The Black Prince Formation (new manuscript name) of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico is subdivided into four lithologic facies representing four environments of deposition. The first lithofacies consists of the basal member of the type section of the Black Prince Limestone and is a result of erosion and reworking of the underlying Escabrosa Limestone. The three limestone lithofacies suggest deposition on a shallow shelf under supratidal, intertidal and subtidal conditions. Cyclic fluctuations in sea level are seen in the rock record in the vertical alternation of lithofacies. Six unconformities are recognized and these are traceable throughout the region.
The microfauna of the Black Prince Formation is correlative with faunas described elsewhere in North America and indicates that the Black Prince Formation was deposited during late Chesterian (Mississippian) and Morrowan (Pennsylvanian) time. The end of Black Prince deposition is marked by the abrupt appearance of advanced species of Profusulinella suggesting that a major hiatus is present between the Black Prince Formation and overlying rocks
