Sigmoidal tidal bundles and other tide-generated
sedimentary structures of the Curtis Formation, Utah
R D KREISA Ì
R J MOIOLA J Research and Development Corporation, Dallas Research Laboratory, Dallas, Texas
ABSTRACT
The Curtis Formation in central Utah con-
tains a rich suite of sedimentary structures
that provides persuasive evidence for a tidal
mode of origin. The most diagnostic of these
structures are sigmoidal tidal bundles: sand-
stone packages deposited during one domi-
nant tidal episode that comprise a set of
large-scale cross-lamination enclosed by two
relatively gently dipping, sigmoid-shaped
pause planes. Bundles are especially recog-
nizable as tidally generated features because
they exhibit an internal progression, from
gentle, drape-like sigmoids to avalanche-type
cross-bed foresets back to sigmoidal drapes.
This progression reflects the sequential
change in tidal flow velocities from slack
water to maximum flow back to slack water.
In addition, cyclic variability in the thickness
and in internal structures among tidal bundles
is clearly related to periodicity in the lunar
month. These features of the Curtis Forma-
tion are remarkably similar to sedimentary
structures observed in Holocene tidal sedi-
ments along the Dutch North Sea coast.
INTRODUCTION
For decades, geologists have recognized shal-
low-water tidal facies in the rock record by
using sedimentary structures that reflect the pe-
riodic reversals of tidal current directions that
are separated by episodes of exposure or slack
water. Such features as opposed or "herring-
bone" cross-stratification, which results from
current reversals, and flaser/lenticular bedding
(Reineck and Wunderlich, 1968), which is
formed by alternating deposition of bedload sed-
iments and suspended sediments, have, there-
fore, become standard criteria for interpreting
tidal flat and shallow subtidal facies (Klein,
1977). Similarly, reactivation surfaces (Klein,
1970), which form where time-velocity asym-
metry in tidal flow is pronounced, and desicca-
Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 97, p. 381-387,9 figs., 1 table, April 1986.
tion features, which reflect alternating submer-
gence and exposure related to tides, are useful
criteria for recognizing tidalites. Unfortunately,
these criteria can be ambiguous. For example,
reactivation surfaces may form in nontidal set-
tings through a variety of processes (for exam-
ple, see McCabe and Jones, 1977; Jones and
McCabe, 1980; Mowbray and Visser, 1984),
and lenticular bedding is also common in both
prodeltaic and storm-influenced, shallow-ma-
rine facies. Furthermore, the bidirectional aspect
of tidal sedimentation is commonly missing or
poorly represented in tidal facies as a result of
strong time-velocity asymmetry.
Recently, a new suite of tide-generated sedi-
mentary structures has been described, princi-
pally from sandy shoals and large excavations
associated with flood-control structures in the
tidal estuaries of the Dutch coast. These are de-
scribed in detail by Terwindt (1981), Van den
Berg (1982), and Visser (1980), as well as
others. Of special interest are those newly de-
fined features that are related to the regular in-
crease and decrease of flow velocities during one
tidal episode and to variations in tidal flow
strengths during the lunar month (Visser, 1980).
These are scales of the variability and cyclicity in
tidal flow that have not previously been empha-
sized. Because these recently recognized features
are formed only by tidal processes, they are for
sedimentologists potentially very powerful tools
for interpreting shallow-water tidalites.
In this paper, we focus on sedimentary struc-
tures and sequences of sedimentary structures
that we have recognized in the Curtis Formation
(Jurassic), Utah, which are like those described
in the North Sea tidal estuaries. Our discussion
centers on the recognition of tidal bundles. A
tidal bundle, as originally defined by Boersma
(1969) from sediments of the Westershelde Es-
tuary, The Netherlands, is the lateral succession
of cross-strata generated by the migration of a
large-scale bedform during one dominant tide.
Tidal bundles are enclosed by pause planes: sur-
faces representing standstill phases of the bed-
381
form during the subordinate tide and slackwater
(Terwindt, 1981). Pause planes may be modi-
fied by erosion of the bedform by the subordi-
nate tide, especially at the top, and they may
contain superimposed ripples or small megarip-
ples with foresets that dip in the opposite direc-
tion from those of the tidal bundle. They also
may be draped with fine-grained sediment
which settles during slackwater. In both Curtis
and Holocene examples, the systematic variabil-
ity within tidal bundles, which results from in-
creasing then waning flow velocity during a tidal
episode, and the systematic variability among
tidal bundles, which is related to regular fluctua-
tions of tidal current velocities during the lunar
month, significantly enhance our ability to in-
terpret their tidal origin.
GEOLOGIC SETTING
The Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) Curtis For-
mation (Gilluly and Reeside, 1928; Imlay,
1948), which occurs in a belt extending from
southwestern to northeastern Utah and north-
western Colorado (Baker and others, 1936), is
especially well exposed in central Utah on the
western flank of the San Rafael Swell. Where
we have studied it (Fig. 1), principally at expo-
sures along and near Interstate Highway 70, the
Curtis consists of - 5 5 m of glauconitic
(3%-10%), subarkosic sandstone (Smith, 1976).
It is fine to very fine grained, moderately to well
sorted, and weakly dolomite cemented, and it
contains abundant fine-grained carbonaceous
material. Figure 2 illustrates the vertical distribu-
tion of facies at the 1-70 exposures and indicates
the occurrence of sedimentary structures dis-
cussed below.
The Curtis Formation was deposited at the
southern end of a shallow-marine seaway which
extended from what is now Canada into the
western interior of the United States (Kocurek
and Dott, 1983). It overlies eolian sands of the
Entrada Formation that were drowned as the
sea transgressed southward (Baker and others,
382 KREISA A N D MOIOLA

