Academic literature on the topic 'Geology, Stratigraphic. Physical geology Frontier formation'

Analysis of the sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture of tightly spaced three dimensional outcrops reveals that the Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) Wall Creek Member of the Frontier Formation in the western Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA, is not composed of one continuous coarsening upward succession but of a complex stacked delta system containing three distinct sequences (S1-S3), each with a unique facies distribution and architectural heterogeneity. The basal sequence S1 consists of a fluvial dominated delta with two distinct lobes. These lobes are spatially constrained to the northeastern study area and show a rapid facies transition from trough crossbedded mouthbar deposits to lower delta front turbidites. Low angle clinoforms suggest a low accommodation setting with main sediment transport to the south. The middle S2 sequence is common throughout the study area and contains an abundance of storm-derived deposits, including hummocky cross stratification, suggesting the transition to a wave and storm-dominated delta setting. Sediment transport is largely to the south controlled by wind induced shear stresses. Lastly, heterolithic trough crossbedded sandstones with flaser bedding and abundant thin mudstones and rip-up clasts are characteristic for sequence S3. These deposits are interpreted as tidal bars in a tidal influenced delta. Quantitative evaluation of facies in the Wall Creek Member sequences shows that the dimensions and connectivity (baffle or barrier competence) of fine-grained thin beds varies systematically within the three delta types. The S1 fluvial delta is largely composed of laterally continuous delta front turbidites with continuous fine-grained thin beds (mean length 21.1 m or 69.2 ft, max length 83.9 m or 275.2 ft) separating individual sandstone beds. Conversely, abundant bioturbation and intense scouring by storms results in high amalgamation of sandy beds in sequence S2 and a limited length of fine-grained thin beds (mean 8.5 m or 27.9 ft) in the wave-dominated delta sequence. Tidally influenced deposits of sequence S3 are largely composed of heterolithic trough crossbedded sandstones and mudstones with low bioturbation, resulting in an intermediate fine-grained thin bed deposit (mean 12.1 m or 39.7 ft).

The Neoproterozoic–Palaeozoic transition (NPT) around 600 Ma ago was a critical time interval when the Earth experienced fundamental change, manifested as climatic extremes – ‘snowball Earth’ – followed by the emergence and rapid diversification of animals – ‘Cambrian explosion’. How animals and environments co-evolved, and what caused these fundamental changes to the Earth system during the NPT, is a great scientific puzzle, which has been a rapidly developing frontier of interdisciplinary research between bio- and geosciences. South China preserves a complete stratigraphic succession of the NPT developed in various facies ranging from shallow to deep marine realms with extraordinarily well-preserved, successive fossil biotas in various taphonomic settings (Zhu, 2010; Fig. 1), making it a key area and global focus of studies in the field over recent decades. Indeed, the current narrative of early animal evolution has largely been based on the fossil biotas from South China. These include: (1) the world's oldest microscopic animal fossils with cellular details from the early Ediacaran Weng'an biota (Doushantuo Formation); (2) putative macroscopic animal fossils preserved as carbonaceous imprints from the early Ediacaran Lantian, Wenghui and Miaohe biotas (also Doushantuo Formation); (3) typical late Ediacaran faunas, preserved in dark limestone (Shibantan biota) and as large and poorly mineralized tubular animal fossils (Gaojiashan biota), both from the Dengying Formation; (4) phosphatized small shelly and soft-bodied animal fossils from the early Cambrian Meishucun and Kuanchuanpu faunas; and (5) Cambrian fossil Lagerstätten (Chengjiang, Guanshan and Kaili faunas) with typical Burgess Shale-type soft-bodied preservation.

