USGS Visual Identifier

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Geologic Unit: Glen Canyon 

Publication:
Gilluly, James, and Reeside, J.B., Jr., 1928, Sedimentary rocks 
   of the San Rafael Swell and some adjacent areas in eastern 
   Utah, IN Shorter contributions to general geology, 1927: U.S. 
   Geological Survey Professional Paper, 150-D, p. D61-D110.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Overview
  Paradox basin
  

Summary:
In San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah (Paradox basin), Glen Canyon group is divided into three units. Massive sandstone at base called Wingate sandstone. Middle thin-bedded red shale, lenticular sandstone, and limestone assigned to Todilto(?) formation, though correlation from San Rafael Swell to northwest New Mexico uncertain. Massive sandstone at top called Navajo sandstone. Age is Jurassic(?).
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Gregory, H.E., and Moore, R.C., 1931, The Kaiparowits region, 
   a geographic and geologic reconnaissance of parts of Utah 
   and Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 164, 
   161 p.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Named
  Plateau sedimentary province
Paradox basin
Black Mesa basin
Great Basin province
  Sandstone
Shale
Limestone

Summary:
Glen Canyon group. Rocks previously thought to occupy same stratigraphic position as the La Plata group, but recognized now as only partly equivalent to the La Plata. Name Glen Canyon introduced to avoid confusion. Separated into (ascending) Wingate sandstone, a massive cross-bedded, cliff-making sandstone at base; Todilto(?) formation, a thin-bedded calcareous sandstone, shale, and thin, dense limestone; and Navajo sandstone, a massive cross-bedded, cliff-making sandstone at top. Rocks assigned to Glen Canyon extend across southern Utah, and east to La Plata Mountains of Colorado (Paradox basin), Navajo County, Arizona (Plateau sedimentary province and Black Mesa basin), and Muddy and Spring Valley Mountains of Nevada (Great Basin province). Ranges from less than 600 feet to more than 2,000 feet thick. Eroded to spectacular canyons, ridges, and other topographic forms. Unconformably overlies Chinle formation. Underlies Carmel formation. Age is Jurassic(?). Report includes geologic map, stratigraphic charts, cross sections.
Type locality not specifically designated. Named from exposures in the walls that form the Glen Canyon of the Colorado River, a canyon that stretches from north of Lees Ferry, Coconino Co., AZ, to north of the intersection of the Colorado with the San Juan River in San Juan Co., UT.
Source: Modified from GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Baker, A.A., 1936, Geology of the Monument Valley-Navajo Mountain 
   region, San Juan County, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 
   865, 106 p., Also, U.S. Geological Survey Oil and Gas 
   Investigations Map OM-168 and U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 
   1087-D.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Revised
  San Juan basin
Black Mesa basin
Plateau sedimentary province
  

Summary:
Glen Canyon group revised to include (ascending) the Wingate sandstone (at base), Kayenta formation (new), and Navajo sandstone (at top). Name Kayenta replaces earlier uses of Todilto limestone. Group mapped in west half of geologic map: in San Juan County, Utah (San Juan basin); Navajo County, Arizona (Black Mesa basin); and in Coconino County, Arizona (Plateau sedimentary province). Overlies Chinle formation; underlies Carmel formation. Age is Jurassic(?). Report includes cross section, stratigraphic column.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Averitt, Paul, Wilson, R.F., Detterman, J.S., Harshbarger, J.W., 
   and Repenning, C.A., 1955, Revisions in correlation and 
   nomenclature of Triassic and Jurassic formations in southwestern 
   Utah and northern Arizona: American Association of Petroleum 
   Geologists Bulletin, v. 39, no. 12, p. 2515-2524. [Available 
   online, with subscription, from AAPG archives:  
   http://www.aapg.org/datasystems or  http://
   search.datapages.com]
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Revised
  Great Basin province
Plateau sedimentary province
  

Summary:
The Kayenta formation and the Navajo sandstone of the Glen Canyon group intertongue in southern Utah and northern Arizona. In the Cedar City area, Kane County, Utah, in Great Basin province, the sequence described consists of (ascending): lower part of the Kayenta, Shurtz sandstone tongue (named) of the Navajo, Cedar City tongue (named) of the Kayenta, and the main body of the Navajo. In the Kanab area, Kane County, Utah, and Coconino County, Arizona, in Plateau sedimentary province, the sequence described consists of the Lamb Point tongue (first used) of the Navajo, Tenney Canyon tongue (first used) of the Kayenta, and the main body of the Navajo. Age of Kayenta is Jurassic(?). Age of Navajo is Jurassic and Jurassic(?). [No stratigraphic figures.]
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Harshbarger, J.W., Repenning, C.A., and Irwin, J.H., 1957, 
   Stratigraphy of the uppermost Triassic and the Jurassic rocks 
   of the Navajo country: U.S. Geological Survey Professional 
   Paper, 291, 74 p.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Revised
Overview
  Plateau sedimentary province
Black Mesa basin
San Juan basin
Paradox basin
  

