Gila Formation

The Gila Formation is a geologic formation found along the upper tributaries of the Gila River in Arizona and New Mexico.[1] Radiometric dating of interlayered lava flows yields an age of Miocene to Quaternary.[2][3]

Gila Formation
Stratigraphic range: Neogene
TypeFormation
Thickness1,000–1,500 ft (300–460 m)
Lithology
PrimaryConglomerate
OtherSandstone, siltstone, basalt, dacite
Location
RegionArizona, New Mexico
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forGila River
Named byG.K. Gilbert
Year defined1875
Gila Formation (the United States)
Gila Formation (Arizona)

Description

The formation is primarily conglomerate composed of clasts derived locally. There are also occasional thin sandstone and tuff beds and basalt flows. Total thickness is 1,000–1,500 feet (300–460 m).[1]. Radiometric ages of interbedded basalt range from 12.1 Ma[2] to 1 Ma.[3]

History of investigation

The unit was first named as the Gila Conglomerate by G.K. Gilbert in 1875 from his participation in the Wheeler Survey. Only a type area was defined.[1] By 1903 Ransome had mapped the unit into the Globe area.[4] Wood divided the unit into the Bonita beds, Solomonsville beds, and Frye Mesa beds in 1960.[5] In 1963, Heindl raised the unit to group rank and divided it into the San Manuel, Quiburis, and Sacaton Formations,[6] but Krieger et al. removed the San Manuel and Quiburis Formations from the Gila and abandoned the Sacaton Formation, restoring the Gila to formation rank.[7] Ratte et al. redesignated the unit as the Gila Formation based on its diverse lithology.[2]

Footnotes
  1. Gilbert 1875
  2. Ratte et al. 1994
  3. Ratte 1989
  4. Ransome 1903
  5. Wood 1960
  6. Heindl 1963
  7. Krieger et al. 1974
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References
  • Gilbert, G.K. (1875). "Report upon the geology of portions of Nevada, Utah, California, and Arizona, examined in the years 1871 and 1872,". Publication of the Wheeler Survey. 3 (1): 17–187.
  • Heindl, L.A. (1963). "Cenozoic geology in the Mammoth area, Pinal County, Arizona". U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 1141-E: E1–E41. doi:10.3133/b1141E.
  • Krieger, M.H.; Cornwall, H.R.; Banks, N.G. (1974). "Big Dome Formation and revised Tertiary stratigraphy in the Ray-San Manuel area, Arizona". U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 1394-A: A54–A62. doi:10.3133/b1394A.
  • Ransome, F.L. (1903). "Geology of the Globe copper district, Arizona". U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 12.
  • Ratte, J.C. (1989). "Geologic map of the Bull Basin quadrangle, Catron County, New Mexico". U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map. GQ-1651. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  • Ratte, J.C.; Bove, D.J.; McIntosh, W.C. (1994). "Geologic map of the Milligan Mountain quadrangle, Catron County, New Mexico". U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map. GQ-1736. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  • Wood, P.A. (1960). "[unknown title]". Arizona Geological Society Guidebook (2).
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