28I: GULF TROUGH
USGS
CLAXTON, EVANS COUNTY, GEORGIA CORE
By
Paul F. Huddlestun
Originally logged 07/17/2009 & 02/25/2010
Written up, 03/29/2010
Reviewed February/2024
Posted 17/April/ 2024
4.2 miles north of Claxton, Georgia, on the shoulder of U.S. Highways 301 and 25
Claxton 7½’ Quadrangle
Latitude N 32° 12.905’
Longitude W 81° 52.650’
Elev. ~135 Feet
Claxton 7½’ Quadrangle
Latitude N 32° 12.905’
Longitude W 81° 52.650’
Elev. ~135 Feet
Lithostratigraphic unit and bed number Description Thickness (ft) Depth (ft)
NO CORE 20.0 0.0
UPPER MIOCENE, TORTONIAN
ALTAMAHA FORMATION – 83 feet+
Ebenezer Fm. - equivalent?
Ebenezer Formation, member #5 of Weems and Edwards (2001)
Bed 1 Clay (top of fining upward sequence): finely 1.5 20.0
sandy; crudely layered; hard, tough and
competent; horizontal color mottling: pink to
pinkish reds (5R),* pinkish, orangish reds
(10R), pinkish, orangish browns (5YR), and
grayish, yellowish orange (10YR); grades
downward by coarsening into:
* All colors based on dry core unless otherwise stated.
Bed 2 Sand (middle of fining upward sequence): 1.5 21.5
fine to coarse grained and poorly sorted;
clayey and feldspathic; massive and
structureless; hard, tough and competent,
binding or toughening agent unknown
(perhaps Fe203); color mottling more-or-less
as above but not horizontally mottled;
grades downward by coarsening into:
Bed 3 Sand (base of fining upward sequence): 2.75 23.0
granully, very poorly sorted; clayey and
feldspathic; massive and structureless
except for clayey, fine grained sand
interval a few inches thick at ~24.5 feet;
tough and competent (100% core recovery);
very pale orange (10YR 9/2); grades
abruptly downward into:
Bed 4 Sandy clay/clayey sand (fining upward 3.75 25.75
sequence): sandy clay toward top of bed,
clayey sand farther down section, sand is
fine to coarse grained, moderately to poorly
sorted; a trace of mica to slightly micaceous;
sediment is hard, tough and competent;
massive and structureless; colors are
mottled pinkish, orangish reds (10R);
From 28.0 feet to 29.0 feet, sand is coarse
grained, clayey, poorly sorted, massive and
structureless, very pale orange (10YR 9/2);
In basal 6 inches, sand is very coarse
grained and poorly sorted; it grades upward
from a dark yellowish orange (10YR 6/6) to
a very pale orange (10YR 9/2) higher in
section;
Grades downward into:
Bed 5 Sand: fine grained at top, coarsens a little 2.5 29.5
downward, silty to medium grained lower
down, moderately poorly sorted in lower part;
clayey, feldspathic, a trace of mica; massive
and structureless; hard, tough and
competent; very pale orange (10YR 8/2);
grades downward into:
Bed 6 Clay: finely sandy; massive and structureless; 3.0 32.0
hard, tough and competent; moderate brown
(5YR 4/4) to light brown (5YR 6/4), some very
pale orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward
into:
Bed 7 Sand: silty, fine to medium grained, 4.5 35.0
moderately poorly sorted to poorly sorted;
very clayey; very crudely layered to massive
and structureless; hard, tough and
competent (100% core recovery); very pale
orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward into:
Bed 8 Clay: slightly and finely sandy and silty; 5.5 39.5
trace of mica and dark minerals; thinly but
crudely layered, hard, tough and competent
(100% core recovery); very pale orange
(10YR 8/2); grades downward into:
Bed 9 Sand: fine to coarse grained, mostly fine 8.0 45.0
grained and moderately poorly sorted, some
small quartz pebbles the near base of bed;
clayey and a minor trace of mica; thinly but
crudely layered; hard, tough and competent;
very pale orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward
into:
Bed 10 Sand: fine to medium grained with some 11.0 53.0
medium/coarse sand, moderately poorly
sorted; clayey; mostly massive and
structureless but with some very vague and
crude layering, a little variable down section;
hard, tough and competent (100% core
recovery); slight mottling, mostly very pale
orange (10YR 8/2), color mottling in the
range of grayish, yellowish orange (10YR);
grades broadly downward into:
Bed 11 Sandstone (good Altamaha sandstone): 7.0 64.0
clayey, there appears to be a few rounded
intraclasts near base of the Bed; some
flagginess but mostly massive and
structureless; a little harder and tougher
than overlying and underlying beds (100%
core recovery); irregular horizontal color
mottling - pinkish, orangish browns (5YR),
grayish, yellowish orange (10YR), some rare
pink to pinkish reds (5R) and pinkish,
orangish reds (10R); grades very broadly
downward into:
Bed 12 Sand: mostly fine grained with less medium 12.0 71.0
and coarse grained quartz sand; moderately
sorted to moderately poorly sorted, variably
coarser grained and more poorly sorted
toward the base, immediately above which
the sand–size fines abruptly; clayey to
argillaceous, some dark minerals; massive
and structureless; hard, tough and
competent (100% core recovery); very pale
orange (10YR 8/2); lower contact appears
broadly gradational, but may not be:
NO CORE 20.0 0.0
UPPER MIOCENE, TORTONIAN
ALTAMAHA FORMATION – 83 feet+
Ebenezer Fm. - equivalent?
Ebenezer Formation, member #5 of Weems and Edwards (2001)
Bed 1 Clay (top of fining upward sequence): finely 1.5 20.0
sandy; crudely layered; hard, tough and
competent; horizontal color mottling: pink to
pinkish reds (5R),* pinkish, orangish reds
(10R), pinkish, orangish browns (5YR), and
grayish, yellowish orange (10YR); grades
downward by coarsening into:
* All colors based on dry core unless otherwise stated.