ABSTRACT This geologic study is focused on a less than 5 square-mile (ca. 13 km2) tract of public land in northwestern Wyoming, 8 miles (12.9 km) south-southwest of the small town of Clark in Park County. The study area is south of Clarks Fork of Yellowstone River along the eastern base of the topographic feature called Bald Ridge, also known structurally as Dead Indian monocline. Since the Middle Eocene, the study area has been along the northwestern margin of the Bighorn Basin. Prior to that time, the study area existed near the west–east center of the basin. Bald Ridge became elevated late in the Laramide orogeny (no older than the Early Eocene) through east-directed faulting of basement rocks via the extensive Line Creek–Oregon Basin thrust system. As that active faulting occurred, the overlying Phanerozoic strata (Lower Cambrian through Lower Eocene) responded with numerous west-directed, out-of-the-basin thrusts as a new western-basin margin developed along the eastern realm of the newly born Absaroka volcanic field. Most of that deformation occurred after deposition of uppermost levels of the Lower Eocene Willwood Formation. The key purpose of the present paper was to improve the accuracy of mapping of the Jurassic into Eocene stratigraphy along the newly restricted, northwestern edge of Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin. The stratigraphic column in a north–south band along the eastern flank of the Beartooth Mountains and continuing southward into the present study area was markedly deformed and deeply eroded late during the Laramide orogeny. The present small, more southerly study area is structurally and erosionally simpler than its more northerly equivalent. Thus, its study adds important geological information to the history of the northern Cody Arch, a convex-westward string of related basement-involved uplifts extending southward to southwest of the city of Cody. Progressively steepening eastward dips of strata characterize a west-to-east transect from the summit of Bald Ridge (capped by the shallowly dipping, Mississippian Madison Limestone) to the western edge of strongly overturned outcrops of the Eocene Willwood Formation. The Upper Cretaceous Meeteetse Formation is the stratigraphic horizon at which the dips attain vertical or slightly overturned orientations. All consequential faults within the newly mapped area are thrusts, and they show generally westward (out-of-the-basin) displacements. Despite those west-directed displacements, their primary cause was tectonic shortening at depth below Bald Ridge that was directed to the northeast or east-northeast. During the Laramide orogeny, certain thrust planes within the east-dipping Phanerozoic rock column cut down-section stratigraphically (but uphill relative to Earth’s surface) and thereby placed younger strata upon older. The cumulative result, as recognized at several levels within the present area of study, was marked thinning of the total section. For example, surface exposures of the mostly Paleocene Fort Union Formation, 4,000 feet (1,219 m) thick only 7 miles (11.3 km) to the east, was completely eliminated from the local surface stratigraphy by that means. The northern end of Bald Ridge is formed by the highly asymmetric Canyon Mouth anticline. That structure differs strongly in the attitude of its hinge line from the general east-northeast dip of strata cloaking Bald Ridge. The Canyon Mouth anticline’s hinge line plunges steeply to the southeast, and dips on its northeastern flanks are vertical to partly overturned. Surprisingly, hinge lines and flanks of all other anticlinal/synclinal structures recognized within the present map area share those same orientations with Canyon Mouth anticline. These consistent but unexpected differences in orientation from unfolded strata may represent very late events in the history of Laramide strain vectors across the study area. Working in northern parts of this study area, an independent group determining radiometric ages of detrital-zircon grains reported close agreements in age with their host localities in the Early Cretaceous Mowry Shale and Frontier Formation. However, under the present paper’s interpretation of the local stratigraphy, the other workers misidentified formational hosts for all three samplings. That resulted in age-determination errors of depositional history within the Upper Cretaceous section of as much as 28.8 million years.

ABSTRACT Mass-transport complexes (MTCs), mass-transport deposits (MTDs), and associated facies and features are widely recognized in continental slopes around the world. In most current stratigraphic models of MTCs and MTDs, these submarine sediment failures are related to aquifer outflow (sapping, seepage) along continental slope fronts that originated during relative sea-level fall. We test a hypothetical scenario that is favored during early forced regression using reduced-scale physical simulation. A major underground subaerial hydraulic gradient is assumed to flow towards the basin depocenter as a function of relative sea-level fall. We developed an experimental apparatus with slope angles varying between 15 and 30° to test this concept. Hydraulic gradients, aquifer outflow velocities, and triggered collapses induced by the seepage effect were recorded at various positions of the slope. Analysis shows that steeper slope gradients require lower seepage velocities (and shear stresses) to trigger collapse, but gentler slopes remain unchanged. Experimental data are compatible with a seepage effect that could potentially trigger mass failure and the formation of MTCs during relative sea-level fall. The features produced in the experiment have geometries comparable to natural environments, and the experimental seepage velocities are of an order of magnitude similar to those monitored in submarine aquifers. The experimental results advance understanding of mass transport in continental slopes by introducing and testing new methods, and also provide new insights into potential submarine geohazard risks where tectonic uplift operates along some coastal regions.

