Age of Lower Jurassic Springdale Sandstone of southwestern Utah from its Magnetic Polarity Sequence

Authors

  • Maureen STEINER

Keywords:

Sinemurian magnetostratigraphy, Springdale Sandstone, paleopole

Abstract

The Springdale Sandstone records a large number of reversals of the geomagnetic field. Forty-three percent of the 60 m section investigated showed 25 polarity intervals. These frequent reversals follow the nearly constant normal polarity of the underlying Whitmore Point strata. Comparison of the reversal sequence of the Springdale Sandstone with a core from the Paris Basin suggests that the Springdale Sandstone spans an interval extending possibly from as early as late Hettangian to early-mid Sinemurian time. The paleomagnetic pole calculated from Springdale paleomagnetic directions is statistically identical to that of the underlying Whitmore Point Member of the Moenave Formation, and considerably different from that of the overlying Kayenta Formation. This similarity suggests that the Springdale Sandstone should be retained as a member of the Moenave Formation, not considered part of the Kayenta Formation.

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