High-resolution subsurface correlations of Hirnantian (Late ) through (Wenlock, ) strata in southern and southeastern Ohio, USA Division of Geological Survey Phone: (614) 265-6627 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Christopher B. T. Waid Email: [email protected]

83°30'W 83°0'W 82°30'W 82°0'W Abstract Peebles Discussion and Conlusions !! B " 2 ! ! 39°30'N A " C ! ! ! ! ! ! ! «¬32 ! ! ! ! ! 1 Seaman Peebles ! In Ohio, Upper Ordovician and lower Silurian strata are a major source of aggregate and cement material, and contain extensive natural gas and " ! ! 1) The new Whippoorwill formation is proposed, with the Centerville and overlying Belfast as members. The term refers to the town in Adams ! !!!!! ! «¬32 !! !! ! ! !! !! ! ! !!!! ! ROSS ! !! ! ! Michigan ! ! ! ATHENS ! ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! !! ! ! oil. Despite their importance, the ne-scale subsurface correlation of these units is poorly understood. Subsurface correlations are complicated Basin ! County, Ohio, where both members are well exposed along Lick Fork Creek (Table 1). The Centerville should be reduced to member rank ADAMS !! ch ! !! r # !! ! VINT !! ! A ON! !! n «¬781 ! ! i ! ! s ! ! 2 ! ! u West Union ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! by several factors, particularly the use of several formal nomenclature schemes in dierent parts of the state, incorrect and/or inconsistent q d ! ! ! !! because it is too thin to be delineated at the scale (1:24,000) of geological mapping in the area. The Belfast Member should be removed from n ! ! Algo 1 ! !! !! !! n !! !! ! PIKE ! !MEIGS a ! !! l !! ! ! JACK !! ! SO h N !! application of formal unit terminology in subsurface studies, and diculty comparing log-based subsurface units with the lithologically and !! 39°0'N the Brass eld Formation, because it is separated from the rest of the Brass eld by a pronounced unconformity (Sullivan et al., 2016), and has g ! i ! ! ! ! ! ! Illinois Study Area in H ^ ! s !! ! ba c ! ! ! Basin h d i ¬41 paleontologically-de ned surface units. To facilitate comparison between surface and subsurface units, a handheld gamma-ray spectrometer c « ! a distribution pattern distinct from the other Brass eld members. The Centerville and Belfast have long been thought to be basal Silurian, but r n n ADAMS la SCIOTO!! ! A e o GALLI i r ! A t o c Locations a f a " ! n n T Measley Ridge ! ! was used to create composite gamma curve of uppermost Ordovician and lower Silurian exposures in Adams County, Ohio. Core and a ! correlation to the Whirlpool Sandstone (Fig. 5) and Power Glen Formation (c.f. Ryder, 2000), respectively, of New York indicates that they are n i ! !! ! i ch Brush Creek Motorsport Complex !! c ! a ! l # Whippoorwill ! n a ! i p ! ! ! ! ! ! p ! C A !! º ^ LA! ! ! geophysical logs from the Aristech #4 well in southeastern Scioto County, Ohio provided additional lithological control for the units in deeper, - Geological Units A–A' ! WRENCE older. Schröer et al. (2016) recovered chitinozoans and scolecodonts indicating a or Hirnantian position for the Whirlpool and Power o ! t Bisher & Lilley Fms, ! o B–B' r Peebles Dol undiv. Well 38°30'N p ! C–C' ! more clastic-rich environments. All of the members of the Brass eld, Noland, Alger Shale, and Bisher formations can be distinguished by Well in cross section !! Glen. Bergström et al. (2011) determined that the , which inter ngers with the Whirlpool, is most likely Hirnantian, which Drowning Creek Formation D–D' 0 10 20 mi #1 3 0 1 E–E' ^ Adams County Composite geophysical logs, and were correlated in 140 wells throughout 10 counties in southern/southeastern Ohio. Five cross sections (two approximate 4### 2 mi restricts the age of the overlying Power Glen to the Hirnantian as well. If the correlation of the Whippoorwill to the Whirlpool and Power Glen º 2 Fig. 6 ^ Aristech #4 Core 0 20 40 km 0 1 2 km º depositional strike, and three follow depositional dip) were created from these wells. These correlations place some commonly used subsurface is correct, then they too are most likely Hirnantian. Since the Centerville/Belfast are separated from the underlying Queenston and overlying FIGURE 3. (A) Paleogeographic map of eastern Laurentia. The study area spans basinal depositional settings in the east, to shallower ramp terminology into the more precise, surface-unit framework of southern Ohio. The “Medina sand” correlates to the Whirlpool Sandstone of New depositional settings in the west. Map modi ed from Blakey (2013). (B) Map showing the localities and sections used for creating the composite Brass eld by signi cant unconformities, they should be removed from S-I. The term H-1 is tentatively proposed to reect their Hirnantian York, and to the Centerville Formation of southern Ohio. The lower Cabot Head extends from the top of the Brass eld Formation or Whirlpool gamma-ray log for the Silurian of Adams County, Ohio. Shading indicates topography. (C) County map of the study area showing the location of position, similar to the Cincinnatian third-order sequence designations (e.g. C1, C2) of Holland and Patzkowsky (1996). wells used for correlations and cross section lines. Sandstone to the base of the “red Clinton” sand. The “Clinton” sands interval in southeastern Ohio generally correlates with the thin-bedded and

