The formation consists mostly of alternating beds of limestone and shale, but with massive upper reef limestone beds (varying from 20–500 feet (6.1–152.4m) in thickness) and some massive calcarenite beds towards the middle of the formation. Its total thickness is 1,700–3,500 feet (520–1,070m). The massive reef limestones cap ridges that are steep on one side but dip gently on the other. The formation has gradational contacts with both the underlying Hell-to-Finish Formation and the overlying Mojado Formation.[1][2]
Although fossils are abundant, they tend not to be age-specific. However, careful study of the fossils has yielded an age of Aptian to middle Albian.[1]
Fossils
The lowest beds of the formation contain only small pelecypods, but abundant oyster fossils are found further up in the formation. The alternating shale and limestone beds contain fossil echinoids, the foraminiferOrbitolina, the gastropodLunatia praegrandis Roemger, and small oysters. The upper part of the formation contains massive fossil bioherm reefs. Orbitolina is also found above the reef beds, in the uppermost part of the formation.[1]
History of investigation
The formation name was first used by Zeller in 1965.[1] Drewes assigned the formation to the Bisbee Group in 1991.[3]
Drewes, Harald (1991). "Geologic map of the Big Hatchet Mountains, Hidalgo County, New Mexico". U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map. I-2144. doi:10.3133/i2144.
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