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G eology o f W illia m s Canyon A rea, N orth o f M anitou S p r in g s , E l Paso County^ C olorado
By George B. Morgan, J r .
f-f bKARY ^ U i,0 HA DU S v H o O L O F M I N E S G O JL O E N , C O L O R A D O
C olorado S ch ool o f Mines G old en , C olorado Sep tem b er, 1 9 5 0 .
ProQuest N um ber: 10781421
All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is d e p e n d e n t upon the quality of the copy subm itted. In the unlikely e v e n t that the a u thor did not send a c o m p le te m anuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if m aterial had to be rem oved, a n o te will ind ica te the deletion.
uest ProQuest 10781421 Published by ProQuest LLC (2018). C opyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C o d e M icroform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346
o
O I
A t h e s i s su b m itte d to th e F a c u lty and th e Board o f T r u s te e s o f th e C olorado S ch o o l o f M ines in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l ment o f th e re q u ir em en ts f o r th e d eg re e o f M aster o f S c ie n c e
S ig n e d U fi- Æ George B. Morgan
G olden, C olorado D ate O c i b i e r
Z ?
., 1950 c.n Ui Approved: .3
F . M. VanTuyl
■CONTENTS Pase ABSTRACT.............................................................
1
INTRODUCTION.........................................
2
Purpose o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n
. . . . . .
Method o f I n v e s t ig a t io n ........................ L o c a tio n and S e t t i n g
. . .
........................
2
. . . . . . .
2
. . . . . . . . . . .
3
P r e v io u s W o r k ............................
5
PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY..........................................................7 G eneral S ta tem en t . ................................................................... D rain age
. . . .
...................................................
C lim a te and V e g e ta tio n STRATIGRAPHY
^ . . . . . .
7 10
.......................10
............................................................................................. 12 ................... - ..................................12
G en eral S ta tem en t Measured S e c t io n s
.....................................
18
Cambrian
............................. . . . . . . . .
27
...........................
27
• » . . .
Sa w atch O rd o v icia n M anitou
..................................... 31 > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 !
D evonian o r M is s ls s lp p la n . . . . . . W illia m s Canyon M ia s ia s ip p ia n . . . * Madia on . . . STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
........................ 38
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 .
.
.
.
.
.
........................ . 49
........................................................
• 49
............................................................................... 57
G eneral S ta tem en t
.................... • * ..........................» . . .
57
F o ld in g . * ............................................................................................. 58 F a u l t i n g ............................
58
CONTENTS
g*gP. ........................................................
GEOLOGIC HISTORY G en eral S ta tem en t
66
........................................................................ 66
P a l e o z o i c ............................
68
C a m b ria n ...................................................................................... 68 O rd o v icia n .
.............................................................
D evon ian or M is s ls s lp p la n M is s ls s lp p la n «
.
.
69
.................................. 70
...................................................
P e n n s y lv a n ia n and Perm ian
*
•
.........................
M esozoic and C e n o z o i c ................................
71 73
. . .
74
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY........................................................................................... 76 L im esto n e . . .
........................................................
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY . . *
76
................................................ 77
......................................................................
.
79
ILLUSTRATIONS Page G en eral v ie w o f W illia m s Canyon (Cave o f th e Winds In th e c e n t e r ) . . . . . . . . . .
8
P roposed Ute P a ss fo rm a tio n and une on fo nnable c o n t a c t w ith o v e r ly in g M anitou . . . . . . .
8
T y p ic a l sm ooth , u n d u la tin g pre-Cam brian -Cambrian c o n t a c t a lo n g th e canyon road
. *
19
I r r e g u la r pre-C am brian-C am brian c o n t a c t a lo n g th e Rampart Range Road . . . . . . . .
19
View o f th e N arrow s, W illia m s Canyon, b elo w ................................. Cave o f th e Winds
21
P a r t o f th e typ e s e c t i o n (A-A* ) j u s t above th e Narrows a lo n g th e canyon road . . . . .
21
S e c t io n B-B* w e st o f th e Cave o f th e Winds on th e road le a d in g down to w a ter su p p ly pumps . ................... ....
22
S e c t io n C-C* lo c a t e d up a draw on the e a s t s id e o f th e f l o o r o f W illia m s Canyon . . . .
22
B a s a l w h ite sa n d sto n e o f th e Sawatch form a t io n a lo n g the canyon road * ........................ ....
30
U n con form ity s e p a r a tin g th e M anitou and th e Sawatch a lo n g th e c lo s e d road le a d in g down to th e w a ter su p p ly pumps . . . . . . .
30
I n tr a fo r m a tio n a l u n c o n fo rm ity o f th e b a s a l M anitou lo c a t e d up an e a s t draw o f W illia m s Canyon. May be th e same a s t h a t in F ig u r e 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
T y p ic a l th in -b e d d ed lo w er M anitou a lo n g th e Rampart Range Road . . . . . . . . . . .
34
P e r s i s t e n t t h ic k d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e bed (lo w e r l e f t hand c o r n e r ) o b serv ed e a s t o f th e c lo s e d road le a d in g down to the w a te r s u p p ly pumps . . . . . . . .................... .
35
T y p ic a l ex p o su re o f th e c l i f f - f o r m i n g M anitou fo r m a tio n on th e w est s id e o f th e canyon • •
35
ILLUSTRATIONS F ig u r e 15
Com plete exp osu re o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n w est o f th e Cave o f th e Winds b u ild in g . ..................................
16
17 ^
18 19 ^
/
*,■ 20 ^
cmx
21 ^ 22
23 ^ 24^
Unconform abl e c o n t a c t b etw een th e W illia m s Canyon and M adison fo r m a tio n s above th e ca v e e n tr a n c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40
S an d ston e w ith d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e (U n it 9) n ea r th e m id d le o f th e d e t a i l e d W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n s e c t i o n ................... ....
45
D o lo m itic lim e s to n e (U n it 3) in th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n above th e cave e n tr a n c e . .
45
B a s a l d o lo m itic lim e s to n e o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n above th e cave e n tr a n c e . .
46
D o lo m itic lim e s to n e o f th e Madison i n a p i t on th e e a s t e r n rim o f th e canyon show ing t y p i c a l p in k c o lo r .........................................................
51
C lo se -u p o f F ig u r e 2 0 , show ing th e M adison in g r e a te r d e t a i l . . . . . . .............................
51
One o f many, c h e r t c o n f ig u r a t io n s in the Madison* T h is one i s a lo n g th e Rampart Range Road ................... . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Upper m a s s iv e , s l i g h t l y b r e c c ia t e d Madison d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e above th e cave e n t r a n c e .
52
Upper th in -b e d d e d , s l i g h t l y b r e c c ia t e d M adison d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e above th e cave e n t r a n c e ...............................................• • • • •
54
2 5 ^ Westward d ip p in g M anitou show ing th e p r e s e n c e o f a norm al f a u l t ( e a s t o f U. S* Highway 24) . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 ^
40
60
V a lle y a d ja c e n t to westward d ip p in g M anitou through w hich norm al f a u l t i s b e lie v e d to p a ss ( e a s t o f U* S , Highway 24) . . . . . .
60
C ontin ued northw ard tr a c e o f th e norm al f a u l t p a s s e s b etw een th e s m a ll d o w n -se t r id g e in th e l e f t - c e n t e r and th e h ig h e r r id g e in th e upper r i g h t ( e a s t o f U. S . Highway 2 4 ) . • •
61
V
27
ILLUSTRATIONS F ig u r e yé8 ^29
Page. T h ru st f a u l t ( F - I I I ) i n s e c t io n B«»Bf ( s e e P la t e I I ) ...............................................................
61
B r e a k -th r u s t f a u l t produced b y f o l d i n g (F-IV on P la t e 11) . . . . . . . ..................
64
y50
A nother t h r u s t f a u l t ( F - I I on P la t e I I )
64
/ 31
View o f W illia m s Canyon show ing g e n e r a l s o u th e a s t d ip
^ 32
V iew o f W illia m s ta k en from th e
Canyon lo o k in g s o u t h , Rampart Range Road .
\
. .
67 . . .
67
PLATES Page I
L o c a tio n
o f A rea • » • • • • • • * » • • » « * « •
II
A r e a l G e o lo g ic Map
III
S t r a t ig r a p h ie C o lu m n ................................................ .... . . •
4
In P o ck et 15
IV
L o c a tio n
o f S e c t io n L in es
14
V
L o c a tio n
o f P h otograp h s
25
VI
D e t a ile d S t r a t ig r a p h ie Column o f W illia m s Canyon F o r m a t io n .......................
V II C ross S e c t io n X-X* , , • .
41
.......................................................62
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The w r it e r w ish e s to e x p r e s s h i s g r a t e f u l a p p r e c ia t io n to D o c to r s F* M* Van T u y l, Truman H. Kûhn, J # H arlan J o h n son , L# We Le Roy, H» H» C a r p e n te r , and W# R, Wagner, and P r o f e s s o r s Mat e e r and L ev in g s f o r t h e i r e d i t o r i a l c r i t i c i s m . G. D. F r a s e r o f f e r e d many h e l p f u l s u g g e s t io n s .
P ro fesso r
D o cto rs Van
T u y l and J o h n son , and P r o f e s s o r M ateer a id ed in i d e n t i f y i n g fo s s ils .
Dr. Wagner was k in d enough to a s s i s t in th e p rep a ra
t i o n o f p h o to g r a p h s• M r .v J u lia n Low o f th e C a lif o r n ia O il Company, D en ver, C o lo ra d o , g r a c io u s ly o f f e r e d s t r a t ig r a p h ie in fo r m a tio n . T h is work w ould n o t h ave b een p o s s ib le had i t n o t been f o r th e k in d p e r m is s io n o f th e Cave o f th e Winds Company, M anitou S p r in g s , C o lo ra d o , t h a t en a b led the w r it e r t o work upon t h e i r p r o p e r ty , lo c a t e d in and around W illia m s Canyon. E very a s s i s t a n c e was o f f e r e d by Mr. C a m p èll, Cave o f th e W inds.
Manager o f th e
ABSTRACT > The a s s ig n e d a r e a t o r g e o lo g ic i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s a s m a ll p o r t io n o f th e e a s t f la n k o f th e C olorado F ro n t Range end i s c o n fin e d to a s e c t i o n w it h in the M anitou emhayment* T h is a rea i,s one o f s t e e p c a n y o n s, g u l l i e s , and numerous i n t e r m it t e n t strea m s t h a t have u n covered many o u tc ro p s*
Those
fo r m a tio n s ex p o sed f o r stu d y and which were c o n sid e r e d by th e a u th o r range from Cambrian to M is s ls s lp p la n in age •
P re-
Cambrl&n g r a n i t e s , g n e i s s e s , and s c h i s t s u n d e r lie t h i s s t r a t i g r a p h ie s e c t io n *
Numerous u n c o n fo r m itie s, e x i s t th ro u g h o u t
th e s t r a t ig r a p h ie sequ en ce* Only th e extrem e so u th w e ste r n p o r t io n o f W illia m s Canyon a r e a i s a f f e c t e d b y f a u lt in g *
S tr u c tu r e i s n o t a s im p o rta n t
in t h i s a re a as th e s t r a t ig r a p h y , a lth o u g h a s t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e (M anitou embayment) d o e s e x i s t * The b a s ic problem was th e stu d y o f th e p r e -P e n n s y lv a n ia n s t r a t ig r a p h y w ith em p hasis upon th e W illia m s Canyon fo rm a tio n *
INTRODUCTION P urpose o f I n v e a t ig a t lo n The work u n d e r ta k e n , o f which t h i s t h e s i s r e p r e s e n t s the f i n a l r e s u l t , was a cco m p lish ed a s one o f th e r e q u ir em en ts f o r th e d e g r e e o f M aster o f S c ie n c e in G eology a t th e C olorado S c h o o l o f M in es, G old en , C olorado* I t a ls o r e p r e s e n t s a segm ent o f a commendable mapping program i n s t i t u t e d by th e s t a f f o f th e dep artm ent o f g e o l o g y o f th e C olorado S c h o o l o f Mines*
I t I s t h e i r I n t e n t io n to
c o m p ile a number o f t h e s e t h e s e s I n to one f i n a l volum e on the s t r u c t u r a l and s t r a t ig r a p h ie c o n d it io n s o f th e e a s t e r n f la n k o f th e C olorado F ro n t Range* The main p u rp o se o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n was to d e s r ib e th e p r e -P e n n s y lv a n ia n s t r a t ig r a p h y o f th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a in d e t a il*
S p e c ia l em p h asis was p la c e d upon th e W illia m s
Canyon fo r m a tio n b eca u se o f I t s q u e s tio n a b le s t r a t ig r a p h ie and age r e la t io n s h ip s * T h is r e p o r t I s c o n fin e d to th e Immediate r e s u l t s o f th e f i e l d work u n d erta k en d u r in g June and J u ly , 1960* Method o f I n v e s t ig a t io n A l l m easurem ents o f s t r a t ig r a p h ie s e c t i o n s were made w ith Brunto n com pass and t a p e ,
AUl f i e l d in fo r m a tio n was
p l o t t e d d i r e c t l y upon a e r i a l p h o to g ra p h s b e c a u se th e a v a i l b le to p o g r a p h ic maps (U . S , G. S . Cascade and M anitou Quad-
r a n g l e s ) were n o t o f s u f f i c i e n t d e t a i l and accu racy* L o c a tio n and S e t t in g The a re a d is c u s s e d in t h i s r e p o r t l i e s im m e d ia te ly n o r th o f M anitou S p r in g s , E l P aso C ounty, C o lo ra d o , and n o r th w e st o f C olorado S p rin g s*
I t in c lu d e s a b o u t se v en square m ile s *
The l o c a t i o n o f the a rea i s shown in P la t e I (marked in r e d ) . The tow n sh ip s and ra n g es in c lu d e d in t h i s a r e a a re shown In P la t e I I (I n p o c k e t ) ,
U* S , Highway 2 4 , a l s o shown in P la t e
I I , serves th is area. The Cave o f th e W inds, a t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n c e n t e r , i s lo c a t e d on th e w e ste r n rim o f W illia m s Canyon, w hich l i e s in ‘ th e m idd le o f th e t h e s i s a r e a . The h e a l t h f u l c lim a te and v a r ie d n a tu r a l to p o g r a p h ic f e a t u r e s , such a s P ik e s P eak , o f t h i s r e g io n make i t one o f the to p r e s o r t c e n t e r s in th e U n ited S ta t e s * s p r in g s o f M anitou S p r in g s a re w e ll known.
The m in e r a l T h eir carbon
d io x id e c o n t e n t makes th e w a ter much so u g h t f o r h e a l t h f u l p u rp oses*
_|
WYOMING.
C‘«E-rEWNE#
C O L O R AD O
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Thesis M A N IT O U
S P R IN G S
# #
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Area
S P R IN G S
1 t"
NEW
MEX.
DENVER
87
TELLER
> ^ M A N ITOÜ
SPRI NGS
^
. SPRINGS
V
tcolo
PLATE
Location
of
I
Area G. B
M organ. Jr.
Previous Work Many w orkers h a v e w r it t e n o f th e e x t e n t and n a tu r e o f th e fo r m a tio n s a lo n g th e F ro n t Range.
H ow ever, o n ly th o s e
r e f e r e n c e s w i l l be m entioned t h a t co n cern th e Cave o f th e Winds a r e a . In 1916 G. I . F in la y ( 1 * , p . 6) s t a t e d t h a t th e typ e l o c a l i t y o f th e M anitou fo r m a tio n was M anitou S p r in g s .
An
o t h e r e a r ly p u b lis h e d r e fe r e n c e o f t h i s a rea was t h a t by Me C o llig n o n (2 ) in 1 9 2 4 , who found th e f i r s t M is s ls s lp p la n f o s s i l in th e M adison fo r m a tio n o f th e W illia m s Canyon a re a (see p . 6 5 ). There a re two r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t p a p ers t h a t have been o f g r e a t a id to th e w r it e r in d e c ip h e r in g th e a r e a . A. E. B r a in e r d , H. L. B ald w in , J r . , and J . A. K eyte ( 3 , p p . 3 7 5 -3 9 6 ) p u b lis h e d th e f i r s t d is c u s s i o n o f th e s t r a t i g r a phy o f W illia m s Canyon, and d e f in e d a new fo r m a tio n (W illia m s Canyon) o f D evonian a g e .
