Reinterpretation of the Ignacio and Elbert Formations As an Incised Valley Fill Using Facies Analysis and Sequence Stratigraphy; San Juan Basin, Southwest Colorado

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Reinterpretation of the Ignacio and Elbert Formations As an Incised Valley Fill Using Facies Analysis and Sequence Stratigraphy; San Juan Basin, Southwest Colorado REINTERPRETATION OF THE IGNACIO AND ELBERT FORMATIONS AS AN INCISED VALLEY FILL USING FACIES ANALYSIS AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY; SAN JUAN BASIN, SOUTHWEST COLORADO Joshua T. Maurer A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2012 Committee: James E. Evans, Advisor Margaret Yacobucci Charles Onasch ii ABSTRACT James E. Evans, Advisor The Ignacio Formation and the Devonian Elbert Formation of southwest Colorado represent the lowest succession Paleozoic strata in the San Juan Basin of Colorado and New Mexico. This study reinterprets the Ignacio Formation-Ouray Limestone as Devonian (Famennian) in age and finds that the succession represented a laterally continuous depositional system of fluvial and estuarine environments (Ignacio Formation), prograding shoreline environments (McCracken Sandstone Member, Elbert Formation), tidal flats and shallow marine shales (Upper Member, Elbert Formation), and marine limestone and shales (Ouray Limestone). The present study is based on lithofacies analysis, 137-m of measured stratigraphic sections at 11 outcrops, provenance analysis from 24 representative thin sections, 72 paleocurrent measurements, and photomosaics. Lithofacies analysis identified 14 lithofacies that are organized into fluvial channel, tidal channel, tempestite, and tidal flat sequences. This study suggests that the Ignacio and Elbert formations may be reinterpreted an incised valley sequence. Evidence for this conclusion include variations in thickness, facies distribution, the conformable contact between the Ignacio Formation and the McCracken Sandstone Member, lithofacies associations and ichnology, which confirm the shift from fluvial to estuarine to marine environments, and the onlap of these Paleozoic sedimentary rocks onto Precambrian basement paleohighs. It is suggested that initial accommodation space was provided by paleotopography on the Precambrian basement surface. Later accommodation space was provided by relative sea-level rise, and the paleovalleys were backfilled by fluvial – estuarine sediments and later overtopped by marine sediment. iii Ignacio Formation type section at Electra Lake iv This thesis is dedicated to Jerry Calendine. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The ideas presented here have resulted from the research of Joshua T. Maurer and Dr. James E. Evans in ancient incised-valley and estuarine systems in Southwest Colorado. This work was supported by the Colorado Scientific Society and the Ogden Tweto Memorial Fund in conjunction with funding from Bowling Green State University as well as the Geological Society of America for travel grants to present our research at the Northeastern region GSA meeting. I, Joshua T. Maurer, thank the valuable input and support from the following people: Colleagues within Bowling Green State University (Richard R. Hoare Research Scholarship) as well as several friends and family. Thanks to Dr. James E. Evans who served as my advisor and constant source of guidance and knowledge. Without Jim, this research would not have been possible. Thank you to my committee members Charles Onasch and Peg Yacobucci for being open to my numerous questions and providing amazing input and assistance. Specifically, thank you Charlie for your help in sample preparation and thin section making, and Peg for your help with the paleontological work and identification. Thanks to my field assistant Bharat Banjade for continual motivation in the field and a positive attitude when conditions looked bleak while scurrying around the San Juan National Forest. Thank you to my longtime friend Robert Tolley for logistical aid including the procuring our rental car. Thanks to Benjamin Nelson for your constant support and motivating me to accomplishing my goals throughout our time at BGSU. Thank you Udita Datta for being a continuous source of inspiration and competition while completing this project. Finally, thank you to my entire family for the support. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………… 1 Sequence Stratigraphy ……………………………………………………….…… 1 Incised Valley Sequences ………………………………………………...………. 6 Facies Analysis ……………….………………………………………………….. 16 Purpose and Objective ……………………………………………………………. 