1936; Eschner and Kocurek, 1982). Our work

on the Curtis and other tidally dominated depos-
i te-. its supports Nio's (1976) observation that trans-
gressive events and embayed shallow seaways or
coastlines are critical factors in the development

É
25» N- v ^ V - . : 7 : _ ; .• MARINE— . of shallow-marine tidalites. In the Uinta Moun-
KWSHALLOW . • • - ./ _ tains to the north of our study area, the Curtis is
J ^ - ^ A ^ i SUND ANCE ; - recognized as a shallow-marine bar and inte rbar
complex (Eschner and Kocurek, 1982). To the
south and southeast, it intertongues with and is
STUDY c : overlain by peritidal redbeds of the Summeiville
Formation (Stanton, 1976).
SUMMER VILE, fjFLÁT
.FLATS
TIDE-GENERATED SEDIMENTARY
STRUCTURES

The Curtis Formation contains a broad suite

GENERALIZED of tidally generated sedimentary structure!;. At
" . . :/: / ^ —SHORELINE
exposures along 1-70, it consists of flat-bedded
and large-scale (4 to 80 cm thick) cross-bedded
sandstone which contains numerous thin (1 to 3
0 100 2 0 0 3 0 0 MILES
cm thick), small-scale (ripple), cross-laminated
1 ^ T
250 5 0 0 KM sandstone interbeds. A tidal origin for these
" ^ r - - - ^ - - - 1
sandstones is indicated by their bimodal to
polymodal paleocurrent patterns (Fig. 3) and
Figure 1. Study area and Late Jurassic paleogeography, central Utah (modified from Ko- by lenticular and wavy bedding. The mosl im-
curek and Dott, 1983). pressive tidal features, however, are sigmoid-
shaped tidal bundles (Fig. 4).
SUMMERVILLE FORMATION
T I D A L FLAT R E D B E D S Sigmoidal Tidal Bundles
(STANTON, 1976)

U U-SHAPED BURROWS Curtis Formation cross-bed sets that an; in-

terpreted as tidal bundles consist of lenses of
BURROWING
cross-stratified sandstone enclosed between thin,
INTERBEDDED
SANDSTONE FLASER BEDDING broadly sigmoidal beds of fine-grained sediment.
AND SILTSTONE LENTICULAR BEDDING These sigmoid-shaped sets are as much as 80 cm
HORIZONTAL PLANE BEDDING
thick (measured normal to cross-bedding) and
extend as much as 11 m laterally. The enclosing
RIPPLE CROSS-LAMINATION beds, composed of clayey silt and fine-grained
CROSS-BEDDING
sand with abundant organic debris, are from 0 to
(TIDAL BUNDLES) 8 cm in thickness and thicken toward the sig-
moid toeset. Locally, within the toeset, two mud
SIGMOIDAL TIDAL BUNDLES
beds occur, separated by thin sandstone beds
~ VERTICALLY ACCRETED" (Fig. 5 A). The upper surface of some sigmoidal
TIDAL BUNDLES cross-bed sets is truncated by a planar to undula-
PALEOCURRENT DIRECTIONS tory scour surface or by a single, superimposed
set of tabular cross-lamination (4 to 7 cm thick)
that dips in the direction opposite that of the
5m dominant cross-bedding (Fig. 5B).
These sedimentary structures in the Curtis
Formation closely match tidal bundles as de-
fined by Boersma (1969) and Terwindt (1981).
SANDSTONE In the Curtis, the thin sigmoid-shaped beds of
AND MUDSTONE fine-grained sediment represent pause-plane
GRAVEL
drapes. They are thicker and more commonly
ENTRADA FORMATION preserved in troughs (that is, toesets) of rr ega-
CONTINENTAL SANDSTONE ripples. As explained by Visser (1980), the
A N D SILTSTONE
preservation of two mud drapes is probably re-
(SMITH, 1976)
lated to two slack-water episodes, separated by
Figure 2. Columnar section of Curtis Formation, 1-70, central Utah. deposition of a small amount of sand during the

