The Bar B Formation is a geologic formation found the Caballo Mountains of New Mexico. It preserves fossils showing it was deposited in the middle to late Pennsylvanian.[1][2]

Bar B Formation
Stratigraphic range: middle Pennsylvanian–late Pennsylvanian
TypeFormation
UnderliesBursum Formation
OverliesNakaye Formation
Thickness339 ft (103 m)
Lithology
PrimaryLimestone, shale
Location
Coordinates33°01′07″N 107°14′20″W / 33.0185°N 107.2390°W / 33.0185; -107.2390
RegionNew Mexico
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forBarbee Draw (drainage)
Named byV.C. Kelley and Caswell Silver
Year defined1952
Bar B Formation is located in the United States
Bar B Formation
Bar B Formation (the United States)
Bar B Formation is located in New Mexico
Bar B Formation
Bar B Formation (New Mexico)

Description

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The Bar B formation is mostly cyclic[2] beds of shale and limestone, with shale making up about 80% of the formation and limestone the other 20%. Chert is present in some of the limestone. The upper 50 feet (15 m) include reddish-brown siltstone, limestone conglomerate, and calcareous siltstone. The total thickness is about 339 ft (103 m).[3] The formation rests on the Nakaye Formation and is unconformably overlain by the Bursum Formation.[2]

The formation likely correlates with the Panther Seep Formation in the San Andres Mountains.[1][2]

Fossils

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The formation contains abundant bryozoan fossils.[3]

History of investigation

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The formation was first defined by V.C.Kelley and Caswell Silver in 1952.[3] Bachman and Myers criticized its definition in 1975,[1] but it is accepted by Kues and Giles, though they restrict it to the Caballo Mountains.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Bachman, G.O.; Myers, D.A. (1975). "The Lead Camp Limestone and its correlatives in south-central New Mexico" (PDF). New Mexico Geological Society Field Conference Guidebook. 26: 105–108. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kues, B.S.; Giles, K.A. (2004). "The late Paleozoic Ancestral Rocky Mountain system in New Mexico". In Mack, G.H.; Giles, K.A. (eds.). The geology of New Mexico. A geologic history: New Mexico Geological Society Special Volume 11. pp. 95–136. ISBN 9781585460106.
  3. ^ a b c Kelley, V.C.; Silver, Caswell (1952). "Geology of the Caballo Mountains; with special reference to regional stratigraphy and structure and to mineral resources, including oil and gas". University of New Mexico Publications in Geology. 4.