skip all navigation
skip banner links
skip primary navigation

Characteristics of Depositional Facies

— Peter Scholle

Correlations between faunal and sedimentary features and depositional environments in the Upper Permian strata of the Guadalupe Mountains

(Data partially adapted from Newell and others (1953) and Schmidt (1977))

C = common; P = present; R = rare; * indicates feature is generally or always detrital or allochthonous.
Absence of any symbol indicates feature is absent or extremely rare

Relative abundance in stratigraphic unit and/or environment

FEATURE
ARTESIA GROUP
CAPITAN LIMESTONE
 BELL CYN.
 

Sabkha-Lagoon
Facies

Pisolite Facies

Near Back-Reef

Reef Crest
Facies

Upper Forereef
Facies

Lower Forereef
 Facies

Basin
Facies

Fauna:

Ostracods

P

R

P

R

R

R

R

Calcispheres

C

P

P

     

P

Stromatolites

P

P

R

P

P

   

Dasyclad algae

 

R

C

R

R*

R*

 

Fusulinids

 

P

C

R

R*

R*

P

Other Foraminifera

P

R

P

P

R

R

R

Gastropods

 

R

C

P

R

   

Pelecypods

 

R

C

P

     

Red Algae

   

P

C

P

   

Echinoderms

 

R

C

C

P

P

R

Brachiopods

   

P

P

P

C

R

Calcareous Sponges

   

P

C

C

P*

 

Hydrozoans

   

P

C

C

   

Tubiphytes

   

P

C

C

   

Bryozoans

     

C

C

P

 

Ammonoids

   

R

R

R

R

R

Solitary Corals

     

P

P

R

 

Phylloid Algae

     

C

     

Siliceous Sponges

         

C

P

Conodonts

         

R

P

Radiolarians

           

P

Fish

           

R

Carbonate Rocks:

Boundstone

P

 

R

C

C

P*

 

Grainstone

 

C

C

P

P

P

 

Packstone

R

C

P

P

R

C

P

Wackestone

P

P

P

P

C

C

C

Mudstone

C

P

P

R

R

P

C

Non-Carbonate Rocks:

Shale

C

         

C

Siltstone

C

P

R

   

P

C

Sandstone

C

P

R

   

P

C

Organic-rich units

R

       

P

C

Grain Types:

Skeletal

R

P

C

C

C

P

P

Pelletal

C

R

P

P

P

R

 

Pisolitic / oolitic

R

C

P

       

Intraclastic

R

P

P

C

C

P

R

Sedimentary Structures:

Lamination

C

R

R

   

P

C

Bedding

C

C

P

 

R

P

C

Synsedimentary fractures

   

P

C

C

   

Channels

   

P

?

C

P

C

Cross-bedding

 

R

P

 

R

P

P

Graded Bedding

   

R

 

R

P

P

Collapse breccias

C

     

C

P

 

Tepee Structures

 

C

         
Diagenetic Features:

Marine Cements

   

P

C

C

P

 

Dolomitization

C

C

P

 

P

P

 

Evaporite nodules

C

R

   
R
P
R

Evaporite cements

P

C

C
  
P
R
  

Freshwater Cements

R

C

P

       

Chertification

       

P

C

C

Late calcitized evaporites

C

C

R
  
C
P
R

Late-stage silica

R

 

 

       

Primary Porosity

P

R

P

     

C

Secondary Porosity

C

R

C

R

P
R
R