Paleo-Environmental Interpretation of Paleocene Sepultura Formation in Type Locality, Mesa La Sepultura, Baja California, Mexico

Leticia Arzate-Hernandez, Miguel Tellez-Duarte

The Sepultura Formation in its type locality consists of two major lithostratigraphic units. The basal "A" unit overlies the Cretaceous Rosario Formation. It consists predominantly of fine-grained, poorly consolidated sandstones; some conglomerates; and thin beds of well-consolidated lenticular fossiliferous sandstones, which show some cyclic sedimentation. The poorly consolidated sandstones contain glauconitic layers; abundant shark teeth, benthic forams, and ostracods; and sparse mollusks, brachiopods, and Ophiomorpha-like trace fossils. These faunas indicate deposition in nearshore shallow waters. The interbedded consolidated lenticular sandstones probably indicate storm-induced deposition below wave base. This mechanism is assumed to be responsible for the high concen ration of fossils consisting predominantly of unworn molluscan shells, scaphopods, echinoid spines, corals, and forams. In places, the elongated shells of Turritella pachecoensis show a preferential orientation to the southwest. At the top of the unit, a poorly fossiliferous red conglomerate indicates deltaic conditions.

Overlying the conglomerate is unit "B," which shows a change in the sedimentary environment. It consists of a calcareous shallowing-upward sequence of nodular to massive algal limestone with caliche at top. The microfossils of this unit show glauconitization in places, and consist, in addition to algal fragments, of forams, microscopic mollusks, and some ostracods and calcispherules from shallow waters (less than 30 m deep).

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91035©1988 AAPG-SEPM-SEG Pacific Sections and SPWLA Annual Convention, Santa Barbara, California, 17-19 April 1988.