It has long been recognized that facies changes occur within Gulf Cretaceous beds in Mississippi. Sands which are marginal or near-shore deposits grade to dark gray shales which are considered deeper-water deposits. Red "non-marine" type shales grade to dark gray "marine" shales.

In tracing the various stratigraphic units across the state, it becomes apparent that the base of the Gulf Cretaceous chalk is not a true time line. Neither is the top of "the Marine Tuscaloosa shale."

By noting the general direction of the facies changes in Gulf Cretaceous beds, it is possible to establish in general the direction of the depositional strike and thus arrive at an estimate of the general direction of the shore line of the Gulf Cretaceous seas.

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