Figure 3. Paleocurrent azimuths from the
Curtis Formation. A = large-scale cross-
bedding, B = parting lineation.
subordinate tide. This is a relatively rare
occurrence, however, both in modern estuaries
(Van den Berg, 1982) and in the Curtis. Trunca-
tion surfaces and opposed-dipping cross-bedding
that are superimposed on the sigmoid bundles
are related to, respectively, scour and deposition
during the subordinate tide.
The internal features of the sigmoid-shaped
cross-bed sets provide further strong evidence
for their tidal origin. Where fully developed,
Curtis tidal bundles contain internal sequences
of sedimentary structures that can readily be re-
lated to (1) current acceleration, (2) maximum
flow and megaripple migration, and (3) deceler-
ation during individual dominant tidal episodes.
Structures formed during acceleration of tidal
flow consist of two parts: a basal bed of parallel
and irregular lamination and an overlying,
gently dipping cross-lamination (Fig. 6). The
basal bed of sandstone is as much as 10 cm
thick, and it may extend along the base of the
bundle for about half its length (Fig. 6B). Gently
inclined cross-lamination («10°) overlies this
layer and commonly downlaps as it steepens in
the downcurrent direction (Fig. 6B). Structures
very much like these have been described by
Boersma and Terwindt (1981) and Kohsiek and
Terwindt (1981) from sediments of tidal estua-
SIGMOID AL TIDAL BUNDLES, UTAH
Figure 4. Four overlapping, sigmoid-shaped sets of large-scale cross-beds: tidal bundles.
Three complete tidal bundles are visible along the upper ledge. Scale is 2 ft (0.61 m).
ries along the North Sea coast. The structures are
interpreted as representing movement of sedi-
ment by weak currents associated with the be-
ginning of the dominant tide down the gentle lee
slope of the megaripple. This occurs prior to the
formation of a vortex within the flow downcur-
rent of the metaripple (compare with Terwindt,
1981). As flow intensity increases, the lee slope
of the megaripple steepens, avalanching be-
comes predominant, and flow separation and a
lee-side vortex develop.
During the ensuing maximum flow-velocity
phase of the tidal episode ("full vortex" stage of
Boersma and Terwindt, 1981), the migrating
megaripple develops topset and steeply dipping
foreset lamination, separated by a well-defined
brinkpoint (Fig. 6B). Topset laminae consist of
slightly wedge-shaped sets inclined as much as
14°, but generally dipping - 8 ° to 10°. These
pass abruptly, but with continuity, over a brink-
point into foresets that are thicker and that have
dips of 25° to 28° (Figs. 6 and 7). Locally, espe-
cially near the end of the maximum-flow part of
the bundle, topset laminae overlie short surfaces
that truncate the tops of foresets (Fig. 6B). Fore-
set laminae are nearly straight and intersect the
base at high angles. Cross-bed sets are straight
crested in plane view; thus, they could be classi-
fied as planar tabular.
Topsets and foresets in the Curtis Formation
clearly formed as a result of rapid sediment
transport and deposition during the time of in-
tense tidal flow. The foresets, which approach
the angle of repose for sand, probably formed
when sediment was released to the lee side of the
migrating megaripple by flow separation (Jop-
ling, 1967; Allen, 1968). In modern shallow
tidal settings, the threshold of maximum tidal
383
velocity for the occurrence of megaripples that
have such foresets is ~60 cm/sec (Boothroyd
and Hubbard, 1975). The mechanism of forma-
tion of the topsets is less well understood, al-
though it has been documented from similar
tidal sediments in the North Sea by Kohsiek and
Terwindt (1981). These authors believed that
topsets developed a region of nonflow separa-
tion some distance downcurrent of the crest of
the megaripple but upstream from the brink-
point where separation occurred. Given the
mode of development of topsets in the Curtis,
that is, building from underlying tidal accelera-
tion structures (Fig. 6), it appears that the topsets
are nonequilibrium features. If the flows that
produced them had persisted longer than a few
hours, the crest and brinkpoint probably would
have merged, yielding only avalanche foresets.
In any event, the style of topsets can be related
empirically to the approximate flow conditions
under which they formed. Kohsiek and Ter-
windt (1981) found that continuous topsets-
foresets, like those in the Curtis, form at
maximum tidal-current speeds of - 9 5 cm/sec
