strat paper complete.pdf

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A Reexamination of the Helderberg Group of Onondaga County, Central New York

Amie Whitlock

Department of Geology, SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045

Abstract

Analysis of the Helderberg Group at three outcrops in Onondaga County, New York was

performed. The sections were located at Split Rock Quarry in Split Rock, New York;

Clark Reservation, one mile west of Jamesville, New York, and a roadcut on Route 11 in

Nedrow, New York. The lithologic units at these locations ranged from the Chrysler

Member of the Rondout Formation through the Edgecliff Member of the Onondaga

Formation. These units were reexamined based on the work of previous authors

(Rickard, 1962; LaPorte, 2009) and stratigraphic sections were constructed to illustrate

their manifestations at these locations. Correlation and analysis of these sections

provided insight into the depositional environment of the lower Devonian as well as

shed light on the cyclicity of relative sea level rise and fall during the period of

deposition.


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INTRODUCTION

The Helderberg Group of Onondaga County in central New York is unique.

Stratigraphic sections were mapped at three locations in Onondaga County, New York

(Figure 1). The rst location, Split Rock Quarry, is located in Split Rock, NY. The

second section at Clark Reservation is located approximately one mile west of

Jamesville, New York, eight miles east-southeast of Split Rock Quarry. A road cut on

State Route 11 in Nedrow, New York is the site of the third section. Differences in

bedding, biota, unit thickness, etc. were analyzed and interpreted with the intent of

determining patterns in depositional environments (specically, oscillations in relative

sea levels).

PREVIOUS WORKS

Rondout Formation - Chrysler Member

The Chrysler Member of the Rondout Formation is described by Rickard (1962) as

argillacious, with primarily shaley beds. He notes that it is light blueish gray on fresh

surfaces, easily weathering to a light gray. Berdan (1949) suggests that the ChryslerMember of central New York State may actually be altered Thacher Limestone,

converted to dolomite by evaporative reux or similar processes. As noted by previous

authors (Rickard, 1962),

Manlius Formation - Thacher Member

The Thacher Member is composed of two subunits which total 52 feet in thickness at

the proposed type section at Indian Ladder in the John Boyd Thacher Park southwest of

Albany, New York. The lower subunit is composed of regular inch- to two-inch thick

beds of dark blue-gray limestones totaling 30 feet in thickness. The overlying subunit

consists of two stromatoporoid biostromes bounding a unit of dolostone. In Onondaga

County, the Thacher Member manifests as a much thinner unit (less than 20 feet thick in


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total), and is comprised primarily of stromatoporoid-containing stromatolitic bindstones

(Rickard, 1962; Demicco and Smith, 2009).

Manlius Formation - Olney Member

Onondaga County is one of the few locations in New York State where the Thacher

Member of the Manlius Formation is overlain by the Olney Member, also of the Manlius

formation, rather than the Dayville or Ravena Members of the Coeymans Formation

(Rickard, 1962, Figure 2). This unit is 33 feet thick at its type section (Split Rock Quarry,

Split Rock, New York). The lower portion is more nely bedded than the top portion,

and both contain stromatoporoids. The largest stromatoporoid layer occurs

approximately 7 feet below the top contact, and is 2-3 feet thick (Rickard, 1962).

Manlius Formation - Elmwood Member

Overlying the Olney Member is the Elmwood member, which commonly subdivided into

three sections. The bottom (A) subunit is six feet thick and is composed of thinly

bedded, unfossiliferous, mudcracked dolostone that is yellow-brown in color. This

subunit is overlain by a thin (3-foot thick) ne-grained limestone (Elmwood B) that isdark blue-gray on fresh surfaces. A second layer (C) of dolostone very similar in

appearance and morphology to Elmwood A overlays Elmwood B to a thickness of four

feet (Rickard, 1962).

Manlius Formation - Clark Reservation Member

The Clark Reservation Member is described by Rickard (1962) as a four-foot thick layer

of dark blue, ne-grained limestone that weathers white. It is characterized by a

diagonal fracture pattern that is considered by many geologists to be an orienting

feature within a section that contains it.

Manlius Formation - Jamesville Member


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The unit overlying the Clark Reservation Member at a thickness of 24 feet is the

stromatoporoid-rich, irregularly bedded Jamesville Member of the Manlius Formation

(Rickard, 1962).

STRATIGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS

Split Rock Quarry section (Figure 3; master legend Figure 4)

The Split Rock Quarry section was constructed based on observations made on the

north wall of the quarry. The quarry oor is composed of a medium gray micritic

dolomite that weathers light gray. The unit is very ne-grained, and no fossils are visible

in hand sample. This unit has been identied as the Chrysler Member of the Rondout

formation.

The lowermost unit overlying the Chrysler Member is 4.5 feet thick, and is composed of

medium beds of mixed packestone and wackestone and lenses of carbonate mudstone.

The lower foot of the unit contains brachiopod fossils that appear to be of a single

species. This species (referred to henceforth as brachiopod type 1) is typically a half-inch in diameter, has no visible growth lines, and has very distinct radial ridges with

deep, wide sulci. Above the brachiopod-rich beds, stromatolitic bindstone

predominates, interbedded with packstone-wackestone and carbonate mudstone. The

top of the unit contains a large thrombolite, over which sediments from the overlying unit

are draped. This unit has been identied as the Thacher Member of the Manlius

Formation, though this identication is somewhat dubious due to the presence of

stromatolitic bindstone and thrombolites within it, which does not correspond to unit

descriptions made in previous works. Despite this, the unit is very distinct from the

surrounding units, and is otherwise much like the descriptions made by other authors

(Rickard,1962; Demicco and Smith, 2009).


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Above the thrombolite, medium gray, wavy wackestone/packestone beds approximately

one-inch thick are interbedded with darker gray carbonate mudstone. The waviness

has been attributed to oscillation ripples resulting from wave action at the time of

deposition. These beds contain abundant fossils, specically crinoids and gastropods,

as well as brachiopods of a single species that is distinct from the brachiopod species

found in the Thacher unit below. These brachiopods (henceforth brachiopod type 2) are

slightly larger, at approximately 3/4 inch in diameter, and have more numerous and

subtle radial ribs as well as visible growth lines. These inchbeds are approximately

6.6 feet thick. Above the inchbeds, the bedding becomes thicker and less distinct, with

increasing proportions of packstone relative to wackestone and carbonate mudstone.

The gastropods and brachiopods disappear, and oscillation ripples become less

apparent. Crinoids remain throughout. At approximately 16.7 feet above the top of the

Thacher, there is a 2.5 foot thick layer containing out-of-place stromatoporoids. At 18.5

feet above the top of the Thacher, oscillation ripples reappear, as do brachiopod types

one and two. At 21.1 feet above the top of the Thacher, the bedding returns to the

inchbed morphology seen in the lower part of the unit for 4.0 feet. This change is

accompanied by an increase in the proportion of wackestone relative to packstone and

carbonate mudstone. The three units, including the two bounding inchbed units and

the more massively bedded unit between them, has been collectively identied as theOlney Member of the Manlius formation. Altogether, the member is 25.1 feet thick at the

Split Rock Quarry location.

The Olney is overlain by a medium-gray laminated carbonate mudstone with beds of

packstone-wackestone. Crinoids and brachiopod types 1 and 2 are present throughout

this unit, which is 6.6 feet thick and contains mudcracks at its top. This unit has been

identied as the Elmwood Member of the Manlius Formation, but this determination is

somewhat questionable. It is clearly different than the underlying beds, and there is no

evidence of a disconformity at its base; however, its fossiliferous nature as well as the

absence of a dolostone member at the base indicate that this unit may not be Elmwood

at all. Literature searches did not yield much information here, nor did examinations of

regional stratigraphic sections. Thus, the identication of the unit as Elmwood stands.


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There is a sharp contact above the Elmwood, and the base of the overlying unit is an

intraformational petromict orthoconglomerate containing large (1.5 inch) clasts of

reddish quartz arenite. These clasts are believed to be a lag deposit formed via erosion

of the Oriskany Formation (a disconformity that presents itself at two of the three

locations mapped here). The clasts rest on the contact in a matrix of blue-gray crinoidal

grainstone containing abundant rugosan and tabulate corals. This unit is believed to be

the Edgecliff Member of the Onondaga Formation. This unit is more resistant to erosion

than the underlying units.

