Geology of the Cowboy Pass area, Confusion Range, Millard County, Utah

Abstract

Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks totaling about 15,000 feet in thickness are exposed in the Cowboy Pass area in the Confusion Range. The Paleozoic sedimentary rocks are carbonates, with small amounts of sandstone and shale, and the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are shallow water limestone and shale. Cenozoic deposits are alluvium, lacustrine beds and small amounts of volcanic material. The trend of major folds and faults changes sharply from northerly to northeasterly at Cowboy Pass, and this change is accompanied by minor faulting and folding. Major structures are the result of post Lower Triassic-pre Cenozoic orogeny. During Cenozoic time, high angle normal faults developed, accompanied by local volcanic activity.