F u r th e r , th ey gave a d e f i n i t e typ e
s e c t i o n f o r th e M anitou fo r m a tio n .
B raih erd ( 3 , p . 380) e t
a l . , s t a t e d t h a t p r e v io u s p u b lic a t io n s o f th e M anitou had f a i l e d to d e f in e c l e a r l y one typ e l o c a l i t y .
The typ e s e c t i o n
e s t a b l i s h e d by B r a in e r d , e t a l . , was rem easu red . In 1950 th e U. S # G e o lo g ic a l S urvey p u b lis h e d an O il and Gas C hart by John C. Maher (4 ) in w hich th e p r e -P e n n s y lv a n ia n s t r a t ig r a p h y was r e f in e d and m o d ifie d .
M ainly on th e b a s is
Numbers r e f e r to B ib lio g r a p h y a t end o f t h e s i s .
6.
o f su b s u r fa c e in fo r m a t io n , Maher (4 ) r e c l a s s i f i e d
the W illia m s
Canyon fo r m a tio n a s M is s ls s lp p la n in age and d is c a r d e d th e term "Madison" f o r w hich he s u b s t it u t e d th e H a rd scra b b le (lo w e r M adison) and Beulah lim e s to n e (up per M a d iso n ),
Above
th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n o n ly the H a rd scra b b le o c c u r s in t h is a rea .
He in tr o d u c e d a new fo r m a tio n (U te P a ss d o lo m ite )
p r e s e n t a t th e b a se o f th e M anitou fo r m a tio n .
Maher p la c e d
th e low er boundary o f th e M anitou im m e d ia te ly above th e U te P a ss d o lo m ite , and in c lu d e d th e new s t r a t ig r a p h ie u n i t in th e Upper Cambrian. The W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n may be e i t h e r D evonian o r M is s ls s lp p la n in a g e . 1 6 , 1 7 , 48 and 4 9 .
T h is i s d is c u s s e d in d e t a i l on p a g es
The new fo r m a tio n a l names p ro p o sed by
Maher are r e j e c t e d , r e a s o n s f o r which a r e g iv e n on p a g es 1 5 18.
PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY G en era l S ta tem en t W illia m s Canyon l i e s on the e a s t e r n edge o f th e f o o t h i l l s b e l t o f th e Rocky M ountain F ron t Range.
Fennemann (5 )
in c lu d e d t h i s a rea in th e w e ste r n edge o f th e C olorado P ie d mont o f th e G reat P la in s p r o v in c e ♦
He reg a rd ed th e piedm ont
r e g io n as a r e ju v e n a te d l a t e mature to o ld age p l a i n .
F ig u re
1 shows W illia m s Canyon. H arry W. Obome ( 6 , p . 58) s t a t e d th a t th e C olorado S p r in g s -M anitou S p r in g s a r e a c o n t a in s th e t h i c k e s t s e c t i o n o f P a le o z o ic ro c k s ex p o sed a lo n g th e F ro n t Range.
The form a
t io n s o c c u r r in g In th e W illia m s Canyon a rea a p p a r e n tly a t ta in e d g r e a t e r t h ic k n e s s e s than are n o te d to d a y , so t h a t e r o s io n p ro b a b ly redu ced t h i s s t r a t ig r a p h ie I n t e r v a l . K. P . M cLaughlin ( 7 , p . 1978) b e l i e v e s th a t th e S aw atch , Mani to u , and M adison fo r m a tio n s In th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a were more p r o t e c t e d from e r o s io n than e ls e w h e r e a lo n g the m ountain fr o n t.
I f t h i s i s s o , th en d e p o s it io n o f th e S aw atch , Mani
t o u , W illia m s Canyon, and Madison fo r m a tio n s may have o c - . cu rred in a g e n e r a l b a s in .
T h is d e p o s it io n a l b a s in I s n o t
to be c o n fu se d w ith th e s t r u c t u r a l M anitou embayment, th e p r e s e n t s t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e , w hich i s b e lie v e d to have formed d u r in g th e Laramlde r e v o lu t io n (Upper C r e ta c e o u s )•
The Mani
tou embayment I s a t r a n s v e r s e s y n c l i n e , p lu n g in g toward th e f o o t h i l l s o f th e Rocky M ountain F ro n t Range.
F igure 1. G e n e r a l v ie w o f W i l l i a m s Canyon (Cave o f th e W inds i n c e n t e r ) .
F igure 2. P r o p o s e d Ute P a s s f o r m a t i o n a n d i t s c o n t a c t w ith o v e r ly in g M anitou.
u nconform able
F . Me Van T uyl and T# 3* L o v erin g ( 8 , p . 1322) s t a t e d th a t
th e F l a g s t a f f H i l l berm r e p r e s e n t s a d i s t i n c t e p is o d e
in th e e r o jila n a l h i s t o r y o f th e F ro n t Range#
The reduced
t h ic k n e s s e s o f th e fo r m a tio n s a d ja c e n t to the M anitou embay ment may have r e s u lt e d from t h i s p e r io d o f e r o s io n #
The e l e
v a t io n o f th e W illia m s Canyon a rea i s a p p r o x im a te ly 7000 f e e t , w hich c o in c id e s w ith the l e v e l o f th e F l a g s t a f f H i l l e r o s io n s u r fa c e ( 8 , p . 1 3 2 2 ).
F o llo w in g th e r e d u c tio n o f t h i s s u r f a c e ,
a n o th e r s l i g h t u p l i f t took p l a c e , and th e fo r m a tio n s in th e embayment were erod ed to some e x te n t#
T h eir p r e s e n t t h i c k
n e s s e s may be e x p la in e d in t h i s manner# The o r i g i n o f th e Cave o f th e Winds p r e s e n t s an i n t e r e s t in g geom orphic problem #
The p r e s e n t w r it e r d id n o t exam ine
th e cave c a r e f u l l y b e c a u se th e management f e l t th a t d e t a i l e d work w it h in i t th en was u n d e s ir a b le # p e c t s are c o n s id e r e d .
H owever, c e r t a in a s
The Cave o f th e Winds i s d e v e lo p e d
w it h in th e M anitou lim e s t o n e .
I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t f r a c t u r in g
and j o i n t i n g a s s o c ia t e d w ith th e fo rm a tio n o f th e U te P a ss f a u l t ( s e e s e c t i o n o f S t r u c t u r a l G eology) d u r in g th e Laramlde r e v o lu t io n e n a b led c i r c u l a t i n g underground w a ters to come i n to c o n t a c t w ith and d i s s o l v e th e M anitou lim e s to n e #
These
Underground w a ters p ro b a b ly c o n ta in e d much carbon d io x id e # W illia m s Canyon i s c h a r a c te r iz e d by a h i l l y , c l i f f form in g to p o g ra p h y , w hich was carved from th e r é s i s t e n t lim e s t o n e s o f th e M anitou and M adison fo rm a tio n s#
T h is top ograp h y
may be c o n t r a s t e d w ith th e more subdued la n d form s o f th e
P ik e s Peak g r a n it e to th e w est 'and. th e F o u n ta in sa n d sto n e im m e d ia te ly to th e e a s t .
However, a p p r o x im a te ly two m ile s e a s t
o f W illia m s Canyon, F o u n ta in sa n d sto n e h ogbacks o c c u r in the Garden o f th e Gods. D rainage F o u n ta in Creek i s W illia m s Canyon a r e a .
th e o n ly p e r s i s t e n t strea m in th e I n t e r m it t e n t in s e q u e n t strea m s dom inate
b eca u se o f th e ru g g ed n ess o f th e to p o g ra p h y .
Many a re v e r y
s h o r t and flo w o n ly when h ea v y snows m e lt o r a h ea v y r a in o c cu rs.
P la t e I I shows th e main in t e r m it t e n t in s e q u e n t and co n
se q u en t (F o u n ta in C reek) strea m s o f th e a r e a .
A d e n d r it ic
d ra in a g e p a tt e r n i s d e v e lo p e d upon m a ssiv e d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e s and P ik e s Peak g r a n it e .
F la s h f lo o d s en a b le th e
stream s p e r i o d i c a l l y to d egrad e th e su rro u n d in g r o c k s . The main d r a in a g e and r e g io n a l d ip tren d to th e s o u th e a st. C lim a te and V e g e ta tio n The p r e v a i l i n g w inds in M anitou S p r in g s and n ea rb y W illia m s Canyon a re from th e w est and n o r th w e s t, and th e c lim a te o f th e r e g io n i s s e m i-a r id and te m p e r a te .
The mean
an nu al r a i n f a l l i s 1 4 .5 I n c h e s , and s h o r t show ers o c c u r a l m ost d a i l y d u r in g a p o r tio n o f th e summer. common.
W in ter snows a re
The C olorado S p r in g s r e g io n h a s a mean an nu al tem per
a tu r e o f 5 3 °F .
Because m ost o f th e tio n , v eg etatio n
ro ck h a s a f a i r l y u n ifo rm compos!
c a n n o t be u s e d a s a c r i t e r i o n
tio n a l bo u n d aries.
f o r form a
STRATIGRAPHY G eneral S ta tem en t The s t r a t ig r a p h y o f W illia m s Canyon i s r e l a t i v e l y s im p le • The ex p o sed fo r m a tio n s a r e o f p re-C am b rian, Cambrian, Ordo v i c i a n , M i s s is s ip p ia n , and P e n n sy lv a n ia n a g e ,
I t i s th e
P a le o z o ic p r e -P e n n s y lv a n ia n s t r a t ig r a p h ie seq u en ce t h a t i s o f p rim ary c o n c e r n . The fo r m a tio n s ly in g above th e M i s s i s s i p p i an (G len E y r ie and F o u n ta in ) were d e s c r ib e d in d e t a i l by M cLaughlin ( 7 , p p . 1 9 3 6 -1 9 8 1 ), and t h e r e f o r e , a r e n o t d i s c u sse d In t h i s paper*
The fo r m a tio n s c o n s id e r e d a r e :
Sa
w atch (C am brian), M anitou (O r d o v ic ia n ), W illia m s Canyon (D e v o n ia n o r M i s s i s s i p p i a n ) , and M adison ( M i s s i s s i p p i a n ) *
P la t e
I I I r e p r e s e n t s a co m p o site g e n e r a l s t r a t ig r a p h ie colum n, and P la t e IV d e n o te s th e l o c a l i t i e s where s e c t i o n s were measured* D e f i n i t i o n o f fo r m a tio n a l b o u n d a ries was b ased m a in ly upon l i t h o l o g i e v a r i a t i o n s and s t r a t ig r a p h ie r e la t io n s h ip s * Meager f o s s i l e v id e n c e p ro v id ed v a lu a b le in fo r m a tio n in some in s t a n c e s * The S aw atch , M anitou, and M adison fo r m a tio n s a re s l i g h t l y f o s s ilife r o u s *
Most o f th e f o s s i l s c o l l e c t e d from th e M anitou
and M adison h ave l o s t t h e i r s t r u c t u r a l and o th e r i d e n t i f y i n g f e a t u r e s as a r e s u l t o f d o l o m i t i s a t i o n , so t h a t o n ly a broad c l a s s i f i c a t i o n was p o s s ib le *
S im ila r d i f f i c u l t i e s were e x
p e r ie n c e d by Maher (4 ) and b y B ra in erd ( 3 , pp* 3 7 5 - 3 9 6 ) .e t a l . Maher depended to a la r g e e x t e n t upon r e g io n a l s t r a t ig r a p h ie
PLATE t i g r a phi c
III Column
} 0 10
C o lo r
iv, i » / ,7i ^ /. 20
^ / j
S y m b o ls
Re d
Pink
30
40 ^
B uff
□ 90-
L i gh t
W illia m s
Gr a y
Canyon
140
3 ‘*:t 190 -
240-
290
L L îitîir ü ü -
340
G B
Morgan,
Jr.
B la c k
PLATS IV L o c a tio n o f S e c tio n L in es S cale 1:24000
r e la tio n s h ip s fo r c o r r e la tio n s ,
B r a in e r d , e t a l . , f e l t t h a t
p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e was so m eager as to p r o h ib it any d e f i n i t e fo r m a tio n a l boundary c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s b e in g made s o l e l y on th e b a s i s o f f o s s i l s .
P . E . C loud, J r . , and V* E. Barnes
( 9 , p . 7 5 ) in t h e i r d e t a i l e d r e p o r t on th e E lle n b u r g e r form a t io n (O r d o v ic ia n ) o b je c t e d to th e u s e o f c e r t a in f o s s i l group in g s from th e Sawatch and M anitou f o r m a tio n s , a g a in demon s t r a t i n g the d i f f i c u l t i e s o f p la c in g b o u n d a r ies on p a le o n t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e a lo n e . I t was m en tion ed on p a g es 5 and 6 t h a t new f o r m a tio n a l names h ave b een in tr o d u c e d by Maher.
R easons w i l l be g iv e n
now f o r th e r e j e c t i o n o f h i s new fo r m a tio n a l nam es.
Maher
c o n s id e r e d th e b a s a l 14 f e e t o f th e M anitou to be a new form a t io n (U te P a s s ) o f Upper Cambrian a g e , m a in ly on the b a s is o f r e g io n a l s t r a t ig r a p h ie r e l a t i o n s h i p s .
He s t a t e d t h a t th e U te
P a ss (s o named b e c a u se o f i t s p r e s e n c e a lo n g U te P ass on U , S . Highway 24 n o r th w e st o f M anitou S p r in g s ) i s I d e n t i c a l 11t h o l o g i c a l l y w ith the Bonnete r r e d o lo m ite r e c o g n iz e d in th e su b s u r fa c e o f e a s t e r n C olorado and w e ste r n K an sas. I c a l l y , i t o c c u p ie s ab ou t th e same p o s i t i o n .
S t r a t ig r a p h -
The b a s i s f o r
th e e x i s t e n c e o f th e Ute P a ss fo r m a tio n , t h e n , i s n o t p a le o n t o l o g i c a l , and i s b ased upon w e ll d a ta o f e a s t e r n C olorado and w ester n K a n sa s.
F u r th e r , th e r e i s no d e f i n i t e boundary
b etw een th e Sawatch and U te P ass (o r M anitou) in many p l a c e s . Maher s t a t e d th a t th e Ute P ass - M anitou c o n t a c t i s conform a b le .
F ig u r e 2 shows an in t r a f o r m a t io n a l u n c o n fo rm ity (lo w e r
M anitou) which may l i e a t th e top o f th e U te P a s s .
To d a t e ,
Maher1a d e s c r i p t i o n i s th e o n ly one p u b lis h e d w h erein the term "Ute Pass" i s a p p lie d *
H is e v id e n c e d o es no t seem to
be c o n c l u s i v e , so o n ly th e M anitou fo r m a tio n w i l l be co n s id e r e d to o v e r l i e the Sawatch in norm al s t r a t ig r a p h ie s e quence • The pre-C am brian-C am brlan c o n t a c t was th e o n ly d e f i n i t e a n g u la r u n c o n fo rm ity n o te d in t h i s area*
O ther than t h i s
one in s t a n c e , th e term "u nconform ity" i s u sed in a g e n e r a l s e n s e th ro u g h o u t th e rep o rt*
The term " in tr a fb r m a tlo n a l
u n con form ity" i s u sed w henever th e e r o s io n b reak o c c u r s w ith in a fo rm a tio n * A sm a ll a n g u la r d is c o r d a n c e was m easured a t v a r io u s p o in t s in W illia m s Canyon, b u t a t o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s an ap p a ren t d is c o n fo r m ity ( s e e F ig u r e 11) e x is t e d *
U n d u la t
in g c o n t a c t s may h a v e g iv e n th e f a l s e i l l u s i o n o f an a n g u la r d isc o r d a n c e *
T h e r e fo r e , to a v o id any p o s s ib le m is - s ta t e m e n t,
th e term " d isc o n fo r m ity " w i l l n o t be u s e d . The W illia m s Canyon lim e s to n e i s c o n s id e r e d to be M iddle M i s s is s ip p la n by Maher, w hereas p r e v io u s ly a D evonian age had b een a s s ig n e d i t *
I t was s t a t e d by Maher t h a t th e W illia m s
Canyon fo r m a tio n i s l i t h o l o g i e a l l y s im ila r to th e Spergen lim e s to n e in which th e f o s s i l S ndothyra ( b a l l e y l l ? ) h a s been found in o i l w e ll s In e a s t e r n C o lo ra d o ,
Here a g a in , Maher
r e s o r t e d t o su b s u r fa c e in fo r m a tio n b eca u se o f the co m p lete la c k o f f o s s i l s in t h i s fo r m a tio n .
