Wind-reworked carbonates, Permo-Pennsylvanian of Arizona and Nevada

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 1991 Wind-reworked carbonates, Permo-Pennsylvanian of Arizona and Nevada JONATHAN A. RICE; JONATHAN A. RICE 1Department of Geology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar DAVID B. LOOPE DAVID B. LOOPE 1Department of Geology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information JONATHAN A. RICE 1Department of Geology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 DAVID B. LOOPE 1Department of Geology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1991) 103 (2): 254–267. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1991)103<0254:WRCPPO>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation JONATHAN A. RICE, DAVID B. LOOPE; Wind-reworked carbonates, Permo-Pennsylvanian of Arizona and Nevada. GSA Bulletin 1991;; 103 (2): 254–267. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1991)103<0254:WRCPPO>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Several workers have suggested that calcareous wind-blown dunes are genetically related to rapid, glacio-eustatic fluctuations of sea level. Although such Pleistocene and Holocene deposits are widespread along low-latitude coasts, older eolian limestones are either extremely rare or have been misinterpreted as subaqueous in origin. Medium- to large-scale cross-laminated limestones of the Callville Limestone (Pennsylvanian) of southern Nevada, the correlative Manakacha and Wescogame Formations (Supai Group), and the Pakoon Limestone (Permian) of western Grand Canyon, although considered marine by earlier workers, contain several diagnostic structures indicative of an eolian origin. Cross-strata are dominantly composed of thin, inverse-graded laminae produced by the migration and climb of wind ripples. Sets of cross-strata commonly have irregular upper surfaces produced by differential wind erosion of damp or lightly cemented laminae. Southward-dipping cross-strata in these rocks are the earliest record of a paleowind system that persisted in this region well into Jurassic time.Mechanical breakage of shells, fitted fabrics, and microstylolites indicate that marine beds that are cyclically interbedded with the eolian deposits did not undergo early lithification. Echinoderm grains with abraded over-growths within eolian deposits indicate, however, that some wind-transported grains were reworked from beds, that had previously undergone fresh-water phreatic diagenesis. Gravel lags composed of macrofossils and hardground lithoclasts at the contacts between marine and eolian beds and between eolian coasts give further evidence for deflation of subaerially exposed marine deposits. Where marine units underwent extensive early lithification, there are no gravel lags or interbedded eolian deposits.Subaerially exposed marine strata were the primary source of eolian sediment. During eustatic highstands, onshore winds probably drove beach sediment landward, but, in contrast to Quaternary examples, the eolian deposits of this study do not cap shallowing-upward sequences. Beach facies are rare. During lowstands, uncemented beach facies were first to be removed by deflation. Material too coarse to be wind-transported accumulated as gravel lags. Deflation was facilitated by the lack of widespread sea-floor cementation (hardgrounds) and by an arid paleoclimate, which limited the extent of meteoric diagenesis. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.