Bed 2 Sand (middle of fining upward sequence): 1.5 21.5
fine to coarse grained and poorly sorted;
clayey and feldspathic; massive and
structureless; hard, tough and competent,
binding or toughening agent unknown
(perhaps Fe203); color mottling more-or-less
as above but not horizontally mottled;
grades downward by coarsening into:
Bed 3 Sand (base of fining upward sequence): 2.75 23.0
granully, very poorly sorted; clayey and
feldspathic; massive and structureless
except for clayey, fine grained sand
interval a few inches thick at ~24.5 feet;
tough and competent (100% core recovery);
very pale orange (10YR 9/2); grades
abruptly downward into:
Bed 4 Sandy clay/clayey sand (fining upward 3.75 25.75
sequence): sandy clay toward top of bed,
clayey sand farther down section, sand is
fine to coarse grained, moderately to poorly
sorted; a trace of mica to slightly micaceous;
sediment is hard, tough and competent;
massive and structureless; colors are
mottled pinkish, orangish reds (10R);
From 28.0 feet to 29.0 feet, sand is coarse
grained, clayey, poorly sorted, massive and
structureless, very pale orange (10YR 9/2);
In basal 6 inches, sand is very coarse
grained and poorly sorted; it grades upward
from a dark yellowish orange (10YR 6/6) to
a very pale orange (10YR 9/2) higher in
section;
Grades downward into:
Bed 5 Sand: fine grained at top, coarsens a little 2.5 29.5
downward, silty to medium grained lower
down, moderately poorly sorted in lower part;
clayey, feldspathic, a trace of mica; massive
and structureless; hard, tough and
competent; very pale orange (10YR 8/2);
grades downward into:
Bed 6 Clay: finely sandy; massive and structureless; 3.0 32.0
hard, tough and competent; moderate brown
(5YR 4/4) to light brown (5YR 6/4), some very
pale orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward
into:
Bed 7 Sand: silty, fine to medium grained, 4.5 35.0
moderately poorly sorted to poorly sorted;
very clayey; very crudely layered to massive
and structureless; hard, tough and
competent (100% core recovery); very pale
orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward into:
Bed 8 Clay: slightly and finely sandy and silty; 5.5 39.5
trace of mica and dark minerals; thinly but
crudely layered, hard, tough and competent
(100% core recovery); very pale orange
(10YR 8/2); grades downward into:
Bed 9 Sand: fine to coarse grained, mostly fine 8.0 45.0
grained and moderately poorly sorted, some
small quartz pebbles the near base of bed;
clayey and a minor trace of mica; thinly but
crudely layered; hard, tough and competent;
very pale orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward
into:
Bed 10 Sand: fine to medium grained with some 11.0 53.0
medium/coarse sand, moderately poorly
sorted; clayey; mostly massive and
structureless but with some very vague and
crude layering, a little variable down section;
hard, tough and competent (100% core
recovery); slight mottling, mostly very pale
orange (10YR 8/2), color mottling in the
range of grayish, yellowish orange (10YR);
grades broadly downward into:
Bed 11 Sandstone (good Altamaha sandstone): 7.0 64.0
clayey, there appears to be a few rounded
intraclasts near base of the Bed; some
flagginess but mostly massive and
structureless; a little harder and tougher
than overlying and underlying beds (100%
core recovery); irregular horizontal color
mottling - pinkish, orangish browns (5YR),
grayish, yellowish orange (10YR), some rare
pink to pinkish reds (5R) and pinkish,
orangish reds (10R); grades very broadly
downward into:
Bed 12 Sand: mostly fine grained with less medium 12.0 71.0
and coarse grained quartz sand; moderately
sorted to moderately poorly sorted, variably
coarser grained and more poorly sorted
toward the base, immediately above which
the sand–size fines abruptly; clayey to
argillaceous, some dark minerals; massive
and structureless; hard, tough and
competent (100% core recovery); very pale
orange (10YR 8/2); lower contact appears
broadly gradational, but may not be:
MIDDLE MIOCENE, SERRAVALLIAN
MEIGS FORMATION – 26 feet
Coosawhatchie Clay - lower Shoal River Fm. – equivalents
(Record Missing)
Ebenezer Formation, member #4 of Weems and Edwards, (2001) at 83.2 feet
Bed 13 Clay: thinly interlayered with very fine to 14.0 83.0
fine grained sand in upper four feet (some
medium to coarse grained sand above ~85
feet) below which is dominantly clay with
only a trace of quartz sand or silt; some
dark minerals, a minor trace of mica; clay
layers are relatively pure and exhibit
conchoidal fracture, little if any fullers earth
above ~93 to ~94 feet; unconsolidated but
coherent and mostly competent (~78% core recovery);
clay color is light olive gray
(5Y 6/1) and sand is yellowish gray
(5Y 8/1); grades downward into:
Bed 14 Clay: fullers earth, few other lithic 6.5 97.0
components apparent other than a minor
trace of mica; clay is hard and brittle when
dry with conchoidal to subconchoidal fracture;
appears mostly massive and structureless but
there is a slight tendency to break along
bedding; unconsolidated but firm and
competent (100% core recovery); the color is
pale yellowish gray (5Y 9/1); grades abruptly
downward, with a few clay intraclasts at base,
into:
Bed 15 Sand: fine to fine/medium grained, fairly well 5.5 103.5
sorted; little clay present, some dark minerals
and a minor trace of mica; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but moderately
to mostly competent (~76% core recovery); very
pale orange (10YR 9/2); disconformably
overlies:
LOWER MIOCENE, BURDIGALIAN
HAWTHORNE GROUP
MARKS HEAD FORMATION – 49 feet
Upper Marks Head – 23 feet
Chipola Fm. - Dogtown Fm. - equivalents
Bed 16 Sandstone: variably siliceous with some 4.5 109.0
minor chert, scattered wad dendrites; mostly
dense and nonporous with some slightly
porous regions; some irregular structures
that resembles bioturbation, otherwise
massive and structureless; cemented and
competent (100% core recovery); pale
yellowish brown (10YR 6/2) to yellowish gray
(5Y 7/2); grades abruptly downward into:
Bed 17 Limestone: argillaceous with fullers earth 2 .0 113.5
clay, variably finely sandy and siliceous,
some macrofossil fragments; massive and
structureless, sediment is coherent,
perhaps somewhat recrystallized and
moderately competent (~50% core recovery);
very pale orange (10YR 8/2); grades
abruptly downward into:
Ebenezer member #2 of Weems and Edwards, (2001) at 114.8 feet
Bed 18 Sand: very fine to fine grained, well sorted; 10.5 115.5
slightly argillaceous, variable traces of mica,
dark minerals, a few small clay clasts, a
touch of fullers earth here and there;
massive and structureless; very cohesive and
competent (100% core recovery), slightly
cemented and cementing agent unknown,
possibly silica), irregular fracture; very pale
orange (10YR 8/2 – 10YR 9/2); grades
downward into:
Bed 19 Sand; fine grained and well sorted; clayey, 4.0 126.0
and slightly micaceous; massive and
structureless; tough, hard and competent
as above bed; very pale orange (10YR 8/2)
in color; grades downward into:
Bed 20 Sand: fine grained and well sorted; slightly 2.0 130.0
argillaceous and micaceous, shell fragments
in the basal 1 foot; massive and structureless,
tough, hard and competent as above; very
pale orange (10YR 8/2) to pale yellowish gray
(5Y 8/2); grades abruptly downward into:
MEIGS FORMATION – 26 feet
Coosawhatchie Clay - lower Shoal River Fm. – equivalents
(Record Missing)
Ebenezer Formation, member #4 of Weems and Edwards, (2001) at 83.2 feet
Bed 13 Clay: thinly interlayered with very fine to 14.0 83.0
fine grained sand in upper four feet (some
medium to coarse grained sand above ~85
feet) below which is dominantly clay with
only a trace of quartz sand or silt; some
dark minerals, a minor trace of mica; clay
layers are relatively pure and exhibit
conchoidal fracture, little if any fullers earth
above ~93 to ~94 feet; unconsolidated but
coherent and mostly competent (~78% core recovery);
clay color is light olive gray
(5Y 6/1) and sand is yellowish gray
(5Y 8/1); grades downward into:
Bed 14 Clay: fullers earth, few other lithic 6.5 97.0
