The Romeroville Sandstone is a geologic formation in northeastern New Mexico.[1][2] It likely was deposited in the Cenomanian Age of the Cretaceous Period.[3]

Romeroville Sandstone
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian
Romeroville Sandstone beds resting on Pajarito Formation, I-25 road cut, Romeroville, New Mexico, USA
TypeFormation
Unit ofDakota Group
UnderliesGraneros Shale
OverliesPajarito Formation
Thicknessup to 9 m (30 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherSiltstone
Location
Coordinates35°31′33″N 105°14′17″W / 35.5258°N 105.2380°W / 35.5258; -105.2380
RegionNew Mexico
Country United States
Type section
Named forSettlement of Romeroville, New Mexico
Named byKues and Lucas
Year defined1987
Romeroville Sandstone is located in the United States
Romeroville Sandstone
Romeroville Sandstone (the United States)
Romeroville Sandstone is located in New Mexico
Romeroville Sandstone
Romeroville Sandstone (New Mexico)

Description edit

The formation consists of yellow-gray quartz sandstone with minor siltstone. The sandstone is planar crossbedded and bioturbated[1] and locally pebbly.[2] It overlies the Pajarito Formation and is in turn overlain by the Graneros Shale. Maximum thickness is 9 meters (30 ft).[1]

The formation is interpreted as the onset of a marine transgression of the Greenhorn cycle.[1]

History of investigation edit

The formation was first named by Kues and Lucas in 1987 for previously undivided Dakota Group beds at the Romeroville Gap. Kues and Lucas also identified it at Clayton Lake and in the valley of the Dry Cimarron.[1]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • Kues, B.S.; Lucas, S.G. (1987). "Cretaceous stratigraphy and paleontology in the Dry Cimarron Valley, New Mexico, Colorado, and Oklahoma" (PDF). New Mexico Geological Society Field Conference Guidebook. 38: 167–198. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  • Lucas, Spencer G.; Hunt, Adrian P. (2000). "The lower Cretaceous ammonite Mortoniceras equidistans (Cragin) from the Mesa Rica Sandstone, Quay County, New Mexioco". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 16: 97–100. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  • Ziegler, Kate E.; Ramos, Frank C.; Zimmerer, Matthew J. (2019). "Geology of Northeastern New Mexico, union and Colfax Counties, New Mexico: A Geologic Summary" (PDF). New Mexico Geological Society Field Conference Series. 70 (4): 47–54. Retrieved 1 September 2020.