[K, U, Th] Chronostrat. shaly members of the Brass eld Formation. The upper Cabot Head spans from the top of the “stray Clinton” or “red Clinton” sand through the 0 10 20 30 ADAMS COUNTY SCIOTO COUNTY ATHENS COUNTY New York 2) The Drowning Creek Formation is abandoned, in favor of a revised Noland Formation (Fig. 3). The lowest member, the Rose Run iron ore 0 Lilley-Peebles transition Group Lockport ? nomenclature

Plum Creek Shale. The “Packer Shell” in southern Ohio is equivalent to the Oldham Limestone where the Lulbegrud Shale is present, and to the Hm. (also termed upper massive Brass eld), is removed from the Brass eld Formation because it represents the base of S-II in central Kentucky and Lockport Group

shaly Lilley mbr Seq. VI

Lilley Sequence Decew Dol Oldham Limestone and Waco limestone where the Lulbegrud is thin or absent. The “,” as generally used in most subsurface upper Lilley mbr Formation southern Ohio, and can be distinguished in the subsurface (Fig. 5), providing a useful marker for separating S-I from S-II. Similarly, the

lower Lilley mbr Wenlock V Rochester Sh correlations, corresponds to the base of the Lulbegrud to the top of the Estill Shale. Shnwd. Lulbegrud Member is removed from the overlying Alger Formation, and placed in the Noland, because it represents the uppermost part of S-II upper Bisher mbr Irondequoit Ls

50 Seq. V Bisher Rockaway Dol middle Bisher mbr Formation IV (Brett and Ray, 2005; also note truncation of Lulbegrud in Fig. 5). Silurian lower Bisher mbr Introduction Estill Shale III orange Waco II 3) The revised Alger Formation consists of the Waco and Estill Members, and represents S-III and S-IV in southern/southeastern Ohio. A Current work on the lower Silurian by the Ohio Geological Survey has two main goals. The rst is to revise the nomenclature used in southern Williamson Sh

100 Llandovery Aer. pronounced regionally angular unconformity separates the orange Waco from an underlying shale and carbonate unit (tentatively identi ed Ohio to reect the most current understanding of the biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, and sequence stratigraphy of the rocks (Fig. 1). The I thin bedded Brass eld lower Waco shale “Rochester Shale” Clinton Group Rhd. Seq. IV lower massive as the “white Waco”), the Lulbegrud Shale, and part of the Oldham Member. The white Waco, where present, is considered the base Clinton Group Clinton second is to correlate the surface units into the subsurface, and in doing so, place the traditional subsurface units (Fig. 2) into a more precise ) ft