He s t a t e d t h a t c r o s s s e c
t i o n s o f su b s u r fa c e s t r a t a c l e a r l y show a g ra d u a l w estw ard
o v e r la p o f O rd o v icia n s t r a t a by M is s is s ip p la n ro ck s from w e ste r n Kansas through e a s t e r n C o lo ra d o * < A r e g io n a l s t r u c tu r e map o f t h i s r e g io n whose datum p la n e i s th e b a se o f th e D evonian shows t h i s f e a t u r e .
B ecause o f th e la c k o f p a le o n
t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e , th e a b sen ce o f th e D evonian in th e su b s u r fa c e o f e a s t e r n C olorado and w e ste r n K an sas, su p p o r tin g s t r a t ig r a p h ie r e l a t i o n s h i p s , and o t h e r r e a so n s o f a l e s s e r n a tu r e , Maher a s s ig n e d a M iddle M is s is s ip p la n (Meramec?) age to th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n and d e c la r e d I t th e e q u iv a le n t o f th e Spergen and p o s s i b l y the Warsaw lim e s t o n e . Maher1s la c k o f p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e a p p a r e n tly c o n f l i c t s w ith th e work o f J* H. J o h n so n * , who found D evonian f o s s i l f i s h p l a t e s In the low er C h a ffe e ( P a r tin g q u a r tz 1 t e ) form a t i o n n ea r C o to p a x i, w hich i s ab out 60 m ile s so u th w e st o f Man! to u S p r in g s#
The W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n i s c o n s id e r e d th e
e q u iv a le n t o f th e lo w er C hef f e e by Johnson*
B ra in erd
( 3 , pp
5 9 0 -3 9 1 ) e t a l * , a ls o t e n t a t i v e l y made t h i s c o r r e l a t i o n .
For
a d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n s e e p a g es 47 and 4#* L ying u nconform ably above th e W illia m s Canyon i s
the
M adison lim e s t o n e , a ls o c o n s id e r e d to be Meramec in age by Maher.
Johnson ( 1 0 , p . 52) d e f i n i t e l y a s s e r t e d t h a t p a le o n
t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e was in f a v o r o f a Lower M is s is s ip p la n (K lnderhook) a g e .
Maher s t a t e d th a t in a p e r s o n a l communica
t i o n w ith J . S . W illia m s o f th e U, S . G e o lo g ic a l S u r v ey , who exam ined f o s s i l s from th e M adison (H a r d sc r a b b le ), he le a r n e d * P e r so n a l com m u n ication .
t h a t a M is a ia s lp p la n age was in d i c a t e d , but no f u r t h e r d ed u c t io n s c o u ld be made.
The few f o s s i l s c o l l e c t e d a s w e ll a s
th e in a d e q u a te p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l background o f th e p r e s e n t w r it e r p r o h ib i t any d e f i n i t e s ta te m e n t a s to t h i s fo r m a tio n * s e x a c t p o s i t i o n in th e M i s s is s ip p la n . Maher d iv id e d th e M is s is s ip p la n s t r a t a above th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n in t o th e u n d e r ly in g H a rd scra b b le lim e s to n e and th e o v e r ly in g B eu lah lim e s t o n e .
Only th e H a rd scra b b le I s
p r e s e n t in W illia m s Canyon, a c c o r d in g to Maher, and i s c o r r e la t e d w ith th e S t . L o u is lim e s t o n e . B ecause o f th e r e c e n t in t r o d u c t io n o f t h i s te r m in o lo g y and i t s a d m itte d ly q u e s tio n a b le c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
(M eram ec), th e
commonly a c c e p te d term "Madison" w i l l be u s e d .
Johnson ( 1 0 ,>
p . 5 0 ) , i t i s n o te d , p r e f e r s to u se th e term " L e a d v llle " # i i c h i s e q u iv a le n t o f th e M adison, b eca u se i t was w e ll e s t a b l i s h e d in C olorado b e fo r e th e in t r o d u c t io n o f the l a t t e r term from th e n o rth * The h i l l y , c l i f f - f o r m i n g n a tu r e o f th e s t r a t a have p r o duced s t r i k i n g o u tc r o p s , and the f i n e s t o f th e s e ap pear in W illia m s Canyon ( s e e F ig u r e 1 ) .
The Saw atch r e s t s upon P ik e s
Peak g r a n i t e , s c h i s t s , and g n e i s s e s .
F ig u r e s 3 and 4 g iv e an
id e a o f a t y p i c a l pre-C am brian-C am brlan c o n t a c t , w hich i s u s u a l l y u n d u la tin g and sm ooth. Measured S e c t io n s The ty p e s e c t i o n o f th e M anitou fo r m a tio n i s lo c a t e d a t
F i g u r e 3. T y p i c a l , sm ooth, u n d u l a t i n g c o n t a c t b etw een p re -C a m b ria n and C am brian a lo n g th e canyon r o a d .
F igure 4. I r r e g u l a r pre-C am b rian -C am b rlan c o n ta c t a lo n g R a m p a r t R ange r o a d .
the Narrows on th e W illia m s Canyon ro a d .
The c l i f f to th e
e a s t o f th e Narrows i s a c o n t in u a t io n o f th e s e c t i o n . 5 and 6 show t h i s a r e a .
The
F ig u r e s
type s e c t i o n (A -A 1 ) was r e
m easured in o rd er to become f a m i l i a r w it h th e s t r a t ig r a p h ie u n i t s , and a t o t a l t h ic k n e s s o f 385 f e e t 2 in c h e s was ob t a in e d .
The i d e n t i c a l s e c t i o n m easured by B r a in e r d , e t a l . ,
was 388 f e e t .
F ig u r e 7 i s a p h otograp h o f s e c t i o n B-B1, w h ich
i s lo c a t e d on and above an o ld d i r t road w e st o f th e Cave o f *
the Winds t h a t le a d s down to the w a ter su p p ly pumps. now b lo c k e d to r e g u la r t r a f f i c .
It is
F ig u re 8 shows th e t h ir d and
l a s t co m p lete s e c t i o n (C-C*) ta k e n .
I t b e g in s on th e f l o o r
o f W illia m s Canyon, a p p r o x im a te ly 500 y a rd s n o r th o f th e "H air p in Curve" le a d in g up to th e c a v e , and c o n tin u e s up a draw on th e e a s t s id e o f th e can yon .
Two o th e r in c o m p le te s e c t i o n s
w ere m easured to o b t a in more in fo r m a tio n on th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n ( s e c t i o n s D-D* and E - E* ) .
P la t e IV shows
th e l o c a t i o n o f t h e s e v a r io u s s e c t i o n s , w h ile a l l p h o to g ra p h s are shown on P la t e V w ith t h e i r o r i e n t a t i o n . B ecause o f v a r y in g t h i c k n e s s e s , an a v era g e f ig u r e was ta k en o f ea ch fo r m a tio n a l t h ic k n e s s .
These* f i g u r e s were u sed
to produce a co m p o site s t r a t ig r a p h ie column ( P la t e I I I ) . S e c t io n C-C * was m easured In an a r e a n o t im m e d ia te ly n e a r any p u b l i s h e d ,s e c t i o n from t h i s can yon , so a d e t a i l e d l i t h o l o g i e d e s c r ip t i o n o f I t m ight be w o r th w h ile . p e a r s b e lo w .
I t ap
F ig u re 5. V iew o f t h e N a r r o w s , W i l l i a m s C a n y o n , b e l o w C ave o f th e W inds,
F igure 6. P a r t o f the type s e c t i o n , N arrows a lo n g th e canyon r o a d .
A-A*, j u s t above
F igure 7. S e c t i o n B - B f w e s t o f Cave o f t h e W in d s o n t h e , r o a d l e a d i n g down t o w a t e r s u p p l y p u m p s .
F igure o f the
8. S e c t i o n C - C 1 l o c a t e d up a d r a w o n t h e e a s t s i d e f l o o r o f W illia m s Canyon. \
PLATE V L o ca tio n o f Photographs S cale 1:24000
Lithologie description of Section C-C**
Section measured
on f l o o r o f W illia m s Canyon, a p p r o x im a te ly 500 y a rd s n o r th up canyon from " H airp in C urve", T# 13S*, R. 67W+ , Sec* 32#
Measured
by George B* Morgan, J r ♦, J u n e, 1950# L ine o f s e c t i o n shown > a s C-C1 in P la t e IV# A v ie w o f th e ex p o su re d e s c r ib e d ap p ears in F ig u re 8# T h ic k n ess U n it C um u lative M i s s is s ip p la n M adison 20
D o lo m itic lim e s to n e ; a l t e r n a t i n g b ed s o f m a ssiv e g ra y and p in k lim e s to n e j m ic r o c r y s ta llin e , d e n se ; c o n t a in s v u gs l i n e d w ith c a l c i t e c r y s t a l s ; g ra y lim e s to n e c h e r ty ; upper p o r t io n eroded, 67*0"
67*-0"
D evonian o r M is s is s ip p la n W illia m s Canyon 19 ^ S a n d s t o n e , p in k , m ed iu m -grain ed , m a ssiv e ; some g r a in s rounded; p o o r l y cem en ted ,
0 *-4" 67 *-4"
18
0*-6" 67 *-10"
Covered#
17 ^ D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , d u l l w h it e , m o ttle d w ith p u rp le s h a d e s, f i n e l y g r a n u la r , m a ssiv e ; v e r y a r e n a c e o u s; some in te r b e d d e d c o a r s e - g r a in e d sa n d sto n e la y e r s ; q u a rtz g r a in s f r o s t e d and rounded; c a l c i t e c r y s t a l s l i n e v u gs o f lim e s to n e and s a n d s to n e • 16
I 1-7" 69*-5"
D o lo m itic lim e s to n e w ith l i t t l e d o lo m ite ; p in k is h b u f f , f i n e l y g r a n u la r , th in -b e d d e d ; v e r y a ren a ceo u s w ith rou n d ed , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s up to 1 mm, in d ia m e te r 0*-6&"6 9 1- I l f
T h ic k n e ss U n it C um ulative 15 v/ D o lo m itic lim e s to n e w ith some lim e s t o n e ; w h ite and p in k is h re d ; f i n e l y g r a n u la r , m a ssiv e ; v e r y a ren a ceo u s w ith e x tr e m e ly t h in s t r i n g e r s o f v e r y f in e - g r a in e d sa n d s to n e ; la r g e c a l c i t e c r y s t a l i n c l u s i o n s in lim e s t o n e . 11 - 6”
14
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , g ra y to cream gra y ; smooth s u r fa c e m o ttle d w ith p u r p le and maroon s h a d e s , mediumf i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e ; q u ite a ren a ceo u s w ith f i n e , rou n ded, f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s . 1 1- 1 “
15
C ov ered .
8»-7 ”
12
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , l i g h t g ra y w ith p u r p le m o t t le s ; m a s s iv e , g r a n u la r ; s l i g h t l y aren aceou s.
O’ -6 ^ ”
8 1 * -8
11
C overed .
O '- 8 ”
82»-4 ”
10
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , p in k is h b u f f to p in k is h g ra y ; m o s tly f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , l i t t l e g r a n u la r ; v e r y a ren a ceo u s w ith p a p e r - th in s t r i n g e r s o f f in e - g r a in e d s a n d s to n e . ^ O '- 6 ” T o ta l W illia m s Canyon
8 2 '-1 0 ”
1 5 * -1 0 ”
N otes B ecause th e c o n t a c t o f th e W illia m s Canyon w ith th e o v e r ly in g M adison and u n d e r ly in g M anitou i s c o v e r e d , i t i s h i g h l y p rob ab ly t h a t i t s tr u e t h ic k n e s s i s g r e a t e r . O r d o v ic ia n M anitou 9
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , r e d , f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e to d e n se ; m a ssiv e ; c a l c i t e c r y s t a ls lin e s o lu tio n c a v i t i e s . Upper boundary c o v e r e d . 2 0 ' - 1 ” 1 0 2 * -1 1 ”
26.
T h ic k n ess U n it C m cu lative '8
D o lo m itic lim e s to n e w ith l i t t l e lim e » s t o n e , b u f f to l i g h t g r a y , m icro» c r y s t a l l i n e ; m a s s iv e ; rough s u r fa c e ; form s d i s t i n c t i v e bed n e a r top o f M an itou . 4 '0 " 106»-11"
7 ^
6
\X£
D o lo m itic lim e s to n e _ crea m -b u ff to l i g h t g ra y to w h it e , v e r y f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , m a s siv e ; s i l t y ; b u f f c h e r t b ed s 1-2" t h ic k th ro u g h o u t; m id d le p o r t io n p a r t i c u l a r l y c h e r ty ; few f in e - g r a in e d sa n d sto n e s t r i n g ers. 106»-1 " 2 1 3 » -0" D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , w h ite to g ra y to b u f f , few y e llo w s t a i n s (P e ) ; su b c r y s t a l l i n e to m ic r o o r y a t a llin e ; th in -b e d d e d ; w e a th e r s sandy in p la c e s ; c o n t a in s ir r e g u la r shaped q u a r tz ; f o s s i l i f e r o u s ; lim e s to n e w ith many t h in b u f f c h è r t s t r i n g e r s ; o o l i t i c i n u pp er 10 f e e t . 4 4 » -8 " 2 57»-8" D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , red ; u pp er lim e s to n e w ea th ers w ith c h a r a c t e r i ô t i c w h ite s p lo t c h e s ; f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , m a ssiv e ; g l a u c o n i t i c , d y in g o u t n e a r to p ; much th in -b e d d e d , f i n e to c o a r s e - g r a in e d s a n d s to n e , c r o s s bedded; few t h in s h a le p h a se s ; n ear b a se a r e n a c e o u s , r e d d is h brown, d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e bed c o n t a in in g 1/4" t h ic k , c u r v e d , r e d , d e n s e , sm ooth lim e s to n e p i e c e s . 2 0 » -6 " 2 7 8 » -2" D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , r e d , p u r p le m o tt le d , f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , m a ss iv e ; few g r a d a t io n a l san d y p h a se s ; few i n t e r bedded sa n d sto n e and s h a le s t r i n g e r s ; g r e a t l y w ea th ered ; one 5" t h ic k g la u c o n i t i c sa n d sto n e bed ( g r e e n ) . 2 » -2 " 2 8 0 » -4" Do lo mi t o , r u s t y red w ith p a tc h e s o f g reen { v e r y g l a u c o n i t i c ) , medium c r y s t a l l i n e , m a s siv e ; v u g s f i l l e d w ith w h ite , c o a r s e l y c r y s t a l l i n e c a l c i t e ; v e r y a re n a c eo u s w ith rounded and f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s up to 1 mm. in d ia m e te r 6»-11" 2 8 7 » -3" T o ta l M anitou
20 4 » -5"
T h ick n ess U n it C um u lative Cambrian Saw atch 2
S a n d sto n e , brown to dark o l i v e g reen (fr e sh e x p o s u r e ) , v e r y c o a r s e - g r a in e d ; iss-b ed d e d ; much g la u c o n it e ; w e ll cem ented w ith CaCOg and P e . 9 ! -Qn 296*-9" S a n d sto n e , r u s t y r e d , g r e e n , in p la c e s b u f f to W aite ; v e r y c o a r s e - to c o a r s e g r a in e d , th ic k -b e d d e d ; v e r y c a lc a r e o u s ; much g la u c o n it e th r o u g h o u t, l i t t l e m u s c o v ite , a r k o s ic , co v ered w ith lic h e n ; w e ll cem ented (CaCOg) to f r i a b l e ; co n g lo m e r a tic a t b ase w ith rounded and f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s and f e ld s p a r fra g m en ts up to 2 cm. in d ia m e te r . 16*-6" 3 1 2 1-9" T o ta l Sawatch
25*-6" Pre-C am brian
P ik e s Peak g r a n i t e , p in k , c o a r s e l y c r y s t a l l i n e ; o r t h o c l a s e , q u a r tz , and b l o t i t e abundant; h ig h ly w ea th ered in p la c e s ; sp o r a d ic b la c k s c h i s t o s e and r e d d is h p in k g n e is s ic in j e c t io n s . Cambrian Sawatch L o c a tio n o f T y p ic a l Exposure :
The b e s t exp osu re o f th e
Saw atch sa n d sto n e i s on th e Cave o f th e Winds r o a d .
