10 Structural Geology and Tectonics (Posters)

Wednesday, 19 March 2008
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

VORTEX-INJECTION STRUCTURES IN THE HOSKINNINI OF SOUTHEASTERN UTAH: MEGATSUNAMITE SIGNATURES ALONG THE WESTERN SHORE OF PERMOTRIASSIC PANGAEA

Paper number: 10-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Many geologists have described the soft-sediment deformation and pipe-like structures in the Hoskinnini sandstones present in the White Canyon area of southeastern Utah but do not provide a suitable explanation for their formation. Current hypotheses for the origin of these features include the effects of interbedded salts, earthquakes, explosive volcanic eruptions or possible bolide impacts.

Eastward transported exotic Kaibab-derived chert and sandstone breccias, exotic sandstone boulders and especially vortex-injection structures are supporting evidence for an extreme tsunami event that occurred along the western edge of the Permotriassic supercontinent Pangaea. This presentation concentrates on the geology of certain Hoskinnini vortex-injection structures present in the White Canyon area and describes their mode of formation.