( Belfast H1? h Alger shaly Brass eld t Estill Mbr Brass eld orange Waco upper Waco shale (transgressive sequence tract; TST) of the third-order S-III in southern Ohio and central Kentucky (Ettensohn et al., 2013; Sullivan et al., 2014, chronostratigraphic context. Facies vary considerably southern and southeastern Ohio, ranging from carbonate-dominated ramp p Formation Wolcott Furn. D e 150 Drakes Formation Lulbegrud Shale Saq. 2016), whereas the orange Waco is considered the TST of a 4th-order cycle in the middle of S-III. This interpretation is perplexing if the unit environments in the western part of the study area to clastic dominated, deeper-water environments in the east ( g. 3a). Precise correlation of white Waco Wolcott Ls Hirnantian? Plum Creek Shale Oldham Limestone tentatively identi ed as the white Waco in Fig. 5 is in fact the white Waco, because the regionally-angular unconformity under the orange the surface units across such wide range of facies based on well logs requires hybrid allo- and litho-stratigraphic approach, particularly with the Rose Run iron ore Sodus Sh “stray Clinton ss” Packer Shell Waco appears more like a typical third-order sequence boundary. These contrasting interpretations may be a good example of the complex Medina Group. In general, formation-level units in this report are allostratigraphic (based on the sequence stratigraphy of Brett et al. (1990; u. Cabot Head Reynales Ls

200 Seq. Neagha Sh Waco shale III interplay between regional, tectonic sea-level change with eustatic sea-level variation. The white Waco may represent a eustatically-driven Waco Mbr orange Waco

1998), and member-level units are lithostratigraphic. Seq. II Thorold Ss Oldham Mbr Noland “red Clinton ss” Cambria Sh Plum Creek Mbr Formation Centerville

Ordovician third-order TST, whereas the basin tilting and erosion under the orange Waco represents the rst eects of the Salinic Orogeny along the Rose Run Iron Ore

shaly Brass eld mbr GroupMedina Seq. I Upper Ordovician Katian Grimsby Fm Brass eld Queenston Shale western ank of the Appalachian Basin. thin bedded Brass eld mbr Formation l. Cabot Head Methods and Results lower massive Brass eld mbr 250 Devils Hole Ss B beds H1? A bed Belfast Mbr Whippoorwill A composite gamma-ray log for the Silurian reference sections of Centerville Mbr formation “Medina ss.” Power Glen Sh Brett and Ray (2005); Sullivan and others

Rexroad and Medina Group Orton (1870) Foerste (1935) This Report Drakes Fm 4) Except for the Bisher Formation, all of the units within the Clinton Group can be correlated allo- and litho-stratigraphically. The Bisher McDowell (1983)* Hull (1990)** McLaughlin and (2014a; 2016) others (1965) others (2008) carbonate-dominated clastic-dominated Adams County was created using a Radiation Solutions® RS-230 GR K (%) Whirlpool Ss 0 50 100 150 200 Medina Group Medina Group alternates between fairly clean carbonate and argillaceous across the study region (Fig. 5). Because the units of the Medina Group become GR (API) U (ppm) Th (ppm) Guelph Peebles 1 Peebles Peebles Peebles S-VII handheld gamma-ray spectrometer with a bismuth germanate oxide S-VII LPT LPT more clastic-rich northeast from Adams and Scioto counties, it is dicult to correlate them as combined allo/lithostratigraphic units. In this Blue Cliff Lilley Lilley FIGURE 4. Composite spectral FIGURE 6. Generalized correlation diagram from the Silurian outcrops of Adams County, to the Aristech Core in Scioto Lockport Gp. S-VI Lockport Gp. Lilley Lilley S-VI detector crystal. The composite log is composed of data from eight gamma-ray log from outcrops County, and to the subsurface of northeast Athens County. Units in bold represent subsurface terminology as applied to case, the formation-level units within the Medina Group of Ohio (Whippoorwill and Brass eld) are allostratigraphic, whereas the West Union Bisher Bisher Lockport Fm Bisher Bisher Bisher S-V stratigraphic sections in three localities (Fig. 3c; Table 1). Spectral S-V in Adams County, Ohio. Gaps southern Ohio. The stratigraphic extent of the Rochester Shale, upper Cabot Head, and the lower Cabot Head represent their member-level units are lithostratigraphic (e.g., “red Clinton” on Fig. 6). Correlating the outcropped Silurian units of southern Ohio into the gamma assays were taken at 1-ft increments for all units exept for the Ribolt in the curve indicate covered use in most subsurface correlations, not their stratigraphic extents in their type areas. Saq. = Saquoit Formation, Furn. = sections. GR = Gamma ray. Furnace, Rhd. = , Aer. = , Shnwd. = Sheinwoodian, Hm. = , Chronostrat. = chronostratigraphy. subsurface helps tie the traditional subsurface Silurian units into a more precise chronostratigraphic framework (Fig. 6). Estill Estill

