A marginal facies of the Jurassic Todilto Formation salina basin near Thoreau, New Mexico
— Karl Krainer and Spencer G. Lucas

We present a petrographic study of a measured section of the Luciano Mesa Member of the Jurassic Todilto Formation near Thoreau, New Mexico. This section represents a marginal facies of the Todilto salina, characterized by laminated limestone that formed by precipitation of carbonate minerals and the settling out of eolian sediment that was blown into the salina from the adjacent erg. This is in contrast to the basinal facies of the Luciano Mesa Member where the laminated limestone is commonly composed of organic-rich microbial mats (stromatolites), and where windblown sediment is present in smaller amounts.