Tres Hermanos Formation

The Tres Hermanos Formation is a geologic formation in central and west-central New Mexico.[1] It contains fossils characteristic of the Turonian Age of the late Cretaceous.[2]

Tres Hermanos Formation Stratigraphic range: Turonian
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Pescado or D-Cross Tongue, Mancos Shale
Overlies	Rio Salado Tongue, Mancos Shale
Thickness	200–300 feet (61–91 m)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Location
Coordinates	33.886°N 106.756°W / 33.886; -106.756
Country	United States
Type section
Named for	Tres Hermanos Buttes
Named by	C.L. Herrick
Year defined	1900
Tres Hermanos Formation (the United States) Show map of the United States Tres Hermanos Formation (New Mexico) Show map of New Mexico

Description

The formation is a clastic wedge[3] directed to the northeast into the Mancos Shale. This divides the Mancos Shale into the underlying Rio Salado Tongue and the overlying Pescado or D-Cross Tongue. The base of the wedge is approximately along a line from the Arizona-New Mexico border southwest of Gallup, New Mexico to east of Cookes Range, where the overlying Pescado or D-Cross Tongue of the Mancos Shale pinches out. The wedge itself pinches out along an arc that passes south of Gallup and just north of Acoma Pueblo and west of Capitan. Total thickness is 200–300 feet (61–91 m).[1]

The formation itself is interpreted as a regression-transgression sequence of the Western Interior Seaway. It is divided into three members: the lower Atarque Sandstone Member, which is regressive marine sandstone; the Carthage Member, a sequence of marine and nonmarine shale and sandstone; and the upper Fite Ranch Member, a transgressive marine sandstone.[1][3]

Fossils

The base of the formation contains the ammonite Spathites coahuilaensis characteristic of the middle Turonian.[4] The formation spans the ammonite zones of Collignoniceras woollgari, Prionocyclus percarinatus, P. hyatti, and P. macombit, indicating that the formation ranges from early middle Turonian to early late Turonian.[3]

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.[2]

History of investigation

The unit was first designated the Tres Hermanos Sandstone member of the Mancos Shale by C.L. Herrick in 1900.[5] In 1983, Hook et al. raised the unit to formation rank and interpreted it as a clastic wedge directed to the northeast into the Mancos Shale. They also divided the formation into the Atarque Sandstone Member, the Carthage Member, and the Fite Ranch Member.[1]

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
  • List of stratigraphic units with indeterminate dinosaur fossils

Footnotes

1. Hook et al. 1983
2. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
3. Cobban and Hook 1989
4. Cobban 1988
5. Herrick 1900

References

• Cobban, W.A. (1988). "The Late Cretaceous ammonite Spathites Kummel and Decker in New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas". Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Bulletin. 114: 5–21.
• Cobban, W.A.; Hook, S.C. (1989). "Mid-Cretaceous molluscan record from west-central New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society Field Conference Guidebook". 40: 247–264. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• Herrick, C.L. (1900). "Report of a geological reconnaissance in western Socorro and Valencia Counties, New Mexico". American Geologist. 25: 33l-346.
• Hook, S.C.; Molenaar, C.M.; Cobban, W.A. (1983). "Stratigraphy and revision of nomenclature of upper Cenomanian to Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) rocks of west-central New Mexico" (PDF). New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Circular. 185: 7–28. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
• Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.