Tansill Formation

Tansill Formation
Stratigraphic range: Guadalupian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Yates (yellow sandstone) and Tansill (white limestone)
Type	Formation
Unit of	Artesia Group
Overlies	Yates Formation
Thickness	123–320 feet (37–98 m)
Lithology
Primary	Limestone, siltstone, anhydrite
Location
Coordinates	32°26′53″N104°15′54″W / 32.448°N 104.265°W / 32.448; -104.265
Region	New Mexico
Country	United States
Type section
Named for	Tansill power dam
Named by	DeFord et al.
Year defined	1938
Tansill Formation (the United States) Show map of the United States Tansill Formation (New Mexico) Show map of New Mexico

The Tansill Formation is a geologic formation in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, United States. ^[1] It preserves fossils dating back to the late Guadalupian Age of the Permian period. ^[2]

Description

Tansill Formation exposed at Rattlesnake Canyon as viewed from the trailhead, Carlsbad National Park

The formation consists of limestone, siltstone, and anhydrite that is extensive in the subsurface in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. The formation is mostly limestone in the south and west, around the rim of the Delaware Basin, and grades into anhydrite in the north and east. It forms the top of the Capitan reef but dips steeply into the subsurface. ^[3] It has a total thickness of 123–320 feet (37–98 m). ^{[3] [4]} It overlies the Yates Formation. ^[5] The formation is part of the Artesia Group, which is interpreted as a shelf rock sequence. ^[2]

History of investigation

The formation was first named by DeFord et al. in 1938 ^[1] and formally defined in 1941 and assigned to the (now abandoned) Whitehorse Group. ^[3] Tait et al. assigned it to the newly defined Artesia Group in 1962. ^[2]

See also

• Earth sciences portal
• Paleontology portal

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in New Mexico
• Paleontology in New Mexico

Footnotes

1. DeFord et al. 1928
2. Tait et al. 1962
3. DeFord and Riggs 1941
4. Newell et al. 1953
5. King 1948

References

• DeFord, R.K.; Riggs, G.D.; Willis, N.H. (1938). "Surface and subsurface formations, Eddy County, New Mexico". American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 22 (12): 1706–1707.
• DeFord, R.K.; Riggs, G.D. (1941). "Tansill Formation, West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico". AAPG Bulletin. 25 (9): 1713–1728. doi:10.1306/3D9333E4-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D.
• King, P.B. (1948). "Geology of the southern Guadalupe Mountains, Texas". U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 215. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
• Newell, N.D., Rigby, J.K., Fischer, A.G., Whiteman, A.J., HIckox, J.E., and Bradley, J.S., 1953, The Permian reef complex of the Guadalupe Mountains region, Texas and New Mexico; a study in paleoecology: San Francisco, W.H. Freeman and Company
• Tait, D.B.; Ahien, J.L.; Gordon, A.; Scott, G.L.; Motts, W.S.; Spitler, M.E. (1962). "Artesia Group of New Mexico and West Texas". AAPG Bulletin. 46 (4): 504–517. doi:10.1306/BC74383B-16BE-11D7-8645000102C1865D.