I t may
be reach ed by d r iv in g up th e canyon road (n o r th ) j u s t p a s t th e N arrow s, where th e r e i s a good o u tc r o p .
O ther e x p o su re s
o f th e Saw atch may be o b ser v ed b y c o n t in u in g to d r iv e n o r th a lo n g th e canyon r o a d .
H is to r y ;
E a r l i e s t m en tion o f t h i s fo r m a tio n was by
Whitman C ro ss ( 1 1 , p . 1 ) , who b r i e f l y d e s c r ib e d i t s o c cu rren ce in M anitou Park a t M anitou S p r in g s .
H ow ever, i t was
named and d e s c r ib e d more c o m p le te ly b y G. H. E ld r ld g e ( 1 2 , p . 6) in th e same y e a r ( 1 8 9 4 ) . T h ick n ess.:
B ecau se o f th e good e x p o s u r e s , a f a i r l y a c
c u r a te m easurem ent o f t h ic k n e s s was made#
Examined and
m easured in th r e e d i f f e r e n t s e c t i o n s , th e Saw atch had an a v era g e t h ic k n e s s o f 4 5 f e e t .
Maher (4 ) d e s c r ib e d 50 f e e t
o f i t and B ra in erd ( 3 , p . 3 8 1 ) y e t a l . , found 45 f e e t . L ith o lo g y : tin c tiv e . sto n e . red.
The l i t h o l o g y o f t h i s fo r m a tio n i s v e r y d i s
I t i s m a in ly a c o a r s e - g r a in e d , g l a u c o n i t i c san d
The c o l o r s range from w h ite to o l i v e g r e e n to r u s t y The sa n d sto n e i s th ic k -b e d d e d , i n p la c e s p o o r ly s o r t e d ,
c a lc a r e o u s to d o l o m i t i c , and p a r t l y c o n g lo m e r a tic . An e x c e l l e n t marker bed in t h i s a r e a o c c u r s a t th e b a se o f th e S aw a tch .
I t i s a w h it e , v e r y c o a r s e - to c o a r s e - g r a in e d
sa n d sto n e bed t h a t i s s p o r a d ic a l ly q u ite c a lc a r e o u s .
At I t s
b a se i t i s c o n g lo m e r a tic w ith q u a rtz g r a n u le s and p e b b le s , many g r e a t e r than 4 c e n t im e t e r s in d ia m e te r . e d , and the s m a lle r o n es are f r o s t e d .
They a re round
Much o f th e u pp er w h ite
sa n d sto n e bed i s w e ll cem ented w ith c a lc iu m c a r b o n a te . f r i a b l e i n p a r t , u s u a l l y where th e cem ent i s I r o n .
I t Is
T ie san d
s to n e i s m o ttle d th ro u g h o u t w ith I r r e g u la r p a tc h e s o f p u r p le , f a i n t g r e e n s , o r a n g e s , and som etim es f a i n t s u g g e s t io n s o f b lu e .
Much o f t h i s s a n d s to n e , p a r t i c u l a r l y n ea r th e b a s e , i s p o o r l y s o r te d w ith rounded sand g r a in s r a n g in g in s i z e from f i n e to v e r y c o a r s e - g r a in e d ( 1 /8 - 2 In c h e s ) . b a s a l Sawatch sa n d sto n e#
F ig u re 9 shows th e
L yin g above th e w h ite u n i t and form
in g th e more c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p a r t o f th e Sawatch i s a c o a r s e g r a in e d , v e r y g l a u c o n i t i c , c a lc a r e o u s , m ica ceo u s sa n d sto n e# C o lo r s , w hich are b r ig h t e r on a f r e s h s u r f a c e , ran ge from dark o l i v e g r e e n to r u s t y red# b on ate and ir o n o x id e # toward th e top#
The cem ent i s c a lc iu m c a r
The sa n d sto n e grows more d o lo m it ic
In f a c t , th e upperm ost u n it c o n ta in s t h in
s t r i n g e r s o f v e r y f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , red d o lo m ite # ly 'S tr a ti& r a p h ic R e la t io n s h ip s :
F ig u re 3 shows th e a n g u la r
u n c o n fo r m ity w hich e x i s t s b etw een th e pre-C am brian and th e Sawatch#
In p l a c e s , th e upper c o n t a c t o f th e Saw atch i s co n
form ab le w ith th e o v e r ly in g M an itou.
At o th e r l o c a lit ie s - ,
th e r e i s c l e a r e v id e n c e o f an u n c o n fo r m ity b etw een th e two fo r m a tio n s ( s e e F ig u re 1 0 ) .
Johnson ( 1 0 , p . 15) s t a t e d t h a t
th e S aw atch-M anitou c o n t a c t i s u nconform able in m ost o f th e a r e a s he h a s s t u d ie d .
B ra in erd ( 3 , p p . 380 and 3 8 1 ) , e t a l . ,
c i t e d e v id e n c e o f con form ab le and u nconform able r e l a t i o n s h i p s a t t h i s boundary in the W illia m s Canyon a r e a .
T hus, i t ap
p e a r s t h a t th e M anitou and Sawatch fo r m a tio n s have b o th a con form ab le and u nconform able c o n t a c t . S E ., and h a s a s t r i k e o f N .3 0 °E .
The Saw atch d ip s 10°
Upper and lo w er c o n t a c t s
a re u n d u la tin g vâiere u n co n fo rm a b le.
The a n g u la r d is c o r d a n c e
(3 -7 ° S E .) m easured b etw een th e Saw atch and M anitou may r e s u l t
F igure 9. B a sa l w h ite s a n d s to n e o f Saw atch a lo n g th e canyon ro a d .
F ig u re 10. U n c o n f o r m ity s e p a r a t i n g th e M a n ito u and th e S a w a t c h a l o n g t h e c l o s e d r o a d l e a d i n g down t o t h e w a t e r s u p p ly pum ps.
from such undulation E n v iro n n en t o f D e p o s it io n s
A s h a llo w m arine or s u b l i t t o
r a l en viron m en t i s I n d ic a t e d b y th e p r e s e n c e o f g la u c o n it e and c r o s s - b e d d in g . Age and C o r r e la t io n s
V ery few f o s s i l s have b een found
i n th e S aw atch , b u t th o se c o l l e c t e d by C ross ( 1 1 , p . 2 ) d e f i n i t e l y p la c e th e fo r m a tio n as Upper Cambrian.
Maher ( 4 )
c o r r e la t e d the Saw atch w ith the Lam otte sa n d sto n e in th e su b s u r fa c e o f e a s t e r n C olorado and w e s te r n K an sas. O r d o v ic ia n M anitou L o c a tio n o f T y p ic a l E x p o su res
T ie road le a d in g to th e
Cave o f th e Winds a f f o r d s one o f th e b e s t e x p o su r e s o f th e M anitou as w e ll a s o f th e S aw atch .
I t i s a ls o th e ty p e
s e c t i o n f o r th e M anitou as p ro p o sed b y B ra in erd ( 3 , p . 3 8 0 ) , e t a l.
B e g in n in g a t th e Narrows (F ig u r e 5 ) , M anitou
lim e
s to n e i s o b se r v e d
g o in g s o u th toward th e f r o n t e n tr a n c e o f
th e canyon r o a d .
In f a c t , a l l fo r m a tio n s in th e s e c t i o n may
be o b ser v ed a lo n g
th e canyon road to th e c a v e .
H is to r y :
C.
D. W a lc o tt ( 1 3 , p p . 1 5 4 -1 5 6 ) f i r s t
named
and d e s c r ib e d th e M anitou fo r m a tio n , b u t f a i l e d to s p e c i f y a ty p e l o c a l i t y .
W a lc o tt l i s t e d
th e M anitou a s S i l u r i a n in
a g e , w hich h a s b een p la c e d in th e O r d o v ic ia n in l a t e r c l a s s l -
f i c a t i o n s ( r e c o g n i t io n o f the O r d o v ic ia n p e r io d was n o t a c cord ed f o r many y e a r s ) •
C ross ( 1 1 , p . 2 ) , r e f e r r i n g to Wal
c o tt* s p r e v io u s w ork, b r i e f l y d e s c r ib e d I t . .
F in la y ( 1 , p . 6)
l a t e r r e f e r r e d to th e M anitou as b e in g named from e x p o su r e s in M anitou S p r in g s , b u t e a r l i e r w orkers su ch a s C ro ss gave th e im p r e s s io n t h a t M anitou Park m ight be th e ty p e s e c t i o n . B rain erd ( 3 , p . 3 8 0 ) , e t a l l , made an im p o rta n t c o n t r ib u t io n to th e p rob lem by d e s c r ib in g in d e t a i l th e s e c t i o n a t and above th e Narrows in W illia m s Canyon. s e c t i o n o f th e M anitou lim e s t o n e .
They reg a rd ed i t a s th e ty p e Maher ( 4 ) h a s r a is e d a n o th e r
q u e s tio n w ith h i s r e c e n t r e - c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f th e b a s a l Mani to u .
T ie w r it e r w i l l u se th e more commonly a c c e p te d t e r m i
n o lo g y ( s e e p p . 15 - 1 8 ) . T h ic k n ess % The M anitou r e p r e s e n t s th e t h i c k e s t fo r m a tio n in t h i s a r e a .
An a v era g e t h ic k n e s s d eterm in ed from s e c t i o n s
m easured i s 200 f e e t , w h ich a g r e e s r e a s o n a b ly w e ll w ith th e f i g u r e s o f Maher (4 ) and B ra in erd ( 3 , p . 3 8 0 ) , e t a l . L it h o lo g y :
At th e b a se t h i s lim e s to n e i s r u s t y r e d ,
c o a r s e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , sJL ightly g l a u c o n i t i c and m a s s iv e .
It
becom es f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , n o n - g l a u c o n i t i c , and f i n a l l y d en se as i t ch a n g es a b r u p tly in t o a g e n e r a lly th in -b e d d e d ~ d o lo m it ic lim e s t o n e .
H ere, i t i s b u f f to l i g h t g r a y , c h e r t y , *"1^
a r e n a c e o u s , and- i s som etim es s tr e a k e d l i g h t r u s t y y e llo w due to ir o n o x id a t i o n .
=*•
W hile in p la c e s t h i s s t e p from red d o lo
m it ic lim e s to n e to b u f f lim e s to n e i s u n eonform abl e , i t i s a
con form ab le change a t o th e r l o c a l i t i e s *
F ig u re 11 i s a t y p i
c a l exam ple o f an in t r a f o r m a t io n a l u n c o n fo rm ity o f th e low er M anitou*
The lim e s to n e as a u n i t ' i s p a s s i v e ) d en se t o f i n e l y
C r y s t a l l i n e , and b u f f to l i g h t gray*
Thin b ed s a re c h a r a c t e r
i s t i c o f th e lo w er p a r t , though th e y o cc u r s p o r a d ic a l ly th rou gh p u t th e u n it*
In the u pp er p o r t io n o f t h i s lo w er t h i n -
bedded u n i t an o o l i t i c , d o l o m i t i c , f o s s l l i f e r o u s , s l i g h t l y p i s o l i t l c , g ra y lim e s to n e was o b serv ed in s e c t i o n B-B*.
A
t h in s e c t i o n r e v e a le d th e p r e s e n c e o f a few o o l i t h s and much o r g a n ic d e b r is su ch a s c r l n o l d a l rem ains* th in -b e d d e d zone o f the M anitou*
F ig u re 12 shows a
T h in , w h ite ( f r e s h s u r f a c e )
to g r a y , m ed iu m -grain ed , v e r y c a lc a r e o u s , s l i g h t l y f r i a b l e __ sa n d sto n e s t r i n g e r s o ccu r a t ir r e g u la r i n t e r v a l s th ro u g h o u t th e M anitou*
Much o f th e lim e s to n e w ea th e rs sandy*
C hert
i s common th ro u g h o u t th e s e c t i o n , o c c u r r in g as m inute f r a g m ents and as ir r e g u la r l i g h t brown s t r i n g e r s .
There i s a
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c m a s s iv e , g r a y , d e n s e , c h e r t y , d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e t h a t h a s a f a i r l y u n ifo rm t h ic k n e s s o f fo u r f e e t a p p ear in g a p p r o x im a te ly 155 f e e t above th e b a se o f th e M anitou ( s e e F ig u r e 1 3 ) •
The Upper M anitou i s f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e to m icr o -
c r y s t a l l i n e , lig ^ it b u f f to l i g h t g r a y , m a ssiv e d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e w hich c o n t a in s a few lim e s to n e beds* m it ic lim e s to n e i s s i l t y * c a lc ite c r y s ta ls .
In p la c e s th e d o lb
A ls o , th e r e a re i n c l u s i o n s o f w h ite
A lthou gh n o t p r e s e n t ev e ry w h ere, th e u p p er
m ost u n it i s in p la c e s a r e d , m a s s iv e , f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e t h a t c o n t a in s v u g s lin e d w ith sm a ll w h ite
F ig u re 11. I n tr a f o r m a tio n a l u n co n fo rm ity o f t h e , b a s a l M a n ito u l o c a t e d up a n e a s t d ra w o f W i l l i a m s C a n y o n . May b e t h e same a s r t h a t i n F i g u r e 2 .
F ig u re 12. T y p ical th in -b e d d ed R a m p a r t R ange R o a d .
low er M anitou a lo n g th e
F ig u re 13. P e r s i s t e n t t h ic k d o lo m itic lim e sto n e bed ( low er l e f t hand c o rn e r) o b se rv ed e a s t o f th e c lo s e d r o a d l e a d i n g down t o t h e w a t e r s u p p l y pump a .
F ig u re 14. T y p ic a l e x p o su re o f th e c l i f f - f o r m i n g M anitou f o r m a t i o n on th e w e s t s i d e o f th e c a n y o n .
c a l c i t e c r y s t a ls #
A t y p i c a l ex p o su re o f th e c l i f f - f o r m i n g
M anitou i s shown i n F ig u r e 14# S e v e r a l i n s o lu b l e r e s id u e , c l a y a n a l y s i s , and c a r b o n a te s t a i n t e s t s were made on a l l p a r t s o f th e M an itou.
The g e n e r
a l d o lo m it ic I m p u r itie s o f t h i s fo r m a tio n were con firm ed by the s t a i n s u s in g th e F a irb a n k s s o l u t i o n . M a la c h ite g r e e n , s a f r a n in e "Y", and c r y s t a l v i o l e t were th e d y es u sed i n c l a y a n a l y s i s .
An e x tr e m e ly sm a ll c l a y co n
t e n t was in d ic a t e d f o r ea c h fo r m a tio n .
K a o lin ! t e and m ont-
m o r i l l o n i t e w ere o b se r v e d in m inute q u a n tity in th e M an itou . Sam ples from ea c h fo r m a tio n , e x c e p t the S a w a tch , were d ig e s t e d (3 0 gram s) in c o n c e n tr a te d HC1 and th e r e s id u e s t u d ie d .
The M anitou had a n o t ic e a b le amount o f r e s id u e ( 1 8 -
26 p e r c e n t ) w hich c o n s is t e d m a in ly o f c h e r t and rou n d ed , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a i n s . The r e s u l t s o f th e i n s o l u b l e
r e s id u e e x a m in a tio n s f o r
th e M anitou fo r m a tio n are p r e s e n te d b e lo w .
Sam ples a re l i s t
ed in d e s c e n d in g o r d e r tow ard th e b a se o f the M an itou. Sample
P e r c e n t I n s o lu b le R esid u e
B in o c u la r M icroscop e Examinat lo n
A
19
P r e d o m in a te ly w h it e , dolomol^Tic c h e r t and v e r y f i n e , rou n d ed , c l e a r q u a r tz g r a i n s .
B
23
W h ite, d e n s e , s l i g h t l y d o lo Lc c h e r t w ith some rou n ded, f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s .
C
20
Lacy w h ite c h e r t and c o a r s e , su b a n g u la r q u a rtz g r a i n s .
Sample
P e r c e n t I n s o lu b le R esidue
B in o c u la r M icroscop e Examina t io n
D
26
W hite d o lo m o Id le c h e r t and c l e a r , v e r y f i n e , rounded q u a rtz g r a in s .