Summary:
Overlies Chinle formation; underlies Carmel formation. Fossils in group include mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and reptiles. No marine fossils found. In the Navajo country (Plateau sedimentary province, Black Mesa basin, San Juan basin, and Paradox basin), the group includes: Wingate sandstone, which includes Rock Point member at base and Lukachukai member at top (both new); Moenave formation (new), which includes Dinosaur Canyon sandstone member at base and Springdale sandstone member at top reassigned to Moenave, Kayenta formation, and Navajo sandstone. Age is Triassic and Jurassic, based on age assignment of underlying Chinle (continental vertebrates of Keuper age) and of overlying Carmel (Bajocian). Six measured sections described.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Lewis, G.E., Irwin, J.H., and Wilson, R.F., 1961, Age of the 
   Glen Canyon Group (Triassic and Jurassic) on the Colorado 
   Plateau: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 72, no. 
   9, p. 1437-1440.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Age modified
Biostratigraphic dating
    

Summary:
Reappraisal of paleontologic and stratigraphic evidence warrants a change in age assignment of two of the formations of the Glen Canyon group. Age of Kayenta is changed from Early Jurassic(?) to Late Triassic(?). Age of Navajo sandstone is changed from Jurassic and Jurassic(?) to Late Triassic(?) and Jurassic. Fossils identified from: (1) Moenave formation (Late Triassic holostean fish, crocodile); (2) Kayenta formation (carnivorous dinosaur, fresh-water pelecypods, tritylodont reptile); and (3) Navajo sandstone (fern leaves, wood, crustaceans, and carnivorous dinosaur fossils).
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Phoenix, D.A., 1963, Geology of the Lees Ferry area, Coconino 
   County, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1137, 86 
   p., (incl. geologic map, scale 1:24,000) [http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/
   Prodesc/proddesc_20858.htm]
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Revised
  Plateau sedimentary province
  

Summary:
Contact between the Glen Canyon and San Rafael groups modified in report area, which extends from Kane County, Utah, south into Coconino County, Arizona (Plateau sedimentary province). The red-brown sandstone and siltstone tongue above the main body of the Navajo sandstone is newly named Judd Hollow tongue of Carmel formation of San Rafael group. This is overlain by a gray to white to red-brown, fine-grained to very fine-grained, quartzose, silty, tangentially cross-bedded sandstone newly named Thousand Pockets tongue of the Navajo sandstone of the Glen Canyon group. Glen Canyon group also includes Moenave (and its Dinosaur Canyon and Springdale sandstone members) and Kayenta formation. Age of the Moenave, at base, is classified as Triassic(?), the Kayenta as Jurassic(?), and the Navajo as Jurassic(?) and Jurassic. Report includes measured sections, geologic map, columnar section.
Source: Modified from GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Poole, F.G., and Stewart, J.H., 1964, Chinle Formation and Glen 
   Canyon Sandstone in northeastern Utah and northwestern 
   Colorado, IN Geological Survey research 1964: U.S. Geological 
   Survey Professional Paper, 501-D, p. D30-D39., Also, "Guidebook 
   to the geology and mineral resources of the Uinta basin, 
   Utah's hydrocarbon storehouse," Intermountain Association of 
   Petroleum Geologists, 13th Annual Field Conference, p. 93-104, 
   1964.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Sandstone*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Areal limits
Revised
  Uinta uplift
Piceance basin
Greater Green River basin
  