The Xujiahe Formation of the Late Triassic in the Western Sichuan Depression contains abundant gas reservoirs. Influenced by the thrust tectonic movement of the foreland basin, the fluvial-delta sedimentary system supplied by multiple provenances formed the Xu2 Formation of the Xinchang area. We used detailed description of drilling wells and cores to define the sequence stratigraphic framework and sand body types. We used stratal slices through the seismic texture model regression (TMR) attribute volume to map the evolution of the sedimentary system and the sand body distribution. Our results indicate that the Xu2 Formation exhibits a complete long-term base-level cycle and that there are six sand body deposit types: distributary channel, interchannel, subaqueous distributary channel, interdistributary bay, mouth bar, and sheet sand. Stratal slices through the seismic TMR attribute volume at different levels map the spatial variation of sand and mudstone, which we use to construct a sedimentary filling evolution model. This model indicates that during the time of deposition of the lower submember, the main provenance supply came from the northwest direction, resulting in the sand bodies mainly being deposited in the west. During the time of deposition of the central submember, the sediment supply was large and came from the northwest and northeast directions, resulting in large, laterally extensive, thick sands. During the time of deposition of the upper submember, the sediment supply was from the northeast direction, with the sand bodies more developed in the east. The flow direction of the (subaqueous-) distributary channels indicate that they migrated from northwest to northeast. There are significant differences in the channel energy, sedimentary characteristics, and reservoir physical properties in the three submembers, which cause differences in oil and gas productivity in the reservoir of the Xu2 Formation. We believe that detailed mapping of the spatial distribution of sedimentary systems can provide critical guidance not only to explore but also to develop in high-quality oil and gas reservoirs such as the Xu2 Formation.

Summary The Ceará Basin is a deepwater exploration frontier basin that comprises part of the Brazilian equatorial margin. This basin has been receiving renewed attention from the petroleum industry since the discovery of important deepwater oil fields in its African counterpart. However, detailed seismic stratigraphic, depositional, and structural frameworks for the Ceará Basin are still lacking in the literature. We have analyzed a series of 2D seismic data sets and stumbled into the pitfalls of migration artifacts (i.e., multiples) ultimately realizing that reprocessing was the best option to avoid the mistake of interpreting these artifacts as geologic features. Multiples can be difficult to identify in seismic data in which they mimic the true geology of the region, and they often present a pitfall for less experienced interpreters. Indeed, the identification and removal of multiples is crucial because they do not reflect the true geology in the subsurface and may otherwise lead to incorrect business decisions. Geological feature: Stratigraphy of the Ceará Basin, offshore Brazil Seismic appearance: Strong seismic horizons mimicking geological layering Alternative interpretations: Multiples arising from poor seismic migration processing Features with similar appearance: Strong seismic horizons reflecting basement and carbonates Formation: Rift sequence of the Ceará Basin Age: Cretaceous Location: Ceará Basin, offshore Brazil Seismic data: Obtained by the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency and reprocessed by the authors Analysis tool: Reprocessing

Based on a High-Resolution 3D seismic block acquired in the Gulf of Lion in 2004–2005 we investigated fluid pipes and pockmarks on the top of the interfluve between the Hérault canyon and the Bourcart canyon both created by turbidity currents and gravity flows from the shelf to the deep basin in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. Combining the geometry of the potential fluid pipes with the induced deformation of surrounding sediments leads then to the ability to differentiate between potential fluid sources (root vs source) and to better estimate the triggering mechanisms (allochtonous vs. autochtonous cause). We linked together a set of derived attributes, such as Chaos and RMS amplitude, to a 3D description of pipes along which fluids may migrate. As previously shown in other basins, the induced deformation, creating cone in cone or V-shaped structures, may develop in response to the fluid pipe propagation in unconsolidated sediments in the near surface. The level at the top of a cone structure is diachronous. It means that stratigraphic levels over this surface are deformed at the end of the migration. They collapse forming a depression called a pockmark. These pipes are the result of repeated cycles of fluid expulsion that might be correlated with rapid sea-level rise instead of sediment loading. The most recent event (MIS 2.2 stage) has led to the formation of a pockmark on the modern seafloor. It has been used as a reference for calculating the effect of a rapid sea-level rise on fluid expulsion. As all physical and geometrical parameters are constrained, we were able to define that a + 34 m of sea level rise may account for triggering fluid expulsion from a very shallow silty-sandy layer at 9 m below seafloor since the last glacial stage. This value is consistent with a sea level rise of about 102 m during this period. This study shows that the episodic nature of fluid release resulted from hydromechanical processes during sea-level rise due to the interactivity between high pressure regimes and principal in situ stresses.