Clark Reservation section (Figure 5)

13 feet of the unit at the base of the Clark Reservation section is exposed. The unit is

composed of wavy, indistinctly bedded wackestone/packstone containing brachiopods

(species unknown). The top 8.5 feet contains out-of-place stromatolites. In hand

sample, fresh surfaces of this unit are dark gray, and weather to medium gray. This unit

is believed to be the Olney member of the Manlius Formation.

Above the Olney, there is a 14.9 foot thick unit consisting of alternating beds ofcarbonate mudstone and dolostone. The 3.9-foot-thick base of the unit is a dark gray

carbonate mudstone that weathers to medium gray and contains no allochems. An

ivory dolomudstone overlies the mudstone, forming a 5.0 foot thick massive bed with a

powdery texture and no allochems. The beds weather to medium brown with a soapy

texture. Above the dolomite, there is a second carbonate mudstone layer 2.6 feet thick,

another dolomite layer 1.3 feet thick, and a third layer of carbonate mudstone 1.3 feet

thick. The carbonate mudstones are all similar, as are the dolostones. Collectively,

these ve key beds have been identied as the Elmwood Member of the Manlius

formation.

The Elmwood formation is overlain by a six foot thick layer of oolitic grainstone

containing crinoid pieces. The ooid grains are very small (


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a fresh surface in hand sample, and weather to medium gray. This unit has been

identied as the Clark Reservation Member of the Manlius formation.

The ooids and crinoids disappear above the Clark reservation member, becoming a

dark gray packstone-wackestone that weathers to medium gray. This 2.3-foot-thick

layer is overlain by a thin (1.1-foot-thick) layer of recessive black carbonate mudstone.

This is a key bed that was present at another location as well. It is overlain by a 17.1-

foot-thick layer of packstone-wackestone with unidentied brachiopods in its base. Out-

of-place stromatoporoids are sparsely present throughout the unit. Tabulate corals

appear 6.8 feet above the top of the black carbonate mudstone unit and are present

through the top of the packstone-wackestone unit at 11.6 feet above the black

carbonate mudstone unit. A 4.8-foot-thick, nely laminated, wavy gray-brown carbonate

mudstone lies conformably above the packstone-wackestone. All together, these units

are 20.5 feet thick, and have been identied as the Jamesville member of the Manlius

formation.

Above the Jamesville member, there is a sharp change from carbonate mudstone to a

2.2-foot-thick recessive buff-gray quartz arenite. Though there is no visible lag deposit,

the swift lithologic change corresponds with a rapid facies change that does not makesense on a geologic timescale. This contact has thus been interpreted as a

disconformity, above which lies the Oriskany Formation.

The Oriskany formation is overlain by a blue-gray crinoidal grainstone that is 10.0 feet

thick. Again, the lithologic and related facies differents strongly suggests that the

contact is disconformable. The unit contains brachiopods in the bottom 6.2 feet. Two

point six feet above the the contact, there is a 3.6-foot-thick layer containing tabulate

corals and gray-white chert nodules. The top 1.5 feet of the unit contains crenulated

beds that are interpreted to be oscillation ripples. This unit has been identied as the

Edgecliff Member of the Onondaga Formation.

Nedrow roadcut section (Figure 6)


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The lowest unit observed at the Nedrow roadcut is a medium gray oolitic grainstone

exposed to a thickness of three feet. The ooid grains are very ne (


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rugosan corals, while the top 1.5 feet contains abundant chert nodules. This unit is in

total 3.5 feet thick and resistant to weathering; it has been identied as the Edgecliff

Member of the Onondaga Formation.

CORRELATIONS

The units described above manifest differently at the three outcrops studied. These

changes can be attributed to local differences in environment at the time of deposition,

and resulted in differences in biota, thickness, and bed morphology. Additionally, the

units occur at slightly different depths. This is not a result of deformation, of course;

rather, it can be attributed to lateral facies migration. The depth and thickness

differences between the three locations is best illustrated with a fence diagram (Figure

7). The incompleteness of any units at more than one location makes thickness

comparison difcult (Figures 8 through 10), but examination of key beds can provide

some insight into differences in deposition between sites. A summary of the units

observed are shown in a composite section for the three sites (Figure 11).

