Stratigraphy of Southeastern Arizona Stratigraphy of Southeastern ArizonaRoger Weller, geology instructor
wellerr@cochise.edu last edited: 3/15/08
Data for these formations were taken from: Lexicon of
Geologic Names of Southern Arizona,
by Larry Mayer,1978, in: Land of Cochise,
New Mexico Geol. Soc. Guidebook,
29th Field Conference, p.143-155.
Geologic
Column from Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 54a
This web page is broken down into two parts:
A. Specific Formations
B. References on Generalized Stratigraphy
part A- specific
formations
Precambrian formations
Pinal Schist
strongly foliated sericite schist interbedded with quartzose grits of
sedimentary origin
maximum. thickness- 6000m
views of
Pinal Schist
references-
Pinal Schist in
Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 24-
*Shride, A.F., 1967, Younger Precambrian geology in southern Arizona:
U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 566, 89p.
*Silver, L.T., 1978, Precambrian formations and Precambrian history in
Cochise County, southeast Arizona:
in-Callender,J.F., Wilt, J.L., and Clemons, R.E., eds., Land of Cochise: New Mexico Geological Society
Field
Conference, 29th, Guidebook, p.157-163.
Paleozoic formations
Bolsa Quartzite (Middle Cambrian)
coarse-grained quartzite, some basal conglomerate
colors variable: white to pink to dark orange-red
maximum. thickness- 131 m
views of
Bolsa Quartzite
photo of Bolsa
Quartzite-from Southern Arizona Fossils
references-
Bolsa Quartzite in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page
28-
*Heindl, L.A., and Mc Clymonds, N.E., 1964, Younger Precambrian formations
and the Bolsa (?) Quartzite of Cambrian
age, Papago Indian Reservation, Arizona:
in- Geological Survey research 1964,USGS Prof. Paper 501-C, p. C43-C49.
*Krieger, M.H., 1961, Troy quartzite (younger Precambrian) and Bolsa and
Abrigo formations, northern Galiuro
Mountains, southeastern Arizona: USGS Prof.
Paper 424-C, p.C-160.
Abrigo Formation (Upper Cambrian)
limestone, cherty limestone to calcareous shale
sometimes contains glauconite
maximum. thickness- 235 m
views of Abrigo
Formation
references
Abrigo
Formation in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 30-
*Krieger, M.H., 1961, Troy quartzite (younger Precambrian) and Bolsa and
Abrigo formations, northern Galiuro
Mountains, southeastern Arizona: USGS Prof.
Paper 424-C, p.C-160.
*Wiese, J.H., 1940, Study of the Abrigo limestone, Arizona (abstr.): Geol.
Soc. America Bull., v.51, p.1964.
Cambrian and Ordovician overview references
*Dickinson, R.G., 1959, The Cambrian and Ordovician Systems of southeastern
Arizona: Ariz. Geol. Soc., Guidebook II
Southern Ariz., p. 21-24.
*Hayes, P.T., 1972, Stratigraphic nomenclature of Cambrian and Lower
Ordovician rocks of easternmost southern Arizona
and adjacent westernmost New
Mexico: USGS Bull. 1372-B, p. B1-B21.
*Hayes, P.T., 1975, Selected stratigraphic sections of Cambrian and
Ordovician rocks in Arizona, New Mexico, and
western Texas: USGS Open File
Report 75-178, 51 p.
*Hayes, P.T., and Cone, G.C., 1975, Cambrian and Ordovician rocks of
southern Arizona and New Mexico and
westernmost Texas: USGS Prof. Paper 873, 98
p.
*Stratigraphic
Section near Bisbee- from Southern Arizona Fossils
Martin Limestone (Middle and Upper Devonian)
dark-gray limestones and pink calcareous shales
weathers as a slope-former
views of
Martin Limestone
fossils from the Martin
Formation-from Southern Arizona Fossils
maximum thickness- 95 m
references-
Martin
Limestone in Geology of the Bisbee Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 33-
*Cox, L.J., 1996, Structure contour map on the Martin Formation (Devonian)
in the Sierrita-Mogollon Corridor Study
Area, Arizona-New Mexico: USGS Misc.
