Hell-to-Finish Formation

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Hell-to-Finish Formation
Stratigraphic range: Neocomian–Aptian
Type Formation
Unit of Bisbee Group
Underlies U-Bar Formation
OverliesVarious Paleozoic units, Broken Jug Formation
Thickness1,700–3,500 feet (520–1,070 m)
Lithology
Primary Shale, mudstone, siltstone
Location
Coordinates 31°32′36″N108°20′28″W / 31.5433°N 108.3411°W / 31.5433; -108.3411
Region New Mexico
Country United States
Type section
Named forHell-to-Finish tank
Named byR.A. Zeller Jr.
Year defined1965
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Hell-to-Finish Formation (the United States)
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Hell-to-Finish Formation (New Mexico)

The Hell-to-Finish Formation is a geologic formation in southwestern New Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the early Cretaceous period. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Description

The formation consists mostly of red to red-brown to gray or green shale, mudstone, and arkosic siltstone. The base of the formation is a well indurated conglomerate derived from the underlying Paleozoic beds. Minor arkose and limestone are present in the uppermost beds. [1] The total thickness is up to 1,700–3,500 feet (520–1,070 m) but varies considerably over the region. The formation rests on a profound unconformity with underlying Paleozoic formations in most locations, but overlies the Broken Jug Formation in the Little Hatchet Mountains. [4] The Hell-to-Finish Formation is transitional to the overlying U-Bar Formation. [3] The transitional contact with the Aptian U-Bar Formation suggests that the Hell-to-Finish Formation cannot be much older than Aptian. [5]

The formation is interpreted as being deposited in an arid client, based on the nature of paleosols within the formation. [6] Deposition took place in a west-northwest-trending rift basin. [7]

Fossils

The upper beds of the formation contain abundant pelecypods. [1] However, no age-diagnostic fossils have been found in the formation. [5]

History of investigation

The formation was first defined by Zeller in 1965 for exposures near the Hell-to-Finish tank in the southern Big Hatchet Mountains of New Mexico. [1]

See also

Footnotes

References