Alamitos Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: | |
Type | Formation |
Underlies | Sangre de Cristo Formation |
Overlies | La Pasada Formation, Porvenir Formation, Flechado Formation |
Thickness | 645–1,828 ft (197–557 m) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Limestone, shale |
Location | |
Coordinates | 35°37′08″N105°41′24″W / 35.619°N 105.690°W |
Region | New Mexico |
Country | United States |
Type section | |
Named for | Alamitos Canyon |
Named by | P.K. Sutherland |
Year defined | 1963 |
The Alamitos Formation is a geologic formation exposed in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the late Pennsylvanian to early Permian periods. [1]
The formation consists mostly of sandstone and conglomerate (50%) with lesser amounts of limestone (21%) and shale and siltstone (29%). The limestone tends to be more abundant in the upper third of the formation, though the formation shows considerable lateral variation. [2]
The formation is underlain by the La Pasada Formation in the southwestern Sangre de Cristo Mountains with the contact placed at an abrupt transition from limestone to arkosic sandstone and conglomerate. In the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the underlying formation is the Porvenir Formation, while to the north the underlying formation is the Flechado Formation. [3] The Alamitos Formation is overlain by the Sangre de Cristo Formation with the contact placed at the uppermost well-developed limestone bed. [2]
The formation contains fossils ranging in age from middle Desmoinesian (Moscovian) to early Wolfcampian (Asselian). These include the fusulinids Beedeina , Triticites , and Schwagerina . [1] The formation also contains abraded fragments of crinoids and bryozoans. [2]
The formation was first named by P.K. Sutherland in 1963, who considered it correlative with the upper part of the Madera Formation. [2] However, in 2004, Kues and Giles recommended restricting the Madera Group to shelf and marginal basin beds of Desmoinean (upper Moscovian) to early Virgilian age, which excluded the Alamitos Formation. [3] Lucas et al. also exclude the Alamitos Formation from the Madera Group. [4]
The Bishop Cap Formation is a geologic formation in the Franklin Mountains of southern New Mexico and western Texas and the Hueco Mountains of western Texas. It preserves fossils dating back to the Moscovian to Kasimovian Ages of the early Pennsylvanian.
The Hueco Formation is a geologic formation in west Texas and southern New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the early Permian period.
The San Andres Formation is a geologic formation found in New Mexico and Texas. It contains fossils characteristic of the late Leonardian (Kungurian) Age) of the Permian Period.
The Sangre de Cristo Formation is a geologic formation in Colorado and New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the late Pennsylvanian to early Permian.
The La Pasada Formation is a geologic formation in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Pennsylvanian.
The Red House Formation is a geologic formation found in the Caballo Mountains in New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the middle to late Pennsylvanian.
The Panther Seep Formation is a geologic formation found in the mountain ranges of south-central New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the late Pennsylvanian to early Permian.
The Sandia Formation is a geologic formation in New Mexico, United States. Its fossil assemblage is characteristic of the early Pennsylvanian.
The Tererro Formation is a geologic formation in Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the early Mississippian.
The Bursum Formation is a geologic formation in New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the Early Permian period.
The Flechado Formation is a geologic formation in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Pennsylvanian.
The Gray Mesa Formation is a geologic formation in New Mexico. Its fossil assemblage dates the formation to the Moscovian age of the Pennsylvanian.
The Holder Formation is a geologic formation in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the late Pennsylvanian.
The Atrasado Formation is a geologic formation in New Mexico. Its fossil assemblage dates the formation to the Kasimovian age of the Pennsylvanian. It was formerly known locally as the Wild Cow Formation or the Guadelupe Box Formation.
The Madera Group is a group of geologic formations in northern New Mexico. Its fossil assemblage dates the formation to the middle to late Pennsylvanian period.
The Porvenir Formation is a geologic formation exposed in the southeastern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the middle Pennsylvanian period.
The La Tuna Formation is a geologic formation in the Franklin Mountains of southern New Mexico and western Texas and the Hueco Mountains of western Texas. It preserves fossils dating back to the Bashkirian Age of the early Pennsylvanian.
The Bar B Formation is a geologic formation found the Caballo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils showing it was deposited in the middle to late Pennsylvanian.
The Lead Camp Limestone is a geologic formation in the San Andres Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the middle Pennsylvanian.
The Gobbler Formation is a geologic formation in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the Moscovian Age of the Pennsylvanian Period.