The Canutillo Formation is a geologic formation that is exposed in the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas. The formation is Middle Devonian in age.[1][2]

Canutillo Formation
Stratigraphic range: Middle Devonian
TypeFormation
UnderliesPercha Formation
OverliesFusselman Formation
Thickness15 feet (4.6 m)
Lithology
PrimarySiltstone
OtherShale
Location
Coordinates31°55′N 106°30′W / 31.92°N 106.50°W / 31.92; -106.50
RegionTexas
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forCanutillo, Texas
Named byL.A. Nelson
Year defined1940
Canutillo Formation is located in the United States
Canutillo Formation
Canutillo Formation (the United States)
Canutillo Formation is located in Texas
Canutillo Formation
Canutillo Formation (Texas)

Description

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The Canutillo Formation consists of about 15 feet (4.6 m) of soft gray siltstone. It is unconformably overlain by the Percha Formation. The Canutillo Formation likely correlates with the Onate Formation.[1]

Fossils

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The formation is fossiliferous, but few fossils are time diagnostic. Fossils include abundant Leiorhynchus and other brachiopods and a few pelecypods.[1]

History of investigation

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The formation was first described in his dissertation by L.A. Nelson in 1937 for outcrops in the Franklin Mountains. Nelson assigned all beds between the Silurian Fusselman Formation and the Mississippian Helms Formation to the Canutillo.[3] Nelson formally published the definition in 1940 and extended the outcrop range to the Hueco Mountains.[4] In 1945, F.V. Stevenson restricted the formation to the Franklin Mountains.[5] In 1949, Lowell R. Laudon and Arthur L. Bowshwer restricted the formation to a sequence of just 15 feet (4.6 m) of soft gray siltstone.[1]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d Laudon, Lowell R.; Bowsher, Arthur L. (1949). "Mississippian formations of southwestern New Mexico". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 60 (1): 1. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1949)60[1:MFOSNM]2.0.CO;2.
  2. ^ Ludington, Steve; Hanna, W.F.; Turner, R.L.; Jeske, R.E. (1988). "Mineral resources of the Organ Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Dona Ana County, New Mexico". U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 1735-D. doi:10.3133/b1735D. hdl:2027/osu.32435022084842.
  3. ^ Nelson, L.A. (1937). "Gastropoda from the Pennsylvanian (Magdalena) of the Franklin Mountains of west Texas [abstract of thesis]". Colorado University Studies. 25 (1): 89–91.
  4. ^ Nelson, L.A. (1940). "Paleozoic Stratigraphy of Franklin Mountains, West Texas". AAPG Bulletin. 24 (1): 157–172. doi:10.1306/3D93319A-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D.
  5. ^ Stevenson, Frank V. (July 1945). "Devonian of New Mexico". The Journal of Geology. 53 (4): 217–245. doi:10.1086/625283.