E
18
F in e to c o a r s e , rou n d ed , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a i n s .
A t h in s e c t i o n o f m i c r o c r y s t a l l i n e , th ic k -b e d d e d m iddle M anitou was composed m a in ly o f o r g a n ic d e b r i s , w hich in c lu d e d c r l n o l d a l m a t e r ia l and sm a ll s i l i c i f l e d
g a str o p o d s.
The lo w er M anitou (M aher1s Ute P a s s ) l o c a l l y i s uncon form ab le w ith th e u n d e r ly in g Sawatch s a n d s to n e •
The uncon
f o r m i t i e s a re d i s t i n c t and e x h i b i t u n d u la tin g c o n t a c t s ( s e e F ig u r e 1 0 ) .
C onform able c o n t a c t s b etw een th e Sawatch and
M anitou e x i s t e lse w h e r e i n W illia m s Canyon, su ch a s a t th e N arrow s, The M anitou i s o v e r la in unconform ably by th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n .
An a n g u la r d is c o r d a n c e b etw een th e two f o r
m atio n s ranged from 5° - 8 ° SE.
D ip s in th e M anitou range
from 7 ° - 16° S E .; m ost o f th e d ip s are b etw een 8 ° - 10° SE. I t h a s a g e n e r a l s t r i k e o f N. 58°E . Age and C o r r e la t io n s
P a le o n t o lo g ic a l e v id e n c e h a s e s
t a b lis h e d th e age o f th e M anitou fo r m a tio n as Lower O r d o v ic ia n ( Beekmantown), a c c o r d in g to F in la y ( 1 , p . 6 ) , C loud and Barnes ( 9 , p* 3 7 1 ) , and Johnson ( 1 0 , p . 1 8 ) .
The l a t t e r th r e e c o r -
r e l a t e th e M anitou w ith th e A rbuckle lim e s to n e o f Oklahoma. A few f o s s i l s p r e v io u s ly d e s c r ib e d by th e above m en tio n ed a u th o r s were found a f t e r d i l i g e n t s e a r c h .
D o lo m it is a t io n
was so com p lete t h a t th e o r i g i n a l s t r u c t u r e h a s b een d e s t r o y ed In m ost o f th e sp ecim en s#
Below I s a l i s t o f Lower Ordo
v i c i a n f o s s i l s foun d in th e Manitou# F o s s il
O p h ile ta
A pproxim ate d is t a n c e from Base o f M anitou F eet ap«?
Raphi s tom ina
sp , ?
M ylonoceras D en ta liu m
15 35 & 7 5
?
35 55
?
U n id e n t if ie d g a str o p o d s
55
O rthoc e r a s
99
T r ilo b ite
? (L e io s te g iu m
105
?)
O p h ile t a , R a p h isto m in a . and s e v e r a l u n i d e n t i f i e d ga s tro p o d s and o t h e r m oH usks were o b ta in e d from th e b a s a l r e d , d e n s e , d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e #
D en ta liu m (? ) and th e t r i l o b i t e
L e io s te g iu m ( ? ) came from th e upper b u f f d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e * D evonian o r M is s is s ip p la n W illia m s Canyon L o c a tio n o f T y p ic a l E x p o su res
The b e s t e x p o su re o f th e
W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n i s im m e d ia te ly w est o f th e Cave o f th e Winds b u ild in g (ab ove th e e n tr a n c e to th e c a v e )#
F ig u re
15 shows th e com p lete s e c t i o n . T h ic k n e s s ;
T h ic k n e s s e s m easured f o r th e W illia m s Canyon
39.
fo r m a tio n ran ge from 15 to 23 f e e t , m ost o f th e m easurem ents a p p ro a ch in g o r e q u a lin g th e la r g e r f ig u r e *
The W illia m s
Canyon i s , on the w h o le, a r e l a t i v e l y t h in u n it* L it h o lo g y :
From a s tu d y o f th e p a p er b y B ra in erd ( 3 ,
p . 3 8 1 ) , e t a l , , i t appeared t h a t th e W illia m s Canyon form a t i o n was c h a r a c t e r iz e d b y a re n a c eo u s lim e s t o n e s and t h in san d s t o n e s a t i t s upper and lo w er c o n t a c t s .
These sa n d sto n e
u n i t s t h a t d e f in e d b o u n d a r ie s were la c k in g in s e v e r a l i n sta n c e s.
A ls o , th e b a s a l s a n d s to n e , where p r e s e n t , u s u a l ly
graded in t o a r e n a c e o u s lim e s t o n e .
j
The fo r m a tio n c o n s i s t s
m a in ly o f l i g h t crea m -g ra y to g r a y , m ic r o c r y s t a ll in e to f i n e Y l y c r y s t a l l i n e , th in -b e d d e d , a r e n a c e o u s , c h e r t y , m agnesia n lim e s t o n e .
j
M o ttle s o f purpl e . maroon and y e l l o w c o l o r s g iv e
th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n a d i s t i n c t i v e a p p e a ra n ce.
Thin
c a lc a r e o u s , m o ttle d s h a le s and s a n d s to n e s a r e in te r b e d d e d w ith th e d o lo m it ic lim e s t o n e .
In many in s t a n c e s th e r e I s a b a s a l
c o n g lo m e r a tic d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e t h a t marks an e r o s lo n a l su rfa ce.
In o rd er to g iv e a c l e a r e r p ic t u r e o f t h i s form a
t i o n , s e c t i o n E-E* ( s e e P la t e IV) i s d e s c r ib e d b elo w and a d e t a i l e d s t r a t i g r a p h i e column ( P la t e V I) o f I t i s p r e s e n te d # D e t a ile d L it h o lo g ie D e s c r ip t io n o f S e c t io n E -E *:
S e c t io n
m easured Im m ed ia tely w est o f , j u s t a b o v e , and to th e r e a r o f th e e n tr a n c e to th e Cave o f th e W inds, T. 13 S . , R. 67 W., S e c . 32.
Measured b y George B* Morgan, J r . , J u ly , 1 9 5 0 .
L ine o f s e c t i o n shown a s E-E* in P la t e IV .
F ig u re 15. C om plete e x p o s u r e o f W illia m s Canyon f o r m a t i o n w e s t o f t h e Cave o f t h e W in d s b u i l d i n g .
F ig u re 16. U n c o n fo rm a b le c o n t a c t b e tw e e n W i l l i a m s Canyon and M adison f o r m a t i o n s above th e cave e n t r a n c e .
-AT E
VI
Stratigraphie Col umn Ca nyon F o r m a t i o n
C o lo r
S ym bols
a rrr j
4
6
*1
-
I
-
9*
10
|
White
§
Buff
[ill
Light Gray
For
Detailed
Units Refer
Description to
Text
-
12 -
b
14
= ltXT~t
-
16
18
20
22
24
26
G. B
Morgan,
Ji
42 •
T h ick n ess U n it C um u lative M ls s is s lp p la n M adison 14
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , l i g h t g ra y to p in k w ith p u r p le m o t t l e s â v e r y f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , th ic k -b e d d e d ; 1 - 4 ” t h ic k in te r b e d d e d f i n e g r a in e d sa n d sto n e l a y e r s . Lime s to n e r e a d i ly r e c o g n iz e d by f i n e wavy la m in a t io n s . F i g u r e ' 16 shows t h i s u n i t w ith lo w er W illia m s C anyon.
3* - 0 ”
3 1- 0 ”
3f -9 ”
Gf - 9 ”
S a n d sto n e , g ra y w ith maroon, red and y e llo w m o t t le s p r o d u c in g a v a r i c o lo r e d bed in p l a c e s ; b a s a l sand sto n e f i n e - g r a i n e d , .th in -b e d d ed and h i g h l y w ea th ered ; f r i a b l e to p o o r ly cem ented w ith CaCO„; g r a d e s l a t e r a l l y and upwards in t o d i r t y w h ite , f in e - g r a in e d sa n d sto n e h a v in g round e d , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s ; W ell cem ented w ith CaCO„; few o a l c i t e lin e d v u g s; upper s a n d s to n e u n i t ab o u t 4 - 1 / 2 ” t h ic k l f-6 ”
8 f -3 ”
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , w h i t e , d en se to m l e r o e r y s t a l l l n e , , m a s siv e ; a r e n a c e o u s , c h e r ty ; g ra d es l a t e r a l l y and upwards in t o maroon and y e llo w m o tt le d , l i g h t g r a y , f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , m a s s iv e , lim y d o lo m ite co n t a in i n g C o a r s e -g r a in e d , p a p e r - t h in sa n d sto n e l a y e r s . 5 * -5 ”
1 3 1- 8 ”
D evonian o r M ls s is a lp p la n W illia m s Canyon 15
12
11
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , p in k to r e d d is h p in k w ith maroon m o t t l e s , f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , m a ssiv e ; a r e n a c e o u s; g ra d es l a t e r a l l y in t o v e r y c o a r s e g r a in e d , b u f f s a n d s to n e , h a v in g rou n d ed , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a i n s . V a r ia b le t h ic k n e s s due* to u n d u la t in g c o n t a c t . See F ig u r e 1 6 .
43e
T h ic k n ess U n it C um ulative 10
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , y e llo w is h b u f f w ith p u r p le m o t t l e s , g r a n u la r to d e n se ; w ea th e rs san d y; c o n ta in s rou n ded , f r o s t e d , c o a r se q u a rtz g r a in s ; one l - 1 / é ” t h ic k , c a l c a r e o u s , f i n e - g r a i n e d , b u f f sa n d s t o n e , h i g h l y w ea th ered ; v a r ia b le th ic k n e s s *
3'-O " 1 6 * - 8 W
9
S a n d sto n e , b u f f to brown (w ea th ered ) and w h ite to y e l lo w is h brown ( f r e s h ) , f i n e - to m ed iu m -grain ed , th in -b e d d e d in b a s a l p o r t io n , m a ss iv e ; d o l o m i t i c , v e r y w e ll cem ented; some q u a rtz g r a in s show seco n d a r y f a c e t i n g ; c o n t a in s s m a ll lim e s to n e p e b b le s ; in te r b e d d e d s h a l e . See- F ig u r e 1 7 . l* -7 " 1 8 * -3 ”
8
S h a le , lim y , crea m -g ra y ; wavy b ed s t h a t t h ic k e n and t h in ; s l i g h t l y a r e n a c e o u s; s m a ll amount o f g r a n u la r d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e th ro u g h o u t; f r i a b le . -
19»-64"
7
C overed .
I'-IO " 8 1 » -44"
6
S a n d sto n e , g r a y w ith r e d , maroon and p u r p le m o t t l e s , medium- to c o a r s e g r a in e d , v e r y c o a r s e - g r a in e d a t t o p , wavy, th in -b e d d e d ; subrounded, f r o s t e d q u a r tz g r a in s ; w e ll cem ented w ith CaCO^; c o n t a in s many g ra y d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e l e n s e s ; c o m p o sitio n v a r i a b l e , g r a d in g in t o a ren a ceo u s d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e l a té r a l l y . 0*
2 1 * -8 11
5
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , l i g h t g ra y to w h ite w ith p u r p le m o t t l e s , v e r y f i n e l y g r a n u la r ; v e r y a re n a c eo u s and w ea th e rs san dy; s l i g h t l y f r i a b l e . 0 * -1&" 21*-94"
4
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , r u s t y brown to b u f f w ith red and maroon m o t t le s , f i n e l y g r a n u la r , m a s s iv e ; v u g s l i n e d w ith c a i d t e c r y s t a l s ; h ig h ly w ea th ered ; v e r y a ren a ceo u s s h a le o c c u r s in t h i n , ir r e g u la r s t r e a k s . 0 1-6 4 * 22*-4^
T h ic k n ess U n it C um u lative D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , l i g h t g r a y , f i n e l y g r a n u la r to f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , m a ssiv e ; in te r b e d d e d b u f f lim e s to n e s t r i n g e r s and v e r y t h in ( 1 / 8 - 1 / 4 " ) , brow n, c o a r s e - to m edium -grained sa n d sto n e l a y e r s ; lim e s to n e w ea th e rs sm ooth and sa n d y . S ee F ig u re 1 8 .
2*-6"
24*-10"
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , l i g h t g ra y to b u f f , f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e to m ic r o c r y s t a llin e ; b a sa l p a rt h ig h ly w ea th ered and th in -b e d d e d , l e s s a re n a c eo u s than upper u n it ; upper p a r t th ic k -b e d d e d , c o n t a in in g t h in s t r e a k s o f l i g h t g ra y c h e r t ; c a l c i t e in c l u s i o n s th ro u g h o u t; b a s a l u n i t c o n t a in s few sm a ll ( 1 - 3 ram.) lim e s to n e p e b b le s . F ig u re 19 shows u n it.
2 f -0 ”
2 6 * -1 0 ”
T o ta l W illia m s Canyon
2 3 * -1 0 ”
O r d o v ic ia n M anitou 1
D o lo m itic lim e s t o n e , b u f f to l i g h t g r a y , f i n e l y g r a n u la r to f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e , p l a t y to th in -b e d d e d , a r e n a c e o p s; u pp er b ed s v e r y h ig h l y w eath ered and san dy; b a s a l co n g lo m e r a tic d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e 1* t h ic k c o n t a in in g s m a ll and la r g e lim e s to n e p e b b le s ; much o f u n i t covered.
5 * -1 0 ”
3 2 1- 8 ”
I n s o lu b le r e s id u e s o b ta in e d from t h i s fo r m a tio n show a la r g e sand c o n t e n t (up to 50 p e r c e n t ) .
C arbonate s t a i n
t e s t s in d ic a t e d th e lim e s to n e s to be p r e d o m in a te ly d o lo m itic *
Dye t e s t s d id n o t i n d i c a t e th e p r e s e n c e o f c l a y s .
The r e s u l t s o f th e in s o lu b le r e s id u e s t u d ie s ap p ear b e lo w .
F igure 17. S a n d sto n e w ith d o l o m i t ic lim e s to n e (U n it 9) n e a r th e m id d le o f t h e d e t a i l e d W illia m s Canyon f o r m a t io n sectio n .
F ig u re 18. D o l o m i t i c l i m e s t o n e ( U n i t 3) i n Canyon f o r m a t i o n above t h e c av e e n t r a n c e .
the W illiam s
46
Firjuro 19. B a s a l d o l o m i t i c l i m e s t o n e o f W illia m s Canyon f o r m a t io n above th e cave e n t r a n c e .
Sam ples a r e l i s t e d in d e sc e n d in g o r d e r tow ard th e b a se o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n . Sample
P e r c e n t I n s o lu b le R esidu e
B in o c u la r M icroscop e Examina tio n
A
49
B
4
F in e , a n g u la r to rou n ded, f r o s t e d , q u a rtz g r a i n s .
C
32
Medium- to f i n e - g r a i n e d , round e d , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s ; some g r a in s c l e a r and su b a n g u la r .
V ery c o a r s e - to c o a r s e - g r a in e d , rou n ded, f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s ; l i t t l e l a c y , w h ite c h e r t .
F in e - g r a in e d , rou n d ed , f r o s t e d q u a rtz g r a in s w ith tr a c e o f w h ite d o lb m o ld ic c h e r t .
D
S t r a t ig r a p h ie R e la t io n s h ip s 8
The W illia m s Canyon form a
t i o n i s se p a r a te d from th e M anitou and th e M adison b y u ncon f o r m i t i e s , and u s u a l l y h a s h i g h l y u n d u la t in g , w ea th ered c o n t a c t s a s shown in F ig u r e s 1 6 'and 1 9 .
B ou n d aries a re marked
b y c o n g lo m e r a tic lim e s t o n e s , d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e b e d s , and t h in sa n d sto n e u n i t s .
V a r ia t io n s in t h ic k n e s s may be due to
th e e f f e c t o f th e u n c o n fo r m itie s ( e r o s i o n ) .
The W illia m s
Canyon fo r m a tio n s t r i k e s N. 32°E . and d ip s 6°SE . E nvironm ent o f D e p o s it io n :
Lack o f p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l
e v id e n c e makes an a c c u r a te sta te m e n t o f th e d e p o s i t i o n a l en viron m en t o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n more d i f f i c u lt.
