Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
phylloid algal mounds, Late Paleozoic carbonate buildups, San Juan River
College
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Department
Geological Sciences
Abstract
Although phylloid algal mounds have been studied for 50 year, much remains to be determined concerning the ecology and sedimentology of these Late Paleozoic carbonate buildups. Herein we perform a digital outcrop study of the well-known Middle Pennsylvanian Lower Ismay mound interval in the Paradox Basin because 1) the concept of phylloid algae was established in this interval and 2) outcropping mounds along the San Juan River are cited as outcrop analogs of reservoir carbonates in the Paradox Basin oil province of Utah and adjacent states. The principal field area is the Eight Foot algal field located at river mile 19.2 on the San Juan River, approximately 14 miles SSW of Bluff, Utah. The Lower Ismay section is exposed on both sides of the river for 1.4 miles. A combined total station-LIDAR survey of the exposed Eight Foot mounds indicates that the mound field is comprised of 83 individual and composite mounds that have an average height of 10.9 meters and peak spacing of 48.8 meters. Further, statistical examination of survey data reveals a correlation between mound height and east-west alignment, showing that shelfward mounds were slightly taller than their more basinward counterparts.. However, other shape parameters do not appear to vary systematically across the algal field.
Recommended Citation
Goodrich, Colton and Ritter, Scott
(2015)
"Digital Outcrop Model and Paleoecology of the Eight-Foot Rapid Algal Field (Middle Pennsylvanian Lower Ismay Sequence), Paradox Basin, Utah,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015:
Iss.
1, Article 264.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/264