Abstract

The Bissett Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of West Texas can be divided into the following three distinct members: a carbonate-clast conglomerate dominates the lower member, non-marine limestone with varying amounts of interbedded calclithic sandstone plus conglomerate with minor evaporitic trona comprise the middle member, and a fining-upward sequence of conglomerate to distal-fan paleosols is found in the upper member. The upper member is separated from the middle member by an angular unconformity. Up to 278 m thick, the Bissett overlies Upper Permian strata and occurs below Middle Albian Cretaceous rocks.

The Bissett Formation was deposited in a combination of alluvial fan, fan-delta, and lacustrine depositional systems and was subjected to periodic erosion. Two episodes of Aptian-age tectonic activity are indicated by angular unconformities and thick alluvial-fan deposits.

Lithostratigraphic, paleocurrent, fossil data, and tectonics link the Bissett with basal Cretaceous, Neocomian-Albian continental-to-marine transitional lithofacies on the western Diablo Platform.