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Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > Colorado Geology

Geologic units in Weld county, Colorado

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Denver Fm or lower part of Dawson Arkose (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic Cenozoic | Cretaceous Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Arkosic sandstone, shale, mudstone, conglomerate, and local coal beds

Lithology: sandstone; shale; mudstone; conglomerate; coal

Denver and Arapahoe Fms (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic Cenozoic | Cretaceous Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Sandstone, mudstone, claystone, and conglomerate; Denver is characterized by andesitic materials

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate

White River Fm or Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 20 % of this area

East: Ashy claystone and sandstone. Includes Castle Rock Conglomerate in region southeast of Denver. Northwest: Ashy claystone in North Park

Lithology: sandstone; claystone; conglomerate

Eolian deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 18 % of this area

Includes dune sand and silt and Peoria Loess

Lithology: dune sand; silt; loess

Older gravels and alluviums (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 7 % of this area

Includes Slocum, Verdos, Rocky Flats, and Nussbaum Alluviums in east, and Florida, Bridgetimber, and Bayfield Gravels in southwest

Lithology: gravel; alluvium

Laramie Fm and Fox Hills Sandstone (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.9 % of this area

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; coal

Ogallala Group or Formation (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Silt, sand, sandstone, gravel and conglomerate. Predominantly interfingered fine- to coarse grained, poorly sorted, arkosic, fluvial deposits of light-gray, light-olive-gray, and grayish-green calcareous silt and sand, and locally poorly consolidated conglomerate, sandstone, and siltstone.

Lithology: mudstone; sandstone; volcanic ash

Alluvium and Colluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

ALLUVIUM AND COLLUVIUM--Clay, silt, sand, and gravel in flood plains, fans, terraces, and slopes.

Lithology: alluvium; colluvium

Arikaree Fm (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Sandstone; contains abundant volcanically derived material

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; tuff

Gravel, pediment, and fan deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

GRAVEL, PEDIMENT, AND FAN DEPOSITS--Mostly locally derived clasts. Includes some glacial deposits along east flank of Wind River Range. Locally includes some Tertiary gravels.

Lithology: unconsolidated deposit

Modern alluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Includes Piney Creek Alluvium and younger deposits

Lithology: alluvium

Fox Hills Sandstone (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Lithology: sandstone

Gravels and alluviums (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Includes Broadway and Louviers Alluviums

Lithology: gravel; alluvium

Laramie Fm (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 25 % of this area

Shale, claystone, sandstone, and major coal beds

Lithology: shale; claystone; sandstone; coal

Ogallala Fm (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 7 % of this area

Loose to well-cemented sand and gravel

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate

White River Formation (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Oligocene (31-35 Ma)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

WHITE RIVER FORMATION (AGE 31 TO 35 Ma)--White to pale-pink blocky tuffaceous claystone and lenticular arkosic conglomerate.

Lithology: fine-grained mixed clastic; medium-grained mixed clastic; mixed clastic/volcanic

Pierre Shale--Upper unit (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Lithology: shale

Upper Miocene Rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene-Late) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

UPPER MIOCENE ROCKS--Southwest Wyoming: South end of Wind River Range--Siliceous, arkosic, and locally radioactive sandstone, claystone, and conglomerate. Fission-track age about 27 Ma. Recent work suggests that part of these deposits may be of Eocene age. Pliocene and Miocene (as originally defined 2) South Pass Formation. Saratoga Valley--White to greenish-gray tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, and claystone; locally conglomeratic. North Park Formation; Central Wyoming: Arkosic sandstone, conglomerate, and siltstone; some light-colored tuffaceous radioactive claystone and white cherty limestone. North of Sweetwater River in Granite Mountains--Light-colored tuffaceous radioactive claystone, siltstone, sandstone, and arkose. Moonstone Formation; East Wyoming: Light-colored tuffaceous claystone, sandstone, and conglomerate. Ogallala Formation in Denver Basin.

Lithology: sandstone; claystone; conglomerate; siltstone; limestone