Tracing Precambrian lithologies and structures beneath northeastern part of Michigan basin
Aeromagnetic data and geologic maps covering Manitoulin Island and the southern province of the Precambrian shield to the north in Ontario, Canada, were studied to determine whether Precambrian rock lithologies and structures could be traced beneath the Paleozoic units on the island. In addition, wells drilled to Precambrian units within small Trenton-Black River oil and gas fields and Precambrian rock exposures on the island were studied to determine the possible relationship between the structures and lithologies of the Precambrian and overlying Paleozoic rocks. These data showed that erosion-resistant ridges and knobs of the Precambrian Lorrain and Bar River quartzites are expressed as linear magnetic lows, whereas valleys in easily erodable, iron-oxide-rich meta-siltstones and argillites of the Precambrian Gordon Lake formation are expressed as linear magnetic highs. The well-log and outcrop data indicate that the Precambrian paleotopography influenced the structure of the overlying Paleozoic units. For example, the Paleozoic units are draped and thinned over Precambrian paleohills or ridges of quartzite, which can be traced with aeromagnetic data across the island. The small oil fields on the island have features in common with larger Albion-Scipio- and Deerfield-type fields in the southern part of the Michigan basin. Therefore, these smaller oil fields and associated magnetic basement signatures may be useful as exploration analogs for the larger fields within the deeper part of the Michigan basin, especially at the northern rim of the basin where the Precambrian basement is likely to be similar to the Precambrian southern province of Ontario.
- Research Organization:
- Geospectra Corp., Ann Arbor
- OSTI ID:
- 7053614
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8610158-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 70:8; Conference: AAPG Eastern section meeting, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 1 Oct 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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