Environment of Deposition of the Cedar Valley Formation in the Vicinity of Black Hawk County, Iowa

Nine stratigraphic sections of the Cedar Valley Formation were studied in Black Hawk, Buchanan and Benton counties in an attempt to better interpret the environment of deposition of the formation. Key environmental criteria for the interpretation of shallow water carbonate environments were recognized in the Cedar Valley Formation in the study area. The environment of deposition of the Solon Member is interpreted as entirely subtidal. The environment of deposition of the Rapid Member ranged from shallow subtidal to intertidal. The Coralville Member is interpreted as having been deposited in an environment that ranged from very shallow subtidal to intertidal and supratidal