Inv. Map I-2401-B (1:250,000).
*Johnson, H.G., 1991, A new fish fauna from the upper Devonian Martin
Formation, Mount Elden, northern Arizona: M.S.
thesis, Northern Arizona Univ.,
Flagstaff.
*Le Mone, D.V., 1959, The Devonian stratigraphy of Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz
Counties, Arizona and Hidalgo County,
New Mexico: M.S. thesis, Univ. of Arizona,
Tucson, 108 p.
*Langenheim, R.L., Jr., 1957, Critical Upper Devonian faunule from Cochise
County, Arizona (abstr.): GSA Bull., v.68,
no.12, p.1833.
*Tabmazian, G.A., 1964, Petrography of the Troy and Martin clastic sequence
at Roosevelt Dam, Gila County, Arizona:
M.S. thesis, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson,
95 p.
*Willden, C.R., 1960, Sedimentary iron-formation in the Devonian Martin
formation Christmas quadrangle, Arizona: USGS
Prof. Paper.
*Williams, H.S., 1904, Note on the Devonian fossils (of the Bisbee
quadrangle): USGS Prof. Paper 21, p.35-42.
*Wright, J.J., 1964, Petrology of the Devonian rocks in eastern Pima and
Cochise Counties, Arizona: Ph.D., Univ. of
Arizona, Tucson, 151 p.
Escabrosa Limestone (Lower Mississippian)
light-gray, thick-bedded, coarse-grained limestone with crinoid fragments
weathers as a cliff-former
maximum thickness- 213 m
views of Escabrosa Limestone
fossils of the
Escabrosa Limestone- from Southern Arizona Fossils
references-
Escabrosa
Limestone in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 42-
and page 48-
*Armstrong, A.K., 1962, Stratigraphy and paleontology of the Mississippian
System in southwestern New Mexico and
adjacent southeastern Arizona: New Mex.
Bur. Mines and Min. Res., Memoir 8, 99 p.
*Girty, G.H., 1904, Note on the Carboniferous fossils (of the Bisbee
quadrangle, Arizona): USGS Prof. Paper 21, p.46-54.
Black Prince Limestone (Upper Mississippian/Lower Pennsylvanian)
limestone with basal pebbly mudstone
maximum thickness- 50 m
references-
*Nations, J.D., 1961, The Black Prince Limestone of southeastern Arizona:
M.S. Thesis, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, 52 p.
*Nations, J.D., 1963, Evidence for a Morrowan age for the Black Prince
Limestone of southeastern Arizona: Jour.
Paleontology, v.37, n.6, p.1252-1264.
Pennsylvanian and Permian overviews
*Gilluly, J., Cooper, J.R., and Williams, J.S., 1954, Late Paleozoic
stratigraphy of central Cochise County, Arizona: USGS
Prof. Paper 266, 49 p.
*Stratigraphic
Section in Whetstone Mountains- from Southern Arizona Fossils
Horquilla Limestone (Pennsylvanian)
thin bedded, blue-gray limestones alternating with thin beds of red shale and
shaly limestone
weathered appearance from a distance, layers look like steps
part of Naco Group
maximum thickness- 300 m
views of
Horquilla Limestone
fossils of the the
Horquilla Formation- from Southern Arizona Fossils
references-
Naco Limestone
in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 44-
and page
52a-
*Estes, W.S., 1968, Fusulinid fauna of the Horquilla limestone in the
Gunnison Hills, Cochise County, Arizona: M.S.
thesis, University of Arizona, 225
p.
Earp Formation (Pennsylvanian)
thin shaly limestones, reddish shales, massive limestone and dolomite that
weathers orange or reddish
part of Naco Group
maximum thickness- 300 m
fossils of the Earp
Formation- from Southern Arizona Fossils
references-
*Dubin, D.J., 1964, Fusulinid fauna from the type area of the Earp
formation, Permo-Pennsylvanian, Cochise County,
Arizona: M.S. Thesis, University
of Arizona, 102 p.
