Controls on Pennsylvanian algal-mound distribution in mid-continent North America
Middle (Desmoinesian) and Upper (Missourian) Pennsylvanian phylloid algal-mound distribution in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma is largely controlled by subtle sea-floor topography. Topographic highs served as loci favoring initiation and continued growth of complexes. Topographic highs controlling mound distribution are the shelf-edge rise in northeastern Oklahoma, the Bourbon arch in southeastern Kansas and the Mine Creek prodeltaic shale buildup in west-central Missouri. Outcrop studies document controls on development of these mounds and reveal the potential for development of stacked mounds. This will help exploration for these features in the subsurface to the west. The shelf-edge rise and Mine Creek prodeltaic shale buildup control the location of the Oologah algal-mound complex and an isolated algal mound in the Pawnee Limestone, respectively. These apparently were positive features only during Middle Pennsylvanian time. In contrast, the Bourbon arch apparently was controlled by basement faulting and remained high for a more-extended period of time. Both Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian algal mounds coincide with the geographic position of the Bourbon arch and result in a stacked-mound complex. Evidence suggesting that the Bourbon arch was a positive feature are (1) thinning of clastics over the feature and (2) change from anoxic, black, fissile, and phosphatic basinal shales to oxygenated, diversely fossiliferous gray shales over the arch.
- Research Organization:
- Chevron Canada Resources Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
- OSTI ID:
- 5757139
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-850322-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 69:2; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, 25 Mar 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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