Elephant Canyon Formation

Elephant Canyon Formation
Stratigraphic range: Permian
TypeFormation
Unit ofCutler Group[1]
UnderliesCedar Mesa Sandstone[2]
OverliesUnconformity on the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation [2]
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherLimestone, siltstone, shale[2]
Location
RegionUtah: Paradox basin[1]
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forType section: Elephant Canyon, secs. 4 and 9, T. 30 S., R. 19 E., San Juan County, Utah[1]
Named byBaars, D. L., 1962[1]

The Elephant Canyon Formation is the basal Permian geologic formation of the Cutler Group overlying an unconformity on the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation in the Paradox Basin of southern Utah.[1][2]

Description

It consists of pink dolomite, light-gray dolomitic sandstone, light-brown and moderate-red, fine-grained sandstone, a basal conglomerate and conglomeratic sandstone, and limestone. The basal conglomerate is composed of moderately sorted cherts up to 3 cm in diameter. It weathers to a medium brown and forms hackly, blocky ledges and intervening slopes.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e Elephant Canyon of Cutler Group, USGS
  2. ^ a b c d Rock Sequence of the Canyonlands Area
  3. ^ Doelling, H.H., Kuehne, P.A., Willis, G.C. and Ehler, J.B., 2015. Geologic map of the San Rafael Desert 30'x 60'quadrangle, Emery and Grand Counties, Utah. Utah Geological Survey. Map 267DM, https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/geologicmaps/30x60quadrangles/m-267.pdf