The Chrysler Member of the Rondout Formation and the Thacher Member of the

Manlius Formation are only exposed at one outcrop (Split Rock Quarry, Figure 3). TheOlney formation at Split Rock is present in its entirety, but is partially exposed at Clark

Reservation (Figure 4), precluding any valid comparison of thickness. Both units

contain abundant out-of-place stromatoporoids and brachiopods, and exhibit oscillation

ripples. At Clark Reservation, however, there are no inchbeds or crinoid fragments.

The Elmwood Member is present at Clark Reservation as well as Split Rock Quarry, but

is eroded at Split Rock Quarry. Again, this complicates a comparison of thickness. At

Clark Reservation, the Elmwood manifests as a nonfossiliferous unit comprised of ve

key beds alternating between laminated carbonate mudstone and dolomudstone. This

same member at Split Rock Quarry is composed only of laminated carbonate mudstone

at a thickness greater than any of the carbonate mudstone beds at Clark Reservation.


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In addition, the Elmwood at Split Rock Quarry exhibits mudcracks at its top and contains

brachiopod shells.

The Clark Reservation Member is present at Clark Reservation and at the Nedrow road

cut (Figure 5). Though their composition is largely the same at each location, the unit

morphologies are very different. While the oolitic grainstone at Clark reservation is

horizontally bedded, the same unit at Nedrow exhibits a dune crossbed morphology with

thick foresets. Additionally, it does not contain crinoids, which were found in the unit at

Clark Reservation. The member is partially buried at Nedrow, and thus difcult to

compare with the Clark Reservation.

The Jamesville Member is present at both Clark Reservation and the Nedrow road cut,

but is truncated at both locations. Both locations contain a layer of packstone-

wackestone at their base, though the base is thicker and contains more fossils at the

Nedrow location. Both locations have nonfossiliferous layers of black carbonate

mudstone that are approximately the same thickness, overlain by a thick unit of

stromatoporoid-rich packstone-wackestone. These are both overlain (though

unconformably, at the Nedrow section) by a laminated carbonate mudstone that is

devoid of fossils. The unit at Clark Reservation was erosionally truncated at this point inthe section, so any record of the packstone-wackestone present above the laminated

carbonate mudstone at the Nedrow location was removed if it was deposited at all.

All locations exhibit a disconformity above the Manlius Formation. Above this contact,

only one location, Clark Reservation, has original Oriskany sandstone. The other two

locations do not contain Oriskany sandstone, but do have an intraformational

orthoconglomerate in the base of the overlying unit, and in both of those locations, the

clasts are quartzarenite, consistant with Oriskany sandstone. The Oriskany at Clark

Reservation is truncated by a disconformity.

The Onondaga Formation is present (Edgecliff Member) at all locations, presenting

similarly as a blue-gray crinoidal grainstone with corals. Some locations also exhibit


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chert nodules, however, which seem to occur at different heights above the Onondaga-

Oriskany contact.

DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS

The depositional environments of the Helderberg Group range from supratidal to

shallow subtidal, and vary over time. Indicators of depositional environment include bed

geometry (such as crossbedding, laminations, etc.), biota (crinoids vs. stromatolites, for

example), grain size, and sedimentary structures (mudcracks vs. oscillation ripples)

(LaPorte, 1967). Determinations of relative sea level are illustrated in the composite

section (Figure 7).

The Chrysler Member of the Rondout Formation is dolomitized. This alone indicates

that it is transformed via evaporative reux or a similar process in a supratidal

environment. The overlying Thacher Member of the Manlius Formation is probably

primarily supratidal as well, as indicated by the presence of stromatolites and

thrombolites that would have thrived in a hypersaline lagoon environment. The

presence of brachiopods indicates that either the brachiopod was adapted to a marginal

marine environment, or that the Thacher Member was intertidal rather than supratidal.Above the Thacher Member, the Olney Member contains abundant crinoids,

gastropods, and brachiopods, indicating that it was a shallow subtidal environment.

Crinoids require normal salinity, so these could not be lagoon deposits. The presence

of stromatoporoid indicates a reef-like environment during at least some periods during

the period of Olney deposition. The patchy nature of reefs today suggests that the

entire Olney may have been deposited in an environment suitable for reef building, but

that the reefy patches of stromatoporoids were discontinuous.

