ABSTRACT


 The Norphlet Formation of the Florida Panhandle is primarily a sandstone that underlies the
Smackover Formation and overlies the Louann and Werner Formations. Three lithofacies of Norphlet
strata have been identified in the Florida Panhandle: an updip conglomerate, red beds, and an upper
quartzose sandstone (Denkman Member).
 The Denkman Member consists of an upper gray and a lower brown to reddish-brown quartzose
sandstone. Generally, these sandstones are fine- to medium-grained and well sorted with rounded to
subrounded grains. The upper Denkman is massively bedded to faintly horizontally or wavy laminated;
the lower Denkman is either horizontally laminated or has low to high-angle cross- stratification. The
average composition of the member is 62 percent quartz, 26 percent feldspar, and 12 percent rock
fragments.
 The red bed lithofacies has fine- to coarse-grained, moderately sorted sandstones with subrounded to
rounded grains. The most distinctive feature of the lithofacies is its closely spaced horizontal to slightly
inclined (10 50) laminae. The average composition of the faces is 35 percent quartz, 16 percent
feldspar, and 49 percent rock fragments.
 The conglomeratic lithofacies is a multilayered section of gray conglomerates and red, coarse-grained
sandstones. The conglomerate consists of poorly sorted, subangular to subrounded, cobble- to pebble-
size plutonic and metamorphic rock fragments.
 Principal source areas for Norphlet sediments in the Florida Panhandle were the basement rock of the
Conecuh Ridge (Talledega Slate Belt) to the north and the Pensacola Arch (Piedmont Belt) to the south
and east. Additionally, contributions from the Eagle Mills, Werner, and Louann Formations probably were
significant.


 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 This study was originally completed in 1986 as part of the author's master's degree requirements at
 Northeast Louisiana University. Thanks to Jacqueline M. Lloyd and the Florida Geological Survey for
 encouragement and editing of the manuscript. Financial support for the project was provided by the
 Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists and Geraghty & Miller, Inc. I express my sincere
 gratitude to Leonard M. Young, Professor, Department of Geosciences, Northeast Louisiana University,
 for his professional guidance, constructive criticism, and encouragement in pursuing this project. Thanks
 to Frank H. Guinn for his editing expertise. Finally, thanks to Sally Easterwood and Geeta Modha, for
 drafting support and Alice Wingerter, Carol Ratcliff, Ileana Kiefer, and Shelly Hargrave of Geraghty &
 Miller for word processing and document preparation.