Estill Member and the lower part of the shaly Lilley, where 2.5-ft Estill Estill Estill S-IV Niagara Shales Estill S-IV

Niagara Group Alger sample spacing was used. After an assay time of 120 seconds, S-IV References Brett, C.E., Baarli, B.G., Chowns, T., Cotter, E., Driese, S., Goodman, W.M., and Johnson, M.E., 1998, Clinton Group Dayton equiv. Crab Orchard Group Early Silurian condensed intervals, ironstones, and sequence stratigraphy in the Appalachian Alger Shale Formation upper shale potassium (K), uranium (U), and thorium (Th) concentrations were Alger Shale Formation orange orange Crab Orchard Group Foreland Basin, in,Landing, E. and Johnson, M.E., eds., Silurian Cycles: Linkages of Dynamic Dayton Dayton Dayton S-III Dayton/Waco Waco Waco S-III white white Stratigraphy with Atmostpheric, Oceanic, and Tectonic Changes: Albany, New York State Museum recorded. Following Doveton and Merriam (2004) and Ellis and Singer Dayton Stone Oldham Lulbegrud Lulbegrud Lulbegrud undiff. Bulletin 491, p. 89-143. undiff. Fm Crab Orchard Group Oldham Oldham Oldham S-II Noland Fm S-II S-II Brett, C.E., Goodman, W.M., and LoDuca, S.T., 1990, Sequences, cycles, and basin dynamics in the

Plum Creek Plum Creek DC Plum Creek Plum Creek (2008), the concentrations of K, Th, and U were used to estimate Drowning ferruginous zone bead bed upper massive upper massive Noland Fm Rose Run I.O. Silurian of the Appalachian Foreland Basin: Sedimentary Geology, v. 69, p. 191-244. Creek gamma radiation (γ) in API units by applying the equation γ (API)=16K upper shaly upper shaly upper shaly Brett, C.E. and Ray, D.C., 2005, Sequence and event stratigraphy of Silurian strata of the Cincinnati Brassfield Arch region—Correlations with New York-Ontario successions: Proceedings of the Royal Society

Clinton Limestone S-I BFLD Fm

thin-bedded thin-bedded S-I (part) thin-bedded Drowning Creek Fm S-I of Victoria, v. 117, no. 2, p.175–198.

lower massive BFLD Fm lower massive

%) + 4Th(ppm) + 8U(ppm). The calculated API values were plotted to Brassfield Fm Brassfield Fm Brassfield Fm B Brett, C.E., Tepper, D.H., Goodman, W.M., LoDuca, S.T., and Eckert, Bea–Yeh, 1995, Revised Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast A fm Medina Group stratigraphy and correlations of the Niagaran Provincial Series (Medina, Clinton, and Lockport H1?