(water depths of 1 to 3 m, fine sand), whereas
minor truncation surfaces between topsets and
foresets form at current speeds greater than
- 1 1 0 cm/sec.
The interpreted deceleration phase of the Cur-
tis tidal-bundle formation is marked by an
abrupt transition from the topset-brinkpoint
geometry to smooth, sigmoidally curved sand-
stone lamination in sets as much as 15 cm thick
(Figs. 6 and 7). The toesets of these sigmoidal
beds are tangential to the underlying bed and
thin and fine rapidly in the downdip direction.
As in the case of the fine-grained sediment that
mantles bundle boundaries, this shape is inter-
 384
Figure 5A. Toei.et of tidal bundle. Note two thin, dark layers composed of mud and organic
material.
Figure 5B. Sigmoid-shaped cross-bed set which has smaller scale, superimposed cross-
bedding which dips in the opposite direction. Scale is 1 ft (30.5 cm).
preted to be related to fallout from suspension
during the slackening phases of tidal flow (com-
pare with Boersma and Terwindt, 1981).
Neap-Spring Cycles
Fluctuations in the strength of tidal currents
coincident with the lunar month are reflected in
cyclic variability in. the thickness and character
of sedimentary structures of Curtis tidal bundles.
KREISA A N D MOIOLA
Maximum velocity tidal currents (spring tides)
occur when the moon and sun are aligned (full
and new moons). About 7 days later, when the
moon and sun are at 90° to one another with
respect to the Earth's axis, relatively weaker
neap tides occur. If one assumes semidiurnal
tides, then 14 tidal bundles could be deposited
during the time span from neap to succeeding
spring tide, and 56, during a full lunar month.
Curtis Formation tidal bundles display cyclic-
ity that we believe is a response to neap/spring
tide fluctuations (Table 1). Cyclicity in bundle
thicknesses with a period of ~28 bundles ii evi-
dent in Figure 8, even though many bundles
have been modified by the subordinate tide (Fig.
5B). Concomitant with these thickness changes,
there are cyclic variations in the sedimentary
structures of the bundles. The most complete and
well-defined bundles occur during the spring
phase. Neap-tide bundles are less well devel-
oped, may have indistinct pause planes, and
typically lack topsets or a sigmoidal shape. Fore-
sets that develop during the full vortex phiise of
spring tides dip 25° to 28°, but neap-tide foresets
are more gently inclined (12° to 25°), typically
building toward the steeper angles at the close of
the neap-tide cycle. In addition, megaripples
traveled approximately twice as far during
spring tide as during neap tide. This is recorded
in the lateral extent of equal numbers of spring-
tide and neap-tide bundles (Fig. 8). These varia-
tions between neap- and spring-tide bundles are
very similar to those described from Holocene
sediments of the North Sea Bight by Boersma
and Terwindt (1981).
Vertically Accreted Tidal Bundles
A common feature of the Curtis Formation is
thin, alternating sets of ripple cross-lamination
and horizontal plane lamination (Fig. 9A). The
ripple cross-lamination is trough shaped in cross
section, and associated rib and furrow structures
are well developed on bedding planes. The tops
of flat-laminated beds exhibit pervasive parting
lineation (Fig. 9B). Typically, the ripple cross-
lamination and flat bedding alternate repea tedly
on a scale of a few centimetres, although some
intervals are predominantly one or the other
(Fig. 2). We interpret these features as having
formed in very shallow water (probably iriterti-
dal); the flat-bedded intervals formed in maxi-
mum tidal flow velocities, and the ripple
cross-lamination developed during accelerating
and/or waning flow conditions. It is well <stab-
lished that plane bed conditions, commonly as-
sociated in the rock record with parting
lineation, develop under higher bed shear stress
than do current ripples (Allen, 1982). In these
terms, the alternating bedsets of plane and ripple
lamination are vertically accreted analogs of the
laterally accreted sigmoidal bundles. The results
of flume experiments and theoretical considera-
tions restrict the occurrence of flat bedding to
flow depths of less than a few metres for any
reasonably expected current velocities (Mid-
dleton and Southard, 1978; Allen, 1982). Sim-
ilar sequences of interbedded laminated and
cross-laminated sands have been described from
Mississippian tidal-flat fades (Wescott, 1982).
 SIGMOID AL TIDAL BUNDLES, UTAH 385

