Sedimentology and Depositional Environments of Lower Permian Yeso Formation in Northwestern New Mexico: ABSTRACT

Abstract

The northwesternmost exposures of the Lower Permian (Leonardian) Yeso Formation are in uplifts that bound the southern half of the San Juan basin in northwestern New Mexico. The Yeso comprises the Meseta Blanca member and overlying San Ysidro Member. The latter is called the Los Vallos Member in the southern part of the study area. The Meseta Blanca consists of cross-stratified and horizontal to wavy-bedded sandstones of eolian-dune, sand-sheet, and sabkha origin. These facies also occur in the San Ysidro (Los Vallos), which additionally includes mud-draped, ripple-laminated sandstones of supratidal mud-flat origin, gypsiferous sandstones and siltstones of sabkha origin, and evaporite-carbonate rocks of intertidal to marine-shelf origin. Paleocurrent analysis indicates that eolian dunes in the Meseta Blanca migrated southward in the northern part of the study area. These dunes may have been extensions of the DeChelly Sandstone erg to the northwest. Dunes in the southern part of the study area shifted under variable north-south winds. This variability may reflect a seasonal onshore/offshore wind regime. Lateral facies changes in the San Ysidro (Los Vallos) indicate a juxtaposition of eolian-dune and sand-dominated sabkha environments in the northern part of the study area, with coastal-sabkha, tidal, and shelf environments in the southern part.more » Eolian dunes prograded southward over coastal sabkhas at least 12 times during deposition of the Yeso. A northward shift of all facies during middle San Ysidro deposition suggests a marine transgression from the south.« less