WHP WHP Centerville create a gamma-ray log (Fig. 4). The log was imported into Petra®, and Richmond Richmond Drakes Drakes Drakes Groups) in the type area of western New York: Reston, Virg., U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin Drakes 2086, 66 p. assigned to a psuedo-well centered on the town of Peebles. Abbreviations Brunton, F.R., and Brintnell, Candace, 2011, Final update of early Silurian stratigraphy of the Niagara Escarpment and correlation with subsurface units across southwestern Ontario and the Great FIGURE 1. Correlation and nomenclature chart for the exposed Silurian of southern Mbr Member (lowercase = informal status) Comparison of lithological and geophysical characteristics from the Fm Formation (lowercase = informal status) Lakes Basin, in, Easton, R.M., Burnham, O.M., and (6) others, eds., Summary of Field Work and Ohio. Text in italics indicates member/submember status. WHP = Whippoorwill, BFLD I.O. Iron Ore Other Activities 2011: Sudbury, Ontario, Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 6270, p. Adams County composite and the Aristech #4 Core (Scioto County; = Brass eld. Roman numerals indicate third-order depositional sequences. Modi ed Ss Sandstone 30-1–30-11. from Sullivan and others (2014). Doveton, J.H., and Merriam, D.F., 2004, Borehole petrophysical chemostratigraphy of Fig. 3) help with recognition of the subtle gamma-ray and bulk black shales in the Kansas subsurface: Chemical Geology, v. 206, no. 3–4, p. 249–258. *Current ocial nomenclature of the U.S. Geological Survey Well Type Ellis, D.V., and Singer, J.M., 2008, Well Logging for Earth Scientists: New York, Springer, 699 p. Location only Gas well Ettensohn, F.R., Lierman, R.T., Mason, C.E., Andrews, W.M., Hendricks, R.T., Phelps, D.J., and density log motifs useful for unit recognition and correlation in **Current ocial nomenclature of the Ohio Geological Survey Gordon, L.A., 2013, The Silurian of central Kentucky, U.S.A.—Stratigraphy, palaeoenvironments, Aristech Core Dry hole and palaeoecology: Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Paleontologists, v. 44, p. 159–189. dierent depositional environments. All of the units present in Adams Foerste, A.F., 1935, Correlation of Silurian formations in southwestern Ohio, southeastern Indiana, Tentative unit boundary Kentucky, and Tennessee: Bulletin of the Scientific Laboratories of the University of Denison No. and Scioto counties can be correlated across 140 wells in the study Brunton and Brintnell Horvath Brett and others 30, p. 119–205. Hull (1990)* (2011) (1967, 1969) (1990, 1995) Horvath, A.L., 1967, Relationships of lower Silurian strata in Ohio, West Virginia, and northern region (Fig. 3c), and 45 of those wells were used to create ve cross Kentucky: The Ohio Journal of Science, v. 67, no. 6, p. 341–359. Northwestern Drillers’ Southeastern SE Ohio & West Ontario New York Seq.1 Horvath, A.L., 1969, Relationships of middle Silurian strata in Ohio and West Virginia: The Ohio Journal sections (Fig. 5). Cross sections A–A' and B–B' are illustrated in Fig. 5. Ohio terms Ohio Virginia of Science, v. 69, no. 6, p. 321–342. Decew Dol Hull, D.N., 1990, revised by Larsen, G.E., 2000, and Slucher, E.R., 2004, Generalized column of bed Bisher Cross sections C–C', D–D', and E–E' are available in Waid (2018). Rochester Sh V rock units in Ohio: Columbus, Ohio, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, 1p. Irondequoit Ls Rochester Sh McDowell, R.C., 1983, Stratigraphy of the Silurian outcrop belt on the east side of the Cincinnati Arch in Niagaran Rockaway Dol Rochester Sh Rochester Sh Estill Kentucky, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1151–F, 2 plates, 27 p. shale Williamson Sh IV Merriton Ls McLaughlin, P.I., Cramer, B.D., Brett, C.E., and Kleffner, M.A., 2008, Silurian high-resolution Data Footage Footage Location Section Latitude Longitude Units Wolcott Furnace & III stratigraphy on the Cincinnati Arch: Progress on recalibrating the layer-cake, in Maria, A.H. and Sauquoit Fm Counts, R.C., eds., From the Cincinnati Arch to the Illinois Basin: Geological Field Excursions points (high) (low) Clinton Group Clinton Group Clinton Group Irondequoit Ls Waco/Dayton Clinton Group Sodus Sh along the Ohio River Valley: Boulder, Colo., Geological Society of America Field Guide 12, p. Rockaway Dol (upper & lower) Bisher, Lilley, Lilley-Peebles Lulbegrud Sh II 119–180. Measley Ridge 2 38.93708 83.451251 75 0 74 Dayton packer shell Dayton Reynales Ls Transition, base Peebles Merriton Ls Oldham Ls Neahga Sh Orton, E.F.B., 1870, Part III—Report on geology of Montgomery County: Columbus, Ohio, Ohio Division of Geological Survey Report of Progress for 1869, p. 139–164. Measley Ridge 1 38.938484 83.450492 2 75 77.5 Top Estill & Base Bisher stray Clinton Plum Creek/ Kodak Ss Cam- Cabot Head Sh bria Sh Thorold Ss Rexroad, C.B., Branson, E.R., Smith, M.O, Summerson, C.H., and Boucot, A.J., 1965, The Silurian Brush Creek Cabot Head Sh Noland Fm & formations of east-central Kentucky and adjacent Ohio: Kentucky Geological Survey Bulletin 10, Motorsport 2 38.903673 -83.44761 30 80 152.5 Estill Shale no. 2, 34 p. Thorold Ss & red Clinton “Clinton” sands Grimsby Fm Complex Cabot Head Sh Clinton Fm I Ryder, R.T., 2000, Stratigraphic framework and depositional sequences in the lower Silurian regional oil and gas accumulation, Appalachian Basin—from Jackson County, Ohio, through northwestern Brush Creek Brassfield Devils Hole Ss Manitoulin Dol white Clinton Pennsylvania, to Orleans County, New York: Reston, U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Inves

