SCHWIETERING, Joseph Francis, 1930- DEVONIAN SHALES OF OHIO AND THEIR EASTERN EQUIVALENTS. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1970 Geology University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED DEVONIAN SHALES QF OHIO AND THEIR EASTERN EQUIVALENTS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Joseph Francis Schwietering, B.S. The Ohio State University 1970 Approved by Adviser Department of Geology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to thank R. L. Bates of The Ohio State University, Department of Geology, who acted as adviser and supervised the preparation of this manuscript; J. M. Schopf, who gave critical comments; members of the Ohio Geological Survey, who released data that helped in this study and provided space to examine well-cuttings; and, the Appalachian Log Service, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Columbus, Ohio, who made available gamma-ruy-neutron logs used in this investigation. I am indebted to the Department of Geology of The Ohio State University for financial aid from the Bownocker fund and Friends of Orton Hall fund, which helped defray the cost of my studies, field work, and the preparation of this manuscript. v? ii VITA May 25, 1930 . B o m - Cincinnati, Ohio 1956 . • • • . B.S., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1956-1959 • • t . Exploration geologist, Pure Oil Company, Casper, Wyoming 1959-1963 • • • . Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1964-1965 J • • . Engineering geologist, Harding and Associates, San Rafael, California 1965-1966 • • • • Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1966-1967 • • • . Engineering geologist, Ohio State Highway Department, Testing Laboratory, Columbus, Ohio 1968-1969 • • • . Instructor, Department of Geology, Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Geology Studies in Stratigraphy. Professors R. L. Bates, E. M. Spieker, C. H. Summerson Studies in Paleontology. Professors W. C. Sweet and A. La Rocque iii CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................... ii VITA .............................................. iii LIST OF PLATES ..................................... v LIST OF FIGURES...................................... vi INTRODUCTION ......................... 1 Chapter 1. METHOD OF S T U D Y .............................. 5 II. GEOLOGIC SETTING.............................. 8 III. OHIO SHALE AND EQUIVALENTS...................... 11 Nomenclature and Lithologic Rela t i o n s........... 11 Age and Correlation ..................... 17 IV. OLENTANGY SHALE AND EQUIVALENTS................. 21 Nomenclature and Lithologic Relations ........ 21 Age and Correlation............... 25 V. RESULTS OF STUDY.............................. 30 Ohio Shale ........ 30 Upper Olentangy S h a l e ........................ 37 Sonyea and Genesee Groups 4-0 Tully Limestone............. 4-3 Lover Olentangy Shale ....... 44 VI. CONCLUSIONS.................................. 49 Origin of Black Shale ................ .*••• 49 Geologic History............................ 52 APPENDIX A............... 58 B................................................ 66 SELECTED REFERENCES.................................. 70 iv LIST OF PLATES Page Plate I. Three concepts of the relationship of the Chagrin Shale to the Cleveland, Olmsted and Huron shales 14- Plate II. Three concepts of the relationship of the Olentangy Shale to overlying and underlying rocks ...... ......... 22 Plate III. Fence diagram of Olentangy Shale in north-central Ohio ••••••••••. 26 Plate IV. C^oss-section A-A’ In pocket Plate V. Cross-section B-B1 ...... In pocket Plate VI. Cross-section C-C' ............. In pocket Plate VII. Cross-section D-D1 In pocket Plate VIII. Fence diagram of Middle and Upper Devonian rocks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky .... In pocket v * LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Index map ........................... 3 Figure 2. Map showing location of wells used in constructing cross-sections and fence diagrams.............. U Figure 3. Typical gamma-ray-neutron logs of wells drilled through the Devonian shales of central Ohio .... 6 Figure A. Chart showing lateral relations between Devonian shales of Ohio and formations to the east • • . 28 Figure 5. Isopach map of Ohio Shale and equivalents ..... 31 Figure 6. Diagram showing relations of Devonian rocks across southern New York .............. 35 Figure 7. Isopach map of Upper Olentangy Shale and equivalents ............ ...... 