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.

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 Chrysler Member 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

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 is dark 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

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 halfinch 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).

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 the Olney 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.

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 of carbonate 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 (<1mm), appear dark gray on

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 17.1foot-thick layer of packstone-wackestone with unidentied brachiopods in its base. Outof-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 make sense 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)

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 (<1mm) and form large dune crossbeds with thick (approximately 3 inch thick) foresets. The tops of the dunes are truncated, indicating that the contact is disconformable. This unit has been identied as the Clark Reservation Member of the Manlius Formation. A dark gray unit of wackestone alternating with packstone extends 8.0 feet above the disconformity. This unit contains abundant gastropods and brachiopods, as well as inplace stromatoporoids. The wackestone exhibits crenulated bedding, while the unit as a whole exhibits abundant stylolites and jointing at approximately 40 from horizontal. A one-foot-thick recessive bed of black nonfossiliferous carbonate mudstone separates this unit from a unit of stromatoporoid framestone in which the stromatoporoids are mostly in place. The bottom of this unit contains a gastropod-rich layer, above which is a small (<1 foot thick) layer of oolitic rudstone, with ooids approximately 4mm in diameter. This unit is 10.3 feet thick, and is easily distinguished from the overlying unit even at a considerable distance. The overlying unit is 7.4 feet thick, and is composed of nely laminated, gray-brown carbonate mudstone that is devoid of fossils. One half of a foot at the base of the unit is an intraformational oligomict orthoconglomerate. The clasts are broken-up pieces of material very similar to the underlying unit, indicating that the conglomerate is a lag deposit resulting from erosion of the underlying unit. Above this laminated unit, there is a 2.4 foot thick packstone unit that transitions upward into wackestone. Approximately 1.5 inches above the contact, there is a large stylolite above which there is a layer containing small clasts of sandstone. Above this conglomeratic layer, the unit contains stromatoporoids in abundance. Collectively, these units have been identied as the Jamesville Member of the Manlius Formation. The unit overlying the Jamesville Member is a blue-gray crinoidal grainstone that weathers medium gray. The base of the unit (3 inches) is an intraformational petromict orthoconglomerate containing rounded black quarzarenite clasts interpreted to be lag from erosion of the Oriskany Formation. The entire unit is rich in both tabulate and

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). The Olney 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.

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 packstonewackestone 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 in the 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

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

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

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.

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. Petrol. 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.

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.

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.

Figure 3. SPLIT ROCK QUARRY SECTION Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011
Scale: 1 = 4!

THICKNESS (Ft)

SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES

FORMATION

COLOR

AVERAGE GRAIN SIZE

Gr a Ve nule + r Co y Co a a Me rse rse S d S Fin ium and and e Ve Sa Sand ry nd Sil Fin t eS Cla an d y

MEMBER

Fresh Weathered
blue-gray light gray

FOSSILS

GRAPHIC LOG

DESCRIPTION

Onondaga

Limestone

Edgecliff

5.8!
observed

Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone with red medium-grained rounded quartzarenite pebble conglomerate (Oriskany lag). Tabulate and Rugosan corals throughout. Fine-grained laminated carbonate mudstone with packstone/wackestone beds; brachiopods 1 and 2 throughout. Mudcracks present at top of bed.

Elmwood

6.6!

medium gray medium gray 1,2

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

Manlius

Olney

25.1!

medium gray medium gray

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

Thacher

4.5!

gray-brown medium gray 1 Micritic dolostone; impure, contains fine sand. Light gray-white weathered surface; silt-sized grains, forming quarry floor.

Rondout

Chrysler

Surface medium gray Only gray-white Observed

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

Ve ry

Co Gran a Co rse ule+ Me arse Sand diu Sa m n Ve Fin Sand ry e S d Fin a e S nd an d Si Clalt y

Figure 4. MASTER LEGEND Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

Fossils
Abundant Fossils Stromatolite (General) T Stromatolite (Thrombolite)

Sedimentary Structures
Mud Cracks Crossbedding Oscillation Ripples

Stromatoporoid

Stromatoporoid (Out of Place)

Gastropod

Stylolite

Ooids

Chert Nodules

Brachiopod (General)

1 Brachiopod (Type 1)

2 Brachiopod (Type 2)

Intraclasts

Rugosan (Solitary) Coral

Tabulate (Colonial) Coral

Crinoid

Rock Types Boundaries and Correlations

Symbol Stratigraphic Section
Formation/Member Boundary

Fence Diagram
Confident Correlation

Limestone (General)

Laminated Carbonate Mudstone

Limestone (Thickly Bedded)

Ooitic Grainstone Intra-Member Division Uncertain Correlation

Oolitic Grainstone (Dune Crossbeds)

Dolomudstone

Unconformity

Unconformity

Limestone with Chert Nodules

Sandstone

Covered Interval

Stratigraphic Units
Rondout Formation Manlius Formation Oriskany Formation

These symbols are used in the stratigraphic sections and fence diagrams.