components apparent other than a minor
trace of mica; clay is hard and brittle when
dry with conchoidal to subconchoidal fracture;
appears mostly massive and structureless but
there is a slight tendency to break along
bedding; unconsolidated but firm and
competent (100% core recovery); the color is
pale yellowish gray (5Y 9/1); grades abruptly
downward, with a few clay intraclasts at base,
into:
Bed 15 Sand: fine to fine/medium grained, fairly well 5.5 103.5
sorted; little clay present, some dark minerals
and a minor trace of mica; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but moderately
to mostly competent (~76% core recovery); very
pale orange (10YR 9/2); disconformably
overlies:
LOWER MIOCENE, BURDIGALIAN
HAWTHORNE GROUP
MARKS HEAD FORMATION – 49 feet
Upper Marks Head – 23 feet
Chipola Fm. - Dogtown Fm. - equivalents
Bed 16 Sandstone: variably siliceous with some 4.5 109.0
minor chert, scattered wad dendrites; mostly
dense and nonporous with some slightly
porous regions; some irregular structures
that resembles bioturbation, otherwise
massive and structureless; cemented and
competent (100% core recovery); pale
yellowish brown (10YR 6/2) to yellowish gray
(5Y 7/2); grades abruptly downward into:
Bed 17 Limestone: argillaceous with fullers earth 2 .0 113.5
clay, variably finely sandy and siliceous,
some macrofossil fragments; massive and
structureless, sediment is coherent,
perhaps somewhat recrystallized and
moderately competent (~50% core recovery);
very pale orange (10YR 8/2); grades
abruptly downward into:
Ebenezer member #2 of Weems and Edwards, (2001) at 114.8 feet
Bed 18 Sand: very fine to fine grained, well sorted; 10.5 115.5
slightly argillaceous, variable traces of mica,
dark minerals, a few small clay clasts, a
touch of fullers earth here and there;
massive and structureless; very cohesive and
competent (100% core recovery), slightly
cemented and cementing agent unknown,
possibly silica), irregular fracture; very pale
orange (10YR 8/2 – 10YR 9/2); grades
downward into:
Bed 19 Sand; fine grained and well sorted; clayey, 4.0 126.0
and slightly micaceous; massive and
structureless; tough, hard and competent
as above bed; very pale orange (10YR 8/2)
in color; grades downward into:
Bed 20 Sand: fine grained and well sorted; slightly 2.0 130.0
argillaceous and micaceous, shell fragments
in the basal 1 foot; massive and structureless,
tough, hard and competent as above; very
pale orange (10YR 8/2) to pale yellowish gray
(5Y 8/2); grades abruptly downward into:
Lower Marks Head? – 26 feet
Chipola Fm. - possibly Torreya Fm. – equivalents?
Bed 21 Limestone: the top 6 inches of the Bed is 26.0 132.0
dolomitized and the dolomitization
decreases downward over the next few
inches; variably finely sandy, probably
slightly argillaceous, variably fossiliferous
with mostly molds of mollusks and a few
calcitic fossil fragments, fossils diminish
below ~152.5 feet and are absent below
~154 feet; massive and structureless;
mostly indurated, irregular fracture and
mostly competent (~96% core recovery);
very pale orange (10YR 8/2 – 10YR 9/2);
disconformably overlies:
LOWER MIOCENE, AQUITANIAN
HAWTHORNE GROUP
PARACHUCLA FORMATION – 294 feet
Porters Landing Member (upper Parachucla) – 139 feet
Upper Chattahoochee Fm. – equivalent?
~48% calcareous
Ebenezer member #1 of Weems and Edwards, (2001)
Bed 22 Sandstone: mostly fine to very fine grained 31.5 158.0
and well sorted; granular in appearance;
slightly argillaceous and phosphatic with
pelletal phosphate content increasing down
section, very slightly dolomitic in upper
part of the Bed above ~175 feet, minor
calcite, a few scattered, thin clayey layers,
minor content of dark minerals; mostly
massive and structureless; irregular
fracture, indurated but friable and mostly
competent (~80% core recovery); pale orange
(10YR 7/2) to grayish orange (10YR 7/4) at
the top of the Bed, mostly very pale orange
(10YR 8/2) but dark pinkish gray (5YR 7/1)
below ~175 feet;
Scattered burrows from ~161 feet to ~169
feet;
Calcareous with small shell fragments from
~163 feet to ~165 feet;
More fine pelletal phosphate from ~183 feet to
~189.5 feet;
Grades downward into:
Bed 23 Sand: very fine to fine/medium-grained 38.5 189.5
and well sorted; calcareous, frequent to
common shell fragments but fragments vary
in abundance, very slightly argillaceous,
quite phosphatic but pelletal phosphate
content concentrations are variable, dark
minerals present; massive and
structureless; sand is soft, almost
incoherent and loose but competent
(~113% core recovery); moderate pinkish
gray (5YR 7/1 in color);
Berryville Clay Member of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 189.0 feet
Meigs Member of Coosawhatchie Clay Member of Weems and Edwards (2001)
at 198.0 feet
Pebbles or concretions at ~212 feet;
Quartz sand is finer grained below ~216 feet;
More argillaceous below ~222 feet;
More shelly at ~226 feet;
Grades downward into:
Bed 24 Sand: fine to medium grained, well sorted; 17.5 228.0
argillaceous (a thin layer of fullers earth
at ~230 feet and a few thin clay lenses),
phosphatic with very fine phosphate pellets
and a trace of mica, dolomitic in upper 7
feet, nondolomitic below ~235.5 feet;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
but firm, coherent and competent (~110%
core recovery); mostly pale yellowish gray
(5Y 8/2) but light olive gray (5Y 6/1) in the
lower part of the Bed; grades downward into:
Bed 25 Sand: fine to medium grained and moderately 5.5 245.5
well sorted, very fine grained sand (sugar
sand) present at 246 to 246.5 feet and from
247.25 to 248 feet; argillaceous with
scattered thin, discontinuous layers or
flasers of clay, somewhat and finely
phosphatic and a trace of mica; crudely,
variably and thinly layered, sand and clay
(except for very thin, discontinuous,
clay and sugar sand laminae), otherwise
not well mixed; unconsolidated but mostly
coherent and competent (100% core
recovery); color of sugar sand is yellowish
gray (5Y 7/2), color of clay layers is light
olive gray (5Y 5/2), color of argillaceous
sand is ~pale olive gray (5Y 6/2); grades
broadly downward into:
Bed 26 Sand: fine grained and well sorted to fine 20.5 251.0
to medium grained and moderately sorted,
some fine to very fine grained sugary sand;
argillaceous with scattered thin clay layers,
laminae, lenses, and clay pellets; common
fine to very fine grained phosphate pellets,
a trace of mica, dark minerals and a
scattered trace of calcite and small chalky
shell debris – becoming gradually more
calcareous down-section; sand is mostly
massive and structureless but some
extremely crude sand layering present
(probably partially bioturbated), not well
mixed; unconsolidated but firm, coherent
and competent (~102% core recovery);
colors range from pale olive gray (5Y 6/2),
light olive gray (5Y 6/1), yellowish gray
(5Y 8/1) and dark yellowish gray
(~5Y 7/1); grades abruptly downward into:
Bed 27 Calcareous sand/sandy limestone: sand is 17.0 271.5
medium to coarse grained and poorly
sorted; generally and more coarsely
pelletal phosphatic than overlying beds,
calcite is intragranular and fine grained,
probably a trace of clay minerals; massive
and structureless, irregular fracture, rough
textured, appears to be finely fossiliferous
but is really nonfossiliferous; partially
indurated but soft, poorly coherent and
poorly competent (~30% recovery); color is
yellowish gray (5Y 7/2) to light yellowish
gray (5Y 9/2); overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 3.5 288.5
Bed 28 Sand: fine to medium grained and 2.0 292.0
moderately sorted; noncalcareous (no CO3
reaction with HCl but carries a strong H2S
odor) although appears calcareous;
argillaceous, slightly phosphatic; mostly
massive and structureless but some very
crude layering present; unconsolidated but
only moderately coherent and of uncertain
competence (2 feet recovered out of a 5 feet
core run); colors are dark yellowish gray
(5Y 7/1) to yellowish gray (5Y 8/1); overlies
core gap:
CORE GAP 3.0 294.0
Chipola Fm. - possibly Torreya Fm. – equivalents?
