The gamma member of the Kaibab Formation (Permian) in northern Arizona Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic); Maps Authors Lipinski, Paul William, 1951- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 08/10/2021 06:29:06 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/555070 THE GAMMA MEMBER OF THE KAIBAB FORMATION (PERMIAN) IN NORTHERN ARIZONA by Paul William Lipinski A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 7 6 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of re­ quirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judg­ ment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholar­ ship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: V RICHARD F. WILSON 17 Date Associate Professor of Geosciences ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Much appreciation is given to Dr. Richard F. Wilson for his recom­ mendation of the study and his assistance and guidance throughout its undertaking. Also, the advice and suggestions given by Drs. Dietmar Schumacher and Joseph F. Schreiber, Jr., and their critical evaluations of the manuscript were of invaluable aid and were greatly appreciated. In addition, special thanks are given Tom Andrews for his evalu­ ation of the preliminary draft; Ken Bladh who donated his time for the x-ray analysis of clay minerals; and William Breed of the Museum of Northern Arizona for his field assistance and recommendations. Finally, the greatest appreciation is extended to my wife, Missy, whose assistance and experience made the collection of field data consid­ erably easier and more enjoyable. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.......................................... vii LIST OF T A B L E S ................................................ ix ABSTRACT ...................................................... x INTRODUCTION .................................................. 1 Purpose of Investigation ................................. 1 Location and Accessibility ............................... 1 Methods of Study .......................................... 2 Field Work . ................................... 2 Laboratory Procedure ................................. 3 Explanation of Metric System Usage ................... 4 Previous Work ............ 4 Geology of the Study Area .................................. 7 Coconino Sandstone ................................... 7 Kaibab Formation ..................................... 12 Moenkopi Formation and Tertiary and Quaternary Volcanics ............................. 15 THE GAMMA MEMBER OF THE KAIBAB FORMATION ..................... 16 Criteria Used for Field Recognition of the Beta and Gamma Members ............................... 17 Stratigraphy ................................... 19 Sedimentary Structures . .................................. 25 Beta Member-Gamma Member Contact ................. .... 32 Alpha Member-Gamma Member Contact......................... 32 Gamma Member-Coconino Sandstone Contact ................... 33 P a l e o n t o l o g y .............................................. 34 Brachiopods................................. 35 P e l e c y p o d s ............................................ 37 G a s t r o p o d s ............................................ 39 S c a p h o p o d s ............................................ 40 Crinoids and Echinoids ............................... 41 Bryozoans.................. 41 B u r r o w s ................................................ 41 P o r i f e r a .............. 42 iv V TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued Page REGIONAL STRATIGRAPHIC SYNTHESIS OF THE TOROWEAP AND KAIBAB FORMATIONS.......................................... 43 Explanation of D a t a ............................................ 43 Isopach M a p s ................................ 46 The Toroweap Formation .................................... 46 The Kaibab F o r m a t i o n ...................................... 48 Combined Toroweap and Kaibab Formations Isopach ............ 50 lithofacies M a p s .............................................. 52 Toroweap Formation ........................................ 52 Kaibab Formation .......................................... 55 Paleogeographic M a p ............................................ 58 Kaibab Formation .......................................... 58 Paleotectonic M a p ................................ 6l Kaibab and Toroweap Formations ............................ 6l STRATIGRAPHIC SYNTHESIS OF THE GAMMA ME M B E R ......................... 66 Paleoecology and Paleogeography . ..... ....................... 66 Depositional Setting .......................... 66 Salinity ................................... ...... 69 Sediment Transport ........................................ 73 Depth and Paleo sl o p e ...................................... 74 Other Environmental Factors ..................... 76 S u m m a r y ..................................................... 78 Validity of the Gamma M e m b e r ............................... 78 Suggestions for Future R e search............................. 80 APPENDIX A: LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MEASURED SECTIONS OF THE GAMMA MEMBER OF THE KAIBAB FORMATION (PERMIAN) IN NORTHERN A R I Z O N A ..................... 82 West Clear C r e e k ..................................... 85 Toms C r e e k ........................................... 88 Huffner Draw ................................................ 91 Middle T a n k ..................................................' 93 Clover Creek ................................................ 95 Clover Creek Road-Cut ...................... 99 Jones C r o s s i n g ................................................ 102 Lower Miller Canyon ............................................ 105 Blue Ridge Reservoir .................................. 107 Bear Canyon .................................... 110 East Clear Creek Road-Cut ........................... 112 Yeager Canyon .................................................. 115 Macks Crossing of East Clear C r e e k ........................... 118 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued Page Leonard Canyon .............................................. 120 West Leonard C a n y o n ....................................... 122 Wiggins Crossing Road-Cut ......................... .... 124 Barts Crossing Road-Cut ................. 127 Wildcat Canyon Road-Cut ........................... .... 130 Black C a n y o n ................................................ 133 Saloon Canyon .............................................. 137 Chevelon Canyon at Chevelon Crossing ..................... 140 East Sunset Mountain ........................................ 143 McHood Park . ............................................ 148 Meteor Crater ....................... 150 Walnut Canyon .............................................. 153 Lower Lake M a r y ............................................ 156 APPENDIX B: DATA SOURCES FOR STRATIGRAPHIC M A P S ............... 159 lithologic L o g s ............................................ 160 Measured Sections .............. 168 REFERENCES...................................................... 178 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1 . location map of study area ............................ in pocket 2. Flow diagram of Kaibab terminology changes ............... 6 3. The Kaibab-Coconino contact at the East Sunset Mountain section ...................................... 9 4. The Kaibab-Coconino contact at the McHood Park section.......................................... 9 5. The Kaibab-Coconino contact at the Clover Creek section . ........................... 10 6. Coconino Sandstone like cross-stratification in Walnut Canyon ........................................ 13 7. Coconino Sandstone like cross-stratification at Lower Lake Mary directly below the gamma member . 13 8 . Facies map of the alpha member of the Kaibab Formation (after Bissell, 1969 and McKee, 1938) 14 9. Horizontal bedding at the base of the gamma member at Wiggins C r o s s i n g ............................. .. 20 10. Photomicrograph of quartz arenite at base of gamma member at Clover Creek ............................... 20 11. Calcareous, slightly sandy siltstone typical of the gamma m e m b e r ........................... 21 12. Photomicrograph of the quartz arenite of the Coconino Sandstone.......... 22 13. Isopach map of the gamma member of the Kaibab Formation..................... ............ in pocket 14. Root-like chert in beta member at East Clear Creek .... 28 15. "Musketball" concretions exhibiting clustering at Black C a n y o n .........................................