Virgin Formation

Virgin Formation
Virgin Formation
Stratigraphic range: Spathian
Type	Formation
Unit of	Thaynes Group
Thickness	150 m (490 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Limestone
Other	Siltstone, shale
Location
Coordinates	37°12′6″N 113°11′23″W / 37.20167°N 113.18972°W
Region	Utah
Country	United States
Type section
Named for	Virgin, Utah
Named by	Bassler and Reeside
Year defined	1921
	Virgin Formation (the United States) Virgin Formation (Utah)

The Virgin Formation is a geologic formation in Utah. It preserves fossils dating back to the Triassic period (Spathian substage).^[1]

Description

The Virgin Formation consists of gray to yellowish gray to greenish gray limestone, occasionally fossiliferous, alternating with greenish yellow to reddish brown to gray shale or siltstone. The limestone beds are up to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick.^[2]^[3] Total thickness of the formation is up to 150 meters (490 ft).^[4] About 30% of the total section of the formation is limestone.^[5]

The formation rests on the "lower red member" of the Moenkopi Group and underlies the Shnabkaib Member of the Moenkopi Group.^[4] More recently, the Virgin Formation is interpreted as a formation of the Thaynes Group.^[6]

The formation is interpreted as having been deposited in a near-shore shallow marine environment. The lower part shows cyclic sedimentation, while the upper part of the formation to the southeast was deposited in lagoons in an arid climate while marine deposition continued to the north.^[5]

Fossils

The formation contains marine fossils, including crinoids, pelecypods, gastropods, worms, crustaceans, and the ammonoid Tirolites. The latter is characteristic of the early Spathian stage of the Early Triassic.^[3]^[1]

History of investigation

The unit was first named as the Virgin limestone member of the Moenkopi Formation in 1922, by Harvey Bassler and John Reeside.^[2] The unit was promoted to formation rank (and the Moenkopi Formation to group rank) in southwestern Utah) by S.J. Poborski in 1954.^[5]

References