Bed 21 Limestone: the top 6 inches of the Bed is 26.0 132.0
dolomitized and the dolomitization
decreases downward over the next few
inches; variably finely sandy, probably
slightly argillaceous, variably fossiliferous
with mostly molds of mollusks and a few
calcitic fossil fragments, fossils diminish
below ~152.5 feet and are absent below
~154 feet; massive and structureless;
mostly indurated, irregular fracture and
mostly competent (~96% core recovery);
very pale orange (10YR 8/2 – 10YR 9/2);
disconformably overlies:
LOWER MIOCENE, AQUITANIAN
HAWTHORNE GROUP
PARACHUCLA FORMATION – 294 feet
Porters Landing Member (upper Parachucla) – 139 feet
Upper Chattahoochee Fm. – equivalent?
~48% calcareous
Ebenezer member #1 of Weems and Edwards, (2001)
Bed 22 Sandstone: mostly fine to very fine grained 31.5 158.0
and well sorted; granular in appearance;
slightly argillaceous and phosphatic with
pelletal phosphate content increasing down
section, very slightly dolomitic in upper
part of the Bed above ~175 feet, minor
calcite, a few scattered, thin clayey layers,
minor content of dark minerals; mostly
massive and structureless; irregular
fracture, indurated but friable and mostly
competent (~80% core recovery); pale orange
(10YR 7/2) to grayish orange (10YR 7/4) at
the top of the Bed, mostly very pale orange
(10YR 8/2) but dark pinkish gray (5YR 7/1)
below ~175 feet;
Scattered burrows from ~161 feet to ~169
feet;
Calcareous with small shell fragments from
~163 feet to ~165 feet;
More fine pelletal phosphate from ~183 feet to
~189.5 feet;
Grades downward into:
Bed 23 Sand: very fine to fine/medium-grained 38.5 189.5
and well sorted; calcareous, frequent to
common shell fragments but fragments vary
in abundance, very slightly argillaceous,
quite phosphatic but pelletal phosphate
content concentrations are variable, dark
minerals present; massive and
structureless; sand is soft, almost
incoherent and loose but competent
(~113% core recovery); moderate pinkish
gray (5YR 7/1 in color);
Berryville Clay Member of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 189.0 feet
Meigs Member of Coosawhatchie Clay Member of Weems and Edwards (2001)
at 198.0 feet
Pebbles or concretions at ~212 feet;
Quartz sand is finer grained below ~216 feet;
More argillaceous below ~222 feet;
More shelly at ~226 feet;
Grades downward into:
Bed 24 Sand: fine to medium grained, well sorted; 17.5 228.0
argillaceous (a thin layer of fullers earth
at ~230 feet and a few thin clay lenses),
phosphatic with very fine phosphate pellets
and a trace of mica, dolomitic in upper 7
feet, nondolomitic below ~235.5 feet;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
but firm, coherent and competent (~110%
core recovery); mostly pale yellowish gray
(5Y 8/2) but light olive gray (5Y 6/1) in the
lower part of the Bed; grades downward into:
Bed 25 Sand: fine to medium grained and moderately 5.5 245.5
well sorted, very fine grained sand (sugar
sand) present at 246 to 246.5 feet and from
247.25 to 248 feet; argillaceous with
scattered thin, discontinuous layers or
flasers of clay, somewhat and finely
phosphatic and a trace of mica; crudely,
variably and thinly layered, sand and clay
(except for very thin, discontinuous,
clay and sugar sand laminae), otherwise
not well mixed; unconsolidated but mostly
coherent and competent (100% core
recovery); color of sugar sand is yellowish
gray (5Y 7/2), color of clay layers is light
olive gray (5Y 5/2), color of argillaceous
sand is ~pale olive gray (5Y 6/2); grades
broadly downward into:
Bed 26 Sand: fine grained and well sorted to fine 20.5 251.0
to medium grained and moderately sorted,
some fine to very fine grained sugary sand;
argillaceous with scattered thin clay layers,
laminae, lenses, and clay pellets; common
fine to very fine grained phosphate pellets,
a trace of mica, dark minerals and a
scattered trace of calcite and small chalky
shell debris – becoming gradually more
calcareous down-section; sand is mostly
massive and structureless but some
extremely crude sand layering present
(probably partially bioturbated), not well
mixed; unconsolidated but firm, coherent
and competent (~102% core recovery);
colors range from pale olive gray (5Y 6/2),
light olive gray (5Y 6/1), yellowish gray
(5Y 8/1) and dark yellowish gray
(~5Y 7/1); grades abruptly downward into:
Bed 27 Calcareous sand/sandy limestone: sand is 17.0 271.5
medium to coarse grained and poorly
sorted; generally and more coarsely
pelletal phosphatic than overlying beds,
calcite is intragranular and fine grained,
probably a trace of clay minerals; massive
and structureless, irregular fracture, rough
textured, appears to be finely fossiliferous
but is really nonfossiliferous; partially
indurated but soft, poorly coherent and
poorly competent (~30% recovery); color is
yellowish gray (5Y 7/2) to light yellowish
gray (5Y 9/2); overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 3.5 288.5
Bed 28 Sand: fine to medium grained and 2.0 292.0
moderately sorted; noncalcareous (no CO3
reaction with HCl but carries a strong H2S
odor) although appears calcareous;
argillaceous, slightly phosphatic; mostly
massive and structureless but some very
crude layering present; unconsolidated but
only moderately coherent and of uncertain
competence (2 feet recovered out of a 5 feet
core run); colors are dark yellowish gray
(5Y 7/1) to yellowish gray (5Y 8/1); overlies
core gap:
CORE GAP 3.0 294.0
LOWER MIOCENE, AQUITANIAN
PARACHUCLA FORMATION
Tiger Leap Member (lower Parachucla) – 155 feet+
Penney Farms Fm. - Lower Chattahoochee Fm. – equivalents
Bed 29 Sandy limestone/calcareous sand-sandstone: 1.0 297.0 amount of quartz sand is variable, coarse
grained and poorly sorted, phosphatic, a lone
pecten shell is present, and with probably a
trace of clay minerals; appears massive and
structureless; partially consolidated but
competent (100% core recovery); very pale
orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward into:
Bed 30 Similar to above – sandy limestone/calcareous 8.5 298.0
sand/sandstone: sand is variable in size and
ranges from fine to medium grained to coarse
grained, and is moderately to poorly sorted,
sand distribution within the sediment is also
irregular but is not obviously bioturbated;
phosphatic with variable or “poorly sorted”
pellet-size mica present as a minor trace;
probably a trace of clay minerals; scattered
and rare to frequent macrofossils and
calcitic fossil debris, sediment appears
“lumpy” due to poor mixing or lack of
homogenization of the sand component – no
evidence of stratification; variably cemented
and competent (100% core recovery); colors
range from yellowish gray (5Y 7/2 – 5Y 8/1)
to pinkish gray (5YR 8/1); grades downward
into:
Bed 31 Sandstone: very calcareous and fossiliferous, 1.0 306.5
