Structural analysis of folding of paleozoic sequence, solitario uplift, Trans-Pecos Texas

Date

1981-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

The Solitario is an eroded dome of about nine miles diameter located in southwest Texas. Its core is chiefly of deformed Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, which are overlain unconformably by outward-dipping Cretaceous limestones that constitute the rim rocks. Earlier work on the Solitario focused mainly on the stratigraphy and igneous geology, correlation of Paleozoic Ouachita facies rocks with those in the Marathon region, and doming as a product of interpreted laccolithic intrusion. Less attention was given to structural studies, but tectonic correlation between the Solitario and Marathon regions was suggested on the basis of general deformational style and trend.

Affects of doming are removed to obtain late Paleozoic structural configurations. The resulting pattern of bedding, as displayed on equal-area projections, shows a major fold system the attitude (45°4°NE) of which matches closely that of the Ouachita system in the Marathon region; 15 axes of minor folds also have Ouachita orientations.

Unexpectedly 13 minor fold axes have different, deviant, trends. A second rotation to remove the effects of Ouachita folding, shows a poorly defined girdle of deviant minor folds approxi'mately perpendicular to the Ouachita system. These folds could represent a pre Ouachita deformation, but such a deformation is problematical.

Description

Keywords

Geology -- Texas -- Solitario, Stratigraphic -- Paleozoic, Geology, Folds (Geology)

Citation