18 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………….………………… . 20 Regional Tectonic Setting……………………………………………………….... 20 Precambrian Basement …………………………………………………………… . 20 Hiatus and Early Paleozoic Sedimentation.……………………………………… .. 21 Ancestral Rocky Mountain Uplift and Paradox Basin …………………………..... 22 Sevier and Laramide Orogenies …………………………………………………... 23 Regional Stratigraphy…………………………………………………………….... 26 Precambrian Basement ……………………………………………………………. 26 Ignacio Formation …………………………………………………………………. 28 Elbert Formation ………………………………………………………………… ... 33 vii Ouray Limestone ………………………………………………………………… ... 36 Stratigraphy and Age ……………………………………………………………… 36 METHODS……………………………………………………………………………… ... 38 Stratigraphic Sections ……………………………………………………………... 38 Paleocurrent Analysis ………………………………………………………… ...... 41 Petrographic Analysis ……………………………………………………………. 43 Contact Relationships ……………………………………………………………. 46 RESULTS ………………………………………………………………………………… 47 Lithology…… ............................................................................................................ 47 Lithofacies Analysis .................................................................................................. 58 Ichnofacies Analysis …………….. ........................................................................... 91 Paleocurrent Analysis ............................................................................................... 99 Provenance Analysis……………………………………………………………… .. 100 Contact Relationships ………………………………..………………………….. ... 101 DISCUSSION …………………………………………………………………………….. 114 Valley Incision …………………………………………………………………...... 114 Valley Fill …………………………………………………………………………… 123 viii Depositional Model ………………………………………………………………… 130 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS……. ........................................................................... 130 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………… 133 APPENDIX A. PALEOCURRENT DATA…………………………………………………. 148 APPENDIX B. COLUMNAR SECTIONS .......................................................................... 153 APPENDIX C. POINT COUNT DATA...……………………………………...………….. 168 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Depositional Sequence Model………………………………………………….…… 5 2 Type-1 Incised Valley Sequence Model……………………………………….…… 10 3 Type-2 Incised Valley Sequence Model…………………………………………… 12 4 Incised Valley Sequence Longitudinal Facies Distribution…….…………………. 15 5 Shoreline Facies Model……………………………………………………………. 17 6 Ancestral Rocky Mountain Paleogeography………………………………………. 24 7 Coal Bank Pass and Snowdon Fault Block Cross-Section………………………… 25 8 Regional Stratigraphy……………………………………………………………… 27 9 Study Area Map……………………………………………………………………. 40 10 Paleocurrent Tilt Correction……………………………………………………….. 42 11 Dickinson Petrofacies Ternary Diagrams……………………………………... ....... 45 12 Ignacio Formation Outcrop Photographs………………………………………… ... 48 13 Ignacio Formation Photomicrographs……………………………………………… 49 14 McCracken Sandstone Member Outcrop Photographs…………………………….. 52 15 McCracken Sandstone Member Photomicrographs………………………………… 56 x 16 Lithofacies Sm …………………………………………………………………….. 62 17 Lithofacies Se …………………………………………………………………….... 64 18 Lithofacies Sp …………………………………………………………………….. 66 19 Lithofacies St …………………………………………………………………….. .. 68 20 Lithofacies Sx …………………………………………………………………….. 70 21 Lithofacies Sr …………………………………………………………………….. .. 71 22 Lithofacies Sh …………………………………………………………………….. 73 23 Lithofacies Sl …………………………………………………………………….. .. 75 24 Lithofacies Sw …………………………………………………………………….. 77 25 Lithofacies Gm & Gt ………………………………………………………….. ...... 80 26 Lithofacies Gl …………………………………………………………………….... 83 27 Lithofacies SSm ………………………………………………………………….. .. 86 28 Lithofacies SSl …………………………………………………………………….. 87 29 Lithofacies MSf ……………………………………………………………….. ...... 89 30 Lithofacies MSb ……………….…………………………………………………... 90 31 Sultan Creek Ichnofacies ………………………………………………………….. 96 32 Mile Marker 54 of US 550 Ichnofacies ………………………………………….. .. 97 xi 33 Bioturbation Photomicrograph …………………………………………………….. 98 34 Regional Paleocurrent Data ………………………………………………….. ........ 102 35 Petrofacies Data ………………………………………………………….. .............. 103 36 Ignacio Fm. – Unnamed Conglomerate Contact …………………………………... 105 37 McCracken SS Mbr. – Baker’s Bridge Granite Contact ……………………….. ..... 106 38 McCracken SS Mbr. – Unnamed Conglomerate Contact …………………….. ....... 107 39 McCracken SS Mbr. – Ignacio Fm. Outcrop Contact …………………….. ............. 109 40 McCracken SS Mbr. – Ignacio Fm. Contact Detail …………….. ............................ 