SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC AND CRETACEOUS STRATA, GULF COASTAL PLAIN

Eleven stratigraphic sequences have been recognized in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of the Gulf Coastal Plain. The three Jurassic sequences consist of the Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian Norphlet, Smackover, and lower Haynesville (Buckner, Gilmer) (Sequence 1), the Kimmeridgian to Tithonian middle and upper Haynesville and lower Cotton Valley (lower Schuler) (Sequence 2), and the Tithonian to Valanginian middle and upper Cotton Valley (upper Schuler, Knowles) (Sequence 3). The three Lower Cretaceous sequences consist of the Valanginian to Aptian Hosston (Sycamore), Sligo, Pine Island (Hammett), and James (Cow Creek) (Sequence 4), the Aptian to Albian Bexar (Hensel), Rodessa (lower Glen Rose), Ferry Lake, Mooringsport (upper Glen Rose), and Paluxy (Sequence 5), and the Albian to Cenomanian Andrew (Goodland, Edwards) and Dantzler (lower Washita) (Sequence 6). The five Upper Cretaceous sequences consist of the Cenomanian upper Washita (Sequence 7), the Cenomanian to Turonian Tuscaloosa (Woodbine) and Eagle Ford (Sequence 8), the Coniacian to Campanian Eutaw (Austin, Tokio) and Mooreville (Brownstown) (Sequence 9), the Campanian to Maestrichtian Demopolis (Ozan, Annona, Marlbrook) and lower and middle Ripley (Saratoga, lower Nacatoch) (Sequence 10), and the Maestrichtian upper Ripley (upper Nacatoch) and Prairie Bluff (Corsicana, Arkadelphia) (Sequence 11). Significant unconformities are recognized in the Valanginian and Cenomanian. Marine flooding surfaces occur in Oxfordian, Kimmeridgian, Berriasian, Aptian, Albian (2), Cenomanian, Turonian, Santonian, Campanian and Maestrichtian strata. The unconformities and marine flooding surfaces are useful in correlating Jurassic and Cretaceous strata in the western and central Gulf to equivalent Jurassic-Cretaceous strata in the eastern Gulf.