Playa-lake deposition: Green River Formation, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 1975 Playa-lake deposition: Green River Formation, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado Leslie L. Lundell; Leslie L. Lundell 1Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ronald C. Surdam Ronald C. Surdam 1Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Leslie L. Lundell 1Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071 Ronald C. Surdam 1Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1975) 3 (9): 493–497. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1975)3<493:PDGRFP>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Leslie L. Lundell, Ronald C. Surdam; Playa-lake deposition: Green River Formation, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Geology 1975;; 3 (9): 493–497. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1975)3<493:PDGRFP>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Sedimentary rocks of the Green River Formation in the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, were deposited on a broad playa fringe and in a shallow-water lake which underwent frequent periods of desiccation. The shallow-water nature of the depositional environment is demonstrated by widespread stromatolitic limestone, ooliths, pisoliths, and interference and oscillation ripples. Frequent periods of desiccation are indicated by mud cracks, flat-pebble conglomerate, ripples with flattened crests and mud cracks in troughs, and crystal molds of saline minerals. These assemblages of sedimentary structures are consistent with deposition in a playa-lake complex and inconsistent with a deep, permanently stratified lake.The saline minerals interbedded with high-yield oil shale in the center of the Piceance Creek Basin are explained in terms of modern playa-lake hydrology and mineral equilibria in the system NaHCO3-Na2CO3-NaCl-H2O. The physical, chemical, and biological evidence strongly supports cyclic deposition and seasonal, as opposed to permanent, chemical stratification of the lake. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.