STRATIGRAPHY AND URANIUM CONTENT OF THE CHATTANOOGA SHALE IN NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA, NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA AND EASTERN TENNESSEE
In northeastern Alabama, northwestern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee, the Chattanooga shale of Late Devonian age ranges in thickness from 0 to more than 40 feet. Most of the shale is of the Gassaway member, though the Dowelltown member is present in part of eastern Tennessee. Beds of Dowelltown age were found in a small area in Alabama and Georgia, but the member is not recognized there. The Chattanooga shale and the overlying Maury formation. which is chiefly of Mississippian age, are progressively overlapped in the vicinity of Birmingham, Ala. Along the eastern margin of the late Chattanooga sea, which coincided roughly with the region studied. stable shelf conditions prevailed, but the degree of stability was somewhat less than that to the west in the Eastern Highland Rim area. This difference is indicated in the east by the somewhat more silty and sandy sections, intraformational conglomerates, greater range in thickness of the shale. and in a few places by preservation of basal conglomerate. Phosphate nodules and minor amounts of chert were deposited in the east. and the distribution of each is areally and stratigraphically distinct. The chert probably accumulated in quieter water than did the phosphate. Occasional influxes of greater than usual amounts of inorganic material produced the gray beds common in the Chattanooga. These beds have more clay and less organic matter than do the black beds. The Maury formation in Georgia and southeastern Tennessee contuins lentils of black shale; and in central-eastern Tennessee where the typical greenish Maury lithology is absent, beds equivalent in age to the Maury' are of black and gray shale. Less stable conditions of deposition and wide distribution of phosphatic black shale account for the generally low uranium content (less than 0.005 percent) of the Chattanooga shale in the region studied. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-007631
- OSTI ID:
- 4196327
- Journal Information:
- U.S. Geol. Survey Bull., Journal Name: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. Vol. Vol: 1087-E
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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