38 Figure 8. Isopach map of Sonyea and Genesee groups and equivalents U1 Figure 9. Isopach map of Lower Olentangy Shale and equivalents.................. A5 vi INTRODUCTION The Middle and Upper Devonian shales of Ohio were formed in broad intracontinental seas. They are western equivalents of rocks of marine and continental origin that make up the Catskill Delta in New York and Pennsylvania. The purpose of this study was to establish the physical relations between the Devonian shales of Ohio and their equivalents in the eastern states by tracing these rocks in the sub­ surface. In the past, most workers who attempted to make this corre­ lation relied primarily on data derived from outcrops. Those who made subsurface studies were interested primarily in the oil- and gas- producing strata, and did not make detailed studies relating the western shales to the eastern formations. It is hoped that the re­ sults of the present study will add to our understanding of these problems, and also of the Devonian history of the Appalachian Basin and surrounding areas and the environment in which the Devonian black shales of the eastern United States were formed. Devonian rocks in Ohio and to the east and south have been known and studied for over 100 years. Much of the early work is summarized in the following pa_ *s, which contain reviews of the history and usage of stratigraphic terms applied to these rocks. Prosser (1903a, 1905) listed and described all the formations recognized in Ohio; Hoover (i960) reviewed the stratigraphic terms applied to the Devonian and Mississippian shales and included an annotatod bibliography. Caster (1934-) described the Upper Devonian rocks exposed in north­ western Pennsylvania, Willard and others (1939) discussed the Devonian rocks in Pennsylvania, primarily those exposed in the eastern and southern parts of the state, A volume edited by Shepps (1963) contains many papers on the Devonian of Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Cooper (1930, 1933, 1934) described the Hamilton Group of New York, Rickard (1964), on a correlation chart of the Devonian rocks of New York, shows stratigraphic terms applied to these rocks and the lateral variations in the section. His chart is summarized in figure 6 of this paper. Woodward (194-3) described the Devonian rocks of West Virginia, Savage (1930) and Twenhofel (1931) discussed the Devonian of Kentucky, Friedman and Johnson (1966) summarized existing knowledge of the Catskill Delta. Martens (1939) and Fettke (1933, 1961) published sample descrip­ tions of many wells drilled in the area of study. 3 CANADIAN SH,*lD a oironoack m o u n tain s OMlAI'O UPU*! Index map Figure 1 60 56 •17 *16 N r '36 •35 »4t •47 -46 100 ISO 200 Miles 43 Map showing location of wells used in constructing cross-sections and fence diagrams Figure 2 CHAPTER I METHOD OF STUDY Data used in this study wero obtained from measurement of out­ crop sections in Ohio, 132 gamma-ray-neutron logs, and 27 well-sample logs. Cuttings from seven wells drilled in eastern and central Ohio were described. The locations of the measured sections and wells are shown on figure 1. Wells used in constructing the cross-sections and fence diagrams are listed in Appendix A, and their locations are shown on figure 2. In Ohio, Middle and Upper Devonian rock units were measured on the outcrop. These units were then identified on gamma-ray-neutron logs and on sample logs of wells drilled near the outcrop. For New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky, the writer relied on published information of rock units. The rock-stratigraphic units were traced by means of geophysical and sample logs, and their lateral relations were established. Dark carbonaceous shale of the section studied is revealed on gamma-ray-neutron logs by higher radioactive values than lighter colored shale, siltstone, sandstone, and limestone (fig. 3). The radioactivity is the result of the emission of gamma rays by unstable atoms of uranium, thorium, and potassium. Uranium is the primary source of gamma rays in these shales, although thorium has been reported (Hoover, I960, p. 62) and potassium is present in the Rabart C Svrick laka Shara Pin liao Ci ft Jarry M o o n Inc. 25 Sac. 17 flaborti # 1 EJa* Two. Howard A lba Co. lic k in g Ca, Ohio Hanford Twp Naolroa licking Co., Ohio API M ill200 API M ill 200 2000 r*' - 8 " - 8 “ OlM Sk Huron Sh ' 8 ' -V ~8' ’ 8 " Typical gamma-ray-neutron logs of wells drilled through the Devonian shales of central Ohio. Location of wells shown on figure 2 Figure 3 silt-sized feldspar grains and in clay minerals. Bates (1957), in a study of uranium in the black carbonaceous Chattanooga Shale of Tennessee, showed that the uranium is randomly distributed in the unaltered rock and is associated with organic material and pyrite. The random distribution of the uranium suggests that it was precipitated from sea