Geologic map and coloration facies of the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, Snow Canyon State Park and areas of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Washington County, Utah (OFR-561)

By: G. B. Nielsen and M. A. Chan

This report describes diagenetic coloration patterns and associated structural features in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone of Snow Canyon State Park and vicinity, southwestern Utah. The Navajo is characterized by a broad diversity of colors related to iron oxide cementation and fluid diagenesis. Diagenetic coloration facies and other geologic features are mapped at a 1:10,000 scale. Mapped units include four major coloration facies and three subfacies, each having distinctive visual and compositional characteristics. Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of each facies are summarized in a series of appendices. The excellent sandstone exposures, relatively undeformed strata, and broad variety of diagenetic features at Snow Canyon make it an important locality for investigation diagenetic processes in the subsurface.

Other Information:
Published: 2010
Pages: 15 p.
Plates: 2 pl.
Scale: 1:10,000
Location: Washington County
Media Type: Paper Publication