TABLE 1. D I F F E R E N C E S BETWEEN NEAP

A N D SPRING BUNDLES

Spring Neap

Thickenss* Thick (50-85 cm) Thin (15-30 cm)

Dip Steep (25°-28°) Gentle (12°-25°)
internal Sigmoids, Simple foresets
geometry topsets
Lateral Extensive Restricted
migration

•Measured normal to cross-bedding.

"Upper flow parallel lamination" and small-

scale ripples are dominant features of high-
energy sand flats described from the inner sand
flats of Cobequid Bay, Bay of Fundy (R. Dal-
rymple, 1985, written commun.; Dalrymple
and others, 1982, p. 83-84). Alternating beds of
ripple cross-lamination and parallel lamination
are among the preserved sedimentary structures,
but parallel lamination dominates this facies.
Figure 6A. Sigmoid-shaped bundle showing internal sedimentary structures. See Figure 6B Dalrymple and Zaitlin (1985, written commun.)
for key to structures. suggested that the rapidly migrating, "very long,
low 'bedforms'" that they have observed on
these flats may provide a mechanism for the
origin of alternating ripple cross-laminated/par-
allel-laminated sequences.

DISCUSSION

The regional distribution of Curtis facies was

(J) A C C E L E R A T I O N beyond the scope of this study, but we believe
S T A G E S RECOGNIZED
(2) M A X I M U M VELOCITY that the tidal features described above formed in
DURING TIDAL CYCLE
(D DECELERATION a shallow, probably estuarine setting. Part of our
evidence for this interpretation comes from the
Figure 6B. Tracing of internal sedimentary structures from Figure 6A. 1 = a thin basal bed flat bedding and its interpreted shallow-water
plus overlying, gently dipping lamination; 2 = topset lamination passing over a brinkpoint to origin as discussed above. This establishes ap-
foreset lamination; 3 = sigmoidally curved parallel lamination. proximate maximum water depths and a proba-
ble coastal setting, but not necessarily estuarine
conditions. The Holocene sedimentary struc-
tures analogous to those described here, how-
ever, are principally associated with estuaries.
Fully developed, sigmoidally shaped tidal bun-
dles are well developed at only one stratigraphic
horizon, but all megaripple cross-bedding in the
sequence contains well-developed tidal bundles
and neap-spring bundle sequences (Fig. 2). Such
bundled sequences, which are characterized by
the relative dominance of either ebb or flood
currents, are facilitated by channelized tidal
flow. Within estuaries, tidal currents are com-
monly channelized, either by the estuary itself or
by tidal-current pathways associated with shoals
and bars. Typically, this leads to stronger ebb or

Figure 7. Topset(T)-foreset(F) lamination

overlain by sigmoidal lamination(s) and pause
plane (P). Brinkpoints are labeled "B." Scale
is 42 cm (16 in.).
 386 KREISA A N D MOIOLA