pelletal phosphatic and probably with a trace
of clay minerals; massive and structureless;
indurated and competent; yellowish gray
(5Y 8/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 32 Limestone: very fine grained, argillaceous? 0.5 307.5
flowage structures at the top and the base of
the Bed; indurated, coherent and competent;
yellowish gray; (5Y 8/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 33 Sand: sand matrix is fine grained and well 2.0 308.0
sorted; phosphatic, calcareous, with irregular
shapes and sizes of inclusions and lenses of
calcilutite/micrite; probably slightly
argillaceous; massive with indications of
flowage structure (“oozy”), the whole being
poorly mixed; unconsolidated but mostly
coherent and competent; color is close to
yellowish gray (5Y 8/1); grades downward
into:
Bed 34 Sand: fine grained and well sorted; 2.5 310.0
argillaceous, phosphatic and possibly
very slightly dolomitic (very weak HCl
reaction); massive and structureless;
unconsolidated but coherent and
competent; color is close to very pale olive
gray (5Y 5/1); grades downward into:
Bed 35 Sand: virtually identical to above but 1.25 312.5
crudely layered: abruptly overlies:
Bed 36 Dolomitic sandstone/sandy dolostone: 8.5 313.75
fine to coarse grained and poorly sorted;
pelletal phosphatic and argillaceous;
massive bedded but lithic components
poorly mixed – rather irregular
distributions; indurated but very poorly
competent (~12% core recovery); color is
Tybee Phosphorite Member? of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 318.7
feet (gamma log)
close to very pale orange (10YR 8/2);
overlies core gap:
Marks Head Formation, member #2 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 332 feet
CORE GAP 9.75 322.25
Bed 37 Silt/clay: thinly interlayered sandy silt and 0.75 332.0
clay – sand/silt occurs along clay partings
and in thin interlayers, a trace of mica, no
carbonates present (no HCl reaction);
competence is uncertain because of
surrounding core gaps; light olive gray
(5Y 5/2); overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 1.25 332.75
Bed 38 Sand: fine grained and well sorted (sugar 4.75 334.0
sand); dark minerals present, very slightly
argillaceous to a trace of clay minerals,
trace of pelletal phosphate and mica;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated,
barely coherent yet competent (100% core
recovery); very light olive gray (5Y 7/1) in
color; abruptly overlies:
Bed 39 Sand: fine to medium grained with some 4.75 338.75
coarse grains, moderately poorly sorted –
sorting decreases downward with increasing
content of coarse-grained sand; calcareous
with scattered, small, chalky shell fragments
– shell fragment content increases downward
with a shell concentration in basal few inches
of the Bed, phosphatic and argillaceous;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
but coherent and competent (100% core
recovery); color close to light olive gray
(5Y 6/1) to very light olive gray (5Y 7/1);
abruptly overlies:
Bed 40 Clay: a trace of silt and a trace of calcite; 0.5 343.5
very thinly layered to laminated; tough but
not hard, competent; dry color is close to
olive gray (5Y 4/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 41 Sand: mostly fine grained, some medium 6.3 344.0
grained and scattered coarse grained sand,
moderately to moderately poorly sorted;
argillaceous, somewhat and finely phosphatic,
slightly micaceous and noncalcareous but
there are rare, scattered, chalky shell
fragments, a few pectens and intraclasts
scattered in the basal few inches of the Bed;
massive and structureless but lithic
components not well mixed; unconsolidated
but coherent and competent; color ranges
from yellowish gray (5Y 8/1) to very light
olive gray (5Y 7/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 42 Limestone: very fine textured, phosphatic 0.7 350.3
and sandy, quartz sand also occurs as
irregular, small inclusions of calcareous
sand, probably originating as intraclasts;
limestone is contorted as if it flowed after
deposition; limestone is generally
consolidated but sand inclusions are softer
and more easily eroded, competent (100%
core recovery); limestone color is pinkish
gray (5YR 8/1) and sand color is close to
very light olive gray (5Y 7/1); upper and
lower contacts are irregular to due
sediment flowage, abruptly overlies:
Bed 43 Shell hash: calcareous, sandy, argillaceous 1.1 351.0
and phosphatic matrix in a jumble of
aragonitic mollusk shells with some
barnacles; shells tend toward horizontal
orientation; unconsolidated but coherent
and mostly competent; matrix color is
very light olive gray (5Y 7/1); abruptly
overlies uneven surface of:
Bed 44 Limestone: similar to Bed 41 - very fine 0.4 352.1
grained, oozy and contorted in appearance;
indurated and competent; pale grayish
orange pink (5YR 8/2); basal surface is very
uneven, abruptly overlies:
Marks Head Formation, member #1 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 354 feet
Bed 45 Shell bed (shell marl): mostly aragonitic 9.75 352.5
shells occurring in random orientation and
the Bed becomes gradually less coarsely
shelly downward and more sandy, matrix
sand is fine to coarse grained and
moderately poorly sorted, argillaceous and
phosphatic (phosphate pellets are variable
in size, ranging from ~5 mm downward to
significantly less than 1 mm); massive and
structureless except for downward
diminishing shell content; unconsolidated
and poorly coherent and competent (~33%
recovery); matrix color is pale orange
(10YR 7/2); overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 1.25 362.25
Bed 46 Sand: fine/medium grained and well 6.5 363.5
sorted; calcareous with a few scattered
shell fragments, somewhat argillaceous
and phosphatic, a trace of mica; massive
and structureless; unconsolidated,
moderately coherent, and mostly competent
(~80% core recovery); very light olive gray
(5Y 7/1); grades downward into:
Bed 47 Sand: medium grained and moderately well 5.0 370.0
sorted; variably calcareous and noncalcareous
with scattered, very small aragonitic shell
fragments (a large oyster shell fragment at
~373 feet), slightly phosphatic, micaceous and
argillaceous – clay content increases
downward becoming very argillaceous at ~374
feet, a carbonized wood fragment at ~371 feet;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
and moderately coherent and mostly
competent (~85% core recovery); very light
olive gray (5Y 7/1); grades broadly downward
into:
Bed 48 Sandy clay marl: fine grained and well 2.0 375.0
sorted; very argillaceous - grading downward
into clay marl, calcareous with scattered,
small, shell fragments, and phosphatic;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
but coherent and competent (100% core
recovery; very light olive gray (5Y 7/1);
