The Curtis Formation is composed of shallow marine sandstone, with thin beds of mudstone and minor limestone and gypsum. The sandstone is grayish-green in color and flat bedded or cross bedded. The presence of glauconite and marine invertebrate fossils indicates it was laid down in a shallow marine environment that became hypersaline towards the end of deposition. It represents a high stand of the Sundance Sea in the Callovian.[1]
Gilluly, James; Reeside, J.B. Jr. (1928). "Sedimentary rocks of the San Rafael Swell and some adjacent areas in eastern Utah". Shorter Contributions to General Geology, 1927: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 150-D: D61–D110.
Peterson, Fred (1988). "Stratigraphy and nomenclature of Middle and Upper Jurassic rocks, western Colorado Plateau, Utah and Arizona". Revisions to Stratigraphic Nomenclature of Jurassic and Cretaceous Rocks of the Colorado Plateau: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. 1633-B: B13-56.
Pipiringos, G.N.; Imlay, R.W. (1979). "Lithology and subdivisions of the Jurassic Stump Formation in southeastern Idaho and adjoining areas". Unconformities, Correlations, and Nomenclature of Some Triassic and Jurassic Rocks, Western Interior United States: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 1035-C: C1–C25.
Entrada (orange) and Curtis formations exposed in a road cut, Green River Cutoff Road. They are separated by the J3 unconformity.
Lower and middle members of the Curtis Formation, Green River Cutoff Road, Emery County, Utah.