Summary Gas production from the Frontier formation at 18,300-ft depth in the Frewen Deep #4 well, eastern Green River basin (Wyoming), was uneconomic despite the presence of three sets of numerous, partially open, vertical natural fractures. Production dropped from 360 Mcf/D to 140 Mcf/D during a 10-day production test, and the well was abandoned. Examination of the fractures in the core suggests several possible reasons for this poor production. One factor is the presence of mineralization in the fractures. Another more important factor is that the remnant porosity left in the fractures by partial mineralization is commonly plugged with an overmature hydrocarbon residue (pyrobitumen). Reorientation of the in-situ horizontal compressive stress to a trend normal to the main fractures, which now acts to close fracture apertures during reservoir drawdown, is also an important factor. Introduction The Frewen Deep #4 well is located in Sweetwater county, southwestern Wyoming (Section 13 of Township 19 North, Range 95 West). The target of the well was natural gas from sandstones of the Frontier formation (Fig. 1) at a depth of approximately 18,300 ft. The Frontier formation consists of Cretaceous-age sandstones and shales. The main reservoir sandstone is about 40-ft thick at this location, with thick over- and underlying shales. Amoco Production Co. formed the Frewen Deep Unit in 1988. Its purpose was to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of the Cretaceous sedimentary section in a 16 sq miles area on the south flank of the Wamsutter Arch. This arch trends WNW-ESE and divides the eastern Green River basin into two subbasins, the Great Divide basin to the north and the Washakie basin to the south (Fig. 2A). The Cretaceous sedimentary section is commonly productive in stratigraphic traps along the crestal portion of the Wamsutter Arch, as in the Echo Springs-Standard Draw and Wamsutter fields. The Frewen Deep Unit was formed to explore for deeper production in the Lakota formation. The initial unit well, the Frewen Deep #1, was drilled to a total depth of 19,299 ft on a southward-plunging, fault-related anticline. It was completed in the Lakota formation, but extended production tests from this zone indicated noncommercial rates. Shows had been observed while drilling through the Frontier formation to the deeper horizon, and this zone was targeted for testing. Unfortunately, the wellbore became mechanically unusable during the course of moving uphole to test the Frontier. Mechanical problems associated with the great depth, problems with the completion fluids, as well as problems with the casing integrity in this well were grounds for the decision to evaluate the formation in a completely new well. The Frewen Deep #4 well was drilled as a replacement, offset 600 ft from the #1 well (Fig. 2B). Much of the Frontier formation in the #4 well was cored with good recovery (86 ft), even though the core contains numerous partially mineralized vertical natural fractures. The fractures have obvious open porosity at depth (Fig. 3), with bridgings of mineralization holding open apertures locally up to 5 mm wide. Four fracture sets, based on character and strike, were differentiated in the core. These included three sets of irregular but numerous natural fractures, designated F1, F2, and F3 in order of their formation (based on observed cross-cutting relationships). The 86 ft of core had been slabbed and extensively sampled before our study, and the fractures themselves are commonly multistranded. Both of these factors make exact fracture counts difficult to obtain. Pervasive fracturing of the core suggests that the reservoir must be highly fractured, although the actual data set consists of approximately 10 F1 fractures, eight F2 fractures, and two F3 fractures. Fracture heights along the vertical axis of the core range from a maximum of about 4 ft for the F1 fractures down to several inches for F3 fractures. A fourth set of fractures consists of 30 regularly