110 41 Longitudinal Hanging Stratigraphic Sections …………………….. ......................... 119 42 Cross-Sectional Hanging Stratigraphic Sections ………………………………… .. 121 43 IVS Depositional Model ………………………………….. ..................................... 128 xii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Outcrop Geographic Coordinates …………………………………………….…… 39 2 Summary of Point Count Data ……………………………………………….…… 53 3 Fluvial Lithofacies ………………………………..………………………….…… 59 4 Marine and Estuarine Lithofacies …….…………………………………………… 61 5 Summary of Ichnofacies ………………………………………………………….. 93 6 Summary of Lithostratigraphic Contacts ………………………………………….. 113 1 INTRODUCTION Sequence Stratigraphy The method of sequence stratigraphy was developed and refined by Exxon in the 1970’s and continues to be an important
Recommended publications
  • Lacustrine Massive Mudrock in the Eocene Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China: Nature, Origin and Significance
    Marine and Petroleum Geology 77 (2016) 1042e1055 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Marine and Petroleum Geology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/marpetgeo Research paper Lacustrine massive mudrock in the Eocene Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China: Nature, origin and significance * Jianguo Zhang a, b, Zaixing Jiang a, b, , Chao Liang c, Jing Wu d, Benzhong Xian e, f, Qing Li e, f a College of Energy, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China b Institute of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China c School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (east China), Qingdao 266580, China d Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China e College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China f State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, Beijing 102249, China article info abstract Article history: Massive mudrock refers to mudrock with internally homogeneous characteristics and an absence of Received 13 May 2016 laminae. Previous studies were primarily conducted in the marine environment, while notably few Accepted 6 August 2016 studies have investigated lacustrine massive mudrock. Based on core observation in the lacustrine Available online 8 August 2016 environment of the Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China, massive mudrock is a common deep water fine-grained sedimentary rock. There are two types of massive mudrock. Both types are sharply delin- Keywords: eated at the bottom and top contacts, abundant in angular terrigenous debris, and associated with Massive mudrock oxygen-rich (higher than 2 ml O /L H O) but lower water salinities in comparison to adjacent black Muddy mass transportation deposit 2 2 Turbiditic mudrock shales.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Plateau Coring Project, Phase I (CPCP-I)
    Science Reports Sci. Dril., 24, 15–40, 2018 https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-24-15-2018 © Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Colorado Plateau Coring Project, Phase I (CPCP-I): a continuously cored, globally exportable chronology of Triassic continental environmental change from western North America Paul E. Olsen1, John W. Geissman2, Dennis V. Kent3,1, George E. Gehrels4, Roland Mundil5, Randall B. Irmis6, Christopher Lepre1,3, Cornelia Rasmussen6, Dominique Giesler4, William G. Parker7, Natalia Zakharova8,1, Wolfram M. Kürschner9, Charlotte Miller10, Viktoria Baranyi9, Morgan F. Schaller11, Jessica H. Whiteside12, Douglas Schnurrenberger13, Anders Noren13, Kristina Brady Shannon13, Ryan O’Grady13, Matthew W. Colbert14, Jessie Maisano14, David Edey14, Sean T. Kinney1, Roberto Molina-Garza15, Gerhard H. Bachman16, Jingeng Sha17, and the CPCD team* 1Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA 2Department of Geosciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA 3Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA 4Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA 5Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Rd., Berkeley CA 94709, USA 6Natural History Museum of Utah and Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA 7Petrified Forest National Park, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028, USA 8Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA 9Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, Oslo 0316, Norway 10MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany 11Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY 12180, USA 12National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK 13Continental Scientific Drilling Coordination Office and LacCore Facility, N.H.