*Lodewick, R.E., 1970, The petrology and stratigraphy of the Earp Formation,
Pima and Cochise Counties, Arizona:
Ph.D., University of Arizona, 194 p.
*Rea, D.K., 1967, Stratigraphy of the red chert pebble conglomerate in the Earp
Formation, southeastern Arizona: M.S., University of Arizona, Tucson, 116 p.
*Rea, D.K., and Bryant, D.L., 1968, Permian red chert-pebble conglomerate in
the Earp Formation of southeastern
Arizona: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists,
Bull. (?)
Colina Limestone
(Permian)
dense, black limestone with some major beds of shale and sandstone
often contains small fossil snail shells
part of Naco Group
maximum thickness- 193 m
views of
the Colina Limestone
references-
*Wilt, J.C., 1969, Petrography and stratigraphy of the Colina limestone
(Permian) in Cochise County, Arizona: M.S.
thesis, University of Arizona.
Epitaph Dolomite (Permian)
dolomite with knots of silica, limestone, red shale, thin sandy layers
part of Naco group
maximum thickness- 239 m
references-
*Patch, S., 1969, Petrology and stratigraphy of the Epitaph Dolomite
(Permian) in Tombstone Hills, Cochise County,
Arizona: M.S. thesis: Univ. of
Arizona, Tucson, 42 p.
Scherrer Formation (Permian)
red siltstone, dolomitic limestone, massive sandstone
maximum thickness- 200 m
references-
*Luepke, G., 1967, Petrology and stratigraphy of the Scherrer Formation
(Permian) in Cochise County, Arizona: M.S.
thesis, University of Arizona, 52 p.
Concha Formation (Permian)
light gray cherty limestone with some sand layers at base
part of Naco Group
maximum thickness- 39 m
fossils of the Concha
Formation- from Southern Arizona Fossils
references-
*Bryant, D.L., and Mc Clymonds, N.E., 1961, Permian Concha Limestone and
Rainvalley Formation, southeastern
Arizona: Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geologists Bull.,
v.45, n.8, p.1324-1333.
*Ervin, M.T., 1986, The origin of chert in the Concha Limestone (Permian) of
southeastern Arizona: M.S. thesis, Univ. of
Arizona, Tucson, 87 p.
Rainvalley Formation (Permian)
limestones and dolomites, some sandstone
part of Naco Group
maximum thickness- 120 m
fossils of the
Rainvalley Formation- from Southern Arizona Fossils
references-
*Bryant, D.L., and Mc Clymonds, N.E., 1961, Permian Concha Limestone and
Rainvalley Formation, southeastern
Arizona: Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geologists Bull.,
v.45, n.8, p.1324-1333.
Mesozoic formations
The Cretaceous formations in southeastern Arizona are often called the
Bisbee Group.
references-
*Finnell, T.L., 1970, Formations of the Bisbee Group, Empire Mountains
quadrangle, Pima County, Arizona: USGS Bull.
1294-A, p. 28-35.
*Hayes, P.T., 1970, Cretaceous paleogeography of southeastern Arizona and
adjacent area: USGS Prof. Paper 658-B, 42 p.
Glance Conglomerate
(Lower Cretaceous)
poorly bedded conglomerate with fragments of Naco Group limestones, sandstone,
purple to green shaly sandstones
maximum thickness- variable
views of
Glance Conglomerate
references-
Glance
Conglomerate in the Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona quadrangle, F.L. Ransome,
page 57-
*Bilodeau, W.L., 1978, The Glance Conglomerate, a lower Cretaceous
syntectonic deposit in southeastern Arizona:
in- Callender, J.F., Wilt, J.C.,
and Clemons, R.G., eds., Land of Cochise: New Mexico Geol. Soc. 29th Field
Conference Guidebook, p. 209-214.
*Bilodeau. W.L., 1978, The Glance Conglomerate: a mid-Mesozoic group of
isolated alluvial fan complexes in
southeastern Arizona (abstr): GSA Abstr. with Prog., v.10, p.96.
