Description Shawangunk Formation

1 description

1.1 depositional environment
1.2 fossils
1.3 notable exposures

description

the shawangunk defined light dark-gray, fine coarsed grained sandstone , conglomerate, containing few shale interbeds. there 4 members of formation: tammany, lizard creek, minsi, , weiders.

the lizard creek member described @ lehigh gap having conglomerates, sandstone, calcareous sandstone, siltstone, , shale few minor red beds. minsi member described congloeritic quartzite , weiders described both conglomerate , quartzite. tammany , lizard creek members equivalent clinton formation , minsi , weiders members equivalent tuscarora formation in central , western part of pennsylvania. tammany member not described @ lehigh gap.

depositional environment

the depositional environment of shawangunk has been intrepreted terrestrial shallow marine deposit resulting in molasse sequence produced taconic orogeny. numerous coarse-grained beds, in lower part, suggest relatively close orogenic source high high energy fluvial systems depositing sediments. shale interbeds may indicate slowing or shifting of these ancient river systems.

fossils

very few fossils exist in shawangunk; however, eurypterids can found in middle portions of formation 420–750 feet base in locations in new york state. linguloid brachiopods identified in lizard creek member.

the ichnofossil arthrophycus described in minsi member in area of lehigh gap. these made polychaete worms of family terebellida.

notable exposures

shawangunk formation (rock in foreground) @ high point state park, new jersey, facing northeast.



delaware water gap
lehigh gap, pennsylvania
high point state park, new jersey




^ berg, t.m., edmunds, w.e., geyer, a.r. , others, compilers, (1980). geologic map of pennsylvania: pennsylvania geologic survey, map 1, scale 1:250,000.
^ epstein, j.b., sevon, w.d., glaeser, j.d. (1974). geology , mineral resources of lehighton , palmerton quardrangles, carbon , northampton counties, pennsylvania. pennsylvania geologic survey, harrisburg, pa. a195c&d.
^ epstein, j.b., (1993) stratigraphy of silurian rocks in shawangunk mountain, southeastern new york, including historical review of nomenclature. united states geological survey publication l14.
^ cite error: named reference epstein1972 invoked never defined (see page).