Lockatong Formation

Lockatong Formation (Kummel, 1897) - Cyclically-deposited sequences consisting of light- to dark-gray, greenish-gray, and black, dolomitic or analcime-bearing silty argillite, laminated mudstone, silty to calcareous, argillaceous, very-fine-grained pyritic sandstone and siltstone, and minor silty limestone (Trl). Grayish-red, grayish-purple, and dark-brownish-red sequences (Trlr) common in upper half. Two types of cycles are recognized: detrital and chemical. Detrital cycles average 5.2 m (17 ft) thick and consist of basal, argillaceous, very fine grained sandstone to coarse siltstone; medial, dark-gray to black, laminated siltstone, silty mudstone, or silty limestone; and upper, light- to dark-gray, silty to dolomitic or analcime-rich mudstone, argillitic siltstone, or very-fine-grained sandstone. Chemical cycles are similar to detrital cycles, but thinner, averaging 3.2 m (10.5 ft). Cycles in northern Newark basin are thinner and have arkosic sandstone in lower and upper parts. Upper part of formation in northern basin composed mostly of light-gray to light-pinkish-gray or light-brown, coarse- to fine-grained, thick- to massive-bedded arkosic sandstone (Trla). Thermally metamorphosed into hornfels where intruded by diabase (Jd). Interfingers laterally and gradationally with quartz sandstone and conglomerate (Trls) and quartzite conglomerate (Trlcq) near Triassic border fault in southwestern area of map. Maximum thickness of Lockatong Formation about 1,070 m (3,510 ft).