thin or wedge out along such surfaces. We inter-

SPRING pret these as evidence of shallow subtidal lo in-
. SPRING tertidal channels and migrating bars similar to
those illustrated by Dalrymple and ethers
(1982). One well-defined channel-form geome-
NEAP try occurs near the base of the sequence, where
5.5 m of relief can be documented. Curtis sig-
moid and other laterally accreted tidal bundles
are believed to have formed within channels or
• (PAUSE
PLANES at the margins of bars, whereas the flat-
2 0
. INDISTINCT) laminated and ripple facies represent the bar
-37m 15.5m -29m surfaces.
The vertical and lateral sequences of :"acies
10 15 20 25
(Figs. 1 and 2) are also compatible with m es-
TIDAL BUNDLES tuarine interpretation. Terrestrial facies occur to
the south of our study area, and open-marine
Figure 8. Lateral variability in thickness of tidal bundles measured consecutively as they
conditions have been documented in what is
occur on outcrop. Sinusoidal regression line is a computer-generated, best-fit curve. Note, also,
now northern Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming.
the lateral extent of three groups of ten consecutive bundles each, indicated just above horizon-
Our interpretation of the vertical sequence
tal axis.
would place the maximum transgression [inner
shelf(?)] in the basal 10 m, directly overlying the
Entrada Formation (Fig. 2). In this context, the
thin conglomerate at the base of the Curtis For-
mation represents a transgressive-lag horizon.
The upper 10 m and the overlying Summe rville
Formation redbeds (Fig. 2) are intertidal mixed
mud and sand flat and tidal channel facies
(compare with Reineck and Singh, 1975; Stan-
ton, 1976). The central sandy portion of the
Curtis Formation, ~40 m thick, accumulated
under shallow-water, estuarine-like conditions.
This thickness, however, is clearly in exo;ss of
what can be ascribed to simple filling of an estu-
Figure 9A. Alternating ary without substantial subsidence. Despite
beds of plane lamination and these similarities to modern embayed and estua-
small-scale cross-lamination. rine coastlines, it remains an important open
question, not specifically addressed by this
study, if sedimentary structures like those de-
scribed here can also form in non-estuarine
shorelines at times not associated with trans-
gression.
A frequent question that arises in discussions
of Curtis tidal bundles is the issue of net sedi-
ment aggradation. This is largely because of the
startling thickness of individual bundles; even
the thinner, "vertically accreted bundles" are
suggestive of very high sedimentation rates. This
is, however, far more apparent than real.. We
understand that this depositional system, like
most other high-energy systems (for example,
fluvial channel/point bar, beach), is dominated
by many cycles of reworking. Ultimately, a
given package of tidal bundles from a given bar
flood dominance than in the offshore (Nio and be more rotary, thus inhibiting regular deposi- or sand flat is preserved at random. Nio and
others, 1980) as the result of mutually evasive tion of mud layers. others (1980) have documented that lateriil mi-
ebb-flood pathways. Furthermore, channelized Gently inclined lateral accretion surfaces and gration of estuarine tidal channels and channel-
tides typically have distinct slack-water periods low-angle truncation surfaces are common in margin bars occurs in much the same way that
that result in mud drapes like those in the Curtis the Curtis Formation, and many of the subfacies fluvial channels "fill" by lateral accretion on
Formation, where;is offshore tidal currents can documented in the vertical section of Figure 2 point bars. As individual packages of sediments

Figure 9B. Parting lineation on plane-laminated beds identical to those of Figure 9A
are deposited, and then re-eroded when chan-
nels shift, the geologic record gives a "snap shot"
of depositional processes rather than a motion
picture of all the events.
SUMMARY
Curtis Formation tidal bundles are sigmoid-
shaped sets of cross-strata, enclosed within pause
planes that are draped by fine-grained sediment
and organic debris. Contained sequences of sed-
imentary structures are related to fluctuations in
current velocity during individual tidal episodes
and to neap/spring tidal cyclicity. Accelerating
tidal currents caused the foreset lamination of
bundles to steepen, and, later, maximum-
strength tidal currents formed distinctive topset-
brinkpoint-foreset lamination. Modern analogs
of these structures develop in North Sea estua-
ries at tidal velocities between 95 and 110
cm/sec. During deceleration of tidal flow, sig-
moidal, parallel-laminated sand beds were de-
posited over the topset/foreset beds. Variability
in the strength of tidal currents related to
neap/spring cyclicity is displayed by spring-tide
bundles that are thicker, dip more steeply, and
are more laterally extensive than are neap-tide
bundles. Furthermore, these changes occur cy-
clically and have a period of 28 bundles, which is
similar to modern lunar cyclicity.
SIGMOID AL TIDAL BUNDLES, UTAH
Tidal bundles similar to ours have been de-
scribed from the rock record by Allen and
Homewood (1984) and Clifton and Abbott
(1979). Plane and ripple-laminated bedsets are
less understood but, we would guess, more
common in the rock record than currently rec-
ognized. Together, the features described in this
study and in studies of analogous Holocene set-
tings constitute especially definitive criteria for
recognizing nearshore tidal facies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Discussions with E. Mutti, S. D. Nio, and P.
Homewood have contributed to our understand-
ing of tide-generated sequences. The manuscript
was strengthened by the comments of H. E. Clif-
ton; R. H. Dott, Jr.; and an anonymous re-
viewer. We thank B. J. Phillips for assistance in
the field and Mobil Research and Development
Corporation for permission to publish this
paper.
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