Ch
Chrysler Member

J
Jamesville Member

Or
Onondaga Formation

CR
Clark Reservation Member

Ed
Edgecliff Member

Ol
Olney Member

Th
Thacher Member

Figure 5. CLARK RESERVATION SECTION Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

Scale: 1 = 4!

THICKNESS (Ft)

SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES

FORMATION

COLOR

AVERAGE GRAIN SIZE

Gr a Ve nule + r Co y Co a a Me rse rse S d S Fin ium and and e Ve Sa Sand ry nd Sil Fin t eS Cla an d y

MEMBER

Fresh Weathered

FOSSILS

GRAPHIC LOG

DESCRIPTION
Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone; possibly partially silicified or with some quartz sand. Crenulated beds (possibly oscillation ripples) in top 1.5 feet of unit.

Onondaga

Edgecliff

10.0!

blue-gray medium gray

Crinoidal grainstone (as above and below), but with abundant columnals, tabulate corals, brachiopod shells, and gray-white chert nodules. Crinoidal grainstone (as above), containing brachiopod shells.

Oriskany

Medium-grained gray-buff quartz arenite.

2.2!

gray-buff medium gray

Finely laminated, wavy gray-brown carbonate mudstone.

Dark gray packestone-wackestone containing brachiopod shells and out-of-place stromatoporoids. Exhibits crenulated bedding. Stromatoporoit framestone; mostly in place.

Jamesville

20.5!

dark gray medium gray

black dark gray

Finely laminated, black carbonate mudstone. Dark gray packstone/wackestone.

dark gray medium gray

Clark Reservation

Small oolitic grainstone containing crinoid pieces; well sorted.

6.0!

dark gray medium gray

Manlius

dark gray medium gray ivory light brown

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

Dolomudstone without allochems; very powdery. Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

dark gray medium gray

Elmwood

Dolomudstone without allochems; very powdery.

14.9!
ivory light brown

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

dark gray medium gray

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

13.0! observed

Olney

dark gray medium gray

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

Ve ry

Co Gran a Co rse ule+ Me arse Sand diu Sa m n Ve Fin Sand ry e S d Fin a e S nd an d Si Clalt y

Figure 6. NEDROW ROADCUT SECTION Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

Scale: 1 = 4!

THICKNESS (Ft)

SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES

FORMATION

COLOR

AVERAGE GRAIN SIZE

Gr a Ve nule + r Co y Co a a Me rse rse S d S Fin ium and and e Ve Sa Sand ry nd Sil Fin t eS Cla an d y

MEMBER

Fresh Weathered

FOSSILS

GRAPHIC LOG

DESCRIPTION

Onondaga

Edgecliff

3.5!

blue-gray medium gray

Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone, weathering to medium gray. Either contains quartz sand or crinoid fragments are silicified. Bottom three inches is an intraformational petromict paraconglomerate with black quartzarenite clasts (Oriskany lag). Top 1.5 feet has chert nodules.

medium gray medium gray

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

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

medium gray brown-gray

Jamesville

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

29.1!

Manlius

dark blue-gray medium gray

black black Black, finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems. Dark blue-gray wackestone alternating with packstone and patches of stromatoporoids. Allochems are brachiopod and gastropod shells. Wackestone exhibits abundant stylolites and crenulated bedding. Jointing at approximately 40 from horizontal.

dark blue-gray medium gray

Clark Reservation

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

3.0!
observed

medium gray medium gray

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

Ve ry

Co Gran a Co rse ule+ Me arse Sand diu Sa m n Ve Fin Sand ry e S d Fin a e S nd an d Si Clalt y

Ed El

Figure 7. COMPOSITE STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

Ed

Ol

Th Ch Or

CR E El J

Vertical Scale

Ol

1=10!