Summary:
The sandstone above Chinle Formation has been called Nugget Sandstone in western Uinta Mountains, and Navajo Sandstone in eastern Uinta Mountains and eastward into Colorado. This sandstone is gray, orange, brown, yellow, pink, and white, subrounded to well-rounded, very fine- to fine-grained, with grains of quartz, feldspar, chert, and quartzite, and calcite cement. The lower flat-bedded strata are water laid. The overlying strata which are wedge-planar, tabular-planar, and have subordinate lenticular trough sets are of eolian origin. Is continuous from western Uintas into Colorado and uniform. One name should be applied. Evidence favors equivalence to all or to part of Glen Canyon. Application of name Nugget is opposed by many because of lithologic differences with type Nugget. May be equivalent to Wingate Sandstone, Kayenta Formation, and Navajo Sandstone of Glen Canyon Group to south, or it may be equivalent to only one sandstone. Authors favor equivalence to Wingate because of a widespread pre-San Rafael unconformity that may have cut out Navajo and Kayenta. Name Glen Canyon extended into northeast Utah (Uinta uplift), and northwest Colorado (Greater Green River and Piceance basins) with formation rank. Wedges out to east toward White River Plateau. Age is Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. Overlain by Twin Creek Limestone in western Uintas, by Carmel Formation in eastern Uintas, and by Entrada Formation east into Colorado.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Wilson, R.F., and Stewart, J.H., 1967, Correlation of Upper 
   Triassic and Triassic(?) formations between southwestern Utah 
   and southern Nevada, IN Contributions to stratigraphy, 1966: 
   U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1244-D, p. D1-D20.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Areal limits
  Great Basin province
  

Summary:
The part of the stratigraphic section in southwestern Utah, and southern Nevada (Great Basin province), formerly considered to be part of the Chinle Formation is correlated with and reassigned to the Moenave and Kayenta Formations of the Glen Canyon Group. The Chinle-Glen Canyon contact is an erosional surface that marks a hiatus in southwestern Utah, and southern Nevada, that is occupied to the east by the Owl Rock and Church Rock Members of the Chinle. Age is Triassic and Jurassic.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Green, M.W., 1974, The Iyanbito Member (a new stratigraphic 
   unit) of the Jurassic Entrada Sandstone, Gallup-Grants area, 
   New Mexico, IN Contributions to stratigraphy: U.S. Geological 
   Survey Bulletin, 1395-D, p. D1-D12.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Areal limits
Overview
  San Juan basin
  

Summary:
Upper contact of Glen Canyon Group revised in the Gallup-Grants area, McKinley County, New Mexico (San Juan basin). The eolian sandstone previously assigned to the Lukachukai Member of the Wingate Sandstone is reassigned to the overlying Iyanbito Member (new) of the Entrada Sandstone of the San Rafael Group. Rocks were erroneously considered to be Wingate, the basal formation of the Glen [Canyon] Group to the west.
Source: Modified from GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Rowley, P.D., and Hansen, W.R., 1979, Geologic map of the Plug 
   Hat quadrangle, Moffat County, Colorado: U.S. Geological 
   Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map, GQ-1514, 1 sheet, scale 
   1:24,000
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Sandstone*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Mapped 1:24k (Moffat Co, CO)
  Greater Green River basin
  Sandstone

Summary:
Glen Canyon Sandstone mapped in southwest Moffat County, Colorado (Greater Green River basin). Unconformably overlies Chinle Formation (Upper Triassic); unconformably underlies Carmel Formation (Middle Jurassic). Described as pink, light-gray, and buff, moderately resistant, prominently cross-bedded, medium- to thick-bedded, fine- to medium-grained sandstone. In this and nearby quadrangles, the formation has been called the Navajo Sandstone, but as it may not be entirely correlative with the Navajo, the name Glen Canyon now is used (Mac Lachlan, 1957; Poole and Stewart, 1964). The Glen Canyon also is correlated with the Nugget Sandstone of Wyoming (Pipiringos and O'Sullivan, 1975; Picard, 1975). Most workers consider the Glen Canyon and its correlatives to be of Early Jurassic age. The Glen Canyon appears to be conformable with the underlying Chinle Formation but regionally is unconformable according to Pipiringos and O'Sullivan (1977). Thickness estimated at about 200 m (650 feet). The formation thins eastward and pinches out in the subsurface along the eastern boundary of Moffat County, Colorado, due to erosional beveling beneath the chert pebble unconformity (Pipiringos and O'Sullivan, 1975, 1977). The unit thickens west of the mapped area (Kinney, 1955). Age is Late Triassic and Early Jurassic.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Peterson, Fred, and Pipiringos, G.N., 1979, Stratigraphic 
   relationships of the Navajo Sandstone to Middle Jurassic 
   formations in parts of southern Utah and northern Arizona, 
   IN Unconformities, correlations, and nomenclature of some 
   Triassic and Jurassic rocks, Western Interior United States: 
   U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1035-B, p. B1-B43., 
   Supersedes U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF-79-281, 
   179 p, 1979.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Revised
Overview
  Plateau sedimentary province
Black Mesa basin
Great Basin province
  