*Vedder, L.K., 1984, Stratigraphic relationship between the late Jurassic
Canelo-Hills volcanics and the Glance
Conglomerate, Southeast Arizona: M.S.,
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, 129 p.
Morita Formation
(Lower Cretaceous)
shales, sandstones, limestones, red shale
maximum thickness- 440 m
views of Morita
Formation
Morita
Formation in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 63-
Mural Limestone
(Lower Cretaceous)
thin-bedded limestone, shale and sandstone, massive limestone, thin-bedded
shale, sandstone, mudstone, limestone
weathers as a cliff-former
contains large fossil clam and coiled snail shells
views of Mural
Limestone
maximum thickness- 200 m
references-
Mural Limestone
in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 65-
*Hayes, P.T., and Landis, E.R., 1961, Lower member of Mural Limestone of
Early Cretaceous age, Bisbee quadrangle,
Arizona: in: Short papers in the
geologic and hydrologic sciences, Articles 1-146, USGS Prof. Paper 424-B, p.
B125-B127.
*Roybal, G.W., 1979, Facies relationships on a patch reef of the Mural
Limestone in southeast Arizona: M.S. thesis,
University of Arizona, 76 p.
Cintura Formation (Lower
Cretaceous)
quartzite, red shale and sandstone, nodular shale and flaggy cross bedded
sandstone
Petrified wood and mosasaur gastroliths have been found in deposits on the
eastern side of Mule Mountains.
maximum thickness- 427 m
views of
Cintura Formation
Cintura
Formation in Geology of the Bisbee, Arizona Quadrangle, F.L. Ransome, page 68-
Cenozoic formations
Gila Conglomerate (Pliocene)
conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, local limestone, tuffs, basalt flows,
volcanic sediments
maximum thickness- 800+ m
St. David Formation (Upper Pliocene to Pleistocene)
silts and clays, fresh-water laid pyroclastics and paleosols
maximum thickness- 180 m
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part B-references on generalized
stratigraphy
overviews
PRECAMBRIAN
*Silver, L.T., 1978, Precambrian formations and Precambrian history in
Cochise County, southeastern Arizona: in:
Callender, J.T., Wilt, J.C., and
Clemons, R.E., Socorroo, New Mexico Geological Society, 29th Field Conf.
Guidebook,
p.157-164.
PALEOZOIC
*Gilluly, J., Cooper, J.R., and Williams, J.S., 1954, Late Paleozoic
stratigraphy of Cochise County, Arizona: USGS Prof.
Paper 266, 49p.
*Keyes, C.R., 1942, Synonymy of Naco limestone of Bisbee, Arizona: Pan. Am.
Geol., v.77, n.2, p.155-156,
*Kottlowski, F.E., 1960, Summary of Pennsylvanian sections in southwestern
New Mexico and southeastern Arizona:
New Mexico Bur. Mines & Min. Res. Bull.66,
187 p.
*Williams, F., 1941, Fusulinid fauna of the Naco limestone near Bisbee,
Arizona: Univ. Illinois, Thesis.
MESOZOIC
*Hayes, P.T., 1970, Mesozoic stratigraphy of the Mule and Huachuca
Mountains, Arizona: USGS Prof. Paper 658-A, 28 p.
*Konishi, K., 1962, Some early Cretaceous algae from Cochise County,
Arizona: Micropaleo, v.8, n.1, p.67-77.
*Stoyanow, A.A., 1949, Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy in southeastern
Arizona: Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem. 38.
CENOZOIC
*Gray, R.S., 1965, Late Cenozoic sediments in the San Pedro Valley near St.
David, Arizona: Ph.D., University of Arizona, 198p.
*Grimm, J.P., 1978, Cenozoic pisolitic limestones of Pima and Cochise
Counties: M.S. thesis, University of Arizona, 60 p.
*Heindl, L.A., 1962, Cenozoic geology of Arizona- A 1960 resume: Ariz. Geol.
Soc. Digest, v. V, p.9-24.
