Geology topics

R. B. O'Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to R. B. O'Sullivan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2006

Fossils from the Middle Jurassic Wanakah formation near Delta in western Colorado

The Middle Jurassic Wanakah Formation averages about 30 m in thickness in Colorado. Fossils are sparse and include fish, ostracodes, and trace fossils. A thin (0.03-0.45 m) fossil bed near the middle of the formation extends for some 48 km along the northeast flank of the Uncompahgre Plateau near Delta. The fossil bed at one locality contains one pelecypod identified possibly as Modiolus cf. M. subimbricatus (Meek), as well as other specimens too poorly preserved for identification. Previously, Mytilus was found in the same fossil bed at another locality by C.N. Holmes. The Wanakah Formation is primarily of terrestrial origin, but the fossil bed represents a shallow-marine incursion.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2001

The Middle Jurassic Entrada Sandstone near Gallup, New Mexico

Near Gallup, New Mexico, the Middle Jurassic Entrada Sandstone consists of, in ascending order, the Iyanbito Member, the Rehoboth Member, and an upper sandstone member. The Rehoboth Member is named herein to replace the middle siltstone member, with a type section located 26 km east of Gallup. The Iyanbito Member has been erroneously equated with the Wingate Sandstone of northeast Arizona, and the Rehoboth Member has been miscorrelated with the Dewey Bridge Member of the Entrada in Utah. The Dewey Bridge is an older unit that does not extend into New Mexico. The Iyanbito Member, east of Gallup, overlies the J-2 unconformity and the eroded tops of the Owl Rock and Petrified Forest Members of the Chinle Formation. The Wingate Sandstone of the Lower Jurassic Glen Canyon Group overlies the J-0 unconformity and the underlying Rock Point Member (topmost unit) of the Chinle Formation in northeast Arizona. Both the Wingate Sandstone and the Rock Point Member are missing east of Gallup below the J-2 unconformity. Similarly, the Wingate is missing southwest of Gallup, near Lupton, Arizona, but the Rock Point Member is present and underlies the Iyanbito from Zuni northward to Toadlena, New Mexico. The Wingate and other formations of the Glen Canyon Group thin and wedge out southward and eastward in northeast Arizona. The J-2 unconformity truncates the Wingate Sandstone and the underlying J-0 unconformity, 5 km north of Toadlena.

Mountain Geologist↗

USGS2000

Correlation of middle Jurassic San Rafael Group and related rocks from Bluff to Monticello in southeastern Utah

The Middle Jurassic San Rafael Group and the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation consist mainly of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. The San Rafael Group is widely displayed around Bluff (fig. 1) in the southern part of the study area and along Harts Draw and Dry Valley in the northern part. Along Montezuma Canyon, which is almost 1,500 ft deep, the upper part of the group crops out for about 10 mi; at one locality (sec. 13, fig. 1) all of it is exposed. Elsewhere in the study area, younger rocks conceal the San Rafael Group. The Morrison Formation is also generally well exposed throughout the area. From near Monticello to Harts Draw, Cretaceous rocks conceal the Morrison Formation. In the study area, two unconformities are associated with the rocks described herein. One at the base of the San Rafael Group (termed J-2) at the contact with the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone and the other at the top (J-5) at the contact with the overlying Morrison Formation. The J-5 unconformity is the datum used to construct the line of graphic sections and the restored stratigraphic diagram of this report. The locations of drill holes and measured sections are given in table 1.

Utah↗

USGS1998