MISCELLANEOUS REPORT NO. 5 CHANGING INTERPRETATIONS OF KENTUCKY GEOLOGV- LAVER-CAKE, FACIES, FLEXURE, AND EUSTACY edited by Frank R. Ettensohn .:·· •-- prepared for the 1992 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 4383 FOUNTAIN SQUARE DRIVE COLUMBUS, OHIO 43224-1362 (614) 265-6576 (Voice) llesrurces (614) 265-6994 (TDD) (614) 447-1918 (FAX) OHIO GEOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL Dr. E. Scott Bair, representing Hydrogeology Mr. Mark R. Rowland, representing Environmental Geology Dr. J. Barry Maynard, representing At-Large Citizens Dr. Lon C. Ruedisili, representing Higher Education Mr. Michael T. Puskarich, representing Coal Mr. Gary W. Sitler, representing Oil and Gas Mr. Robert A. Wilkinson, representing Industrial Minerals SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ADMINISTRATION (614) 265-6576 Thomas M. Berg, MS, State Geologist and Division Chief Robert G. Van Hom, MS, Assistant State Geologist and Assistant Division Chief Michael C. Hansen, PhD, Senior Geologist, Ohio Geology Editor, and Geohazards Officer James M. Miller, BA, Fiscal Officer Sharon L. Stone, AD, Executive Secretary REGIONAL GEOLOGY SECTION (614) 265-6597 TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS SECTION (614) 265-6593 Dennis N. Hull, MS, Geologist Manager and Section Head Merrianne Hackathorn, MS, Geologist and Editor Jean M. Lesher, Typesetting and Printing Technician Paleozoic Geology and Mapping Subsection (614) 265-6473 Edward V. Kuehnle, BA, Cartographer Edward Mac Swinford, MS, Geologist Supervisor Michael R. Lester, BS, Cartographer Glenn E. Larsen, MS, Geologist Robert L. Stewart, Cartographer Gregory A. Schumacher, MS, Geologist Lisa Van Doren, BA, Cartographer Douglas L. Shrake, MS, Geologist Ernie R. Slucher, MS, Geologist PUBLICATIONS CENTER (614) 265-6605 Quaternary Geology and Mapping Subsection (614) 265-6599 Garry E. Yates, NZCS, Public Information Officer and Acting Section Head Richard R. Pavey, MS, Geologist Supervisor Inaleigh E. Eisen, Public Inquiries Assistant C. Scott Brockman, MS, Geologist Donna M. Schrappe, Public Inquiries Assistant Billie Long, Account Clerk Core Drilling Subsection (614) 265-6594 Douglas L. Crowell, MS, Geologist Supervisor MINERAL RESOURCES AND GEOCHEMISTRY SECTION Roy T. Dawson, Driller (614) 265-6602 Michael J. Mitchell, Driller Mark E. Clary, Drilling Assistant David A. Stith, MS, Geologist Supervisor and Section Head William R. Dunfee, Drilling Assistant Allan G. Axon, PhD, Geologist Richard W. Carlton, PhD, Senior Geologist SUBSURFACE STRATIGRAPHY AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY Norman F. Knapp, PhD, Chemical Laboratory Supervisor SECTION (614) 265-6585 Sherry L. Weisgarber, MS, Geologist and Mineral Statistician Kim E. Vorbau, BS, Geologist Ronald G. Rea, MS, Geologist Supervisor and Section Head Mark T. Baranoski, MS, Geologist LAKE ERIE GEOLOGY SECTION (419) 626-4296 James McDonald, MS, Geologist Ronald A. Riley, MS, Geologist Scudder D. Mackey, PhD, Geologist Supervisor and Section Head Lawrence H. Wickstrom, MS, Senior Geologist and Computer Coordinator Danielle A. Foye, BS, Geology Technician Angelena M. Bailey, Administrative Assistant Jonathan A. Fuller, MS, Geologist Donald E. Guy, Jr., MS, Geologist Samples and Records Dale L. Liebenthal, Operations Officer & Research Vessel Operator Garry E. Yates, NZCS, Environmental Technology Supervisor Mary Lou McGurk, Office Assistant An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/H r STATE OF OHIO George V. Voinovich, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Frances S. Buchholzer, Director DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas M. Berg, Chief MISCELLANEOUS REPORT NO. 5 CHANGING INTERPRETATIONS OF KENTUCKY GEOLOGY- LAYER-CAKE, -FACIES, FLEXURE, AND EUSTACY edited by_ Frank R. Ettensohn University of Kentucky with contributions by Stephen F. Barnett Stephen F. Greb Bryan College Kentucky Geological SuNey Dayton, Tennessee R. Thomas Lierman Donald R. Chesnut, Jr. Morehead State University Kentucky Geological SuNey Charles E. Mason Cortland F. Eble Morehead State University Kentucky Geological SuNey Frank R. Ettensohn Jack C. Pashin University of Kentucky Alabama Geological SuNey Peter T. Goodmann Gregory A. Schumacher University of Kentucky Ohio Geological SuNey Field Trip 15 for the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America Cincinnati, Ohio October 26-29, 1992 Centennial Field Trip of the University of Kentucky Department of Geological Sciences Columbus 1992 Cover illustration: Road cut on I-75 near Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, exposing 250 feet of Carboniferous section; Day 1, Stop 5. The lower 190 feet shows three unconformity- bound sequences of Mississippian carbonates in the Slade Formation. The upper 60 feet shows major slumping and deformation in the lower part of the Pennsylvanian Breathitt Formation, possibly related to movement on nearby structures. The Mississippian-Pennsylvanian unconformity is present on top of the third bench. