Regional Geologic Considerations and Clear Creek Area, Utah: ABSTRACT

Abstract

(1) Lines of weakness roughly parallel with the major mountain systems of the North American continent exist in modified form throughout the Rocky Mountain area. The three directions of diastrophism are closely tied to axial positions of the Wichita-Arbuckle group, the Appalachians, and the Rockies. Folds, faults, and their combinations provide not only structural traps but affect the type of deposits which accumulate and help to localize them. (2) The shore of the Cretaceous sea extended northwestward from northern Mexico past Gallup, New Mexico, to and far beyond Provo, Utah. Near Provo there are important deposits of sand with some shale instead of the usual thin sands and thick shales. This vicinity, therefore, offers an excellent place to explore for various types of oil and gas traps. (3) Sands which approach the sheet type, as well as smaller lenticular bodies, were deposited near and off shore in these seas at practically all stratigraphic positions extending from Dakota time, or earlier, through Pictured Cliffs time. Therefore, oil or gas production may be expected at almost any position in the stratigraphic column of Cretaceous time when a wide geographic area is considered. (4) Oil and gas accumulations occur, may be expected, and will be found blanketing structure, lying on slopes in high and low structural positions and irregularly arranged over structures and slopes. End_of_Article - Last_Page 960------------