The Elmwood Member of the Manlius Formation is composed of nely laminated,

nonfossiliferous carbonate mudstone, which is indicative of an intertidal environment

(LaPorte, 1967). This is consistent with the mudcracked strata at the top of the

formation. The dolomite beds between the carbonate mudstone layers were probably


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formed during short term regressions, when carbonate mudstone was transformed into

dolomudstone.

The Clark Reservation Member of the Manlius Formation is composed of ooids, and

occasionally manifests as dune crossbeds. This suggests that the depositional

environment was intertidal and provided the agitation necessary for ooid formation, and

that the water was supersaturated (LaPorte, 1967). The presence of dune crossbeds

indicates that the current was towards the upper limit of the lower ow regime.

The Jamesville Member is composed primarily of packstone-wackestones and

laminated carbonate mudstones. For the most part, the unit is shallow subtidal, as

indicated by the presence of stromatoporoids and tabulate corals.

The Oriskany sandstone is relatively coarse-grained, and is probably the product of a

high-energy intertidal environment (LaPorte, 1967). The lack of outcrop surface, and

thus other structures, makes the depositional environment difcult to determine with a

degree of certainty. The overlying Edgecliff Member of the Onondaga Formation is

contains abundant corals, brachiopods, and crinoids, as well as wave ripples. This

indicates a shallow subtidal reef-like environment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Observations and analyses of the Helderberg Group at Split Rock Quarry, Nedrow road

cut, and Clark Reservation sections yield considerable information regarding the

paleoenvironment during the lower Devonian. Differences in thickness, depth, bed

morphology, and biota between the sections indicate subtle differences in environment

that resulted in depositional variation. Additionally, secular variations in relative sea

level can be identied by careful examination of the sediments. The Onondaga area

appears to have undergone two cycles of sea level rise and fall, beginning at low stand

(at the Chrysler Member of the Rondout Formation), rising to high stand during

deposition of the Olney Member of the Manlius Formation, falling back to low stand


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during deposition of the Elmwood Member of the Manlius Formation, and rising again to

hish stand during Jamesville deposition. An large amount of time passed between

Jamesville deposition and Oriskany deposition, likely multiple sea level cycles. These

cycles may correspond with punctuated aggradational cycles as described by Anderson,

et al. (1984), or by lateral aggradation (LaPorte, 1967). It seems likely that a

combination of these mechanisms are the causal agent of the Helderberg group as it

manifests in Onondaga County and elsewhere.


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WORKS CITED

Anderson, E. J.; Goodwin, P. W.; and Sobieski, T. H. 1984. Episodic accumulation and

the origin of formation boundaries in the Helderberg Group of New York State.

Geology 12:120123.

Berdan, J.M. 1949. Brachiopoda and ostracoda of the Manlius and Cobleskill

limestones of New York. Ph.D. Thesis. Yale University.

Demicco, R.V. and Smith, J. Sedimentologic Observation and Stratigraphic

Interpretation of the Lower Devonian (Lochkovian) Manlius Formation along the

Mohawk River Valley in Upstate New York. The Journal of Geology. V. 117.5, p.

543-551.

Laporte, L. F. 1967. Carbonate deposition near mean sea level and resultant facies

mosaic: Manlius limestone (Lower Devonian) of New York State. Am. Assoc. Pet-

rol. Geol. Bull. 51:3101.

Rickard, L. V. 1962. Late Cayugan (Upper Silurian) and Helderbergian (Lower

Devonian) stratigraphy in New York. N. Y. State Mus. Sci. Serv. Bull. 386, 157 p.


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Figure 1. Section locations.

The locations of the sections studied are shown above. The location of Onondaga

County is shown in red on the small New York State map in the lower left.


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Figure 2. Helderberg Group correlations.

The above illustration (from Rickard, 1962) illustrates the lateral changes in unit depth across New York State. Note that

in the Syracuse/Tully area, the Thacher Member is overlain by the Olney Member, while to the East, it is overlain by the

Dayville or Ravena Members of the Coeymans Formation.