spaced, coring-induced1 petal fractures striking parallel to each other and to the F3 fractures. Gas in the drilling mud and the presence of open fractures seemed to promise significant gas production, but the initial production rate was not high and declined precipitously to an uneconomic level. We analyzed the natural and coring-induced fractures in the Frewen core during this study to assess the possible reasons for the low and declining production despite the presence of significant natural fracturing in the reservoir. This paper documents the conclusions from the core study and also offers an interpretation for the origin of these unusual fractures. Well History and Reservoir Properties. The Frewen Deep #4 well was spudded on 18 October 1990 and reached a total depth of 18,600 ft on 3 March 1991. Three separate conventional cores (totaling 86 ft recovered) were taken through the Frontier formation. Horizontal Dean Stark air permeabilities were measured at each foot in the sandstone core; 61 measurements yielded an average permeability of 0.007 md (range 0 to 1.23 md), an average porosity of 3.7% (range 0.8 to 7.1%), and a flow capacity of 1.7 md-ft. Geophysical logs were collected over the objective interval, including induction and neutron/density suites. Mud weight at total depth was in excess of 15 ppg, indicating a pressure of approximately 14,489 psi (minimum) at the reservoir level. Shows of gas requiring the use of a gas buster to de-gas the mud began at 18,225 ft and continued during coring operations. Shows periodically supported 10- to 20-ft (estimated) flares. Below 18,380 ft, the mud did not require de-gassing to remain manageable and control the well. Multiple sets of casing were set in anticipation of high pressures: we set 13 3/8-in. surface casing at 2,358 ft, 9 5/8-in. intermediate casing at 10,835 ft, and 51/2-in. casing at 18,114 ft before initiating coring operations. A 5-in. liner set from 18,114 to 18,593 ft completed the casing of the well. Each of the casing and liner strings was cemented in place and an acceptable bond was achieved. Completion operations began on 23 April 1991 when the well was perforated from 18,316 to 18,344 ft with 6 shots per foot, 6,000 psi underbalanced. The well did not flow. Swabbing was required to achieve a 15 to 20 Mcf/D flow rate for 7 days. Subsequently, we performed a CO2 breakdown, with 110 tons CO2 pumped at 8.5 bbl/min into 14,400 psi tubing pressure. The well flowed back CO2 and gas at a rate of 500 Mcf/D (>25% CO2) and was shut in preparatory to flow testing and bottomhole pressure buildup.

AbstractDue to their particularly good mechanical and self-healing properties combined with exceptionally efficient cation adsorbents and exchanger capacities, clay minerals and clay rock formations are considered as suitable geological barriers for radioactive waste disposal. The Middle Jurassic Opalinus Clay Formation has been identified as a potential host rock. Logging data were measured at the Benken borehole drilled through this formation in northern Switzerland. This paper presents a statistical methodology to improve the description of the physical properties of the clay rock based on the well-log data. The methodology involves the classification of a set of local statistics, calculated from a reduced number of principal components computed from well-log properties. The use of a kernel-based method to calculate local statistics allows an analysis of spatial variability to be carried out at different scales, and with different scale effects. The first-order layering was found to be robust and independent of kernel size (i.e. observation scale), while preserving small-scale heterogeneities that are useful for further interpretation. The log units can be more clearly interpreted in terms of stationary or transitional log units, depending on the behaviour of local statistics. Finally, the derived spatial variability of the log-units properties are compared with earlier lithological descriptions and stratigraphic data.

