Initial Publication Date: June 17, 2005
Structural Geology of the Sawtooth Range at Sun River Canyon, Montana Disturbed Belt, Montana
Route
Start point
Entrance to Sun River Canyon, 20 miles NW of Augusta, MTEnd point
Gibson DamRoads (and Trails)
Montana 435 (U.S. Forest Service Road 208), U.S. Forest Service Trail 201Total distance
9 milesGeology
Summary
The Sawtooth Range is one of the best exposed examples of imbricate thrust faulting in the foreland fold and thrust belt of the western United States. It is an outstanding field classroom for the demonstration of stratal shortening and the various structural features associated with thrust belt terranes. This 7-stop traverse through Sun River Canyon offers excellent exposures of thrust contacts along the road and panoramic views of stacked thrust sheets and demonstrates the dependence of structural style on relative competence of units in the stratigraphic section.Key Lithologic Features
- Paleozoic sedimentary rocks
- Castle Reef Dolomite (Mississippian)
- Allen Mountain Limestone (Mississippian)
- Cambrian shales
- Mesozoic sedimentary rocks
- Kootenai Formation (Cretaceous): mostly shales
- Blackleaf Formation (Cretaceous)
- Two Medicine Formation (Cretaceous
Structures
- imbricate thrust faults, ramps, duplexes, slickensides, and intensely sheared rocks in thrust footwalls
Landforms
- Front Ranges of the Disturbed Belt