--> ABSTRACT: Lithostratigraphic Correlation of Ellenburger Formations and El Paso Members from Central Texas to Eastern Arizona, by Russell E. Clemons; #91030 (2010)

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Lithostratigraphic Correlation of Ellenburger Formations and El Paso Members from Central Texas to Eastern Arizona

Russell E. Clemons

The Ellenburger Group of central to west Texas contains, in ascending order, the Tanyard, Gorman, and Honeycut Formations. Recent work in southern New Mexico has delineated four lithostratigraphic units in the El Paso Formation. In ascending order, the Hitt Canyon, Jose, McKelligon, and Padre Members can be identified in well cuttings as well as in outcrops from Willcox, Arizona, to Van Horn, Texas. Widespread dolomitization of Ellenburger and El Paso sediments destroyed allochems and primary textures, thus making biostratigraphic correlations difficult. Furthermore, mistaking Nuia siberica Maslov (a probable alga with well-developed radial structure and faint concentric structure) for ooids has led some workers to believe ooids occur in several zones of the Ellenburger a d El Paso. After studying 38 outcrop sections, cuttings from three wells in southwestern New Mexico, and several published descriptions of Ellenburger cuttings and cores, only two exceptions were noted to the following statement: ooids with well-developed concentric structure are restricted to the Jose Member and uppermost Gorman Formation. This same ooid zone typically is sandy, represents a shoaling environment, does not contain fauna, and has "an erosional surface." Using this zone and sedimentary structures, stromatolites, and sponge-Calathium mounds in other zones, the Hitt Canyon of New Mexico is correlative with the upper Tanyard and most of the Gorman of west Texas, the Jose is correlative with the uppermost Gorman, the McKelligon is correlative with the lower Honeycut, and the P dre is probably correlative with upper Honeycut. Other sandy zones and anhydrite occurrences appear associated with nearby Early Ordovician islands or peninsulas and are not of regional importance.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91030©1988 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, 20-23 March 1988.