The Duperow Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota Zachary P
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects 2014 Lithostratigraphic investigation of a Late Devonian carbonate-evaporite sequence; the Duperow Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota Zachary P. Alcorn University of North Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Alcorn, Zachary P., "Lithostratigraphic investigation of a Late Devonian carbonate-evaporite sequence; the Duperow Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 1. https://commons.und.edu/theses/1 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF A LATE DEVONIAN CARBONATE-EVAPORITE SEQUENCE; THE DUPEROW FORMATION, WILLISTON BASIN, NORTH DAKOTA by Zachary P. Alcorn Bachelor of Science in Geology, Marietta College, 2012 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota August 2014 This thesis, submitted by Zachary P. Alcorn in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. ________________________________________ Richard D. LeFever, Ph.D.,-Chairperson ________________________________________ Joseph Hartman, Ph.D.,-Committee Member ________________________________________ Nels Forsman, Ph.D.,-Committee Member This thesis is being submitted by the appointed advisory committee as having met all of the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of North Dakota and is hereby approved. Wayne Swisher Dean of the School of Graduate Studies Date ii PERMISSION Title Lithostratigraphic Investigation of a Late Devonian Carbonate-Evaporite Sequence; the Duperow Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota Department Geology Degree Master of Science In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work or, in his absence, by the Chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication use shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Zachary P. Alcorn June 30, 2014 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... x ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 Objectives ............................................................................................. 2 Methodology ......................................................................................... 3 Geologic Setting .................................................................................... 6 Previous Work ....................................................................................... 8 II. STRATIGRAPHY OF THE DUPEROW FORMATION ................................ 12 Stratigraphic Context ........................................................................... 12 III. LITHOFACIES AND LITHOFACIES ASSOCIATIONS .............................. 15 Lithofacies Association I (LFA-I) ........................................................ 15 Lithofacies Association II (LFA-II) ..................................................... 18 Lithofacies Association III (LFA-III) ................................................... 18 Lithofacies Association IV (LFA-IV) .................................................. 22 Lithofacies Association V (LFA-V) ..................................................... 22 IV. LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY ............................................................................... 25 Lithostratigraphic Revision .................................................................. 25 Lithostratigraphic Descriptions ............................................................ 26 iv The Lower Member .................................................................... 26 The Middle Member ................................................................... 30 The lower unit of the middle member ................................. 32 The middle unit of the middle member ............................... 34 The upper unit of the middle member ................................. 35 The Upper Member ..................................................................... 36 Cyclical Sedimentation ........................................................................ 38 V. DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS ............................................................ 42 Subtidal, Normal Marine ..................................................................... 42 Stromatoporoid Bank or Mound .......................................................... 43 Intertidal, Slightly Restricted ............................................................... 44 Intertidal, More Restricted ................................................................... 44 Supratidal ............................................................................................ 45 Depositional Model ............................................................................. 45 VI. DIAGENESIS AND POROSITY .................................................................... 48 Diagenetic Features ............................................................................. 48 Marine Stage Diagenesis ..................................................................... 49 Micrite Enveloping and Micritization .......................................... 49 Calcite Cement ........................................................................... 49 Fine Crystalline Dolomite ........................................................... 49 Meteoric Stage Diagenesis ................................................................... 51 Dissolution.................................................................................. 51 Burial Stage Diagenesis ....................................................................... 51 Physical and Chemical Compaction ............................................ 51 Blocky Calcite Cement ............................................................... 52 v Dissolution.................................................................................. 53 Fractures ..................................................................................... 53 Anhydrite Cement ....................................................................... 53 Diagenetic Environment ...................................................................... 54 VII. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................ 57 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... 62 Appendix A: Core and Thin Section Descriptions .............................................. 63 Appendix B: Cross Sections ............................................................................. 102 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 108 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Map showing location of study area in northwestern North Dakota ...................... 2 2. Map showing studied wells with core ................................................................... 3 3. Map showing location of Williston Basin and major structural features ................ 7 4. Lithostratigraphic divisions and nomenclature applied to the Duperow Formation of the Williston Basin and Saskatchewan ............................................ 8 5. Stratigraphic nomenclature applied to the Duperow Formation in North Dakota, southern Saskatchewan ................................................................. 9 6. Generalized stratigraphic column of the Devonian system of North Dakota ........ 12 7. Isopach map of the Duperow Formation in North Dakota ................................... 14 8. Bioclastic wackestone/packstone (LFI) core photographs ................................... 17 9. Stromatoporoid boundstone/floatstone (LF2) core photograph ........................... 19 10. Amphipora boundstone/floatstone (LF3) core photograph .................................. 20 11. Peloidal wackestone (LF4) ................................................................................