Summary:
In southwest Utah and northwest Arizona (Plateau sedimentary and Great Basin provinces), the Glen Canyon Group is divided into (ascending): Moenave Formation, Kayenta Formation, and Navajo Sandstone. In northeast Arizona (Black Mesa basin), the Glen Canyon is divided into (ascending): Wingate Sandstone, Kayenta Formation, and Navajo Sandstone. Upper two formations do not extend far into the San Juan basin of northwest New Mexico. Navajo Sandstone stratigraphically restricted in this report. Part is reallocated to Page Sandstone (new) of San Rafael Group. Near Page, Arizona, the Page Sandstone is divisible into Harris Wash Tongue (new) and Thousand Pockets Tongue (formerly a member of Navajo). Temple Cap Sandstone removed from Navajo, raised to formation rank, and assigned to San Rafael Group. Age of Glen Canyon Group is tentatively Early Jurassic (Sinemurian, Pliensbachian, and Toarcian), based on Early Jurassic palynomorphs identified from Whitmore Point Member, middle member of Moenave. [Late Triassic and Jurassic age is retained by USGS]. Report includes correlation chart, cross sections.
Source: Modified from GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Dubiel, R.F., 1989, Sedimentology and revised nomenclature of 
   the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation and the Lower Jurassic 
   Wingate Sandstone, northwestern New Mexico and northeastern 
   Arizona, IN Anderson, O.J., and others, eds., Southeastern 
   Colorado Plateau: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 
   no. 40, p. 213-223.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Age modified
Revised
  Black Mesa basin
San Juan basin
  

Summary:
Lower boundary of Glen Canyon Group modified in area south of Laguna Creek around the Defiance uplift in northeast Arizona (Black Mesa basin), and in northwest New Mexico (San Juan basin). South of Laguna Creek, the Rock Point Member, formerly the basal member of the Wingate Sandstone of the Glen Canyon Group, is reassigned to the Chinle Formation as the upper member. Rock Point's geographic distribution, depositional environment, lithology, bedding, and sedimentary characteristics is similar to Chinle, but not to the cliff-forming, eolian sandstone of the Wingate, as restricted in this report. Term Lukachukai, previously applied to the eolian sandstone, is abandoned in favor of Wingate (restricted). Age of Wingate is Early Jurassic, following age assigned by majority of current workers to rocks of the Glen Canyon Group. Report includes cross section.
Source: Modified from GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Padian, K., 1989, Presence of dinosaur Scelidosaurus indicates 
   Jurassic age for the Kayenta Formation (Glen Canyon Group, 
   northern Arizona): Geological Society of America, Geology, 
   v. 17, no. 5, p. 438-441.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Group

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Age modified
  Plateau sedimentary province
  

Summary:
Horn-like scutes have been found in the Kayenta Formation at several localities in the Rock Head quadrangle, Coconino County, Arizona, in the Plateau sedimentary province, that match an obscure ornithisician dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of southwest England. These scutes [pictured] belonged to SCELIDOSAURUS. Possible late Hettangian or Sinemurian age suggested for lower part of the Kayenta. Along with palynomorphs in the Moenave Formation and magnetostratigraphic studies, the Early Jurassic age assignment for several parts of the group, is assigned to the entire Glen Canyon Group. Age of formations of the Glen Canyon are thought to be as follows: Wingate is Hettangian; Moenave is Hettangian and Sinemurian; Kayenta is Sinemurian and Pliensbachian; Navajo is Pliensbachian or Toarcian --all are part of Early Jurassic. [Members of formations in Glen Canyon Group not discussed.]
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX). 


Publication:
Condon, S.M., 1992, Geologic framework of pre-Cretaceous rocks 
   in the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and adjacent areas, 
   southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, IN Geology 
   and mineral resources of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation: 
   U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1505-A, p. 
   A1-A56.
Usage in Publication:
Glen Canyon Group*

Modifications: Geologic Province: Dominant Lithology:
 Areal limits
  San Juan basin
Paradox basin
Black Mesa basin
  

Summary:
Glen Canyon Group overlies Chinle Formation; underlies Entrada Sandstone. Wingate Sandstone, Kayenta Formation, and Navajo Sandstone belong to the Glen Canyon Group, but these formations are difficult to distinguish. Isopach map shows group in western part of Reservation and in northwest part of San Juan County, west of Farmington, New Mexico (San Juan basin); in Montezuma County, Colorado, and into southeast Utah (Paradox basin); and in northeasternmost Arizona (Black Mesa basin). Thickens westward to more than 500 feet in southeast Utah. Age is Early Jurassic.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).