Cataract Group & Motorsport 1 38.90182 -83.44769 22 155 208 Waco & Estill shales Medina Group Cataract Group Power Glen Sh tigation Series Map I-2726, 2 sheets, 8 p. text. Complex “Clinton”sands Manitoulin Dol Medina sands Whirlpool Ss Sullivan, N.B., Brett, C.E., McLaughlin, P.I., Kleffner, M.A., Cramer, B.D., 2014, Correlation of the Waco Top l. m. Brassfield, t.b. and shaly Member of the Alger Shale Formation (Silurian; Llandovery; Telychian) in east-central Kentucky Whippoorwill 4 38.2169 -83.51147 34 209 245 Brassfield, Rose Run I.O., orange Waco and south-central Ohio: GFF, v. 136, no. 1, p. 254–258. FIGURE 2. Nomenclature chart for the subsurface of Ohio and surrounding regions. Sullivan, N.B., McLaughlin, P.I., Brett, C.E., Cramer, B.D., Kleffner, M.A., Thomka, J.S., Emsbo, Poul., Whippoorwill 3 38.82349 -83.50742 6 246 251 lower massive Brassfield Chart does not indicate lithostratigraphic or chronostratigraphic correlation 2016, Sequence boundaries and chronostratigraphic gaps in the Llandovery of Ohio and Whippoorwill 2 38.821976 -83.50875 15 252 266 Centerville & Belfast Kentucky— The record of early Silurian paleoceanographic events in east-central North America: between each region. Geosphere, v. 12, no. 6, p. 1–20. Whippoorwill 1 38.82349 -83.50742 11 267 277 Drakes *Current ocial nomenclature of Ohio Geological Survey Waid, C.B.T., 2018, High-resolution subsurface correlation of Late Ordovician–Wenlock (Silurian) strata 1 in southern and southeastern Ohio: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological TABLE 1. Outcrop location information; Adams County, Ohio Sequences of Brett and others (1990) correlated to the updated type Niagaran Survey, Geological Note 14. nomenclature of Brett and others (1995). FIGURE 5. Cross sections along depositional strike. A–A' from Scioto County to Athens County. B–B' from Adams County to Athens County. Datum = orange Waco. Cross section lines shown on Fig. 3c.