grades broadly downward into:
Bed 49 Clay marl: very calcareous with rare, scattered 7.0 377.0 aragonitic and calcitic fossil fragments with
large aragonitic shells present from 382 feet
to 383 feet, variable quartz sand content with
coarse grained sand becoming conspicuous
below ~379 feet, slightly micaceous;
unconsolidated but very competent (100%
core recovery); colors range from pale
yellowish gray (5Y 8/2) to light brownish gray
(5 YR 6/1) to very light olive gray (5Y 7/1);
abruptly overlies:
Bed 50 Limestone (hard ground?): slightly and finely 1.0 384.0
sandy, slightly phosphatic, a few fossil
fragments and probably a trace of clay
minerals; massive and structureless; hard
and indurated in upper few inches of the
Bed but the rest is soft and chalky,
competent (~100% core recovery); color is
close to very pale orange (10 YR 8/2);
grades abruptly downward into:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #4 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 386 feet
Bed 51 Marl: calcareous, fossiliferous (mostly shell 3.75 385.0
fragments), argillaceous, phosphatic and
sandy marly sediment with quartz granules
in top few inches; massive and structureless;
somewhat indurated but soft, friable, brittle
and moderately competent (~43% core
recovery); light olive gray (5Y 5/2); overlies
core gap:
CORE GAP 3.25 388.75
Bed 52 Sand: fine to coarse grained – mostly fine 2.5 392.0
grained, variable sorting - moderately
sorted to moderately poorly sorted;
calcareous (no shell fragments),
argillaceous and phosphatic; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but
coherent and competent (100% core
recovery); light olive gray (5Y 5/2);
abruptly overlies:
Bed 53 Limestone/sandstone: similar to Bed 51 2.75 394.5
but more calcitic and less quartz sand, less
pelletal phosphate and less clay, more
argillaceous in the basal part of the Bed;
massive and structureless; indurated and
mostly competent (~93% core recovery);
color varies around yellowish gray (5Y 7/2)
and light grayish orange pink (5YR 8/2);
grades downward into:
Bed 54 Sand: mostly medium-grained and 3.25 397.25
moderately sorted; argillaceous, phosphatic
and calcareous with scattered, small,
chalky, degraded biofragments; massive
and structureless; unconsolidated and soft
but mostly competent (~92% core recovery);
color is close to yellowish gray (5Y 7/2);
abruptly overlies uneven (scoured) surface
of:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #3 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 400.8 feet
Bed 55 Limestone (hard ground at top of the Bed): 4.5 400.5
chalky, moldic, variably and finely sandy
with uneven sand distribution, slightly
pelletal phosphatic and a trace of clay;
massive and structureless with shell molds
in random orientation - perhaps indicating
some amount of disturbance, a Turritella
mold at the base of the Bed; indurated but
somewhat soft, yet competent (100% core
recovery); color close to pinkish gray
(5YR 8/1); the lower contact occurs between
core runs and, therefore, the contact is
ambiguous:
Bed 56 Sand: fine grained and well sorted, 4.5 405.0
argillaceous, calcareous with irregularly
scattered shell fragments, pelletal
phosphatic; massive and structureless;
unconsolidated and moderately coherent
and competent but gooey when wet, some
induration at base of the Bed (~75% core
recovery); light yellowish gray (5Y 8/2),
indurated sediment is light gray (N 7);
overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 1.5 409.5
Bed 57 Sandstone/limestone: sand is fine grained 0.5 411.0
and well sorted; massive and structureless;
indurated and probably competent; abruptly
overlies:
Bed 58 Sand: slightly argillaceous, calcareous and 2.3 411.5
phosphatic; massive and structureless;
unconsolidated and not very coherent and
moderately competent (~51% core recovery),
gooey when wet; pale orange (10YR 7/2);
overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 2.7 413.8
Bed 59 Limestone: fossiliferous, slightly and variably 3.5 416.5
sandy, slightly argillaceous and phosphatic;
mostly massive and structureless but some
thin and crude layering at the top of the Bed;
indurated and mostly competent (~83% core
recovery); colors range from light olive gray
(5Y 5/2 – 5Y 6/1) to yellowish gray (5YR 8/1);
grades downward into:
Bed 60 Sand: fine to medium grained and 4.75 420.0
moderately well sorted; argillaceous,
phosphatic and calcareous with small,
delicate shell fragments; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but firm and
competent (100% core recovery); color is
close to very light olive gray (5Y 6/2) and
light olive gray (5Y 5/2); abruptly overlies:
Bed 61 Limestone/sandstone: finely sandy; massive 0.5 424.75 and structureless; indurated; very abruptly
overlies:
Bed 62 Sand: calcareous with common small 6.75 425.25
aragonitic shells and shell fragments,
argillaceous, slightly phosphatic, a few dark
minerals and a trace of mica; massive and
structureless – no apparent shell orientation;
unconsolidated but firm and mostly
competent (~91% core recovery); yellowish
gray (5Y 7/2) to light olive gray (5Y 5/2);
grades downward into:
Bed 63 Sand: mostly fine grained and well sorted 9.0 432.0
but with some fine/medium grained sand;
somewhat argillaceous with two thin silty
clay layers noted, a trace of pelletal
phosphate and mica, noncalcareous; mostly
massive and structureless but with some
very crude layering; unconsolidated but
moderately to mostly competent (~71%
core recovery); sediment is generally
yellowish gray (5Y 7/2) in color but thin
clay layers are olive gray (5Y 4/1); grades
downward into:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #2 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 440.5 feet
Bed 64 Sand: fine grained and well sorted; 7.5 441.0
argillaceous, calcareous with calcitic and
aragonitic shell fragments that increase
slightly in abundance down-section, slightly
phosphatic with more pelletal phosphate
and a thin clayey layer near the base of the
Bed; dark minerals present; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but coherent
and competent, (100% core recovery);
yellowish gray (5Y 7/2) in color: grades
downward into:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #1 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 447.4 feet
Bed 65 Limestone: moldic and with chalky shell 2.0 448.5
material; variably and irregularly sandy –
sand is mostly medium grained and rounded,
argillaceous, slightly phosphatic with
phosphate pellets occurring mostly in the
quartz sand concentrations; shell material is
roughly horizontally oriented indicating
layering; mostly indurated but soft and only
moderately coherent but competent, (100%
core recovery); pinkish gray (5YR 8/1);
overlies core gap: Bottom of the core at
452 feet.