    [Show full text]
  • Slate Shale/Mudrock Regional 060(240)±20/70±10SE 020(200)±20/20±10NW No 060(240)±20/70±10SE 120(300)±20/20±10SW Yes No Q
    Name: Reg. lab day: M Tu W Th F Geology 1013 Field trip to Black River Valley (Lab #7, Answer Key) Drive south on Gaspereau Avenue and stop at the Highway 101 overpass. Stop 1: HALIFAX GROUP A: Go to the north side of the overpass. slate a) Name the rock exposed in this outcrop. b) What was the original rock before metamorphism? Shale/mudrock c) Was the metamorphism regional or contact? regional d) Use the compass to measure strike & dip of cleavage. 060(240)±20/70±10SE e) Use the compass to measure strike & dip of bedding. 020(200)±20/20±10NW f) Is cleavage parallel to bedding? no g) Plot cleavage and bedding on the attached map using the proper symbols. B: Go to the south side of the overpass. 060(240)±20/70±10SE a) Use the compass to measure strike & dip of cleavage. 120(300)±20/20±10SW b) Use the compass to measure strike & dip of bedding. c) Is the cleavage orientation similar to that in (d) above? yes d) Is the bedding orientation similar to that in (e) above? no Drive on through Gaspereau to White Rock. Go through the intersection in White Rock and stop in the big quarry on the right. Stop 2: WHITE ROCK FORMATION quartzite a) Name the rock. quartz sandstone b) What was the original rock before metamorphism? c) This rock unit is more resistant to weathering than the Halifax Formation. Suggest reasons why. 1. composition (hard, chemically inert mineral) 2. no foliation (no planes of weakness) Black River Lab – Answer Key Page 2 of 4 Drive back through White Rock, turn south, and stop at the parking area at the Gaspereau River bridge.
    [Show full text]
  • Clippety Clop), Kwelera, East London, Great Kei Municipality, Eastern Cape
    PALAEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: COMBINED FIELD ASSESSMENT AND DESKTOP STUDY Proposed development of Portion 3 of Farm 695 (Clippety Clop), Kwelera, East London, Great Kei Municipality, Eastern Cape. JOHN E. ALMOND (PhD, Cantab) Natura Viva cc, PO Box 12410 Mill Street, CAPE TOWN 8010, RSA. [email protected] October 2011 1. SUMMARY The proposed holiday housing development on Portion 3 of Farm 695 (Clippety Clop), Kwelera, East London, is situated on the northern banks of the tidal Kwelera River, some 20 km northeast of East London, Eastern Cape. The development footprint is largely underlain by Late Permian continental sediments of the Adelaide Subgroup (Lower Beaufort Group, c. 253-251 million years old). These rocks are overlain by Early Triassic sandstones of the Katberg Formation (Tarkastad Subgroup) that build the cliffs and higher ground to the northeast. South of the river the Beaufort Group sediments are intruded and baked by Early Jurassic igneous intrusions of the Karoo Dolerite Suite. The Balfour Formation fluvial sediments are potentially fossiliferous, having yielded elsewhere a wide range of terrestrial vertebrates (bones and teeth of pareiasaurs, therapsids, amphibians et al.), bivalves, trace fossils and vascular plants. The overall impact of this project on local palaeontological heritage is likely to be very minor, however, because the potentially fossiliferous Beaufort Group sediments here are (a) deeply weathered, (b) sparsely fossiliferous, (c) have probably been extensively baked by nearby dolerite intrusions, and (d) are mostly covered with a thick (> 3m) mantle of fossil-poor alluvium. No fossils were observed within good exposures of the Balfour Formation rocks at the coast and in excellent roadcuts inland.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of the Maudina Mine Area, Northern Santa Catalina Mountains, Pinal County, Arizona