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F O R M A T I O N

M E M B E R

T H I C K N E S S ( F t )

C O L O R

F O S S I L S

S E D I M E N T A R Y

S T R U C T U R E S

FreshWeathered G r

a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d

S i l t

C l a y

GRAPHIC LOG DESCRIPTION

AVERAGEGRAIN SIZE

Figure 3. SPLIT ROCK QUARRY SECTIONAmie Whitlock

December 09, 2011Scale: 1 = 4 !

G r a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s

e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d

S i l t

C l a y

T

1

2

1,2

25.1!

4.5 !gray-brown

medium gray

medium gray

gray-white

medium gray

medium gray

blue-gray

light gray O n o n d a g a

L i m e s t o n e

M a n l i u s

R o n d o u t

C h r y s l e r

T h a c h e r

O l n e y

E d g e c l i f f

5.8 !observed

6.6 ! medium graymedium gray

E l m w o o d

SurfaceOnly

Observed

Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone with red medium-grained roundedquartzarenite pebble conglomerate (Oriskany lag). Tabulate and Rugosancorals throughout.

Fine-grained laminated carbonate mudstone with packstone/wackestone beds;brachiopods 1 and 2 throughout. Mudcracks present at top of bed.

Packstone/wackestone returning to inchbeds with carbonate mudstone interbeds;brachiopods 1 and 2 and gastropods in some areas. Increasing wackestone in topinchbeds; more packstone in thicker middle beds. Abundant crinoids and patchyout-of-place stromatoporoids. Wave ripples apparent in some beds.

Thrombolite overlying packstone beds with lenses of carbonatemudstone, alternating with stromatolitic bindstone; gray-brown,weathering darker. Brachiopod type 1 at bottom.

Micritic dolostone; impure, contains fine sand. Light gray-whiteweathered surface; silt-sized grains, forming quarry floor.

The above figure shows the stratigraphic column at Split Rock Quarry in Split Rock, New York. Thescale is one inch equals four feet.


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Figure 4. MASTER LEGENDAmie Whitlock

December 09, 2011

Fossils

Stromatolite(General)

Stromatolite(Thrombolite)

AbundantFossils

Stromatoporoid Gastropod

Crinoid

Brachiopod(General)

Brachiopod(Type 2)

Brachiopod(Type 1)

Rugosan(Solitary) Coral

Tabulate(Colonial) Coral

T

1 2

Sedimentary Structures

Crossbedding OscillationRipples

Mud Cracks

Stylolite ChertNodules

Ooids

Intraclasts

Boundaries and Correlations

FenceDiagram

StratigraphicSectionSymbol

Formation/MemberBoundary

ConfidentCorrelation

Intra-MemberDivision

UncertainCorrelation

Unconformity Unconformity

Rock Types

Limestone(General)

LaminatedCarbonate Mudstone

Limestone(Thickly Bedded)

Ooitic Grainstone Oolitic Grainstone(Dune Crossbeds)

Dolomudstone

Limestone withChert Nodules

Sandstone Covered I nterval

Stratigraphic Units

Jamesville Member

Clark ReservationMember

Thacher Member

Olney Member

Manlius Formation

Chrysler Member

Rondout Formation Oriskany Formation

Edgecliff Member

Onondaga Formation

Stromatoporoid(Out of Place)

Ch

Ed

Or

Th

Ol

CR

J

These symbols are used inthe stratigraphic sections andfence diagrams.


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F O R M A T I O N

M E M B E R


C O L O R

F O S S I L S


S T R U C T U R E S

FreshWeathered G r

a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d

S i l t

C l a y


AVERAGEGRAIN SIZE

Figure 5. CLARK RESERVATION SECTIONAmie Whitlock


G r a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s

e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d

S i l t

C l a y

O n o n

d a g a

E d g e c

l i f f

O r i s

k a n y

J a m e s v

i l l e

C l a r k

R e s e r v a

t i o n

E l m w o o

d

O l n e y

M a n

l i u s

2.2 !

20.5 !

6.0 !

14.9 !

blue-gray

medium gray

gray-buff

medium gray

dark gray

medium gray

dark gray

medium gray

ivory

light brown

ivory

light brown

dark gray

medium gray

black

dark gray

dark gray

medium gray

dark gray

medium gray

dark gray

medium gray

dark gray

medium gray

10.0 !

1 3

. 0 !

o b s e r v e

d

Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone; possiblypartially silicified or with some quartzsand. Crenulated beds (possiblyoscillation ripples) in top 1.5 feet of unit.

