Peritidal lithologies of Cambrian carbonate islands, Carrara Formation, southern Great Basin

Abstract

The Carrara Formation is a heterogeneous sequence of quartzites, siltstones, shales, limestones, dolostones, and mixed terrigenous-carbonate rocks. It is Early and Middle Cambrian in age (Stewart, 1970; Palmer, 1971). Figure 32-1 illustrates the general distribution of Carrara lithologies along a transect approximately normal to depositional strike (Fig. 32-2). The formation contains three “grand cycles” (Aitken, 1966; Palmer, 1971), which terminate at the top of massive limestone members. A fourth cycle begins with the uppermost shale of section 9 and is not illustrated in sections 3 through 8. This fourth cycle grades into the overlying Bonanza King Formation.