    Geology of the Maudina Mine area, northern Santa Catalina Mountains, Pinal County, Arizona Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic); maps Authors Bromfield, Calvin Stanton, 1923- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 28/09/2021 04:41:04 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/553781 GEOLOGY OF THE MAUDINA MINE AREA, NORTHERN SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA by Calvin S. Bromfleld M A Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Department of Geology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the Graduate College, University of Arizona 1950 Approved: Director of Thesis aniM AHIOT'Ah 2HT TC TBCJOaO A8 51. Xfl t) \ bi °itnio*!t? .2 «JLvl/,D alaoriT & edcr c j AaJiimcfu# ad Of 4^ 5" ' % Nt. A / tTR^A osejc !6* voiacA iigsw w ^ r m s ----- - £ <H1C\\ CONTENTS Page H H H m Introduction...................... Location..................... Previous Investigations...... Field Work and Acknowledgments Climate...................... Topography................... General Geology.................................. 9 General Statement........................... 9 Sedimentary RocKs......................... 12 Cambrian System...................... 12 Middle Cambrian................. 12 Troy quartzite............. 12 Santa Catalina formation.... 14 Southern Belle quartzite.... 17 Upper Cambrian.................. 18 . Abrigo formation........... 18 Peppersauce sandstone...... 20 Devonian System...................... 22 Upper Devonian................. 22 Martin limestone.......... 22 Lower Ouray formation..... 25 Misslssippian System................ 27 Lower Misslssippian............ 27 Escabrosa limestone....... 27 Cretaceous System................... 31 Cretaceous Strata.............
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of the Northern Part of the Slate Mountains, Pinal County, Arizona
    Geology of the northern part of the Slate mountains, Pinal county, Arizona Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic); maps Authors Hogue, William Gibson, 1914- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 26/09/2021 20:11:37 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/551077 GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SLATE MOUNTAINS, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA by William Gibson Hogue A Thesis Vy submitted to the faculty of the Department of Geology in .partial fulfillment of =' . j j the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Graduate College University of Arizona 1940 Approved: /Date. <^9'79/ TABLE OF CONTENTS .gage. Acknov/ledgments .... Location Previous Work ...... Climate ...... Flora and Fauna ...... Topography and Drainage Miscellaneous ..... Sedimentary Rocks ..... Sedimentary Section ... Pinal Schist ........................... 11 Pioneer Shale ......................... .....12 Barnes Conglomerate ........................... 13 Dripping Spring Quartzite .................... -= 14 Mescal Limestone ............................. 15 Troy Quartzite ...........•.................. 16 Santa Catalina Formation ...................... 17 Southern Belle Quartzite ............. 19 Abrigo Formation ............... *............