[Formulae and special characters can only be approximated here. Please see the pdf version of the abstract for an accurate reproduction.] The formation of world-class Archean orogenic gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields Province of Western Australia was the result of a critical combination of physical and chemical processes that modified a single and widespread ore-fluid along fluid pathways and at the sites of gold deposition. Increased gold endowment in these deposits is associated with efficient regional-scale fluid focusing mechanisms and the influence of multiple ore-depositional processes at the deposit-scale. Measurement of the complexity of geologic features, as displayed in high-quality geologic maps of uniform data density, can be used to highlight areas that influence regional-scale hydrothermal fluid flow. Useful measurements of geological complexity include fractal dimensions of map patterns, density and orientation of faults and lithologic contacts, and proportions of rock types. Fractal dimensions of map patterns of lithologic contacts and faults highlight complexity gradients. Steep complexity gradients, between domains of high and low fractal dimensions within a greenstone belt, correspond to district-scale regions that have the potential to focus the flow of large volumes of hydrothermal fluid, which is critical for the formation of significant orogenic gold mineralization. Steep complexity gradients commonly occur in greenstone belts where thick sedimentary units overly more complex patterns of lithologic contacts, associated with mafic intrusive and mafic volcanic units. The sedimentary units in these areas potentially acted as seals to the hydrothermal Mineral Systems, which resulted in fluid-pressure gradients and increased fluid flow. The largest gold deposits in the Kalgoorlie Terrane and the Laverton Tectonic Zone occur at steep complexity gradients adjacent to thick sedimentary units, indicating the significance of these structural settings to gold endowment. Complexity gradients, as displayed in surface map patterns, are an indication of three-dimensional connectivity along fluid pathways, between fluid source areas and deposit locations. Systematic changes in the orientation of crustal-scale shear zones are also significant and measurable map features. The largest gold deposits along the Bardoc Tectonic Zone and Boulder-Lefroy Shear Zone, in the Eastern Goldfields Province, occur where there are counter-clockwise changes in shear zone orientation, compared to the average orientation of the shear zone along its entire length. Sinistral movement along these shear zones resulted in the formation of district-scale dilational jogs and focused hydrothermal fluid-flow at the Golden Mile, New Celebration and Victory-Defiance deposits. Faults and lithologic contacts are the dominant fluid pathways in orogenic gold Mineral Systems, and measurements of the density of faults and contacts are also a method of quantifying the complexity of geologic map patterns on high-quality maps. Significantly higher densities of pathways in areas surrounding larger gold deposits are measurable within 20- and 5-kilometer search radii around them. Large variations in the sulfur isotopic composition of ore-related pyrites in orogenic gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields Province are the result of different golddepositional mechanisms and the in-situ oxidation of a primary ore fluid in specific structural settings. Phase separation and wall-rock carbonation are potentially the most common mechanisms of ore-fluid oxidation and gold precipitation. The influence of multiple gold-depositional mechanisms increases the potential for significant ore-fluid oxidation, and more importantly, provides an effective means of increasing gold endowment. This explains the occurrence of negative δ34S values in ore-related pyrites in some world-class orogenic gold deposits. Sulfur isotopic compositions alone cannot uniquely define potential gold endowment. However, in combination with structural, hydrothermal alteration and fluid inclusion studies that also seek to identify multiple ore-forming processes, they can be a useful indicator. The structural setting of a deposit is also a potentially important factor controlling ore-fluid oxidation and the distribution of δ34S values in ore-related pyrites. At Victory-Defiance, the occurrence of negative δ34S(py) values in gently-dipping dilational structures, compared to more positive δ34S(py) values in steeply-dipping compressional structures, is potentially associated with different gold-depositional mechanisms that developed as a result of fluid-pressure fluctuations during different stages of the fault-valve cycle. During the pre-failure stage, when fluids are discharging from faults, fluid-rock interaction is the dominant gold-depositional mechanism. Phase separation and back-mixing of modified ore-fluid components are dominant during and immediately after faulting. Under appropriate conditions, any, or all, of these three mechanisms can oxidize orogenic gold fluids and cause gold deposition. The influence of multiple gold-depositional mechanisms during fault-valve cycles at dilational jogs, where fluid pressure fluctuations are interpreted to be most severe, can potentially explain both the large gold endowment of the giant to world-class Golden Mile, New Celebration and Victory-Defiance deposits along the Boulder-Lefroy Shear Zone, and the presence of gold-related pyrites with negative δ34S values in these deposits. This study highlights the interplay that exists between physical and chemical processes in orogenic gold Mineral Systems, during the transport of ore fluids in pathways from original fluid reservoirs to deposit sites. Potentially, a single and widespread orogenic ore-fluid could become oxidized, and lead to the formation of ore-related sulfides with variable sulfur isotopic compositions, depending on the nature and orientation of major fluid pathways, the nature of wall-rocks through which it circulates, and the precise ore-depositional processes that develop during fault-valve cycles.

