Grayburg Formation
The Grayburg Formation is a geologic formation in west Texas and southern New Mexico.[1] It preserves fossils dating back to the Guadalupian Epoch of the Permian Period.[2]
| Grayburg Formation Stratigraphic range: | |
|---|---|
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Artesia Group |
| Underlies | Queen Formation |
| Overlies | San Andres Formation |
| Thickness | 294 feet (90 m) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Dolomite |
| Other | Sandstone, anhydrite |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 32.844°N 104.017°W |
| Region | New Mexico Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Grayburg pool |
| Named by | R.I. Dickey |
| Year defined | 1940 |
  Grayburg Formation (the United States)  Grayburg Formation (New Mexico) | |
Description
The formation is found mostly in the subsurface and consists mostly of dolomite with some sandstone and anhydrite.[1] The formation becomes more dominantly carbonate rock near the Guadalupe Reef and the beds become thicker. Away from the reef, the formation becomes increasingly dominated by sandstone.[2]
History of investigation
The formation was first defined by Robert I. Dickey in 1940 based on well logs. Dickey assigned the formation to the now-defunct Whitehorse Group.[1] D.B. Tait, W.S. Motts, and M.E. Spitler reassigned the formation to the Artesia Group in 1962.[3] V.C. Kelley subsequently adjusted the definition of the lower contact of the formation, in 1971.[2]
Footnotes
References
- Dickey, Robert I. (1940). "Geologic Section from Fisher County Through Andrews County, Texas, to Eddy County, New Mexico". AAPG Bulletin. 24 (1): 37–51. doi:10.1306/3D93318E-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D.
- Kelley, V.C. (1971). "Geology of the Pecos country, southeastern New Mexico". New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Memoir. 24. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- Tait, D.B.; Motts, W.S.; Spitler, M.E. (1962). "Artesia Group of New Mexico and West Texas". American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 46 (4): 504–517. doi:10.1306/BC74383B-16BE-11D7-8645000102C1865D.