Usage:
Alta Formation (TX*)
Geologic age:
early Permian (Wolfcampian)*
Type section, locality, area and/or origin of name:
[Type locality]: in vicinity of Sierra Alta Hill [later called Cerro Alto], east side of Sierra Alta Creek [later called Cerro Alto Creek], about 3 mi north of Cibolo Ranch, Shafter district, east side of Chinati Mountains, [between approx. Lat. 29 deg. 53 min. 12 sec. N., Long. 104 deg. 18 min. 00 sec. W., and Lat. 29 deg. 54 min. 45 sec. N., Long. 104 deg. 18 min. 30 sec. W., Cieneguita 7.5-min quadrangle, 1983 ed.], Presidio Co., southwestern TX (Udden, 1904; see also Sellards, 1933, Skinner, 1940 (fig. 2), Rix, 1953).
Named from Sierra Alta Hill [later called Cerro Alto], Shafter district, Chinati Mountains, Presidio Co., southwestern TX (Udden, 1904).
AAPG geologic province:
Permian basin*
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 ([ ]).