The W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n p r o b a b ly w a s .d e p o s it e d
under s h a llo w to d eep m arine c o n d it io n s w ith an o s c i l l a t i n g sh o re l i n e , b e c a u se o f i t s s m a ll and s l i g h t l y v a r i a b le t h ic k
n e se #
In te r b e d d e d , a re n a c eo u s d o lo m it ic lim e s t o n e s , s h a l e s ,
and th in -b e d d e d sa n d s to n e s su p p o rt t h i s v ie w ,
The c l a s t i c
m a t e r ia l found i n th e b a se (and t o p ) , ^such a s lim e s to n e and c h e r t fr a g m e n ts , p r o b a b ly were ero d ed from th e M anitou and .w a s
red e p o s it e d in t h i s fo r m a tio n . Age and C o r r e la t io n *
No f o s s i l s have b een foun d in th e
W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n , and c o r r e l a t i o n (b y Maher) was on th e b a s i s o f s u b s u r fa c e in fo r m a tio n .
As m en tion ed on page 1 7 ,
Maher b e l i e v e s th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n t o be l i t h o l o g i c a l l y s i m i l a r to th e Spergen lim e s to n e and p o s s i b l y th e War saw lim e s to n e o f e a s t e r n C o lo r a d o ,. Bndothyra (b a l l e y ü ? ) h a s b een found in th e S p e r g e n ,. Maher s t a t e d t h a t O r d o v ic ia n s t r a t a are o v e r la p p e d (w e stw a r d ly ) by M l s s is s lp p la n r o c k s from w e ste r n Kansas- to e a s t e r n C o lo r a d o ,
The W illia m s Canyon
i s c o n s id e r e d by some t o be D evonian i n age and i s c o r r e la t e d w ith th e P a r tin g q u a r t z ! t e ( 3 , p p , 390 a n d '3 9 1 ) on th e b a s i s o f lith o lo g ie s im ila r it ie s ,
Johnson ( s e e page 17) found
D evon ian f o s s i l f i s h p l a t e s a t C o to p a x i, C o lo r a d o , w hich i s c l o s e r to M anitou S p r in g s (s o u th w e s t ) th an th e s u b s u r fa c e c o r r e l a t i o n s o f Maher,
These f o s s i l f i s h e s were ta k e n from
th e lo w er C h a ffee fo r m a tio n ( P a r t i n g ) ,
Both Maher and John
son b a se d t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r age c o r r e l a t i o n s upon p a le o n t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e a t o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s th an W illia m s Canyon, Maher c la im e d o t h e r p o in t s o f su p p o rt as a lr e a d y m en tion ed f o r a M l s s is s lp p la n a g e . The work o f th e p r e s e n t w r it e r in th e W illia m s Canyon
a r e a d id n o t s o lv e th e q u e s tio n o f a D evonian or M ls s is s lp p la n age.
T h e r e fo r e , th e age o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n h a s
b een shown as e i t h e r o f th e s e two sy ste m s on P la t e s I I , I I I , V I, and V I I . M is s ls s lp p ia n * M adison L o c a tio n o f T y p ic a l E x p o su res
The M adison i s n o t o b
se r v e d in i t s e n t i r e t y in W illia m s Canyon b eca u se o f e r o s i o n . A good ex p o su re o v e r l i e s th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n im m e d ia te ly w e s t o f th e Cave o f th e Winds b u il d i n g ( above th e e n tr a n c e to th e c a v e ) . H is to r y :
Much has b een w r it t e n on the M is s ls s lp p ia n o f
C o lo r a d o , and i t i s a t a s k to s e l e c t o n ly th o s e Im portan t p a p e rs r e f e r r i n g to th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a .
A broad te r m i
n o lo g y ( 1 4 , p . 4 3 and 1 5 , p p . 531 and 532) has a r is e n in th e d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e M is s ls s lp p ia n o f C o lo ra d o .
C ross ( 1 1 , p p .
2 - 4 ) u sed th e term M ills a p f o r p a r t o f th e M anitou S p r in g s s e c t i o n , b u t th e term i s now d is c a r d e d .
G ir ty ( 1 4 , p , 169)
added much t o th e th en s c a n t y know ledge o f the M i s s i s s i p p i t o a lo n g th e F ro n t Range. u s e f u l to d a y .
H is p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e i s s t i l l
B r a in e r d , e t a l . , h o w ev er, c l a s s i f i e d
th e M ls-
s i s s i p p i a n o f t h i s a rea in g r e a t e r d e t a i l than e v e r b e f o r e , and t h i s t h e s i s u s e s h i s n o m e n c la tu r e .
Maher s t u d ie d th e
M is s ls s lp p ia n o f th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a in g r e a t d e t a i l , and h i s work o f f e r s much in fo r m a tio n .
T h ic k n e s s :
The g r e a t e s t t h ic k n e s s m easured f o r th e Madi
so n was 95 f e e t 2 in c h e s#
Maher (4 ) and B ra in erd ( 3 , p . 3 8 0 ) ,
e t a l » , o b ta in e d 100 f e e t #
E r o sio n p r o b a b ly h a s red u ced th e
o r i g i n a l t h ic k n e s s o f th e M adison fo r m a tio n i n th e W illia m s Canyon area* L lt h o lo g y s
The M adison fo rm a tio n i s p in k to g r a y , c r y
s t a l l i n e to d en se to g r a n u la r , a r e n a c e o u s , d o lo m it ic lim e sto n e #
Some lim e s to n e and sa n d sto n e u n i t s are in te r b e d d e d
w ith th e d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e *
The e n t i r e fo r m a tio n i s c h e r t y .
The lo w er p a r t o f th e M adison i s shown in F ig u r e 2 0 , w hich i s one o f th e lim e s to n e p i t s fo r m e r ly e x p lo it e d f o r lim e .
F ig u re
21 i s p a r t o f t h i s p i t , sh ow ing th e p in k and g r a y , m a s s iv e , d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e in g r e a t e r d e t a i l ,
Ihe b a s a l d o lo m it ic
lim e s to n e h a s v e r y d i s t i n c t i v e f i n e , p in k , wavy la m in a tio n s and p u r p le m o t t le s .
I t i s th ic k -b e d d e d , and u s u a l l y c o n t a in s
la r g e c a l c i t e i n c l u s i o n s .
The t e x t u r e i s m i c r o e r y s t a l l l n e .
The b in o c u la r m icro sco p e r e v e a le d t h i s lo w er zone to c o n t a in c h l o r i t e , m u s c o v it e , and some g la u c o n it e i n p l a c e s .
F ig u re
22 i s a good exam ple o f some o f th e u n u su a l c h e r t c o n f ig u r a t i o n s o b se r v e d in th e d o lo m it ic lim e s t o n e .
C arbonate s t a i n
t e s t s were c o n c lu s iv e f o r d o lo m ite , and c l a y d y e s in d ic a t e d th e g e n e r a l a b sen ce o f c la y s *
A s l i g h t amount o f k a o U n it e
and r a o n tm o r ilIo n ite was p r e s e n t i n p l a c e s .
A maroon to y e llo w
i s h brown, m o t t le d , a r e n a c e o u s s h a le bed c o n t a in in g a few t h in lim e s to n e and la m in a te d , f in e - g r a in e d sa n d sto n e s t r i n g e r s was
F igure' 20. D o lo m itic l i m e s t o n e o f th e M adison i n a p i t on th e e a s t e r n r im o f th e c an y o n show ing t y p i c a l p i n k c o l o r .
F igure 21. C lose-up o f F ig u re 20, g reater d e ta il.
show ing t h e M adison i n
52.
F ig u re 22. One o f m an y c h e r t c o n f i g u r a t i o n s T h i s o ne i s a l o n g t h e R a m p a r t Range R o a d .
In th e M adison.
F ig u re 23. U p p e r m a s s i v e , s l i g h t l y b r e c c i a t e d M a d i s o n d o lo m i t i c lim e s to n e above the cave e n t r a n c e .
o b se r v e d above th e e n tr a n c e to th e Cave o f th e Winds» s h a le I s 3 - 1 /2 f e e t above th e b a s e o f the M adison. s to n e p e b b le s were a ls o v i s i b l e in t h i s b ed .
The
Lime
The upper
M adison i s l i g h t g ra y to b u f f on a w ea th ered s u r fa c e and l i g h t p in k to r o s e - p in k on a f r e s h e x p o s u r e .
I t i s d en se
to f i n e l y g r a n u la r to v e r y f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e and m a s s iv e . The upper u n it i s v e r y c h e r t y and a r e n a c e o u s . l i g h t g r a y , p in k , orange and ir r e g u la r in s i z e .
The c h e r t i s B r e c c ia te d
and p l a t y zo n es a ls o c h a r a c t e r iz e th e upper p o r t io n o f th e M adison.
F ig u r e s 23 and 24 show t h i s m a ssiv e d o lo m it ic lim e
sto n e . T a b u la ted r e s u l t s o f th e in s o lu b l e r e s id u e a n a ly s e s o f th e M adison f o l l o w .
Sam ples a r e l i s t e d
in d e s c e n d in g o r d e r
toward th e b ase o f th e M adison fo r m a tio n . Sample
P e r c e n t I n s o lu b le R esid u e
B in o c u la r M icroscop e E xam inatio n
A
12
G ranu lar d r u s y , w h it e , v e r y f in e - g r a in e d q u a r tz , a n g u la r to su b a n g u la r; l i t t l e m u s c o v ite ; some w h it e , g r a n u la r , d o lo m o ld ic c h e r t.
B
15
P re d o m in a n tly cream c o lo r e d granu l a r c h e r t w ith d r u sy , v e r y f i n e g r a in e d , su b a n g u la r q u a rtz g r a in s
C
9
F i n e l y g r a n u la r q u a rtz g r a i n s , s l i g h t l y a r g i l l a c e o u s , cream w h ite c h e r t fr a g m e n ts.
D
6
S i l t y , g ra y s h a le w ith many v e r y f i n e - g r a i n e d , su b a n g u la r q u a rtz g r a in s ; some d ru sy q u a r tz ; l i t t l e m u s c o v ite ; tr a c e o f c h l o r i t e .
54.
F i g u r e 24# U p p e r , t h i n - b e d d e d , s l i g h t l y b r e c c i a t e d M adison d o l o m i t i c l i m e s t o n e ab o v e t h e .cave e n t r a n c e .
S t r a t ig r a p h ie R e la t io n s h ip s :
The M adison r e s t s unc o n -
fo rm a b ly upon th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n and unco n fo rm a b ly u n d e r lie s th e F o u n ta in s a n d s to n e • M adison i s 8 ° S E ., and i t
The a v era g e d ip o f th e
s t r i k e s N. 6 4 °E ,
Where th e W illia m s
Canyon h a s b een removed b y e r o s io n th e M adison r e s t s u n co n fo rm a b ly upon th e Manitou# Environm ent o f D e p o s it io n :
The m a ssiv e d o lo m it ic lim e
s t o n e s were d e p o s it e d in a la r g e s e a t h a t co v e re d m ost o f C olorad o d u r in g M is s ls s lp p ia n tim e , and th e t h in sa n d s to n e s fou n d w it h in the M adison in d i c a t e the p r e s e n c e o f some r e s t r i c t e d la n d mass from w hich t h e s e se d im en ts c o u ld be d e r iv e d .
T h in -b ed d ed d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e s th ro u g h o u t th e M adi
son i n d i c a t e t h a t th e sh o re l i n e f lu c t u a t e d to some d egree# Age and C o r r e la t io n :
The f o llo w in g f o s s i l s were found
i n th e M adison fo rm a tio n # F e e t from Base ^M adison)
Specim en L ln g u la
s p • (? )
59
U n id e n t if ie d mo H u sk (C y c le n d o c e r a s ? )
40
M. C o llig n o n ( 2 , pp# 13 and 14) i s th e o n ly g e o l o g i s t who h a s d e s c r ib e d a f o s s i l found in th e M adison o f W illia m s Canyon#
He d is c o v e r e d A c tln o c r ln u s m arcoul C o llig n o n
( c r in o id ) p r e s e n t i n the s t r a t a #
A cco rd in g to Maher (4 )
f o s s i l s c o l l e c t e d from o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s o f th e same form a t i o n i n d i c a t e a M is s ls s lp p ia n a g e s
Maher p la c e d th e M adison
( h i s H a r d s c r a b b le ) in the Meramec o f M iddle M ls s is a lp p la n
âge.
Johnson ( 1 0 , p . 52) and B ra in erd ( 5 , p p . 391 and 3 9 2 ) ,
e t - a l . , s t a t e d t h a t th e M adison I s Lower M ls s is s lp p la n (K in derh ook) and p o s s i b l y p a r t o f th e lo w er B u r lin g to n o f the M i s s i s s i p p i V a lle y in a g e .
These two w r it e r s c o r r e la t e d
th e M adison w ith th e L e a d v llle lim e s to n e *
Maher*s c o r r e l a
t i o n e s t a b l i s h e d the M adison as th e e q u iv a le n t o f th e S t . L o u is lim e s to n e o f w e ste r n K a n sa s.
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY G en era l S ta tem en t The W illia m s Canyon a r e a d o e s n o t e x h i b i t c o m p lic a te d stru ctu r e• The U te P a ss r e v e r s e f a u l t ( 1 , p p , 11 and 12) h a s a f f e c t e d o n ly th e so u th w e ste r n p o r t io n o f th e W illia m s Canyon area.
The F ro n t Range o f th e Rocky M ountains i s s e p a r a te d
from th e Rampart R ange, w hich in c lu d e s p a r t o f th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a , by t h i s o b liq u e m ajor f a u l t . m a te ly N, 4 0 °W,
I t s t r i k e s a p p r o x i
Most f a u l t s a lo n g th e f o o t h i l l s b e l t n o r th
Of C olorado S p r in g s i n t e r s e c t th e F ro n t Range a t an o b liq u e a n g le ( n o r t h w e s t ) , b u t 75 p e r c e n t o f th e f a u l t s in th e W illia m s Canyon a re a s t r i k e a lm o st due n o r th w ith a s l i g h t n o r th w e s t t r e n d .
Four f a u l t s w ere o b se r v e d in t h i s w e ste r n
r e g io n , and a r e la b e le d F - I , F - I I , F - I I I , and F -IV on P la t e II,
The v e r t i c a l d ia p la c m e n t amounts to a t l e a s t one m ile
on th e U te P a ss f a u l t .
The f a u l t s in t h i s t h e s i s a re a are
s m a ll. In d e e d , compared w ith th e U te P a ss f a u l t ,
F in la y ( 1 ,
p p , 1 1 -1 5 ) d is c u s s e d t h i s la r g e f a u l t i n d e t a i l in th e C o lo rado S p r in g s f o l i o # The la r g e s t r a t ig r a p h ie t h ic k n e s s e s m easured f o r th e Cam brian, O r d o v ic ia n , and M ls s is s lp p la n fo r m a tio n s in th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a may have been l a i d down in a g e n e r a l *; d e p o s i t i o n a l b a s in In d ep en d en t o f th e p r e s e n t s t r u c t u r a l l y n e g a t iv e a r e a c a l l e d th e M anitou embayment.
The o r i g i n o f
th e b a s in and embayment i s
t r e a t e d more f u l l y on page 7#
W illia m s Canyon l i e s in t h i s t r a n s v e r s e , w estw ard p lu n g in g s y n c lin e (M anitou em baym ent).
M cLaughlin ( 7 , p . 1978) s t a t e d
t h a t th e Saw atch , M an itou , and M adison fo r m a tio n s appear in t h e i r t h i c k e s t d ev elo p m en t in th e "embayment" b etw een Canon C it y and th e Colorado-W yom ing s t a t e l i n e , b u t Maher (4 ) d is » a g r e e s , m a in ta in in g t h a t th e Sawatch t h ic k e n s n o rth w a rd . M cLaughlin d id n o t in d i c a t e w heth er he meant th e Im m ediate * M anitou S p r in g s a r e a o r n o t by th e term "embayment".
The
W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n i s t h ic k e r e lse w h e r e (P e r r y P a r k ). O ther than th e extrem e w e ste r n p o r t io n o f th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a ntfiere f a u l t i n g o c c u r s , th e r e i s a g e n e r a l s o u t h e a s t d i p . I n d ic a t in g a l o c a l m o n o c lIn a l s t r u c t u r e w ith in th e embayment. F o ld in g No m ajor f o l d i n g o cc u r re d In th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a . In f a c t , th e o n ly s i g n s o f f o l d i n g are th o se g iv e n in F ig u r e s 29 and 30 r e l a t e d to th e f a u l t i n g .