A fundamental responsibility of the National Park Service is to ensure that park resources are preserved, protected, and managed in consideration of the resources themselves and for the benefit and enjoyment by the public. Through the inventory, monitoring, and study of park resources, we gain a greater understanding of the scope, significance, distribution, and management issues associated with these resources and their use. This baseline of natural resource information is available to inform park managers, scientists, stakeholders, and the public about the conditions of these resources and the factors or activities which may threaten or influence their stability. There are several different categories of geologic or stratigraphic units (supergroup, group, formation, member, bed) which represent a hierarchical system of classification. The mapping of stratigraphic units involves the evaluation of lithologies, bedding properties, thickness, geographic distribution, and other factors. If a new mappable geologic unit is identified, it may be described and named through a rigorously defined process that is standardized and codified by the professional geologic community (North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature 2005). In most instances when a new geologic unit such as a formation is described and named in the scientific literature, a specific and well-exposed section of the unit is designated as the type section or type locality (see Definitions). The type section is an important reference section for a named geologic unit which presents a relatively complete and representative profile for this unit. The type or reference section is important both historically and scientifically, and should be recorded such that other researchers may evaluate it in the future. Therefore, this inventory of geologic type sections in NPS areas is an important effort in documenting these locations in order that NPS staff recognize and protect these areas for future studies. The documentation of all geologic type sections throughout the 423 units of the NPS is an ambitious undertaking. The strategy for this project is to select a subset of parks to begin research for the occurrence of geologic type sections within particular parks. The focus adopted for completing the baseline inventories throughout the NPS was centered on the 32 inventory and monitoring networks (I&M) established during the late 1990s. The I&M networks are clusters of parks within a defined geographic area based on the ecoregions of North America (Fenneman 1946; Bailey 1976; Omernik 1987). These networks share similar physical resources (geology, hydrology, climate), biological resources (flora, fauna), and ecological characteristics. Specialists familiar with the resources and ecological parameters of the network, and associated parks, work with park staff to support network level activities (inventory, monitoring, research, data management). Adopting a network-based approach to inventories worked well when the NPS undertook paleontological resource inventories for the 32 I&M networks. The network approach is also being applied to the inventory for the geologic type sections in the NPS. The planning team from the NPS Geologic Resources Division who proposed and designed this inventory selected the Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network (GRYN) as the pilot network for initiating this project. Through the research undertaken to identify the geologic type sections within the parks of the GRYN, methodologies for data mining and reporting on these resources was established. Methodologies and reporting adopted for the GRYN have been used in the development of this type section inventory for the Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network. The goal of this project is to consolidate information pertaining to geologic type sections which occur within NPS-administered areas, in order that this information is available throughout the NPS...

A fundamental responsibility of the National Park Service (NPS) is to ensure that park resources are preserved, protected, and managed in consideration of the resources themselves and for the benefit and enjoyment by the public. Through the inventory, monitoring, and study of park resources, we gain a greater understanding of the scope, significance, distribution, and management issues associated with these resources and their use. This baseline of natural resource information is available to inform park managers, scientists, stakeholders, and the public about the conditions of these resources and the factors or activities which may threaten or influence their stability. There are several different categories of geologic or stratigraphic units (supergroup, group, formation, member, bed) which represent a hierarchical system of classification. The mapping of stratigraphic units involves the evaluation of lithologies, bedding properties, thickness, geographic distribution, and other factors. If a new mappable geologic unit is identified, it may be described and named through a rigorously defined process that is standardized and codified by the professional geologic community (North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature 2005). In most instances when a new geologic unit such as a formation is described and named in the scientific literature, a specific and well-exposed section of the unit is designated as the type section or type locality (see Definitions). The type section is an important reference section for a named geologic unit which presents a relatively complete and representative profile. The type or reference section is important both historically and scientifically, and should be available for other researchers to evaluate in the future. Therefore, this inventory of geologic type sections in NPS areas is an important effort in documenting these locations in order that NPS staff recognize and protect these areas for future studies. The