Crinoidal grainstone (as above andbelow), but with abundant columnals,tabulate corals, brachiopod shells, andgray-white chert nodules.

Crinoidal grainstone (as above),containing brachiopod shells.

Medium-grained gray-buff quartz arenite.

Finely laminated, wavy gray-brown carbonatemudstone.

Dark gray packestone-wackestone containingbrachiopod shells and out-of-place stromatopo-roids. Exhibits crenulated bedding. Stromatoporoitframestone; mostly in place.

Finely laminated, black carbonate mudstone.

Dark gray packstone/wackestone.

Small oolitic grainstone containing crinoid pieces; wellsorted.

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.



Dolomudstone without allochems; very powdery.

Dolomudstone without allochems; very powdery.

Wavy, indistinctly bedded wackestone/packstone withbrachiopod shells and stromatoporoids (out of place).

The above figure illustrates the stratigraphic column observed at Clark Reservation west of James-ville, NY. One inch equals four feet.


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F O R M A T I O N

M E M B E R


C O L O R

F O S S I L S


S T R U C T U R E S

FreshWeathered G r

a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d

S i l t

C l a y


AVERAGEGRAIN SIZE

Figure 6. NEDROW ROADCUT SECTIONAmie Whitlock


G r a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s e

S a n d

C o a r s e S a

n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d S i

l t C l

a y

blue-gray

medium gray

medium gray

medium gray

medium gray

brown-gray

dark blue-gray

medium gray

black

black

dark blue-graymedium gray

medium gray

medium gray

3.5 !

29.1 !

3.0 !observed

O n o n d a g a

E

d g e c l i f f

J a m e s v i l l e

C l a r k

R e s e r v a t i o n

M a n l i u s

Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone, weathering to medium gray. Eithercontains quartz sand or crinoid fragments are silicified. Bottom threeinches is an intraformational petromict paraconglomerate with blackquartzarenite clasts (Oriskany lag). Top 1.5 feet has chert nodules.

Packstone transitioning upward to wackestone; lag conglomerate above largestylolite ~1.5 inches above underlying carbonate mudstone.

Finely laminated, wavy gray-brown carbonate mudstone. Sharp base contactwith intraformational oligomict orthoconglomerate (lag deposit).

Stromatoporoid framestone; mostly in place. Large oolitic rudstone layeroverlying gastropod-rich layer at bottom.

Black, finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

Dark blue-gray wackestone alternating with packstone and patches ofstromatoporoids. Allochems are brachiopod and gastropod shells. Wackestoneexhibits abundant stylolites and crenulated bedding. Jointing at approximately40 from horizontal.

Small oolitic grainstone exhibiting dune crossbeds with t hick (~3) foresets.

The above figure shows the stratigraphic column at the Nedrow road cut in Nedrow, New York. Oneinch equals four feet.


21/25

1 = 1 0 !

E

Ed

J

CR

El

Ol

Th

Ch

Ed

J

CR

Or

El

Ol

12,400 Ft28,200 Ft

Split Rock Quarry Nedrow Roadcut Clark Reservation

V e r t

i c a

l S c a

l e

EW

Figure 7. COMPOSITE STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONAmie Whitlock

December 09, 2011

This fence diagram illustrates the three-dimensional relationships between beds at the three locations.


22/25

Height Above Base (Feet) - Split Rock

H e

i g h t A b o v e

B a s e

( F e e

t ) -

N e

d r o w

R o a

d c u

t

0 20 40 60 800

20

40

60

80

Onondaga FormationEdgecliff Member

Figure 8. Shaw Diagram:Nedrow Roadcut Section/Split Rock Quarry Section

Amie WhitlockDecember 09, 2011

This diagram illustrates variations in unit thicknesses between sections.


23/25

Height Above Base (Feet) - Clark Reservation

H e

i g h t A b o v e

B a s e

( F e e

t ) -

N e

d r o w

R o a

d c u

t

0 20 40 60 800

20

40

60

80

Manlius FormationJamesville Member


Figure 9. Shaw Diagram:Nedrow Roadcut Section/Clark Reservation Section




24/25

Height Above Base (Feet) - Clark Reservation

H e

i g h t A b o v e

B a s e

( F e e

t ) -

S p

l i t R o c

k Q u a r r y

0 20 40 60 800

20

40

60

80

Manlius FormationElmwood Member


Figure 10. Shaw Diagram:Split Rock Quarry Section/Clark Reservation Section




25/25

F O R M A T I O N

M E M B E R

MAXMIN

C O L O R

F O S S I L S


S T R U C T U R E S

F R E S H

W E A T H

.

