--> Stratigraphy of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation, Sunnyside Tar Sands Area, Carbon County, Utah, by W. S. Calkin; #90986 (1994).

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Abstract: Stratigraphy of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation, Sunnyside Tar Sands Area, Carbon County, Utah

William S. Calkin

The Sunnyside Tar Sands exist within a lacustrine delta complex in a southwestern portion of the Uinta basin. The rocks are of Eocene age and grouped into a gray shale unit of marly composition formed in open lacustrine environments; a green shale unit formed in marginal lacustrine environments; and a red shale unit formed in deltaic environments. The gray shale unit lies within the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation.

The Bruin Point marker exists at the base of the gray shale unit and has been well-defined within a 40 square mile area. This marker consists of a 1-3 foot thick oil-shale interval with an underlying 0.5-1.0 inch thick coal interval. This marker is readily recognized in outcrop, drill core and gamma ray well logs. The Bruin Point marker has been located within a 150 square mile area and is a regionally extensive marker. The Bruin Point marker is a lithologic unit and represents an important rock-stratigraphic interval.

Other markers defined within the gray shale unit include the wavy bedded tuff, curly bed and Mahogany bed. These represent important time-stratigraphic intervals.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994