CORE GAP 1.5 450.5
____________________________ TOTAL DEPTH – 452.0 FEET
PARACHUCLA FORMATION
Tiger Leap Member (lower Parachucla) – 155 feet+
Penney Farms Fm. - Lower Chattahoochee Fm. – equivalents
Bed 29 Sandy limestone/calcareous sand-sandstone: 1.0 297.0 amount of quartz sand is variable, coarse
grained and poorly sorted, phosphatic, a lone
pecten shell is present, and with probably a
trace of clay minerals; appears massive and
structureless; partially consolidated but
competent (100% core recovery); very pale
orange (10YR 8/2); grades downward into:
Bed 30 Similar to above – sandy limestone/calcareous 8.5 298.0
sand/sandstone: sand is variable in size and
ranges from fine to medium grained to coarse
grained, and is moderately to poorly sorted,
sand distribution within the sediment is also
irregular but is not obviously bioturbated;
phosphatic with variable or “poorly sorted”
pellet-size mica present as a minor trace;
probably a trace of clay minerals; scattered
and rare to frequent macrofossils and
calcitic fossil debris, sediment appears
“lumpy” due to poor mixing or lack of
homogenization of the sand component – no
evidence of stratification; variably cemented
and competent (100% core recovery); colors
range from yellowish gray (5Y 7/2 – 5Y 8/1)
to pinkish gray (5YR 8/1); grades downward
into:
Bed 31 Sandstone: very calcareous and fossiliferous, 1.0 306.5
pelletal phosphatic and probably with a trace
of clay minerals; massive and structureless;
indurated and competent; yellowish gray
(5Y 8/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 32 Limestone: very fine grained, argillaceous? 0.5 307.5
flowage structures at the top and the base of
the Bed; indurated, coherent and competent;
yellowish gray; (5Y 8/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 33 Sand: sand matrix is fine grained and well 2.0 308.0
sorted; phosphatic, calcareous, with irregular
shapes and sizes of inclusions and lenses of
calcilutite/micrite; probably slightly
argillaceous; massive with indications of
flowage structure (“oozy”), the whole being
poorly mixed; unconsolidated but mostly
coherent and competent; color is close to
yellowish gray (5Y 8/1); grades downward
into:
Bed 34 Sand: fine grained and well sorted; 2.5 310.0
argillaceous, phosphatic and possibly
very slightly dolomitic (very weak HCl
reaction); massive and structureless;
unconsolidated but coherent and
competent; color is close to very pale olive
gray (5Y 5/1); grades downward into:
Bed 35 Sand: virtually identical to above but 1.25 312.5
crudely layered: abruptly overlies:
Bed 36 Dolomitic sandstone/sandy dolostone: 8.5 313.75
fine to coarse grained and poorly sorted;
pelletal phosphatic and argillaceous;
massive bedded but lithic components
poorly mixed – rather irregular
distributions; indurated but very poorly
competent (~12% core recovery); color is
Tybee Phosphorite Member? of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 318.7
feet (gamma log)
close to very pale orange (10YR 8/2);
overlies core gap:
Marks Head Formation, member #2 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 332 feet
CORE GAP 9.75 322.25
Bed 37 Silt/clay: thinly interlayered sandy silt and 0.75 332.0
clay – sand/silt occurs along clay partings
and in thin interlayers, a trace of mica, no
carbonates present (no HCl reaction);
competence is uncertain because of
surrounding core gaps; light olive gray
(5Y 5/2); overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 1.25 332.75
Bed 38 Sand: fine grained and well sorted (sugar 4.75 334.0
sand); dark minerals present, very slightly
argillaceous to a trace of clay minerals,
trace of pelletal phosphate and mica;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated,
barely coherent yet competent (100% core
recovery); very light olive gray (5Y 7/1) in
color; abruptly overlies:
Bed 39 Sand: fine to medium grained with some 4.75 338.75
coarse grains, moderately poorly sorted –
sorting decreases downward with increasing
content of coarse-grained sand; calcareous
with scattered, small, chalky shell fragments
– shell fragment content increases downward
with a shell concentration in basal few inches
of the Bed, phosphatic and argillaceous;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
but coherent and competent (100% core
recovery); color close to light olive gray
(5Y 6/1) to very light olive gray (5Y 7/1);
abruptly overlies:
Bed 40 Clay: a trace of silt and a trace of calcite; 0.5 343.5
very thinly layered to laminated; tough but
not hard, competent; dry color is close to
olive gray (5Y 4/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 41 Sand: mostly fine grained, some medium 6.3 344.0
grained and scattered coarse grained sand,
moderately to moderately poorly sorted;
argillaceous, somewhat and finely phosphatic,
slightly micaceous and noncalcareous but
there are rare, scattered, chalky shell
fragments, a few pectens and intraclasts
scattered in the basal few inches of the Bed;
massive and structureless but lithic
components not well mixed; unconsolidated
but coherent and competent; color ranges
from yellowish gray (5Y 8/1) to very light
olive gray (5Y 7/1); abruptly overlies:
Bed 42 Limestone: very fine textured, phosphatic 0.7 350.3
and sandy, quartz sand also occurs as
irregular, small inclusions of calcareous
sand, probably originating as intraclasts;
limestone is contorted as if it flowed after
deposition; limestone is generally
consolidated but sand inclusions are softer
and more easily eroded, competent (100%
core recovery); limestone color is pinkish
gray (5YR 8/1) and sand color is close to
very light olive gray (5Y 7/1); upper and
lower contacts are irregular to due
sediment flowage, abruptly overlies:
Bed 43 Shell hash: calcareous, sandy, argillaceous 1.1 351.0
and phosphatic matrix in a jumble of
aragonitic mollusk shells with some
barnacles; shells tend toward horizontal
orientation; unconsolidated but coherent
and mostly competent; matrix color is
very light olive gray (5Y 7/1); abruptly
overlies uneven surface of:
Bed 44 Limestone: similar to Bed 41 - very fine 0.4 352.1
grained, oozy and contorted in appearance;
indurated and competent; pale grayish
orange pink (5YR 8/2); basal surface is very
uneven, abruptly overlies:
Marks Head Formation, member #1 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 354 feet
Bed 45 Shell bed (shell marl): mostly aragonitic 9.75 352.5
shells occurring in random orientation and
the Bed becomes gradually less coarsely
shelly downward and more sandy, matrix
sand is fine to coarse grained and
moderately poorly sorted, argillaceous and
phosphatic (phosphate pellets are variable
in size, ranging from ~5 mm downward to
significantly less than 1 mm); massive and
structureless except for downward
diminishing shell content; unconsolidated
and poorly coherent and competent (~33%
recovery); matrix color is pale orange
(10YR 7/2); overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 1.25 362.25
Bed 46 Sand: fine/medium grained and well 6.5 363.5
sorted; calcareous with a few scattered
shell fragments, somewhat argillaceous
and phosphatic, a trace of mica; massive
and structureless; unconsolidated,
moderately coherent, and mostly competent
(~80% core recovery); very light olive gray
(5Y 7/1); grades downward into:
Bed 47 Sand: medium grained and moderately well 5.0 370.0
sorted; variably calcareous and noncalcareous
with scattered, very small aragonitic shell
fragments (a large oyster shell fragment at