The two f o l d s a re s m a ll.
I t i s p ro b a b le th a t many more su ch l o c a l f o l d s on ce e x i s t e d , b u t have b een removed b y e r o s io n . I f th e f a u l t i n g i s c o n n e c te d w ith th e U te P a ss r e v e r s e fa u lt, i t
i s l i k e l y t h a t th e f o l d s a ls o form ed d u r in g th e
t e c t o n i c a c t i v i t y a t th e c l o s e o f th e C r e ta c e o u s . F a u lt in g The Major f a u l t F - I ( s e e P la t e I I ) s t r i k e s N. 10°W. and
has a s t r a t i g r a p h i e throw r a n g in g from 6 0 -1 0 0 f e e t .
The f a u l t
i s shown in c r o s s s e c t i o n X-X* w ith a s t e e p w estw ard d ip , b u t th e e x a c t amount o f d ip c o u ld n o t be d e te r m in e d .
The h a n g in g
w a ll a p p ea rs to have moved down, so the f a u l t i s c l a s s e d a s normal ( g r a v i t y ) , . F ig u r e 25 shows th in -b e d d e d M anitou d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e d ip p in g to th e w e s t .
P ik e s Peak g r a n it e l i e s
t o th e e a s t o f th e th in -b e d d e d M anitou ( s e e F ig u re 2 6 ) , and i s much h ig h e r than i t sh o u ld be in normal s t r a t i g r a p h i e s e quence . g r a n ite .
The f a u l t t r a c e l i e s b etw een th e M anitou and th e T h is r e l a t i o n s h i p may be o b se r v e d in c r o s s s e c t i o n
X-X* ( P la t e V I I ) .
The s t r a t i g r a p h i e throw o f th e M anitou
w it h r e s p e c t to the pre-C am brian g r a n it e s u g g e s t s a norm al fa u lt.
In th e v i c i n i t y o f F ig u r e 27 s l i c k e n s l d e s in th e
Saw atch w ere n o te d as w e ll a s some b r e c c i a t i o n on to p o f th e pre-C am brian P ik e s Peak g r a n i t e .
The normal f a u l t i s
b e l i e v e d t o c o n tin u e n orthw eard th rou gh th e c e n te r o f t h i s f i g u r e . A good exam ple o f s t r a t i g r a p h i e r e l a t i o n s may be s e e n by n o t in g th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e b a s a l w h ite Saw atch sa n d s to n e s e g m e n ts. ( l e f t c e n te r )
The p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t th e lo w e r r id g e
in F ig u r e 27 may be th e r e s u l t o f w arping and
f o l d i n g was c o n s id e r e d , s i n c e th e p o s i t i o n o f a d ja c e n t s t r a t a opens t h i s aven u e o f e x p la n a t io n .
However, th e p r e s e n c e o f
b r e c c i a t i o n on one s i d e o f t he p rop osed f a u l t ( u p th row n ), s l i c k e n s l d e s on th e downthrown s i d e , th e f a c t t h a t t h i s was th e most p ro b a b le p a th o f any northw ard e x t e n s io n o f th e f a u l t t r a c e , and th e c l e a r s t r a t i g r a p h i e throw prompted
60.
F igure 25. W estw ard d i p p i n g M a n ito u show ing t h e ' p r e s e n c e o f a n o r m a l f a u l t ( e a s t o f U. S . H i g h w a y 2 4 ) .
F igure 26. V a l le y a d j a c e n t to w estw ard d i p p in g M anitou th ro u g h w hich norm al f a u l t i s b e lie v e d to p a ss ( e a s t of U. S . H i g h w a y 2 4 ) .
F igure 27. C o n tinued north w ard tr a c e o f th e norm al f a u l t p a s s e s b e tw e e n th e s m a ll d o w n - s e t r i d g e i n the l e f t c e n t e r a n d t h e h i g h e r r i d g e i n t h e u p p e r r i g h t ( e a s t o f U. 3 . H i g h way 2 4 ) .
F ig u re 28. II).
T hrust f a u lt
(F -III)
in se c tio n
B-B*
(see P la te
VI I
U. S. Highway
24
PLATE
Pennsylvanian
^ D e v o n ia n
or"
Fountain
Ord ovician
Mani tou
M is s is s ip p io n
G. B
Morgan,
Jr.
th e d i s m i s s a l o f th e warp th eo ry *
H owever, some f o l d i n g may
h ave r e s u l t e d b e fo r e f a i l u r e * A sm a ll t h r u s t f a u l t ( F - I I I ) i s shown in F ig u re 2 8 , w hich is
lo c a t e d s t r a t i g r a p h l c a l l y in th e upper Saw atch o f s e c t i o n
B-B+.
In F ig u r e 28 th e head o f a g e o lo g ic hammer i s shown
r e s t i n g upon an e i g h t in c h t h ic k g l a u c o n i t i c bed ( s e c t i o n B-Bf )e
Upon c l o s e i n s p e c t i o n , th e same bed may b e o b se r v e d
on th e o t h e r s id e o f th e f a u l t p la n e *
A s t r a t ig r a p h ie throw
o f 1*5 f e e t was m easured from t h i s g l a u c o n i t i c l a y e r .
It is
I n t e r e s t i n g to n o te t h a t d r i l l h o l e s o c c u r around th e f a u l t . N e v e r t h e le s s , th e f a u l t p r o b a b ly e x i s t e d b e f o r e th e b l a s t i n g b e c a u se o f th e p r o x im ity o f o t h e r la r g e and s m a ll f a u l t s .
The
f a u l t h a s a s t r i k e o f N* 8 8 ° B ., and i t s p la n e d ip s 32°NW*, th e h a n g in g w a ll b e in g on th e n o r th w e s t s id e and th e f o o t w a l l on th e s o u t h e a s t sid e *
Extrem e ca re was e x e r c is e d in o b t a in
in g tr u e t h ic k n e s s e s b e c a u se o f th e p r e se n c e o f t h i s f a u l t ( s e c t i o n B-B1 ) , The n e x t two f a u l t s form ed when t h e r e was a r e l e a s e o f s t r e s s b e c a u s e o f th e c e s s a t i o n o f f o l d i n g .
F ig u r e 29 i s a
v ie w o f an i d e a l b r e a k - t h r u s t f o l d , la b e le d F-IV on P la t e I I * I t s t r i k e s N, 8°W ,, a lm o st th e same a s th e norm al f a u l t , F - I . O b v io u s ly , th e s m a ll, p a r t i a l l y recum bent f o l d r u p tu r e d , t h r u s t in g th e b a s a l w h ite Saw atch sa n d sto n e upward a p p r o x i m a te ly 10 f e e t . F ig u r e 30 shows th e im m ediate a r e a o f a n o th e r s m a ll t h r u s t f a u l t ( F - I I ) , w hich s t r i k e s N . 13°We
I t a p p ea rs t h a t
F igure 29. B re a k -th ru s t f a u l t produced by f o ld in g on P l a t e I I ) .
F igure
30*
A nother
th ru st fa u lt
( F - I I on P l a t e
II).
(F-IV
th e se d im e n ts o r i g i n a l l y form ed a s m a ll m o n oclin e w h ich -w as d e p r e s s e d and f o ld e d t o su ch an e x t e n t t h a t th e b a s a l w h ite Saw atch sa n d sto n e was ru p tu red*
I t i s n o t known w h eth er th e
sa n d sto n e bed on th e f o o t w a l l u n d e r th r u s t i t s v e r t i c a l com p o n e n t on th e h a n g in g w a ll o r n ot*
The v e r t i c a l com ponent
o f th e sa n d s to n e may h ave b een t h r u s t o v e r th e f o o t w a ll* C ro ss s e c t i o n X-X* was drawn so t h a t th e norm al ( F - I ) and t h r u s t ( F - I I ) f a u l t s w ould be shown as th e y a f f e c t e d th e se d im e n ts and in t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p s to ea ch o th e r*
Ih e
d i r e c t i o n o f th e c r o s s s e c t i o n I s g iv e n on P la t e II* The s m a ll amount o f f a u l t i n g p r o b a b ly o c c u r r e d d u r in g th e Laramide r e v o lu t io n a t th e same tim e th e U te P a ss r e v e r s e f a u l t formed*
The fo r m a tio n o f th e norm al f a u l t ( F - I ) p ro b a
b l y to o k p la c e a f t e r o r i n c o n ju n c tio n w ith th e o r i g i n o f th e U te P a ss f a u l t in o r d e r to r e l i e v e c e r t a i n s t r e s s e s s e t up In t h i s r e g io n *
GEOLOGIC HISTORY G en eral S ta tem en t No a tte m p t w i l l be made to r e v ie w th e volum e o f l i t e r a tu r e a v a i l a b l e on th e F ro n t Range o f th e Rooky M o u n ta in s, p a r t i c u l a r l y th e f o o t h i l l s r e g io n .
The d i s c u s s i o n o f g e o lo g ic
h i s t o r y w i l l b e c o n fin e d to th o s e f e a t u r e s p e r t in e n t to th e M anitou S p r in g s r e g io n . A g e n e r a l v ie w o f th e a r e a u nd er d i s c u s s i o n i s g iv e n i n F ig u r e 3 1 , w hich a l s o shows th e m o n o c lln a l d ip t o th e s o u th e a st.
F ig u r e 32 i s a v ie w ta k e n in a so u th e r n d i r e c t i o n ,
lo o k in g down toward th e mouth o f W illia m s Canyon. The Sawatfeh, M a n ito u , W illia m s Canyon, and M adison form a t i o n s ex p o se d i n th e M anitou embayment a r e p a r t o f a f a i r l y Som p lete P a ls o s o le s e c t i o n w hich I s p r e s e n t on th e e a s t e r n f la n k o f th e F ro n t Range s o u th o f C olorad o S p r in g s .
B ra in srd
( 3 , p . 3 9 6 ) , e t a l . , s u g g e s t e d t h a t su c h a s e c t i o n i n d i c a t e s th e p r e s e n c e o f a f a i r l y c o n tin u o u s tro u g h in t h i s r e g io n th r o u g h o u t P a le o z o ic tim e .
The d e p o s l t i o n a l b a s in s u g g e s t e d
by th e w r it e r p r o b a b ly was a p a r t o f t h i s tr o u g h .
J . H. John#
so n and T. S . L o v e r ln g ( 1 6 , p . 372) s t a t e d t h a t th e r e was a p e r s i s t e n t la n d mass*’i n th e F ro n t Range r e g io n d u r in g th e P a le o s o ic and p a r t o f th e M e s o z o ic ,
Any b a s in o r tro u g h
p r e s e n t i n th e C olorad o S p r in g s r e g io n a t th e same tim e m ust h ave b e e n to th e e a s t o f t h i s p o s i t i v e a r e a .
G e n e r a lly , th e
o r i g i n a l so u r c e f o r iquoh o f th e se d im en ts c o m p r isin g th e
67.
F ig u r e 31. e a st d ip .
V ie w o f W i l l i a m s C a n y o n s h o w i n g g e n e r a l s o u t h
F ig u re 32. View o f W i l l i a m s C anyon l o o k i n g s o u t h , f r o m t h e R a m p a r t Range R o a d .
tak en
P a le o z o ic p re-P en n s y lv a n ! an fo r m a tio n s in th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a p r o b a b ly was to th e n o r th w e st and w est# P a le o z o ic Cambrian The Saw atch sa n d sto n e o f Upper Cambrian age was d e p o s i t e d upon a sm ooth , u n d u la tin g pre-C am brian su r fa c e #
Such
a c o n t a c t may in d i c a t e t h a t th e pre-C am brian underw ent con s id e r a b le e r o s io n p r io r t o Upper Cambrian tim e #
The b a s a l
Ig n e o u s s u r f a c e r e p r e s e n t s p a r t o f th e P ik e s Peak g r a n it e b a t h o l i t h , w h ich In tru d ed th e su rr o u n d in g s c h i s t s and g n e i s s e s i n th e l a t t e r p a r t o f pre-C am brian tim e#
T here i s a d i s t i n c t
a n g u la r u n c o n fo r m ity (F ig u r e 3) b etw een th e pre-C am brian and th e Cambrian#
A c o n g lo m e r a tic sa n d sto n e a t th e b a se o f th e
S aw atch marks t h i s su r fa c e # to th e b a t h o l l t h i c i n t r u s i o n .
The a n g u la r it y p r o b a b ly i s due A f t e r th e I n t r u s io n and up
l i f t , an e x t e n s iv e i n t e r v a l o f e r o s io n o c c u r r e d , and the Sa w atch was d e p o s it e d upon th e smooth s u r f a c e . The v e r y s m a ll amount o f a rk o se o b se r v e d in th e Saw atch • a s compared w ith th e F o u n ta in fo r m a tio n i n d i c a t e s a d i s t a n t so u r c e f o r th e se d im e n ts o f t h i s Upper Cambrian s t r a t i g r a p h i e u n it # The g r e a t amount o f g la u c o n it e i n th e u p p er Saw atch and th e c r o s s - b e d d in g th r o u g h o u t th e lo w er p a r t s u g g e s t a s h a llo w m arine s u b l i t t o r a l en v iro n m en t o f d e p o s it io n #
The g r a d u a l
I n c r e a s e in th e amount o f d o lo m it ic m a t e r ia l from b o tto m to
to p o f th e Sawatch i n d i c a t e s a p r o g r e s s iv e in c r e a s e in th e d ep th o f th e w a te r .
A ls o , th e upward change from a c o a r s e l y
c r y s t a l l i n e to a f i n e l y c r y s t a l l i n e t e x t u r e s u g g e s t s t h i s same i n c r e a s e .
Maher (4 ) s u g g e s te d a t y p i c a l m arine e n v ir o n
ment in t h i s r e g io n and a l e s s e r one t o th e n o r t h , b a sed upon a g r e a t e r ca rb o n a te and g la u c o n it e c o n te n t n ea r M anitou S p r in g s . Maher f u r t h e r n o te d a northw ard th ic k e n in g o f th e S aw atch , and s u g g e s te d th a t th e so u r c e f o r th e s e se d im e n ts was in t h i s d i r e c tio n .
In th e W illia m s Canyon a rea the uneo n fo ru m b le, un
d u la t in g fo r m a tio n a l c o n t a c t s o f th e Saw atch in d i c a t e t h a t l o c a l v a r i a t i o n s in i t s
t h ic k n e s s are due m a in ly to e r o s i o n .
The e r o s lo n a l I n t e r v a l o cc u r re d a f t e r the w ith d ra w a l o f th e Upper Cambrian s e a . O r d o v ic ia n th r o u g h o u t th e W illia m s Canyon a rea th e r e are e v id e n c e s o f con form ab le and u nconform able r e l a t i o n s h i p s b etw een th e Saw atch and M anitou fo r m a tio n s .
Such v a r i a t i o n s in th e con
t i n u i t y o f d e p o s it io n a re i n d i c a t i v e o f an o s c i l l a t i n g sh o re lin e .
S l i g h t r e j u v e n a t io n s o f the p o s i t i v e a rea to th e n o r t h -
Ireàt p r o b a b ly ca u sed th e o s c i l l a t i o n s .
The O r d o v ic ia n s e a in
w hich th e M anitou fo r m a tio n was d e p o s it e d p r o b a b ly c o v e r e d a la r g e p a r t o f c e n t r a l and e a s t e r n C o lo ra d o .
Johnson and
L o v e rln g ( 1 6 , p . 271) and J . G. Bartram ( 1 7 , p . 1137) b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s s e a r e p r e s e n t s an arm w hich e x te n d e d from n o r th e r n Oklahoma i n t o c e n t r a l C o lo ra d o .
70#
The M anitou d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e was d e p o s it e d upon th e r e tu r n o f th e s e a i n Lower O r d o v ic ia n tim e#
P a le o n to lo g ic a l
e v id e n c e I n d i c a t e s a n a r in e en v iro n m en t o f d e p o s i t i o n .
Where
con form ab le r e l a t i o n s h i p s e x i s t b etw een th e Saw atch and th e M an itou, a r e t r e a t o f th e s e a in L ate Cambrian tim e p r o b a b ly n ever o ccu rred .
The a r e n a c e o u s , th in -b e d d e d c h a r a c te r o f th e
lo w er M anitou I n d i c a t e s t h a t th e w a te r was s h a llo w e r a t th e b e g in n in g o f s e d im e n t a tio n .