G r a n u l e

+

V e r y

C o a r s

e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y

F i n e

S a n d

S i l t

C l a y

GRAPHICLOG DESCRIPTION

AVERAGEGRAIN SIZE

AVE.CUM.

D e e p

S u b

t i d a l

S h a l l o w

S u b

t i d a l

I n t e r t i d a l

S u p r

a t i d a

l

RELATIVESEA LEVEL

! T H I C K N E S S

G r a n u l e

+

V e r y C o a r s

e S a

n d

C o a r s e

S a n d

M e d i u m

S a n d

F i n e

S a n d

V e r y F

i n e S a n d

S i l t

C l a y

Figure 11. COMPOSITE STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONAmie Whitlock


10.0 !

3.5 !6.4 !

O n o n

d a g a

E d g e c l

i f f

b l u e - g r a y

m

e d i u m g r a y

O r i s

k a n y

g r a y - b u f

f

m e d

i u m g r a y

2.2 !

0.0 !2.2 !

J a m e s v i

l l e

24.8 !20.5!

29.1 !

m e d

i u m g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

b r o w n - g r a y

d a r k g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

b l a c

k

b l a c

k

d a r k g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

C l a r k

R e s e r v a

t i o n

4.0 !6.0!

3.0 !

m e d

i u m g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

E l m w o o

d

10.8 !14.9!

6.6 !

i v o r y

l i g h t b r o w n

i v o r y

l i g h t b r o w n

d a r k g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

d a r k g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

d a r k g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

O l n e y

22.4 !31.7!

13.0 ! d a r k g r a y

m e d

i u m g r a y

T h a c h e r

4.5 !4.5!

0.0 !

g r a y - b r o w n

m e d

i u m g r a y

C h r y s

l e r

S u r

f a c e

O n l y

O b s e r v e

d

N/A

m e d

i u m g r a y

g r a y - w

h i t e

1

T

2

1,2

M a n

l i u s

R o n

d o u t

Packstone beds with lenses of carbonatemudstone, alternating with stromatoliticbindstone; gray-brown, weathering darker.Brachiopod type 1 at bottom.

Micritic dolostone; impure, contains finesand. Light gray-white weathered surface;silt-sized grains.

Packstone/wackestone returning to inchbedswith carbonate mudstone interbeds;brachiopods 1 and 2 and gastropods in someareas. Increasing wackestone in topinchbeds; more packstone in thicker middlebeds. Abundant crinoids and patchyout-of-place stromatoporoids. Wave ripplesapparent in some beds.

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone withoutallochems.



Dolomudstone without allochems; verypowdery.

Dolomudstone without allochems; verypowdery.

Small oolitic grainstone containing crinoidpieces; well sorted; exhibits dune forms withthick foresets at some locations.

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone.

Dark gray packestone-wackestonecontaining brachiopod shells andout-of-place stromatoporoids. Exhibitscrenulated bedding.

Finely laminated, black carbonatemudstone.

Dark gray wackestone alternating withpackstone and patches of stromatoporoids.Allochems are brachiopod and gastropodshells. Wackestone exhibits abundantstylolites and crenulated bedding. Jointing atapproximately 40 from horizontal.

Packstone transitioning upward towackestone; lag conglomerate abovelarge stylolite ~1.5 inches aboveunderlying carbonate mudstone.

Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone;possibly partially silicified or withsome quartz sand. Crenulated beds(possibly oscillation ripples) in top1.5 feet of unit.

Crinoidal grainstone (as above andbelow), but with abundant columnals,tabulate corals, brachiopod shells, andgray-white chert nodules.

Crinoidal grainstone (as above),containing brachiopod shells.

Medium-grained gray-buff quartz arenite.

The above figure shows the stratigraphic column at the Nedrow road cut in Nedrow New York One

strat paper complete.pdf

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