GAUTIER FORMATION
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The type locality was discovered by K. Rohr in the Gautier River of the eastern central Range where he observed dary grey to black, fine bedded calcareous shale exposed below the Naparima Hill Formation of Chert Hill. It can attain thicknesses of up to 2000 feet, it rests unconformably on the Cuche and a stratigraphic hiatus separates it from the overlying Naparima Hill. According to Bolli it can be sub-divided into 3 biozones which from top to bottom are: Rotalipora apenninica apenninica, Globigerina washitaensis and Thalmanninella ticicensis ticinensis embracing the lower part of the Cenomanian and possibly part of the Albian. |
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Very few subaerial exposures occur and so most of the information has come from bore holes.
Wells penetrating are Antilles Trinity 35, Moruga East 15, Morne Diablo 34, Rocky Palace 1St., Iguana River 1,
Ste. Croix 1, ABM 102, ABM 1
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SUMMARY OF UPPER CRETACEOUS GAUTIER FORMATION
· The Cretaceous Gautier Formation consists of mudstones, sandstones and conglomerates and was deposited
in a deep marine environment -most likely a slope setting (600 - 3,00 feet water depth).
· East-West variation in texture and composition of the sandstones suggest multiple point sources for transport
of clastic sediments into the Southern Basin. Lateral variation in sandstone geometry and continuity is also to
be expected.
· Post depositional diagenesis and early cementation may reduce the effective primary intergranular porosity
within the sandstones.
· Development of secondary porosity from dissolution of anthigenc feldspars, as well as, low compaction
render some zones as favourable exploration targets.
· Heavy oil (11 - 180 API) produced from the Gautier sandstones in ME-15 is probably the result of early-maturity
heavy oils, analagous to the Monterey Formation in California.
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