Correlation of Jurassic eolian strata between the magmatic arc and the Colorado Plateau: new U-Pb geochronologic data from southern Arizona

Mature quartz-rich sandstone interbedded with Mesozoic magmatic-arc strata in southern Arizona has been previously considered correlative with the eolian Pleinsbachian to Toarcian Navajo Sandstone on the Colorado Plateau. New U-Pb zircon data from the Mount Wrightson Formation in the Santa Rita Mountains and from the strata of Cobre Ridge in the Pajarito Mountains and in the Arivaca area in southern Arizona support the hypothesis that sand derived from the Navajo Sandstone probably did gain access to the magmatic arc and further indicate that sands extending from younger eolian units on the Colorado Plateau are probably present as well. -from Authors