Local Geology
General Stratigraphy Surficial geologic units overlying the area in and around the Crane Operation are predominantly comprised of undifferentiated Quaternary Age unconsolidated deposits, ranging from aeolian (windblown) sheet sands and dunes to alluvial sands, silts, clays, and caliche. Geologic mapping shows additional surficial stratigraphic units present in the vicinity of the project; however, the surface geology in and around the Crane Operation is primarily comprised of these aeolian sand deposits.
Exploration completed on the Crane property indicate two surficial sand units being present, an upper clean sand unit (dune and sheet sands) and an underlying clayey cover sand unit (Judkins Formation). The following text discusses the strata encountered in and around the Crane Operation, in depositional order:
-Fredericksberg Group A thick unit of limestone, dolomite, marl, and caliche, which represents the basal unit encountered at the Crane Operation. An unconformity separates this unit from the overlying Judkins formation, which differs significantly in age.
-Judkins (Blackwater Draw Equivalent) Formation The Judkins Formation is a brownish-red, argillaceous (clay-rich) sand body consisting of fine- to medium-grained quartz which may be silty and calcareous. This formation represents the first major period of dune building to affect the area and includes minor amounts of interdune pond sediments.
-Quaterna ........