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................ , . -" . 1 PHYSIOGRAPHY ALONG FIELD-TRIP ROUTE . 2 STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK OF KENTUCKY ........................................·. 6 IAPETAN RIFT . 6 UPLIFTS AND BASINS .... : . 9 APPALACHIAN BASINS....................................................... 9 BASIC FLEXURAL MODELS ............................... : . 9 SEDIMENTARY-STRATIGRAPHIC RESPONSE ...................................... 10 Unconformity Development . 1 O Foreland-Basin Subsidence . 10 Loading-Type Relaxation . 12 Unloading-Type Relaxation . 12 OVERVIEW .....................................- ........................... 12 PALEOZOIC SUBSIDENCE HISTORY OF APPALACHIAN BASIN IN KENTUCKY . 12 INTRODUCTION . 12 METHODS ................... ··............................................. 15 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................... 15 lapetan Extension . 15 Blountian-Taconian ..........· .............................................. 17 Salinic (?) ................................................................ 17 Acadian ................................................................ 17 Alleghanian . 19 CONCLUSIONS . .. 19 ORDOVICIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHIC AND TECTONIC FRAMEWORK FOR KENTUCKY ........... 19 DAY-ONE ROAD LOG AND STOP DESCRIPTIONS ...................................... 21 STOP 1. FAIRVIEW-KOPE CONTACT ................................................ 23 STOP 2A. CONTACT OF HIGH BRIDGE GROUP AND LEXINGTON LIMESTONE . 26 STOP 2B. CONTACTS BETWEEN THE CAMP NELSON, OREGON AND TYRONE FORMATIONS ... 28 STOP 2C. KENTUCKY RIVER FAULT SYSTEM AND THE CAMP NELSON LIMESTONE .......... 29 DEVONIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHIC AND TECTONIC FRAMEWORK FOR KENTUCKY ............. 32 MISSISSIPPIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHIC AND TECTONIC FRAMEWORK FOR KENTUCKY . 40 STOP 3. PORTWOOD MEMBER OF THE NEW ALBANY SHALE AND THE BOYLE DOLOSTONE . 42 REGIONAL STRUCTURE . 42 REGIONAL STRATIGRAPHY ...........................................•....... 42 LOCAL STRUCTURE ........................................... .': . 44 NORTH ROLLING FORK .............................. ; . 44 STOP 4. THE CARPENTER FORK GRABEN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ....................... 44 DISCUSSION . 49 Previous Interpretations of Carpenter Fork Section ................................. 49 Origin of the Carpenter Fork Member . 49 Regional Implications ....................................' ..... : ............. 51 STOP 5. THE SLADE AND PARAGON FORMATIONS AND PENNSYLVANIAN SLUMPING ........ 56 DAY-TWO ROAD LOG AND STOP DESCRIPTIONS ............. -. 61 STOP 1. REGRESSIVE FACIES IN THE UPPER LEXINGTON LIMESTONE ...... .' ............. 62 STOP 2. KENTUCKY RIVER FAULT ZONE, THE LEXINGTON LIMESTONE AND CLAYS FERRY FORMATION NEAR THE SOUTHEASTERN MARGIN OF THE TANGLEWOOD BUILDUP ........ 66 OPTIONAL STOP. GRIER MEMBER AND VERTICAL GRIER-TANGLEWOOD TRANSITION ....... 69 OPTIONAL STOP. LATERAL GRIER-TANGLEWOOD TRANSITION AND IMPLICATIONS ......... 69 STOP 3. STRODE$ CREEK MEMBER, LEXINGTON LIMESTONE: PROBABLE SYNSEDIMENTARY STRUCTURAL INFLUENCE ............ , . , ...... ; ................ 71 STOP 4A. SILURIAN-DEVONIAN CONTACT AND TRANSGRESSIVE BLACK SHALES AT THE BASE OF THE OHIO SHALE ......................................... : ........... 74 STOP 4B. RE(;RESSIVE BLACK SHALES AND THE PROSTOSALV/NIA (FOERSTIA) ZONE . 76 STOP 5. CLEVELAND SHALE-THROUGH-LOWER BORDEN SEQUENCE ..............·. 77 OHIO SHALE (CLEVELAND SHALE MBR.) . 77 BEDFORD SHALE .................................. ; . 77 SUNBURY SHALE . 77 BORDEN FORMATION ....................................................... 80 Henley Bed .................................................. :· . 80 Farmers Member .......................................................... 80 Nancy Member ........................................................... 81 THE BEDFORD FAUNA ....................................................... 81 HISTORICAL AND REGIONAL FRAMEWORK ...................................... 82 STOP 6. PALEOSOLS AND RESTRICTED SLADE CARBONATES WEST OF THE WAVERLY ARCH APICAL ISLAND . 88 STRATIGRAPHY .......................................... : ................. 88 STRUCTURE .............................................................. 88 BARRIER-SHORELINE. MODEL ................................................. 92 TABULAR-EROSION MODEL . .. 97 PERRY BRANCH SECTION . 97 PENNSYLVANIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHIC, PALEOCLIMATIC AND TECTONIC FRAMEWORK FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY ........................................................ ; 100 PALEOGEOGRAPHIC POSITION AND CHANGING CLIMATES ..........................100 Tectonically Linked Basin Models ..............................................103 STRATIGRAPHIC