formation, Madison Range, Southwestern Montana By R.G. Tysdal ABSTRACT front. Some of the individual sandstone beds within the prodelta strata show hummocky crossbeds, interpreted as The Frontier Formation was measured in two partial single-event distal storm deposits. Delta front sandstones of the sections in the Madison Range in order to obtain nearly foreshore and backshore record upward shallowing complete exposures for stratigraphic and sedimentologic environments. interpretation. The two sections form a composite section for A delta plain facies forms the upper 25 m (82 ft) of the the Frontier. The lower section of the Frontier, measured at measured section near Big Sky. The strata consist of carbona­ Lincoln Mountain where it is 102m (336ft) thick, is a tripartite ceous to coaly mudstone, siltstone and claystone, and tuff. succession. The lower part consists mainly of sandstone and These rocks include abundant fresh and brackish water bioturbated sandstone deposited in a lower shoreface megafossils and sedimentary structures indicative of delta environment of a delta front facies. These strata are plain lakes and brackish water swamps. The tuffs range from conformable with the underlying Mowry Shale. The middle well indurated, silicified beds to deeply weathered bentonitic part is composed ofthin interbedded strata laid down in a delta strata. Some of the tuffs were deposited within water, showing plain setting. Tuff of the middle part forms a marker unit of ball-and-pillow structures, whereas other beds may have been resistant outcrops and likely was deposited subaerially. deposited subaerially. Uppermost strata of the delta plain Carbonaceous mudstone forms marsh deposits that grade into sequence constitute an estuarine tidal channel deposit that sandstone interpreted as deposits of a sandflat marginal to a consists, in ascending order, of pebble conglomerate, fine­ lagoon or bay. At one horizon in the middle part, a gently grained sandstone that contains
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