Anatomy and origin of large scale foreset beds in the Capitan Formation, Glass Mountain, Texas
Abstract
Large scale foresetbeds occur in the Capitan Formation of the Glass Mountains, west Texas. These beds are clinoforms of basinward dipping, massive, partially to completely dolomitized beds that interfinger with slope and basinal facies of the time-equivalent Altuda Formation. The foreset beds represent deposition of reef and backreef derived, allochthonous sediments shed off of the Capitan shelf-edge in shelf-to-basin slope transition. On the basis of lithology, texture and bedforms, various subaqueous gravity flow processes are recognized, including debris flow, grain flow and submarine slide and slump blocks. High energy conditions along with sea level fluctuations on the Capitan shelf-edge produced carbonate debris that moved under the influence of gravity and were deposited on the foreslope as multiple debris sheets.
References
Carter, R. M., 1975. A discussion and classification of subaqueous mass transport with particular application to grain-flow, slurry-flow and fluxo-turbidites. Earth Sci. Rev., I l, 145-177.
Doct, R. J., 1963. Dynamics of subaqueous gravity depositional processes. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geologists, Memoir, l, 104-121.
Garber, R. A., Grover, G. A., & Harris, P. M., 1989. Geology of the Capitan shelf margin-subsurface data from the northern Delaware Basin. In: Subsurface and outcrop Examination of the Capitan Shelf Margin, Northern Delaware Basin (P. M. Harris & G.A. Grover eds.). Soc. Eco. Paleontologists & Mineralogists, Core Workshop, 13, 3-269.
Haneef, M., Rudine, S. F., & Wardiaw, B. R., 1991. Shelf to Basin Transition in the Capitanian (Permian) Deposition in the Glass Mountains, West Texas. Geol. Soc. Amer., Abstracts with Programs; 22, -A46,
Hopkin, J. C., 1977. Production of foreslope breccia by differential submarine cementation and downslope displacement of carbonate sands, Miette and Ancient Wall Buildups, Devonian, Canada. In: Deep Water Carbonate Environments (HE Cook, & P. Enos, eds.). Soc. Eco. Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Spec. Publ., 25, 155-170.
King, P. B., 1931. The Geology of the Glass Mountains, Texas, Part l, Descriptive Geology: University of Texas Bulls, 3038, 167 p.
Lowe, D. R., 1976. Grain flow and grain flow deposits: Jour. Sed. Petrol., 46. 188-199.
Lowe, D. R., 1979. Sediment gravity flows, their classification and some problems of application to natural flows and deposits: Soc. Eco. Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Spec. Publ., 27, 75-82.
Middleton, G. V., & Hampton, M.A., 1976. Subaqueous sediment transport and deposition by gravity flows: In: Marine Sediment transport and environmental management (D.J. Stanley, & D.J.P. Swift, eds.). John Wiley, New York, 197-218.
Nardin, T. R., Hein, F. J., Gorsiine, D. S., & Edwards, B. D., 1979. A review of mass movement processes, sediment and acoustic characteristics, and contrasts in slope and base-of-slope systems versus canyon-fan-basin floor systems: Soc. Eco. Paleontologists & Mineralogists, Spec. Publ., 27, p. 61-73.
Newell, N. D., 1957. Paleoecology of Permian reefs in the Guadalupe Mountains area. In: Treatise on marine ecology and paleoecology, v.2 (H.S. Ladd, ed.). Geol. Soc. Amer., Memoir 67, 407_436.
Pray, L C., 1989. Lateral variability of the Capitan Reef Complex, west Texas and New Mexico, In: Subsurface and outcrop examination of the Capitan Shelf Margin, Northern Delaware Basin (P.M. Harris, & C.A. Grover, eds.). Soc. Eco. Paleontologists & Mineralogists, Core Workshop 13, 273-278.
Rohr, D. M., Wardlaw, B. R., Rudine, S. F., Haneef, M., Hall, J. A., & Grant, R. E., 1991. Guidebook to the Guadalupian Symposium. In: Proceedings of the Guadalupian Symposium (B. R. Wardlaw, R.E. Grant & D. M. Rohr eds.). Sul Ross State University, Alpine, T.X., 18-111.
Walness, H. R., 1979. Limestone response to stress, pressure solution and dolomitization. Jour. Sed. Petrol., 49, 437-462.
