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  • Usage in publication:
    • Pumpkin Buttes member
  • Modifications:
    • Named
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Shale
    • Sandstone
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Powder River basin
Publication:

Purcell, T.E., 1961, The Mesaverde Formation of the northern and central Powder River basin, Wyoming, IN Wiloth, G.J., and others, eds., Symposium on Late Cretaceous rocks, Wyoming and adjacent areas: Wyoming Geological Association Field Conference Guidebook, no. 16, p. 219-228.


Summary:

Named as the middle member of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde formation. Does not crop out in the Pumpkin Buttes area, but named for the well-known buttes. Type area [locality or section] not designated, but author states a locality should be selected along the west margin of the Powder River basin. Is composed of gray, sandy, carbonaceous shale, and gray, very fine to fine-grained, argillaceous, micaceous, glauconitic, and calcareous sandstone. One sandstone 1 1/2 ft above the base named Ferguson sandstone lentil [improper rank term]. Ferguson is 32+ ft thick. Pumpkin Buttes ranges from 150 to 250 ft thick. Overlies and intertongues with the Parkman member. Underlies and intertongues with the Teapot member. Is a marine unit.

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 ([ ]).

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