    [Show full text]
  • Metamorphic Rocks Specimen Guide
    Metamorphic Rocks Specimen Guide Number Name Information 1 Chlorite schist Chlorite is a green-coloured mica. Schist is a medium grade metamorphic rock which includes 50% mica. It is crumbly due to weathering. The brown patches are iron oxide, probably from weathered-out garnets. 2 Hydrothermally Very hot waters associated with a later phase of altered granite magmatic intrusions has altered some of the feldspars and micas to clay minerals. This specimen also contains cassiterite (tin ore.) From Cornwall. 3 Gneiss A folded and banded rock, evidence of regional metamorphism due to mountain building. Less stretched than a schist. 4 Slate Slate is often formed from mudrock or volcanic ash deposits which have been heated and compressed. This slate clearly shows stripes that are the bedding of the original rock at 90o to the new slaty cleavage (planes along which rock will split) 5 Garnet gneiss This is the oldest rock found in the British Isles, c. 3.8 billion years old, from Scourie in N.W. Scotland. Garnets form only in metamorphic rocks. 6 Marble This rock is highly metamorphosed limestone. The original rock has been completely recrystallised though the composition has remained the same. 7 Metamorphosed This was an igneous rock that originally formed during pillow lava an underwater volcanic eruption during the Devonian. Granite later intruded into the rock and cooked the rock, and introduced some new metamorphic minerals during this process. In Cornwall rocks that have been changed by the intrusions of granite are called “killas”. 8 Contorted gneiss This folded gneiss shows clear bands of stretched minerals, including shiny mica and pale grey quartz.
    [Show full text]
  • The Devonian Fauna of the Ouray Limestone
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 391 THE DEVONIAN FAUNA OF THE OURAY LIMESTONE BY E. M. KINDLE ' WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1909 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction,.............................................................. 5 Nomenclature and stratigraphic relations. ..................................... 6 Comparison of the two faunas in the Ouray limestone........................... 11 Distribution of the fauna..........................................:......... 13 Description of fauna....................................................... 15 Ccelenterata............................................................ 15 Vermes............................................................... 15 Brachipoda........................................................... 15 Pelecypoda........................................................... 30 Gastropoda............................................................ 33 Cephalopoda.......................................................... 36 Index.................................................................... 59 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. PLATE I. Quray fauna. 40 II. Ouray fauna. 42 III. Ouray fauna. 44 IV. Ouray fauna. 46 V. Ouray fauna. 48 VI. Ouray fauna. 50 VII. Ouray fauna. 52 VIII. Ouray fauna. 54 IX. Ouray fauna. 56 X.- Ouray fauna. 58 THE DEVONIAN FAUNA OF THE OURAY LIMESTONE, By E. M. KINDLE. INTRODUCTION. The first discovery of a Devonian fauna in Colorado was made by F. M. Endlich in 1875, during his survey of the San Juan district.
    [Show full text]
  • MINERAL POTENTIAL REPORT for the Lands Now Excluded from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
    United States Department ofthe Interior Bureau of Land Management MINERAL POTENTIAL REPORT for the Lands now Excluded from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah Prepared by: Technical Approval: flirf/tl (Signature) Michael Vanden Berg (Print name) (Print name) Energy and Mineral Program Manager - Utah Geological Survey (Title) (Title) April 18, 2018 /f-P/2ft. 't 2o/ 8 (Date) (Date) M~zr;rL {Signature) 11 (Si~ ~.u.. "'- ~b ~ t:, "4 5~ A.J ~txM:t ;e;,E~ 't"'-. (Print name) (Print name) J.-"' ,·s h;c.-+ (V\ £uA.o...~ fk()~""....:r ~~/,~ L{ ( {Title) . Zo'{_ 2o l~0 +(~it71 ~ . I (Date) (Date) This preliminary repon makes information available to the public that may not conform to UGS technical, editorial. or policy standards; this should be considered by an individual or group planning to take action based on the contents ofthis report. Although this product represents the work of professional scientists, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, makes no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding it!I suitability for a panicular use. The Utah Department ofNatural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, shall not be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to claims by users ofthis product. TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 4 Oil, Gas, and Coal Bed Methane ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Oil & Natural Gas Technology
    Oil & Natural Gas Technology DOE Award No.: DE-FC26-02NT15133 QUARTERLY TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT Reporting Period Start Date: July 1, 2007 End Date: September 30, 2007 MAJOR OIL PLAYS IN UTAH AND VICINITY Submitted by: Utah Geological Survey 1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110 P.O. Box 146100 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6100 Ph.: (801) 537-3300/Fax: (801) 537-3400 Prepared for: United States Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory February 29, 2008 Office of Fossil Energy DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although this product represents the work of professional scientists, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, makes no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding its suitability for a particular use. The Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, shall not be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to claims by users of this product.