~373 feet), slightly phosphatic, micaceous and
argillaceous – clay content increases
downward becoming very argillaceous at ~374
feet, a carbonized wood fragment at ~371 feet;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
and moderately coherent and mostly
competent (~85% core recovery); very light
olive gray (5Y 7/1); grades broadly downward
into:
Bed 48 Sandy clay marl: fine grained and well 2.0 375.0
sorted; very argillaceous - grading downward
into clay marl, calcareous with scattered,
small, shell fragments, and phosphatic;
massive and structureless; unconsolidated
but coherent and competent (100% core
recovery; very light olive gray (5Y 7/1);
grades broadly downward into:
Bed 49 Clay marl: very calcareous with rare, scattered 7.0 377.0 aragonitic and calcitic fossil fragments with
large aragonitic shells present from 382 feet
to 383 feet, variable quartz sand content with
coarse grained sand becoming conspicuous
below ~379 feet, slightly micaceous;
unconsolidated but very competent (100%
core recovery); colors range from pale
yellowish gray (5Y 8/2) to light brownish gray
(5 YR 6/1) to very light olive gray (5Y 7/1);
abruptly overlies:
Bed 50 Limestone (hard ground?): slightly and finely 1.0 384.0
sandy, slightly phosphatic, a few fossil
fragments and probably a trace of clay
minerals; massive and structureless; hard
and indurated in upper few inches of the
Bed but the rest is soft and chalky,
competent (~100% core recovery); color is
close to very pale orange (10 YR 8/2);
grades abruptly downward into:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #4 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 386 feet
Bed 51 Marl: calcareous, fossiliferous (mostly shell 3.75 385.0
fragments), argillaceous, phosphatic and
sandy marly sediment with quartz granules
in top few inches; massive and structureless;
somewhat indurated but soft, friable, brittle
and moderately competent (~43% core
recovery); light olive gray (5Y 5/2); overlies
core gap:
CORE GAP 3.25 388.75
Bed 52 Sand: fine to coarse grained – mostly fine 2.5 392.0
grained, variable sorting - moderately
sorted to moderately poorly sorted;
calcareous (no shell fragments),
argillaceous and phosphatic; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but
coherent and competent (100% core
recovery); light olive gray (5Y 5/2);
abruptly overlies:
Bed 53 Limestone/sandstone: similar to Bed 51 2.75 394.5
but more calcitic and less quartz sand, less
pelletal phosphate and less clay, more
argillaceous in the basal part of the Bed;
massive and structureless; indurated and
mostly competent (~93% core recovery);
color varies around yellowish gray (5Y 7/2)
and light grayish orange pink (5YR 8/2);
grades downward into:
Bed 54 Sand: mostly medium-grained and 3.25 397.25
moderately sorted; argillaceous, phosphatic
and calcareous with scattered, small,
chalky, degraded biofragments; massive
and structureless; unconsolidated and soft
but mostly competent (~92% core recovery);
color is close to yellowish gray (5Y 7/2);
abruptly overlies uneven (scoured) surface
of:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #3 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 400.8 feet
Bed 55 Limestone (hard ground at top of the Bed): 4.5 400.5
chalky, moldic, variably and finely sandy
with uneven sand distribution, slightly
pelletal phosphatic and a trace of clay;
massive and structureless with shell molds
in random orientation - perhaps indicating
some amount of disturbance, a Turritella
mold at the base of the Bed; indurated but
somewhat soft, yet competent (100% core
recovery); color close to pinkish gray
(5YR 8/1); the lower contact occurs between
core runs and, therefore, the contact is
ambiguous:
Bed 56 Sand: fine grained and well sorted, 4.5 405.0
argillaceous, calcareous with irregularly
scattered shell fragments, pelletal
phosphatic; massive and structureless;
unconsolidated and moderately coherent
and competent but gooey when wet, some
induration at base of the Bed (~75% core
recovery); light yellowish gray (5Y 8/2),
indurated sediment is light gray (N 7);
overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 1.5 409.5
Bed 57 Sandstone/limestone: sand is fine grained 0.5 411.0
and well sorted; massive and structureless;
indurated and probably competent; abruptly
overlies:
Bed 58 Sand: slightly argillaceous, calcareous and 2.3 411.5
phosphatic; massive and structureless;
unconsolidated and not very coherent and
moderately competent (~51% core recovery),
gooey when wet; pale orange (10YR 7/2);
overlies core gap:
CORE GAP 2.7 413.8
Bed 59 Limestone: fossiliferous, slightly and variably 3.5 416.5
sandy, slightly argillaceous and phosphatic;
mostly massive and structureless but some
thin and crude layering at the top of the Bed;
indurated and mostly competent (~83% core
recovery); colors range from light olive gray
(5Y 5/2 – 5Y 6/1) to yellowish gray (5YR 8/1);
grades downward into:
Bed 60 Sand: fine to medium grained and 4.75 420.0
moderately well sorted; argillaceous,
phosphatic and calcareous with small,
delicate shell fragments; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but firm and
competent (100% core recovery); color is
close to very light olive gray (5Y 6/2) and
light olive gray (5Y 5/2); abruptly overlies:
Bed 61 Limestone/sandstone: finely sandy; massive 0.5 424.75 and structureless; indurated; very abruptly
overlies:
Bed 62 Sand: calcareous with common small 6.75 425.25
aragonitic shells and shell fragments,
argillaceous, slightly phosphatic, a few dark
minerals and a trace of mica; massive and
structureless – no apparent shell orientation;
unconsolidated but firm and mostly
competent (~91% core recovery); yellowish
gray (5Y 7/2) to light olive gray (5Y 5/2);
grades downward into:
Bed 63 Sand: mostly fine grained and well sorted 9.0 432.0
but with some fine/medium grained sand;
somewhat argillaceous with two thin silty
clay layers noted, a trace of pelletal
phosphate and mica, noncalcareous; mostly
massive and structureless but with some
very crude layering; unconsolidated but
moderately to mostly competent (~71%
core recovery); sediment is generally
yellowish gray (5Y 7/2) in color but thin
clay layers are olive gray (5Y 4/1); grades
downward into:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #2 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 440.5 feet
Bed 64 Sand: fine grained and well sorted; 7.5 441.0
argillaceous, calcareous with calcitic and
aragonitic shell fragments that increase
slightly in abundance down-section, slightly
phosphatic with more pelletal phosphate
and a thin clayey layer near the base of the
Bed; dark minerals present; massive and
structureless; unconsolidated but coherent
and competent, (100% core recovery);
yellowish gray (5Y 7/2) in color: grades
downward into:
Tiger Leap Formation, member #1 of Weems and Edwards (2001) at 447.4 feet
Bed 65 Limestone: moldic and with chalky shell 2.0 448.5
material; variably and irregularly sandy –
sand is mostly medium grained and rounded,
argillaceous, slightly phosphatic with
phosphate pellets occurring mostly in the
quartz sand concentrations; shell material is
roughly horizontally oriented indicating
layering; mostly indurated but soft and only
moderately coherent but competent, (100%
core recovery); pinkish gray (5YR 8/1);
overlies core gap: Bottom of the core at
452 feet.
CORE GAP 1.5 450.5
____________________________ TOTAL DEPTH – 452.0 FEET
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