Lithological and Sequence Stratigraphic Examination of the Madison Group Marker Beds, Eastern Williston Basin Margin, North Dakota Troy JD
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University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects 2013 Lithological and sequence stratigraphic examination of the Madison Group marker beds, eastern Williston Basin margin, North Dakota Troy JD. Skitt University of North Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Skitt, Troy JD., "Lithological and sequence stratigraphic examination of the Madison Group marker beds, eastern Williston Basin margin, North Dakota" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 279. https://commons.und.edu/theses/279 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]. LITHOLOGICAL AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF THE MADISON GROUP MARKER BEDS, EASTERN WILLISTON BASIN MARGIN, NORTH DAKOTA by Troy JD Skitt Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University, 2011 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 December 2013 This thesis, submitted by Troy JD Skitt in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science from the University of North Dakota, h;as been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. ~~~, Dr. Richard LeFever, Chairperson Dr. Nels Forsman, ~ I l/'kA._N14, ·L~e?L. br. Joteph Hartman, ~_// 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. Dean, School of Graduate Studies b<_(..~ ,a, ;Jo13 Date ii PERMISSION Title Lithological and Sequence Stratigraphic Examination of the Madison Group Marker Beds, Eastern Williston Basin Margin, North Dakota Department Geology and Geological Engineering 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 their absence, by the chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this thesis or part thereof for financial gain 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. Name: Troy JD Skitt Date: 12/5/2013 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. vii ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Geographic and Stratigraphic Setting…………………………………………………………….. 1 Geological Setting………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Previous Works……………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Purpose…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 II. METHODS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 III. LITHOTYPES DESCRIPTIONS………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 Anhydrite Lithotype………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Dolomudstone Lithotype………………………………………………………………………… 10 Dolomitic Sandstone Lithotype………………………………………………………………. 14 Calc-mud/wackestone Lithotype……………………………………………………………. 16 Grain-supported Lithotype……………………………………………………………………… 20 Skeletal Wackestone Lithotype……………………………………………………………….. 22 IV. DEPOSITIONAL INTERPRETATIONS………………………………………………………………………. 25 Dolomudstone Lithotype………………………………………………………………………… 25 Grain-supported Lithotype……………………………………………………………………… 28 v Calc-mud/wackestone Lithotype……………………………………………………………. 29 Dolomitic Sandstone Lithotype………………………………………………………………. 31 Anhydrite Lithotype……………………………………………………………………………….. 33 Skeletal Wackestone Lithotype…………………………………………….................... 34 V. MARKER CHARACTERISTICS…………………………………………………………………………………. 36 State A…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36 Sherwood Argillaceous Marker (S.A.M.)………………………………………………………. 39 K-1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 44 K-2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 47 K-3…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49 VI. SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 Overview………………………………………………………………………………………………… 53 Dolomudstone Dominated Markers………………………………………………………. 56 Dolomitic Sandstone Dominated Markers……………………………………………… 57 VII. ORGANIC-RICH SHALES………………………………………………………………………………………… 61 VIII. CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 63 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 67 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 132 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Study area with location of cores used in this study and marker present in core at each location.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2 2. Gamma ray type curve of Frobisher-Alida markers and subintervals examined in the study………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 3. Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphic column of the Williston Basin………………………… 5 4. Anhydrite lithotype…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11 5. Dolomudstone lithotype…………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 6. Dolomitic sandstone lithotype………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 7. Calc-mud/wackestone lithotype……………………………………………………………………………….. 18 8. Grain-supported lithotype………………………………………………………………………………………… 21 9. Skeletal wackestone lithotype………………………………………………………………………………….. 24 10. Approximate paleoshoreline of the Rival subinterval mirroring a prominent facies change (adapted from Lindsay, 1988)……………………………………………………………………….. 37 11. Approximate extent of each marker (dashed) with paleoshoreline (solid) identified at facies change from evaporites to the east to carbonates to the west………………….. 40 12. Cross section of gamma ray/compensated neutron density logs showing S.A.M. facies change from the dolomudstone lithotype to the cyclic, argillaceous and allochem-rich rocks of the calc-mud/wackestone and grain-supported lithotypes………………………… 43 13. Second, third, and fourth-order sequence orders found within the Madison Group and Late Devonian and Mississippian strata……………………………………………………………… 55 14. Fourth-order sequence stratigraphy with prominent surfaces and relative sea-level curve for dolomudstone dominated markers (State A, State A2, and S.A.M.)…………. 58 15. Fourth-order sequence stratigraphy with prominent surfaces and relative sea-level curve for dolomitic sandstone dominated markers (K-1, K-2, and K-3)…………………….. 60 vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the help of many people. I would first like to thank my committee members, Dr. Richard LeFever, Dr. Nels Forsman, and Dr. Joseph Hartman for guiding my research and providing crucial feedback throughout my studies. A special thanks goes to the North Dakota Geological Survey for access to the core library, well logs, and well files which provided me with the tools to accomplished this research. Additional appreciation is given for funding sample analyses. Thank you to Kent Holland for locating and retrieving cores, and the rest of the staff at the Wilson M. Laird Core Library. Especially to Julie LeFever for her invaluable assistances with identification and interpretation of various matters associated with my project. I would like to thank the University of North Dakota’s department of Geology and Geological Engineering for funding my studies and providing me with the materials needed to succeed. Also, thank you to Weatherford Laboratories for evaluating my samples for organic carbon. Last, but certainly not least, I would like thank my family. If not for your encouragement, love, and support none of this would have been possible. vii ABSTRACT The Frobisher-Alida interval consists of eight log-defined subintervals or “beds” within the Mississippian upper Mission Canyon and lower Charles Formations of the Madison Group in the Williston Basin. The subintervals are composed of predominantly evaporite and carbonate lithologies, and include in descending order: 1) Midale, 2) Rival, 3) Bluell, 4) Sherwood, 5) Mohall, 6) Glenburn, 7) Wayne, and 8) Landa. The top of the lower six subintervals are separated by thin but areal extensive log-defined markers of contrasting lithologies and include in descending order: 1) State A, 2) Sherwood Argillaceous Marker (S.A.M.), 3) K-1, 4) K-2, 5) K-3, and 6) Landa Marker. An additional localized marker, State A2, is identified defining the lower boundary of an Upper Bluell subinterval. This study focuses on the lithologic and sequence stratigraphic significance of markers with the exception of the Landa Marker. The area studied covers Burke, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, western Bottineau and northwestern McHenry Counties in North Dakota. Geologically, the region is situated on the eastern flank of the Williston Basin; characterized by a shallow dipping (between 0.25 and 0.5 degrees) carbonate platform of an epicontinental sea on the western flank of the North American craton. Seventy-three marker descriptions were