_ "! t/aORECEtVED SEP 2 11995 | Q.S.U. LIBRARIES J Sedimentological Descriptions and Depositional Interpretations, in Sequence Stratigraphic Context, of Two 300-Meter Cores from the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Kane County, Utah U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 2115-A GEOLOGY LlfiftAflY OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES Sedimentological Descriptions and Depositional Interpretations, in Sequence Stratigraphic Context, of Two 300-Meter Cores from the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Kane County, Utah By Robert D. Hettinger SEDIMENTOLOGIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC INVESTIGATIONS OF COAL-BEARING STRATA IN THE UPPER CRETACEOUS STRAIGHT CLIFFS FORMATION, KAIPAROWITS PLATEAU, UTAH U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 2115-A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1995 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 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 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hettinger, Robert D. Sedimentological descriptions and depositional interpretations, in sequence strati- graphic context, of two 300-meter cores from the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Kane County, Utah / Robert D. Hettinger. p. cm. (U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 2115-A) (Sedimentologic and stratigraphic investigations of coal-bearing strata in the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah ; A) Includes bibliographical references. 1. Geology, Stratigraphic Cretaceous. 2. Sedimentation and deposition Utah Kaiparowits Plateau. 3. Coal Geology Utah Kaiparowits Plateau. 4. Straight Cliffs Formation (Utah). I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: Sedimentologic and stratigraphic investigations of coal-bearing strata in the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah ; A. QE75.B9 no. 2115-A [QE688] 557.3 s dc20 [553.2'4'0979251] 94-41508 CIP CONTENTS Abstract........................................................................................................................... Al Introduction.................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................... 2 Field Work...................................................................................................................... 3 Stratigraphy of the Straight Cliffs Formation................................................................. 4 Core Descriptions and Facies......................................................................................... 7 Depositional Interpretations........................................................................................... 10 Facies Assemblage I Shoreface........................................................................... 10 Facies Assemblage II Tidal................................................................................. 12 Facies Assemblage III Fluvial Channels and Tidally Influenced Fluvial Channels .................................................................. 14 Facies Assemblage IV Floodplains and Mires.................................................... 15 Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretation of the Core ......................................................... 17 Sequence Boundaries.............................................................................................. 17 Transgressive Systems Tracts................................................................................. 17 Highstand Systems Tracts ...................................................................................... 19 Conclusions.................................................................................................................... 22 References Cited............................................................................................................. 25 Appendix. Geophysical logs recorded from core holes CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91 ......... 26 PLATES [Plates are in pocket] 1. Chart showing sedimentological features and depositional interpretations for cores SMP-1-91 and CT-1-91, Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah. 2. Chart showing sequence Stratigraphic correlations from cores SMP-1-91 and CT-1-91 to outcrops in Left Hand Collet Canyon and Tibbet Canyon, Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah. FIGURES 1. Map showing locations of Kaiparowits Plateau, core holes CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91, and line of section in figure 5........................................................................................................................_^ A2 2. Chart showing Stratigraphic positions, thicknesses, and depositional settings for members in the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation........................................................................................................... 3 3. Map showing location of core hole CT-1-91 in .the Collet Top 7.5' topographic quadrangle, Utah ....................... 4 4. Map showing location of core hole SMP-1-91 in the Ship Mountain Point 7.5' quadrangle, Utah........................ 5 5. Diagram showing facies relationships in Turonian through lower Campanian strata of the Kaiparowits and Wasatch Plateaus, Utah...........:................................................................................................................................ 6 in IV CONTENTS 6-13. Photographs showing: 6. Trough- and planar tabular crossbedded sandstone facies............................................................................. All 7. Common facies in shoreface deposits (facies assemblage I)......................................................................... 12 8. Cross-laminated sandstone facies.................................................................................................................. 14 9. Bioturbated sandstone and mudrock facies ................................................................................................... 15 10. Mudrock facies.............................................................................................................................................. 16 11. Heterolithic strata in tidally influenced deposits (facies assemblage II)....................................................... 18 12. Convoluted bedding....................................................................................................................................... 20 13. Teredolites borings......................................................................................................................................... 21 14. Diagram showing coeval relationships of shoreface, tidal, and coastal plain environments described in facies assemblages I-IV.......................................................................................................................................... 22 15. Diagram showing distribution of facies assemblages and correlation of sequences and associated systems tracts in cores CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91...................................................................................................... 24 TABLES 1. Grain size, color, thickness, and percent of lithologic components in cores CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91.................... A7 2. Characteristics and identification criteria for bivalves and trace fossils in cores CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91............. 8 3. Summary of facies in cores CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91.............................................................................................. 9 4. Percent of facies assemblages (depositional facies) and total coal within the Calico and A- sequences in cores CT-1-91 and SMP-1-91.................................................................................................................................. 23 Sedimentological Descriptions and Depositional Interpretations, in Sequence Stratigraphic Context, of Two 300-Meter Cores from the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Kane County, Utah By Robert D. Hettinger ABSTRACT highstand systems tracts are interpreted from retrograda- tional and progradational stacking patterns, respectively. As In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey drilled two wells much as 28 meters of coal is contained within two highstand in the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah, and retrieved two systems tracts located adjacent to the marine maxima. Many 300-meter cores from upper Turonian to lower Campanian of the coal beds are closely associated with tidally influenced strata of the Straight Cliffs Formation. Detailed analyses of strata. By contrast, transgressive systems tracts contain less the cores document details of published sequence than 2 meters of total coal. Stratigraphic models and provide new insight into controls Depositional successions in the core closely match on peat accumulation. those presented in published regional sequence Stratigraphic Along ,the northeast flank of the plateau, the entire studies. The combined surface and subsurface studies 250-meter-thick John Henry Member of the Straight Cliffs enhance correlations between shoreface and continental Formation consists of coarsening-upward shoreface strata and provide a model for making sequence Stratigraphic parasequences that accreted along the transgressive