Stratigraphy of Paleozoic Rocks in the Carlin-Pinon Range Area, Nevada
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' I' .._- .... ~ : Stratigraphy of Paleozoic Rocks in the Carlin-Pinon Range Area, Nevada GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 867-A Prepared in cooperation with Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology f:.:. ~, ' n" : . ' ,'_ Stratigraphy of Paleozoic Rocks in the Carlin-Pinon Range Area, Nevada By J. FRED SMITH, JR., and KEITH B. KETNER GEOLOGY OOF THE CARLIN-PINON RANGE AREA, NEVADA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 867-A Prepared in cooperation with Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON 1975 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Smith, Joe Fred, 1911- Stratigraphy of Paleozoic rocks in the Carlin-Pinon Range area, Nevada. (Geology of the Carlin-Pinon Range area, Nevada) (Geological Survey Professional Paper 867-A) Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Geology, Stratigraphic-Paleozoic. 2. Geology-Nevada-Carlin region. I. Ketner, Keith Brindley, 1921- joint author. II. Nevada. Bureau of Mines. III. Title. IV. Series. V. Series: United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 867-A. QE654.S53 551. 7'2'0979316 74-31422 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock Number 024-001-02628-7 CONTENTS Page Page Abstract . A1 Rock formations-Continued Introduction . 3 Devonian System-Continued The Carlin-Pinon Range area . 3 Transitional assemblage . A32 Fieldwork and acknowledgment.:;....................... 5 Roberts Mountains Formation . 32 Previous work . 5 Limestone and chert unit . 34 Rock formations ...................................... ·. 5 Late Late Devonian-early Early Mississippian uncon- Ordovician System . 5 formity . 34 Carbonate (eastern) assemblage . 5 Mississippian System . 35 Pogonip Group (part) . 5 Webb Formation . 35 Eureka Quartzite............................. 6 Argillite unit of Lee Canyon....................... 38 Hanson Creek Formation . 6 Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Systems . 40 S'iliceous (western) assemblage . 9 Chainman Shale and Diamond Peak Formation . 40 Valmy Formation . 9 Chainman Shale . 40 Vinini Formation . 9 Diamond Peak Formation . 44 Transitional assemblage . 12 Composite measured section of the Diamond Peak For- Ordovician rocks of Marys Mountain . 12 mation and the Chainman Shale . 46 Silurian System . 14 Age and correlation of Diamond Peak Formation and Carbonate (eastern) assemblage . 14 Chainman Shale . 46 Lone Mountain Dolomite . 14 Pennsylvanian System . 51 Siliceous (western) assemblage . 17 Moleen Formation . 52 Silurian rocks of Marys Mountain . 17 Tomera Formation . 56 Devonian System . 18 Tomera and Moleen Formations undivided . 57 Carbonate (eastern) assemblage . 18 Middle Pennsylvanian unconformity . 57 Nevada Formation . 18 Pennsylvanian and Permian Systems . 58 Beacon Peak Dolomite Member . 21 Strathearn Formation . 59 Oxyoke Canyon Sandstone Member........ 22 Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks Upper dolomite member . 24 undivided . 63 Devils Gate Limestone . 25 Depositional history . 74 Siliceous (western) assemblage . 27 References cited . 81 Woodruff Formation . 27 Index . 85 ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLATE 1. Generalized geologic map of Paleozoic rocks .................................................................. In pocket 2. Columnar sections of Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks, Carlin-Pinon Range area ......................... In pocket FIGURE 1. Index map . A4 2. Map showing localities where Hanson Creek Formation and equivalent carbonate-assemblage roc,ks are exposed in the region 8 3. Photograph showing chert and some shale in the Vinini Formation . 10 4. Columnar section of Ordovician rocks on east side of Marys Mountain . 13 5. Correlation diagram of Devonian strata . 19 6. Map showing principal localities where Nevada Formation and probable equivalent carbonate-assemblage rocks are exposed 20 7. Photographs of part of the clawlike or jawlike rami of Angustidontus . 31 8. Map showing localities where transitional-assemblage Roberts Mountains Formation and equivalent carbonate-assemblage rocks are exposed in the region . 33 9. Map showing approximate thicknesses of the Webb Formation and the formations on which it lies . 36 10. Photograph showing Chainman Shale and argillite of Lee Canyon . 39 11. Map showing areas of prominent exposures of pebbly mudstone and of limestone pebbles and cobbles in the Chainman Shale and Diamond Peak Formation . 42 12. Photographs of pebbly mudstone in Chainman Shale . 43 13. Photograph showing angular unconformity between Diamond Peak Formation and overlying Strathearn Formation . 58 14. Sketch map showing outcrops and general lithologic types of Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks . 60 15. Sketch map showing outcrops and ages of basal beds of Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks . 62 16. Sketch section illustrating westward onlap of Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks . 70 17. Map showing approximate position of east-to-west change from mostly dolomite to limestone for several Paleozoic formations 76 III IV CONTENTS TABLES Page TABLE 1. Graptolite collections from the Vinini Formation along the north side of Willow Creek . All 2. Graptolites from the Vinini Formation . 12 3. Graptolites from the Ordovician rocks on Marys Mountain . 15 . 4. Chemical analyses of nodules from the Woodruff Formation . 28 5. Conodonts collected from the Woodruff Formation and from the transitional limestone and chert unit . 28 6. Analyses of carbonate, calcium, and magnesium and Ca/Mg molal ratios of 11 rock samples from the Woodruff Formation 30 7. Conodonts from the Webb Formation ........................................................................ ."... 37 8. Semiquantitative spectrographic analyses of solid bitumen by the laser-fired method . 44 9. Fossils of Early Mississippian age (Kinderhookian Series) from the Chainman Shale and the undivided Chainman Shale and Diamond Peak Formation . 49 10. Fossils of late Early (Osagean Series) and possibly early Late (early Meramecian Series) Mississippian age . 50 11. Diaphragmus phillipsi assemblage of late Late Mississippian age . 51 12. Fossils of Early Pennsylvanian age from the upper part of the Diamond Peak Formation . 51 13. Fossils of Pennsylvania~ age from the Moleen and Tomera Formations . 53 14. Names applied to Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks in the area of Carlin Canyon . 59 15. Analyses of calcium and magnesium and Ca/Mg molal ratios of some Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks . 65 16. Late Pennsylvanian Foraminifera from lower part of Stratheam Formation and equivalent beds . 71 17. Pennsylvanian(?)-Permian Foraminifera from middle part of Strathearn Formation and equivalent beds . 72 18. Early Permian Foraminifera from the upper part of the Strathearn Formation and equivalent beds . 72 19. Early Permian Foraminifera from undivided beds above the Stratheam Formation . 73 MEASURED STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS Page SECTION Sl. Lone Mountain Dolomite northeast of Bunker Hill in W 1/2 sec. 3, T. 30 N., R. 53 E .............................. A16 S2. Lone Mountain Dolomite on.