LITHOFACIES INTERPRETATION OF THE TEMPESTITES (STORM DEPOSITS) IN THE CAMBRIAN STRATA OF WESTERN NEW YORK

Petrographic analysis of the Cambrian interval (188 feet) in a core section obtained from the Waste Liquid Disposal #1 Well of the Niagara County, Western New York reveals a sequence of storm-generated deposits in a shallow marine setting. This sequence is divided into lithofacies based on the granulometric analysis, sedimentary microstructures, fossil content, and the presence of skeletal debris. These lithofacies were recognized from bottom to top as follows: 1) basal conglomeratic sandstone; 2) hummocky cross-stratified sandstone; 3) microcrystalline dolostone interbeded with sandstone; 4) cross-laminated, bioturbated dolostone; 5) stromatolitic dolostone; 6) skeletal sandy dolostone; 7) laminated silty to sandy dolostone; 8) oolitic dolostone; 9) microcrystalline dolostone with evaporite minerals.

The depositional environment of these lithofacies is characterized by disturbing events of high energy waves that generated the storm related structures and features.