Report of Investigation 19 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Geological and Land Management Division Stratigraphic Cross-Sections of the Michigan Basin - RI 19 - page 1 of 36 Stratigraphic Cross-Sections of the Michigan Basin - RI 19 - page 2 of 36 Preface PREFACE .............................................................................3 STRATIGRAPHIC CROSS-SECTIONS OF THE MICHIGAN BASIN..4 In July 1975 a new unit, the Geology and Minerals Research Unit, was created in the Michigan Geological Survey Abstract................................................................................ 4 Division. The purpose of the unit is to investigate the INTRODUCTION.....................................................................4 geology and the resource potential of the State and provide a GEOLOGIC SETTING .............................................................5 data base for more detailed geological endeavors. STRATIGRAPHIC CROSS-SECTIONS .......................................5 Pertinent to these objectives, unit personnel determined that geophysical log cross-sections or correlation sections would STRATIGRAPHY AND CORRELATION .......................................6 be useful in delineating the formations in the subsurface of JURASSIC SYSTEM ...............................................................6 the Southern Peninsula in greater detail. The 15 cross- PENNSYLVANIAN SYSTEM .....................................................6 sections presented in this report cover the entire stratigraphic sequence present in the subsurface, from the MISSISSIPPI SYSTEM ............................................................7 Jurassic through the Precambrian. They depict correlations, Bayport Limestone............................................................... 7 based principally on gamma ray logs, of the recognizable Michigan Formation ............................................................. 8 groups, formations, and members in the basin, as well as Marshall Sandstone ............................................................. 9 other correlatable units or beds. The information thus Coldwater Shale .................................................................. 9 provided by the sections will be very helpful to Sunbury Shale ................................................................... 10 governmental agencies, industry, university people and Berea Sandstone ............................................................... 10 Bedford Shale .................................................................... 11 private citizens for an understanding of the geology of the subsurface of Michigan. It will also provide a data base for DEVONIAN SYSTEM ............................................................11 more detailed geologic study and essential information for Ellsworth Shale .................................................................. 12 more effective decisions in land use planning. Antrim Shale ...................................................................... 12 Traverse Group.................................................................. 13 The writer expresses gratitude to Garland D. Ells, Michigan Dundee Limestone............................................................. 14 Geological Survey, James H. Fisher, Michigan State Detroit River Group............................................................ 15 University, and Glenn C. Sleight, McClure Oil Company, for Lucas Formation ................................................................ 15 their critical review and useful suggestions in correlating the Amherstburg Formation ..................................................... 16 many geologic formations found in the Michigan Basin. I Sylvania Sandstone ........................................................... 17 am also grateful to Beverly L. Champion for editing the text Bois Blanc Formation......................................................... 18 and Gregory A. Wilson and Darrel Hodge for preparation of SILURIAN SYSTEM ..............................................................18 the plates. A special thanks goes to Robert C. Reed, who Bass Islands Group ........................................................... 18 reviewed the text and provided many helpful suggestions in Salina Group...................................................................... 19 the preparation of this report. The writer also thanks Lois Niagara Group ................................................................... 22 A. Padgett for rough-draft typing and Lois J. DeClaire for Cabot Head Shale ............................................................. 23 final-typing of the manuscript. Manitoulin Dolomite ........................................................... 23 ORDOVICIAN SYSTEM .........................................................23 Richard T. Lilienthal, Geology and Minerals Research Unit, Cincinnatian Series............................................................ 24 Geological Survey Division Utica Shale ........................................................................ 24 Trenton Group ................................................................... 25 Black River Group.............................................................. 25 This document is based on a scanned copy of the text of St. Peter Sandstone........................................................... 26 Report of Investigation 19, Stratigraphic Cross-Sections of Prairie du Chien Group ...................................................... 26 the Michigan Basin. Errors and omissions are unintended. CAMBRIAN SYSTEM ............................................................26 Please report any oversights to Steven E. Wilson via email [email protected]. PRECAMBRIAN ...................................................................28 LITERATURE CITED.............................................................28 ILLUSTRATIONS ..................................................................31 APPENDIX 1 – WELL RECORDS USED TO CREATE CROSS- SECTIONS..........................................................................34 Stratigraphic Cross-Sections of the Michigan Basin - RI 19 - page 3 of 36 Introduction Stratigraphic Cross-Sections of the The present decade has been witness to the development of Michigan Basin an intensified national concern for the wise and conservative use of our nonrenewable resources. It is also imperative that wise land-use decisions be made in any area where mineral Abstract or energy resource potential is present. To help achieve The strata of the Michigan Basin, encompassing a span of these goals, many kinds of data are needed. One type of geologic time from the Cenozoic Era into the Precambrian, data base deals with geologic information pertaining to the have been correlated in a series of cross-sections, using rock formations of Michigan's Southern Peninsula. Many gamma ray logs from approximately 100 wells drilled in new wells have been drilled in this region during the past Michigan. Fifteen cross-sections have been constructed. All decade. Because these new wells add to the geologic of the sections emanate in radiating fashion from the knowledge of Michigan, they are important in the search for deepest well drilled in the State, the McClure Oil Company - oil and gas resources, for salt and brines, and other uses. To Sparks, Eckelbarger, Whightsil No. 1-8 in Gratiot County, better delineate the stratigraphy of the rock formations in which attained a total depth of 17,466 feet. Each of the the subsurface of the Southern Peninsula and thus enhance fifteen cross-sections is composed of six or seven separate the geologic data base, a new series of cross-sections based sections, showing the entire stratigraphic sequence present on geophysical logs is presented. Fisher et al. (1969) in the wells in that particular cross-section. In conjunction constructed two cross-sections of the Michigan Basin using with the gamma ray logs depicted in the sections, other geophysical logs, and they were helpful in the preparation of geophysical logs are shown in order to demonstrate porosity, this report. density, conductivity and lithology of the strata in various A stratigraphic cross-section or correlation section is one of parts of the basin. The terminology applied to the rock units the geologist's tools for defining and depicting the is essentially that which is used in Michigan's subsurface subsurface geology of a specific area. A series of such investigations. sections, properly constructed, will show the entire Some of the special characteristics of each formation are stratigraphic sequence as well as particular salient aspects of discussed in the text. Among these are the lithology, some the formations in various portions of the area. The cross- depositional history and the resource potential of the sections can also be used as a base from which further formation. studies can proceed. The discussion and sections of the subsurface of the Southern Peninsula are intended to show During the process of researching the rock strata of various features which may be useful in future studies. Michigan from the geophysical logs, several distinctive horizons were noted in some of the formations, which were In order to show the geology in sufficient detail, 15 separate present over a wide enough geographic area to aid in cross-sections crisscrossing the Southern Peninsula were correlating the log curves. Such horizons were especially constructed (see