    [Show full text]
  • International Journal of Coal Geology 165 (2016) 76–89
    International Journal of Coal Geology 165 (2016) 76–89 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal of Coal Geology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijcoalgeo Microstructures of Early Jurassic (Toarcian) shales of Northern Europe M.E. Houben a,⁎,A.Barnhoornb, L. Wasch c, J. Trabucho-Alexandre a,C.J.Peacha,M.R.Drurya a Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, PO-box 80.021, 3508TA Utrecht, The Netherlands b Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, PO-box 5048, 2600GA Delft, The Netherlands c TNO, Princetonlaan 6, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands article info abstract Article history: The Toarcian (Early Jurassic) Posidonia Shale Formation is a possible unconventional gas source in Northern Received 7 January 2016 Europe and occurs within the Cleveland Basin (United Kingdom), the Anglo-Paris Basin (France), the Lower Sax- Received in revised form 4 August 2016 ony Basin and the Southwest Germany Basin (Germany), and the Roer Valley Graben, the West Netherlands Accepted 4 August 2016 Basin, Broad Fourteens Basin, the Central Netherlands Basin and the Dutch Central Graben in The Netherlands. Available online 06 August 2016 Outcrops can be found in the United Kingdom and Germany. Since the Posidonia Shale Formation does not out- crop in the Netherlands, sample material suitable for experimental studies is not easily available. Here we have Keywords: Posidonia Shale investigated lateral equivalent shale samples from six different locations across Northern Europe (Germany, Whitby Mudstone The Netherlands, The North sea and United Kingdom) to compare the microstructure and composition of Clay microstructure Toarcian shales. The objective is to determine how homogeneous or heterogeneous the shale deposits are across Ion-beam polishing the basins, using a combination of Ion Beam polishing, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
    [Show full text]
  • Rehabilitation of National Route R61 (Section 3, Km 24.2 to Km 75) Between Cradock and Tarkastad, Eastern Cape
    PALAEONTOLOGICAL HERITAGE STUDY: COMBINED DESKTOP AND FIELD-BASED ASSESSMENT Rehabilitation of National Route R61 (Section 3, km 24.2 to km 75) between Cradock and Tarkastad, Eastern Cape John E. Almond PhD (Cantab.) Natura Viva cc, PO Box 12410 Mill Street, Cape Town 8010, RSA [email protected] February 2013 1. SUMMARY The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is proposing to rehabilitate Section 3 of the National Route R61 (km 24.2 to km 75) between Cradock and Tarkastad, Eastern Cape. The project involves widening of the roadway and of all stormwater structures along the route. Road material is to be sourced from five new or existing borrow pits and one hard rock quarry. A Phase 1 palaeontological heritage assessment for the road project has been commissioned by Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd in accordance with the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999). Section 3 of the R61 traverses the outcrop area of continental sedimentary rocks of the Upper Beaufort Group (Tarkastad Subgroup, Karoo Supergroup) of Early to Middle Triassic age. These are cut and baked by numerous dolerite intrusions of the Karoo Dolerite Suite of Early Jurassic age. Towards Cradock (Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg 1: 250 000 sheet areas) the sedimentary bedrocks belong to the sandstone-dominated Katberg Formation that was deposited in arid braided fluvial settings following the catastrophic end-Permian mass extinction event. Further east towards Tarkastad (Queenstown and King William’s Town 1: 250 000 sheet areas) the sedimentary bedrocks are assigned to the slightly younger Burgersdorp Formation comprising recessive-weathering reddish mudrocks and braided river channel sandstones.
    [Show full text]