Lithologic controls on morphology of pressure-dissolution surfaces (stylolites and dissolution seams) in Paleozoic carbonate rocks from the mideastern United States

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Sedimentary Petrology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.63.513· OSTI ID:6383835

Railsback, L B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Georgia, Athens (United States)

Examination of pressure-dissolution surfaces (stylolites and dissolution seams) in carbonate rocks from the mideastern US demonstrates that the morphology of these surfaces varies with rock fabric. In limestones, pressure dissolution causes suturing of intergranular contacts at the microscopic scale and formation of macroscopic pressure-dissolution surfaces. Pressure dissolution thus modifies limestone fabric, and it contributes to destruction of porosity in two ways, by eliminating intergranular space at sites of dissolution and by providing cement to fill pores elsewhere. In addition to these petrologic effects, pressure-dissolution surfaces (1) can generate bedding planes, (2) can account for significant thicknesses of lost section in stratigraphic reconstructions, and (3) can be of economic significance by modifying reservoir properties, by serving as barriers to petroleum migration, and by acting as seals for reservoirs. This paper examines lithologic controls on morphology of stylolites and dissolution seams in relatively undeformed carbonate rocks. It thus addresses many of the same problems on which Buxton and Sibley (1981) focused, but it quantifies, rather than categorizes, morphology of pressure-dissolution surfaces, and examines a more general sample suite from the mideastern US.

• OSTI ID: 6383835
• Journal Information: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology; (United States), Vol. 63:3; ISSN 0022-4472
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
CALCITE
RECRYSTALLIZATION
CARBONATE ROCKS
LITHOLOGY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MORPHOLOGY
DISSOLUTION
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GRAIN GROWTH
PETROLEUM
POROSITY
PRECIPITATION
RESERVOIR ROCK
SOURCE ROCKS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
CARBONATE MINERALS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGY
MINERALS
PETROLOGY
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
580000* - Geosciences
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration