Alto formation, named in this report, described as dark siliceous shale and somewhat shaly limestone, 40 to 75 ft thick in Alto Township, Union Co., IL. Unconformably underlies Mountain Glen shale and overlies Lingle limestone. Is thought to represent Portage or Chemung. Age is Late Devonian.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).
Age of Alto Formation not precisely determined but thought to be late Middle Devonian (late Givetian) to earliest Late Devonian (early Frasnian) based on conodonts. Unit is similar to Misenheimer Shale Member of Lingle Formation. No consistent basis for dividing Lingle and Alto into separate formations, but generally boundary is based on change in color. Unconformably(?) overlies Lingle Formation; unconformably underlies Sylamore Sandstone or Grassy Creek Shale.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).
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