Moenkopi Formation | |
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Stratigraphic range: | |
![]() Moenkopi at its reference section along the Little Colorado River west of Cameron, Arizona | |
Type | Geological formation |
Sub-units | See "Members" section |
Underlies | Chinle Formation |
Overlies | Kaibab Limestone |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Shale |
Location | |
Coordinates | 35°55′05″N 111°29′20″W / 35.918°N 111.489°W |
Region | Northern Arizona Southeast California East-central Nevada Southern Utah Northwestern New Mexico Southwestern Colorado |
Country | Southwestern United States |
Type section | |
Named for | Moenkopi Wash |
Named by | Ward |
Year defined | 1901 |
The Moenkopi Formation is a geological formation that is spread across the U.S. states of New Mexico, northern Arizona, Nevada, southeastern California, eastern Utah and western Colorado. This unit is considered to be a group in Arizona. Part of the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range, this red sandstone was laid down in the Lower Triassic[1] and possibly part of the Middle Triassic, around 240 million years ago.[2]