Stratal Architecture in a Prograding Shoreface Deposit, Eastern Shore, VA: Relationship to Grain Size, Permeability, and Facies Distribution
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Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons OES Theses and Dissertations Ocean & Earth Sciences Spring 1999 Stratal Architecture in a Prograding Shoreface Deposit, Eastern Shore, VA: Relationship to Grain Size, Permeability, and Facies Distribution Andrew C. Miller Old Dominion University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_etds Part of the Ocean Engineering Commons, and the Soil Science Commons Recommended Citation Miller, Andrew C.. "Stratal Architecture in a Prograding Shoreface Deposit, Eastern Shore, VA: Relationship to Grain Size, Permeability, and Facies Distribution" (1999). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dissertation, Ocean & Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/fgpa-9e17 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_etds/64 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Ocean & Earth Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in OES Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STRATAL ARCHITECTURE IN A PROGRADING SHOREFACE DEPOSIT, EASTERN SHORE, VA: RELATIONSHIP TO GRAIN SIZE, PERMEABILITY, AND FACIES DISTRIBUTION by Andrew C. Muller B.S., May 1989 Adelphi University M.S., August 1992, Old Dominion University A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY OCEANOGRAPHY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY May 1999 Approved by’ Donald J.P. Swift (Director) Ronald E. Johnson (Member) G. Richard Whittecar (Member) Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT STRATAL ARCHITECTURE IN A PROGRADING SHOREFACE DEPOSIT, EASTERN SHORE, VA: RELATIONSHIP TO GRAIN SIZE, PERMEABILITY, AND FACIES DISTRIBUTION Andrew C. Muller Old Dominion University, 1999 Director Dr. Donald J.P. Swift A fundamental concern of the stratigrapher is to develop predictive models of stratigraphic organization. In sedimentology one of the most significant problems that has yet to be resolved is the fact that there is a lack of quantitative information regarding the relationship between geometry of beds, thickness o f beds, grain size and sedimentary structures in sandy environments, especially shallow marine deposits. Scientists have also realized the need to correlate quantitative permeability to sedimentary structures and scales of stratigraphic organization. The purpose of the study is to investigate the scales of stratigraphic organization that control the variation of grain size and permeability in shallow marine deposits. A model of stratal architecture is constructed in order to relate scales of stratigraphic organization to these properties. The hypothesis tested is that models of stratal architecture are more efficient predictors of grain size and permeability than are facies models in shallow marine sands. Several methods are used to test the hypothesis, including mapping of stratal geometry, measuring stratal characteristics, and the construction of facies distribution through measured sections. These techniques are used to erect the stratal architecture of strand plain deposits at Oyster, Virginia. ANOVA, Tukey-Kramer Means Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Comparisons tests and variograms are performed to test the statistical significance of mean grain size and permeability variability over multiple scales of stratigraphic organization. Results from this study demonstrate that multiple levels of stratigraphic organization are statistically significant with respect to the spatial variability of grain size and permeability, and that one-dimensional facies models are clearly unable to resolve these important stratigraphic scales. The study also revealed that a parabolic relationship exists between mean grain size and set thickness, and is thought to be the evolutionary consequence of the progressive sorting process. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................... xi Chapter L INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem. ............................................................... 1 Heterogeneity in Sedimentary Deposits ................................ 1 Numerical Models ofPhysical Heterogeneity. ...................... 3 GRANULOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF SEDIMENTS.............................. 4 General.......................................................................................... 4 Primary Properties ..........................................................................5 Mineralogy and Fabric ........................................................ 5 Grain Size and Sorting. ....................................................... 6 Shape and Roundness ..........................................................8 Secondary Properties ...................................................................... 9 Porosity. ............................................................................. 9 Permeability......................................................................10 Permeability and Grain Size ...............................................11 LEVELS OF STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS........................................... 14 General.........................................................................................14 Small Scale Architecture...............................................................15 GeneraL............................................................................ 15 Small Scale Architecture: McKee and Weir (1953).............. 16 Classification of Cross-Stratification. .................................20 Mesoscale Architecture (Facies and Facies Models) .......................26 Vertical Architectural Patterns...........................................28 Hierarchy of Bounding Surfaces ........................................ 33 Large Scale Architecture (Depositional Sequences) ....................... 35 Architectural Classification used in this Study. .............................. 39 THE STUDY AREA............................................................................... 44 General Geology o f the Eastern Shore. .......................................... 44 The Oyster Site as a Natural Lab................................................... 49 Facies Erected in the Study Area. .................................................. 51 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter Page HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED...............................................................52 THESIS LAYOUT................................................................................... 52 0. METHODS OF STUDY..................................................................................53 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 53 Approach......................................................................................53 Data Collected. ............................................................................. 54 FIELD METHODS................................................................................... 54 Opening of Pit Faces ..................................................................... 54 Measured Sections ........................................................................ 55 Geological Mapping. .....................................................................55 Sampling Procedures .....................................................................56 Grain Size......................................................................... 58 Permeability......................................................................58 Stratal Geometry Measurements. ........................................58 LABORATORY METHODS....................................................................59 Grain Size Analysis ....................................................................... 59 Geostatistical Analysis .................................................................. 59 Textural Properties ............................................................ 59 Normalization of Textural Properties to Set Geometry. 60 Variogram Construction. ....................................................60 Analysis o f Variance ( ANOVA).......................................... 61 ffl. ARCHITECTURE OF THE OYSTER SITE................................................... 67 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 67 FACIES ARCHITECTURE...................................................................... 67 STRATAL ARCHITECTURE.................................................................. 75 General.........................................................................................75 Coset A. ........................................................................................77 Coset B .........................................................................................80