D eeper w a ter i s r e f l e c t e d b y a
t h ic k s e c t i o n o f m a ssiv e d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e #
The c h e r t
fra g m en ts found th r o u g h o u t th e M anitou w ere c l a s s e d a s s i l l c i f l e d a sh b y L. W, LeRoy*,
P a r t o f th e se d im e n ts c o m p r isin g
th e M anitou p r o b a b ly came from th e n o r t h w e s t.
The rounded
and f r o s t e d q u a r tz g r a in s p r e s e n t th r o u g h o u t th e M anitou had an a e o l ia n o r ig in # The g r e a t e s t e r o s l o n a l i n t e r v a l o f th e P a le o z o ic ( 1 6 , p , 371) b egan a f t e r th e w ith d ra w a l o f th e L a te O r d o v ic ia n sea # I t in c lu d e d th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e O r d o v ic ia n , a l l o f th e S i l u r i a n , and p a r t o f t h e D evon ian p e r io d s #
I f th e o v e r ly in g
W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n i s M i s s is s lp p ia n in a g e , th e e r o s l o n a l i n t e r v a l was s t i l l g r e a t e r . D evonian o r M is s is s lp p ia n The W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n was d e p o s it e d a t th e c l o s e o f t h i s g re a t e r o s lo n a l in t e r v a l.
Knowledge o f th e e x a c t
en v iro n m en t o f d e p o s i t i o n i s o b scu red by th e co m p lete la c k o f f o s s i l s in th e fo rm a tio n # » P e r s o n a l com m u n ication .
In te rb ed d e d a r e n a c e o u s s h a l e s ,
th in -b e d d e d d o lo m it ic lim e s t o n e s , and f i n e - to c o a r s e - g r a in e d s a n d s to n e s i n d i c a t e a g e n e r a l l i t t o r a l m arine en viron m en t o f d e p o s it io n *
As th e d ep th o f th e w a ter in c r e a s e d , th e san d
s t o n e s became f i n e r g r a in e d , and graded in t o d o lo m it ic lim e sto n e d *
C o n sta n t v a r i a t i o n s in th e sh o re l i n e a re e v id e n c e d
b y th e sp o r a d ic a p p ea ra n ces o f s h a le s and c o a r s e - g r a in e d sa n d s t o n e s th ro u g h o u t th e s t r a t i g r a p h i e u n it #
The so u rce f o r
m ost o f th e se d im e n ts i n th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n was th e m a t e r ia l ero d ed from u n d e r ly in g fo r m a tio n s*
The c h e r t and
lim e s to n e p e b b le s i n i t p r o b a b ly came from th e u n d e r ly in g M anitou o f some n e a r -b y area* P erhaps a g e n e r a lly h ig h e r l e v e l o f the p o s i t i v e r e g io n to th e n o r t h w e s t, a s w e ll a s r e p e a te d m inor r e j u v e n a t io n s , e x p la in s th e r e l a t i v e l y t h in n a tu r e fo rm a tio n *
o f th e W illia m s Canyon
V a r ia t io n s i n th e t h ic k n e s s o f t h i s s t r a t i g r a p h i e
u n i t p r o b a b ly a re due t o r e p e a te d m inor u p l i f t s o f th e n o r th w e ste r n a r e a , w hich p rod uced a f l u c t u a t i n g sh o re lin e *
Sub
se q u e n t e r o s io n , a s in d ic a t e d by an u n c o n fo r m ity a t th e to p o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n , a ls o a id e d in p ro d u c in g t h ic k n e s s v a r i a t io n s *
F i n a l l y , th e s e a w ith d rew , and th e
s e d im e n ta tio n o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n ended*
A
D evon ian age f o r t h i s fo r m a tio n s u g g e s t s a lo n g e r p e r io d o f e r o s io n th an d o e s a M i s s is s lp p ia n age r e c e n t l y in tr o d u c e d b y Maher ( 4 ) . M is s is s lp p ia n The M adison fo r m a tio n r e p r e s e n t s th e o n ly d e f i n i t e l y
r e c o g n iz e d p o r t io n o f M is s ls s ip p ia n se d im e n ta tio n * C e n tr a l and e a s t e r n C olorado was in v a d ed b y th e s e a a f t e r e r o s io n o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo rm a tio n *
Only th e a r e a In
th e F ro n t Range r e g io n rem ained p o s i t i v e ,
Johnson ( 1 0 , p , 58)
s t a t e d t h a t t h i s was a p e r io d o f w id esp rea d subm ergence in th e Rocky M ountain r e g io n *
The m a s s iv e , a r e n a c e o u s d o lo m it ic
lim e s t o n e s and th e p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e o f th e M adison co n fir m a m arine en v iro n m en t o f d e p o s it io n *
A few s p o r a d ic
sa n d sto n e b ed s and th in -b e d d e d d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e s e c t i o n s in d i c a t e t h a t th e r e were v a r i a t i o n s in th e d ep th o f th e w ater*
H ow ever, o s c i l l a t i o n s o f th e sh o re l i n e were n o t a s
common a s th e y were d u r in g th e d e p o s i t i o n o f th e p r e c e d in g fo r m a tio n s*
T h is seem s to be in d ic a t e d by th e g r e a t e r la c k
o f th in -b e d d e d z o n es and sa n d sto n e o r s h a le u n it s * Most o f th e q u a r tz g r a in s a r e a n g u la r to subrounded* Such g r a in s may n o t have b een tr a n s p o r te d v e r y fa r *
O ther
q u a r tz g r a in s a re f r o s t e d and su b rou n d ed , v h lc h i n d i c a t e s an a e o l ia n o r i g i n .
I t i s b e lie v e d t h a t th e so u rc e f o r much o f
th e M adison s e d im e n ta tio n was a g a in to the n o r th w e s t where th e h ig h la n d e x i s t e d *
A noth er la r g e b a s in was p r e s e n t on
th e w e s t s id e o f th e F ro n t Range h ig h la n d d u r in g th e M is s ip e lp p la n p e r i o d .
The L e a d v llle lim e s t o n e , w hich i s th e e q u iv a
l e n t o f th e M adison fo r m a tio n , was d e p o s it e d in i t . D e p o s it io n o f th e M adison c e a s e d a s th e s e a r e tr e a t e d * A cco rd in g to Joh n son ( 1 0 , p* 6 1 ) , th e su b seq u e n t e r o s lo n a l I n t e r v a l r e p r e s e n t s o n e - h a lf t o t w o - t h ir d s o f th e M i s s i s i p -
p ia n p e r io d and p a r t o f th e e a r l y P e n n s y lv a n ia n e o f tim e would be red u ced i f
T h is le n g t h
th e M adison fo r m a tio n i s Meramec
( M is s is s lp p ia n ) In age a s s u g g e s te d b y Maher (4 )*
The b e g in
n in g o f numerous u p l i f t s , w hich cu lm in a te d n ea r th e end o f th e P erm ian , o c c u r r e d ab ou t th e same tim e a s t h i s e r o s l o n a l in te r v a l.
The p o s i t i v e r e g io n to th e n o r th w e st s u f f e r e d
marked u p l i f t w h ile a d ja c e n t b a s in s were d e p r e s s e d ( 1 0 , p . 3 7 3 ) . The t h ic k n e s s o f th e M adison was red u ced d u r in g t h i s p e r io d o f t im e .,
D e p o s it io n upon an u n even s u r f a c e (u n c o n fo r m ity ) and
su b se q u e n t e r o s io n p r o b a b ly a c c o u n t f o r th e v a r i a t i o n s in th e t h ic k n e s s o f th e M adison fo rm a tio n # P e n n sy lv a n ia n and Perm ian T h is d i s c u s s i o n i s added f o r th e sa k e o f c o m p le t e n e s s , and d o es n o t r e f l e c t any f i e l d work done by th e w r i t e r .
The
F o u n ta in i s th e o n ly fo r m a tio n m en tion ed b e lo w t h a t i s p r e s e n t in th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a . A f t e r r e t r e a t o f th e M is s ls s ip p ia n s e a , f l u v i a l d e p o s i t s became common.
The F o u n ta in sa n d sto n e (P e n n sy lv a n ia n ) was
l a i d down upon th e M adison fo r m a tio n .
M cLaughlin ( 7 , p .
1975) s t a t e d t h a t P e n n s y lv a n ia n S e d im e n ta tio n In th e C olorad o S p r in g s a r e a r e p r e s e n t s th e landw ard p a r t s o f a d e l t a i c mass d e p o s it e d in a s u b s id in g tr o u g h e a s t o f th e h ig h la n d from w hich th e se d im e n ts w ere d e r iv e d .
Perm ian s e d im e n ta tio n ap
p e a r s t o have b een a c o n t in u a t io n o f t e r r e s t r i a l d e p o s i t i o n , g iv in g r i s e to th e Lyons sa n d s to n e and th e lo w er p o r t io n o f
th e L yk ln s fo r m a tio n . By th e end o f th e P erm ian , th e A p p a la ch ia n r e v o lu t io n was in i t a g r e a t e s t t h r o e s i n th e e a s t e r n U n ite d S t a t e s . T e r r e s t r i a l d e p o s i t s in t h i s a re a may have r e f l e c t e d t h i s a c t i v i t y to some e x t e n t . M esozoic and C en o zo lc F l u v i a l and l a c u s t r i n e d e p o s it io n dom inated t h i s g e n e r a l r e g io n d u r in g T r i a s s i c and J u r a s s ic t im e . The upper L yklns ( T r i a s s i c ? ) and M orrison ( J u r a s s i c ) fo r m a tio n s r e p r e s e n t su ch d e p o s it s *
The D akota fo r m a tio n o f e a r l y Upper C r e ta c e o u s age
i s la r g e ly o f f l u v i a t i l e o r ig in .
Much o f th e Upper C r e ta c e o u s ,
in c lu d in g th e B en to n , N io b r a r a , P i e r r e , and Fox H i l l s form a t i o n s , i s e n t i r e l y m a rin e.
The Laramie fo r m a tio n , w e l l known
f o r i t s c o a l sea m s, r e p r e s e n t s a t r a n s i t i o n from m arine to t e r r e s t r i a l d e p o s i t s i n th e l a t e Upper C r e ta c e o u s .
T e r r e s tr ia l
s e d im e n ta tio n h a s c o n tin u e d to be dom inant up to th e p r e s e n t . The Laramide r e v o l u t i o n , w hich began in L ate C r e ta c e o u s and p r o b a b ly c o n tin u e d i n t o E a r ly T e r t ia r y , p r o fo u n d ly a f f e c t e d th e s t r u c t u r e end s e d im e n ta tio n o f th e C olorad o S p r in g s r e g io n .
The f a u l t s p r e s e n t ( s e e s e c t i o n on S t r u c t u r a l G eo lo g y )
p r o b a b ly were form ed d u r in g t h i s m oun tsin-m akin g e p o c h .
The
F r o n t R ange, w h ich b o r d e r s th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a on th e n o r th w e s t, was form ed a t t h i s t im e .
The M anitou embayment
a l s o had i t s in c e p t io n a s a r e s u l t o f th e Lar amide r e v o l u t i o n , th u s g iv in g r i s e to th e g e n e r a l m o n o c lln a l d ip now o b se r v e d
i n th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a , The p r e s e n t r e l i e f o f th e F ro n t Range and a d ja c e n t f o o t h i l l s b e l t i s th e r e s u l t o f s e v e r a l L ate C en o zo lc broad up l i f t s o f one o r more p e n e p la in s , each r e j u v e n a t io n b e in g f o llo w e d b y d i f f e r e n t i a l e r o s io n (1 8 , p . 2 7 ) ,
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY L im eston e At th e p r e s e n t , th e r e i s no e x p l o i t a t i o n in th e W illia m s Canyon a rea o f any m in e r a l r e s o u r c e •* P a s t a c t i v i t y i s in d ic a t e d by abandoned M adison lim e s to n e p i t s , w hich were mined f o r lim e • sto n e p i t a ls o was n o te d .
One F o u n ta in sa n d
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The P a le o z o io p r e -P e n n a y lv a n ia n fo r m a tio n s In th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a a r e th e M adison (1 0 0 f e e t t h ic k ) o f M is s ls s ip p ia n a g e , th e W illia m s Canyon (2 0 f e e t t h i c k ) o f M i s s ls s ip p ia n o r D evon ian a g e , th e M anitou (2 0 0 f e e t t h ic k ) o f O r d o v ic ia n a g e , and th e Saw atch (4 5 f e e t t h ic k ) o f Cam b r ia n age*
A pre-C am brian com plex o f P ik e s Peak g r a n it e and
some s c h i s t s and g n e i s s e s u n d e r lie s t h i s s t r a t i g r a p h i e s e quence •
U n c o n fo r m itie s e x i s t b etw een a l l fo r m a tio n s , a l
thou gh In p l a c e s th e Saw atch and M anitou show an a p p a ren t con form ab le r e l a t i o n s h i p •
The e n t i r e s e c t i o n i s p red o m in a te
l y a r e n a c e o u s , d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e w ith c h e r t s c a t t e r e d th r o u g h o u t.
A d i s t i n c t i v e w h ite sa n d sto n e bed o c c u r s a t th e
-b ase o f th e Saw atch fo r m a tio n . S t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e s I n c lu d e fo u r s m a ll f a u l t s in th e so u th w e ste r n p o r t io n o f th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a .
The
l a r g e s t I s a norm al f a u l t ; th e o t h e r s a r e t h r u s t f a u l t s .
A
s o u t h e a s t m o n o c lln a l d ip i s p r e s e n t e v e r y w h e r e , e x c e p t in th e so u th w e s te r n c o m e r o f t h i s t h e s i s a r e a , where i t i s I n y-" te r r u p te d by f a u l t i n g . The fo r m a tio n s i n t h i s r e g io n now lie
in th e M anitou em bayment, a t r a n s v e r s e syn c l i n e p lu n g in g
in t o t h e - f o o t h i l l s b e l t .
The f a u l t i n g , a s w e ll a s th e o r i g i n
o f th e Cave o f th e W inds, seem s to be a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e fo r m a tio n o f th e Ute P a ss r e v e r s e f a u l t d u r in g th e Laramide r e v o l u t i o n . . D i s s o l u t i o n o f th e M anitou d o lo m it ic lim e s to n e p r o b a b ly was a f f e c t e d b y underground c i r c u l a t i n g w a te r s w hich
p e r c o la t e d from th e w est to th e r e g io n o f th e ca v e a lo n g op en in g s c r e a te d by th e Ute P a ss f a u l t i n g a c t i v i t y . The main d ep o s i t i o n a l en v iro n m en t o f th e W illia m s Canyon a r e a was m a r in e , and an o s c i l l a t i n g sh o re l i n e was a c t i v e a t t im e s , f o r ex a m p le, d u r in g th e d e p o s it io n o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n .
T hese fo r m a tio n s were l a i d down in a
g e n e r a l d e p o s l t i o n a l b a s in s o u t h e a s t o f a p o s i t i v e a r e a In th e F ron t Range r e g io n #
The b a s in was n o t a s s o c ia t e d w ith
th e M anitou embayment# The s tu d y o f th e W illia m s Canyon fo r m a tio n h a s shown I t to be a r e l a t i v e l y t h in s t r a t i g r a p h i e u n i t .
I t is pre
d o m in a te ly an a r e n a c e o u s , maroon m o t t le d , d o lo m it ic lim e s t o n e w ith t h in in te r b e d d e d s h a le s and s a n d s to n e s .
The up
p e r and lo w er b o u n d a r ie s a r e marked b y u n c o n f o r m it ie s , w hich may be d i s c o n fo r m a b le #
No f o s s i l s w ere fou n d in th e W illia m s
Canyon f o r m a tio n , b u t i t i s b e lie v e d to have b een d e p o s it e d in a r e l a t i v e l y s h a llo w s e a .
I t s age may be e i t h e r D evonian
o r M i s s ls s ip p ia n . I t i s hoped t h a t th e d e t a i l e d s t r a t ig r a p h ie d i s c u s s i o n p r e s e n te d in t h i s r e p o r t w i l l a id in d e c ip h e r in g th e a r e a ? s r e l a t i v e p o s i t i o n i n th e o v e r a l l g e o lo g ic h i s t o r y o f th e F ro n t Range o f th e Rocky M o u n ta in s.
79
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