UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE MAGNETIC FABRICS AND PALEOMAGNETISM OF NORTH AMERICAN MUDROCKS: RELICS OF COMPLEX BURIAL HISTORIES A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By GERHARD HEIJ Norman, Oklahoma 2018 MAGNETIC FABRICS AND PALEOMAGNETISM OF NORTH AMERICAN MUDROCKS: RELICS OF COMPLEX BURIAL HISTORIES A DISSERTATION APPROVED FOR THE CONOCOPHILLIPS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS BY Dr. Richard Elmore, Chair Dr. Roger Slatt Dr. Shannon Dulin Dr. Carl Sondergeld Dr. Eric Ferré © Copyright by GERHARD HEIJ 2018 All Rights Reserved. Acknowledgements First and foremost, I will be forever indebted to my advisor, Dr. Doug Elmore. Thank you for your guidance and allowing me the freedom to pursue ideas (both good and bad) during my graduate studies. My committee members, Shannon Dulin, Roger Slatt, Eric Ferré and Carl Sondergeld provided invaluable feedback throughout the course of my PhD and I feel privileged to have learned from these scientists. Conversations, access to laboratory equipment and technical assistance from, Mike Engel, Josep Parés, John Pigott, Brett Carpenter, Lynn Soreghan, Mike Soreghan, Bill Heins and Andy Madden was greatly appreciated. Eric Ferré, my master’s advisor ignited my interest in research and I will always be grateful for the lessons I learned under his guidance. I am also deeply grateful for the high-field magnetic experiments he performed on my behalf. I am thankful to Bryan Turner, Jeffrey Hardwick, Matthew Hamilton and Alyssa Wickard whose conversations and intellectual sparring shaped many of the ideas presented in this work. Several undergraduate students worked tirelessly in the paleomagnetic lab, in particular Brandon Maples and Samantha Johnston. I am also thankful for the musical workings of Duran Duran, George Michael, Toto and many others for drowning out the sounds of the magnetometer and other distractions. I will always be appreciative of assistance from my uncle, Wim van der Plas. My parents, Leneke and Gerrit always provided constant love and support throughout this journey. Last, but not least, thanks to my wife, Amanda who supported me, managed my idiosyncrasies and kept me inspired throughout this journey. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ x List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ xxiii ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. xxiv CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 Figures ........................................................................................................................... 4 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 .................................................................................................................................. 6 THE MAGNETIC FABRIC OF THE WOLFCAMP FORMATION, MIDLAND BASIN, WEST TEXAS: UNDERSTADING PETROFABRIC VARIABILITY, HYDROCARBON DISTRIBUTION AND IRON ENRICHMENT ................................................................ 6 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... 6 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 8 GEOLOGIC BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................... 9 METHODS AND SAMPLING ................................................................................................... 12 Sampling and data provided ............................................................................................. 12 Magnetic Experiments ..................................................................................................... 12 Hand-held X-Ray Fluorescence (HHXRF) ...................................................................... 14 Statistical clustering of variables ..................................................................................... 15 Image Analysis................................................................................................................. 16 RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 16 v DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................................. 20 Magnetic architecture....................................................................................................... 20 Diagenesis ........................................................................................................................ 21 Provenance and Iron-enrichment in the Wolfcamp ......................................................... 22 Mechanisms for fabric variability in mudrocks ............................................................... 24 Mechanisms for fabric variability in carbonates .............................................................. 25 Magnetic fabrics and TOC ............................................................................................... 26 CONCLUSIONS.......................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 2 Figures ......................................................................................................................... 30 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................................. 42 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 45 CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................................ 51 PALEOMAGNETISM AND MAGNETIC FABRIC OF THE WOLFCAMP FORMATION: DECIPHERING THE TIMING OF DIAGENETIC AND TECTONIC EVENTS IN THE MIDLAND BASIN .......................................................................................................... 51 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. 51 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 53 GEOLOGIC BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 55 METHODS AND SAMPLING ................................................................................................... 57 Experimental methods ..................................................................................................... 58 Burial history and thermal modeling ............................................................................... 60 Database and uncertainty ................................................................................................. 61 RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 62 vi Core 1….. ......................................................................................................................... 62 Core 2.. ............................................................................................................................. 63 Core 3.. ............................................................................................................................. 65 Drilling induced remanent magnetizations (Core 1-3) .................................................... 65 Triaxial thermal decay, IRM acquisition and Hysteresis data Core 1-3 .......................... 66 SEM and EDS of magnetic extracts Core 1-3 ................................................................. 67 Microtextural observations from thin sections Core 1-3 ................................................. 68 1D Basin Modeling .......................................................................................................... 69 DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................................. 70 Magnetic Fabrics and Fracture Orientations .................................................................... 70 Magnetic Remanence Carrier(s) and the Nature of CRMs .............................................. 72 CONCLUSIONS.......................................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 3 Figures ......................................................................................................................... 78 Chapter 3 Tables .........................................................................................................................