CR

Split Rock Quarry

Nedrow Roadcut 28,200 Ft

Clark Reservation 12,400 Ft

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

Figure 8. Shaw Diagram: Nedrow Roadcut Section/Split Rock Quarry Section Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

80 Height Above Base (Feet) - Nedrow Roadcut

60

40
Onondaga Formation Edgecliff Member

20

0 0 20 40 60 Height Above Base (Feet) - Split Rock 80

This diagram illustrates variations in unit thicknesses between sections.

Figure 9. Shaw Diagram: Nedrow Roadcut Section/Clark Reservation Section Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

80 Height Above Base (Feet) - Nedrow Roadcut

60

40
Onondaga Formation Edgecliff Member

20

Manlius Formation Jamesville Member

0 0 20 40 60 Height Above Base (Feet) - Clark Reservation 80

This diagram illustrates variations in unit thicknesses between sections.

Figure 10. Shaw Diagram: Split Rock Quarry Section/Clark Reservation Section Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011

80 Height Above Base (Feet) - Split Rock Quarry

60

40

Onondaga Formation Edgecliff Member

Manlius Formation Elmwood Member

20

0 0 20 40 60 Height Above Base (Feet) - Clark Reservation 80

This diagram illustrates variations in unit thicknesses between sections.

Figure 11. COMPOSITE STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION Amie Whitlock December 09, 2011
Scale: 1 = 4! THICKNESS

SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES

FORMATION

COLOR

AVERAGE GRAIN SIZE

Gr a Ve nule + r Co y Co a a Me rse rse S d S Fin ium and and e Ve Sa Sand ry nd Sil Fin t eS Cla an d y

RELATIVE SEA LEVEL

De ep Su bti da l Sh allo wS ub t id al Int ert ida l

MEMBER

FOSSILS

FRESH WEATH.

MAX MIN

AVE. CUM.

GRAPHIC LOG

DESCRIPTION
Blue-gray crinoidal grainstone; possibly partially silicified or with some quartz sand. Crenulated beds (possibly oscillation ripples) in top 1.5 feet of unit.

Onondaga

Edgecliff

blue-gray medium gray

10.0! 3.5!

6.4!

Crinoidal grainstone (as above and below), but with abundant columnals, tabulate corals, brachiopod shells, and gray-white chert nodules. Crinoidal grainstone (as above), containing brachiopod shells.

Oriskany

medium gray

2.2! 0.0!

2.2!

gray-buff

Medium-grained gray-buff quartz arenite.

medium gray

medium gray

Packstone transitioning upward to wackestone; lag conglomerate above large stylolite ~1.5 inches above underlying carbonate mudstone. Finely laminated carbonate mudstone.

medium gray

Jamesville

20.5! 29.1!

24.8! Dark gray packestone-wackestone containing brachiopod shells and out-of-place stromatoporoids. Exhibits crenulated bedding. medium gray

dark gray

brown-gray

black

black

Finely laminated, black carbonate mudstone. Dark gray wackestone alternating with packstone and patches of stromatoporoids. Allochems are brachiopod and gastropod shells. Wackestone exhibits abundant stylolites and crenulated bedding. Jointing at approximately 40 from horizontal.

Clark Reservation

medium gray

dark gray

medium gray

6.0! 3.0!

4.0!

medium gray

Small oolitic grainstone containing crinoid pieces; well sorted; exhibits dune forms with thick foresets at some locations.

medium gray

dark gray

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

light brown

Dolomudstone without allochems; very powdery. Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

Manlius

ivory

Elmwood

14.9! 6.6!

medium gray

dark gray

10.8!

Dolomudstone without allochems; very powdery.

light brown

ivory

1,2

Finely laminated carbonate mudstone without allochems.

medium gray

dark gray

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

31.7! 13.0!

22.4!

medium gray

dark gray

Olney

T medium gray gray-brown

Thacher

4.5! 0.0!

Packstone beds with lenses of carbonate mudstone, alternating with stromatolitic bindstone; gray-brown, weathering darker. Brachiopod type 1 at bottom.

4.5!

1 Surface Only Observed medium gray

Rondout

Chrysler

N/A

gray-white

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

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

Ve ry

Co Gran a Co rse ule+ Me arse Sand diu Sa m n Ve Fin Sand ry e S d Fin a e S nd an d Si Clalt y

Su pra t

ida l