The Canutillo Formation is a geologic formation that is exposed in the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas. The formation is Middle Devonian in age.[1][2]
Canutillo Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Middle Devonian | |
Type | Formation |
Underlies | Percha Formation |
Overlies | Fusselman Formation |
Thickness | 15 feet (4.6 m) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Siltstone |
Other | Shale |
Location | |
Coordinates | 31°55′N 106°30′W / 31.92°N 106.50°W |
Region | Texas |
Country | United States |
Type section | |
Named for | Canutillo, Texas |
Named by | L.A. Nelson |
Year defined | 1940 |
Description
editThe Canutillo Formation consists of about 15 feet (4.6 m) of soft gray siltstone. It is unconformably overlain by the Percha Formation. The Canutillo Formation likely correlates with the Onate Formation.[1]
Fossils
editThe formation is fossiliferous, but few fossils are time diagnostic. Fossils include abundant Leiorhynchus and other brachiopods and a few pelecypods.[1]
History of investigation
editThe formation was first described in his dissertation by L.A. Nelson in 1937 for outcrops in the Franklin Mountains. Nelson assigned all beds between the Silurian Fusselman Formation and the Mississippian Helms Formation to the Canutillo.[3] Nelson formally published the definition in 1940 and extended the outcrop range to the Hueco Mountains.[4] In 1945, F.V. Stevenson restricted the formation to the Franklin Mountains.[5] In 1949, Lowell R. Laudon and Arthur L. Bowshwer restricted the formation to a sequence of just 15 feet (4.6 m) of soft gray siltstone.[1]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ a b c d Laudon, Lowell R.; Bowsher, Arthur L. (1949). "Mississippian formations of southwestern New Mexico". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 60 (1): 1. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1949)60[1:MFOSNM]2.0.CO;2.
- ^ Ludington, Steve; Hanna, W.F.; Turner, R.L.; Jeske, R.E. (1988). "Mineral resources of the Organ Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Dona Ana County, New Mexico". U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 1735-D. doi:10.3133/b1735D. hdl:2027/osu.32435022084842.
- ^ Nelson, L.A. (1937). "Gastropoda from the Pennsylvanian (Magdalena) of the Franklin Mountains of west Texas [abstract of thesis]". Colorado University Studies. 25 (1): 89–91.
- ^ Nelson, L.A. (1940). "Paleozoic Stratigraphy of Franklin Mountains, West Texas". AAPG Bulletin. 24 (1): 157–172. doi:10.1306/3D93319A-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D.
- ^ Stevenson, Frank V. (July 1945). "Devonian of New Mexico". The Journal of Geology. 53 (4): 217–245. doi:10.1086/625283.