documentation of all geologic type sections throughout the 423 units of the NPS is an ambitious undertaking. The strategy for this project is to select a subset of parks to begin research for the occurrence of geologic type sections within particular parks. The focus adopted for completing the baseline inventories throughout the NPS was centered on the 32 inventory and monitoring networks (I&M) established during the late 1990s. The I&M networks are clusters of parks within a defined geographic area based on the ecoregions of North America (Fenneman 1946; Bailey 1976; Omernik 1987). These networks share similar physical resources (geology, hydrology, climate), biological resources (flora, fauna), and ecological characteristics. Specialists familiar with the resources and ecological parameters of the network, and associated parks, work with park staff to support network level activities (inventory, monitoring, research, data management). Adopting a network-based approach to inventories worked well when the NPS undertook paleontological resource inventories for the 32 I&M networks. The network approach is also being applied to the inventory for the geologic type sections in the NPS. The planning team from the NPS Geologic Resources Division who proposed and designed this inventory selected the Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network (GRYN) as the pilot network for initiating this project. Through the research undertaken to identify the geologic type sections within the parks of the GRYN methodologies for data mining and reporting on these resources was established. Methodologies and reporting adopted for the GRYN have been used in the development of this type section inventory for the Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network. The goal of this project is to consolidate information pertaining to geologic type sections which occur within NPS-administered areas, in order that this information is available throughout the NPS...

A fundamental responsibility of the National Park Service (NPS) is to ensure that park resources are preserved, protected, and managed in consideration of the resources themselves and for the benefit and enjoyment by the public. Through the inventory, monitoring, and study of park resources, we gain a greater understanding of the scope, significance, distribution, and management issues associated with these resources and their use. This baseline of natural resource information is available to inform park managers, scientists, stakeholders, and the public about the conditions of these resources and the factors or activities which may threaten or influence their stability. There are several different categories of geologic or stratigraphic units (supergroup, group, formation, member, bed) which represent a hierarchical system of classification. The mapping of stratigraphic units involves the evaluation of lithologies, bedding properties, thickness, geographic distribution, and other factors. If a new mappable geologic unit is identified, it may be described and named through a rigorously defined process that is standardized and codified by the professional geologic community (North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature 2005). In most instances when a new geologic unit such as a formation is described and named in the scientific literature, a specific and well-exposed section of the unit is designated as the type section or type locality (see Definitions). The type section is an important reference section for a named geologic unit which presents a relatively complete and representative profile. The type or reference section is important both historically and scientifically, and should be protected and conserved for researchers to study and evaluate in the future. Therefore, this inventory of geologic type sections in NPS areas is an important effort in documenting these locations in order that NPS staff recognize and protect these areas for future studies. The documentation of all geologic type sections throughout the 423 units of the NPS is an ambitious undertaking. The strategy for this project is to select a subset of parks to begin research for the occurrence of geologic type sections within particular parks. The focus adopted for completing the baseline inventories throughout the NPS was centered on the 32 inventory and monitoring networks (I&M) established during the late 1990s. The I&M networks are clusters of parks within a defined geographic area based on the ecoregions of North America (Fenneman 1946; Bailey 1976; Omernik 1987). These networks share similar physical resources (geology, hydrology, climate), biological resources (flora, fauna), and ecological characteristics. Specialists familiar with the resources and ecological parameters of the network, and associated parks, work with park staff to support network level activities (inventory, monitoring, research, data management). Adopting a network-based approach to inventories worked well when the NPS undertook paleontological resource inventories for the 32 I&M networks. The network approach is also being applied to the inventory for the geologic type sections in the NPS. The planning team from the NPS Geologic Resources Division who proposed and designed this inventory selected the Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network (GRYN) as the pilot network for initiating this project. Through the research undertaken to identify the geologic type sections within the parks of the GRYN methodologies for data mining and reporting on these resources were established. Methodologies and reporting adopted for the GRYN have been used in the development of this type section inventory for the Klamath Inventory & Monitoring Network. The goal of this project is to consolidate information pertaining to geologic type sections which occur within NPS-administered areas, in order that this information is available throughout the NPS to inform park managers...