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National Geologic Map Database
Geologic Unit: Bluecastle
Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Bluecastle sandstone bed*
  • Modifications:
    • Original reference
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Sandstone
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Paradox basin
Publication:

Fisher, D.J., 1936, The Book Cliffs coal field in Emery and Grand Counties, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 852, 104 p.


Summary:

[Bluecastle sandstone bed of Price River formation of Mesaverde group.] Cross-bedded sandstone, medium-to fine-grained, weathering buff to gray. Thickness 0 to 100+/- feet. Included in Nelson coal-bearing member of Price River formation, lying 200+/- feet above base of that member. Is younger than Thompson Canyon sandstone bed, and younger than Chesterfield coal zone and Sulphur Canyon sandstone bed to east. Age is Late Cretaceous.
Named from exposures in Bluecastle Canyon, [Book Cliffs coal field, in T. 20 S., R. 15 and 16 E., Grand Co.], central eastern UT. Caps Bluecastle Butte.

Source: US geologic names lexicon (USGS Bull. 896, p. 218).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Bluecastle sandstone member*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Paradox basin
Publication:

Cobban, W.A., and Reeside, J.B., Jr., 1952, Correlation of the Cretaceous formations of the Western Interior of the United States: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 63, no. 10, p. 1011-1044.


Summary:

Raised in stratigraphic rank to Bluecastle sandstone member of Neslen formation (rank raised) of Mesaverde group. Formerly a bed in Neslen Member. Change made for central Book Cliffs area, UT in the Paradox basin. Of late Campanian, Late Cretaceous age. Correlation chart.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Bluecastle sandstone bed*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Paradox basin
Publication:

Fisher, D.J., Erdmann, C.E., and Reeside, J.B., Jr., 1960, Cretaceous and Tertiary formations of the Book Cliffs, Carbon, Emery, and Grand Counties, Utah, and Garfield and Mesa Counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 332, 80 p.


Summary:

Assigned as a member at top of Price River formation in western Book Cliffs, west of Green River, Emery Co, UT in the Paradox basin. Assigned as a member, in upper part, of Neslen formation in central Book Cliffs, east of Green River, Grand Co, UT in the Paradox basin. Columnar sections.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Bluecastle Tongue*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Paradox basin
Publication:

Fouch, T.D., Lawton, T.F., Nichols, D.J., Cashion, W.B., and Cobban, W.A., 1983, Patterns and timing of synorogenic sedimentation in Upper Cretaceous rocks of central and northeast Utah, IN Reynolds, M.W., and Dolly, E.D., eds., Mesozoic paleogeography of the west-central United States: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Rocky Mountain Section, Rocky Mountain Paleogeography Symposium, v. 2, p. 305-336.


Summary:

Removed from Price River Formation west of the Green River and from Neslen Formation east of Green River, and placed in the upper part of the Castlegate Sandstone [of Mesaverde Group], as the Bluecastle Tongue, northern Paradox basin. Overlies lower part of Castlegate. Intertongues with Buck Tongue of Mancos Shale, Sego Sandstone, and Neslen Formation. Underlies Price River Formation, or Tuscher and Farrer Formations. Is of Campanian, or Late Cretaceous age.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Bluecastle Sandstone Member*
  • Modifications:
    • Revised
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Paradox basin
Publication:

Witkind, I.J., 1988, Geologic map of the Huntington 30' x 60' quadrangle, Carbon, Emery, Grand, and Uintah Counties, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map, I-1764, 1 sheet, scale 1:100,000 [http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_9903.htm]


Summary:

Assigned as member of Price River Formation. Mapped undivided with mudstone member of Price River west of Desolation Canyon, Emery Co, UT, Paradox basin. Price River divided into Bluecastle in upper part, and mudstone member in lower part. Late Cretaceous age.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).


For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).