Influence of Ozark uplift on Pennsylvanian sediment dispersal patterns
- Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States). Dept. of Geology
The Ozark uplift exerted a significant, though mostly passive, influence on sediment dispersal patterns in the midcontinent during the Pennsylvanian. Following withdrawal of shallow marine waters near the end of the Mississippian, the Ozarks remained a low-lying positive element where regional truncation of Mississippian through Cambrian, mostly carbonate strata occurred in a humid, tropical climate that promoted karstification. Chert weathered from the carbonate strata and quartz eroded from thin sandstone formations (e.g., St. Peter) constituted the primary terrigenous clastic sediment derived from weathering of the uplift. Significant volumes of siliciclastic sediment began entering the midcontinent during early to middle Pennsylvanian, a reflection of tectonic uplift in the central Appalachians (Morrowan and later) and along the Ouachitas (Atokan and later). During the Morrowan, the greatest volume of sand entered the region from the Appalachians and was dispersed southward through the Illinois basin into the Mississippi embayment, with the Ozarks blocking sand dispersal to the west. During the Desmoinesian, the general patterns of sand dispersal established during the Atokan prevailed on all sides of the Ozark uplift. Significantly, Desmoinesian and Missourian sandstones along the northern and western margins of the uplift record a transition from quartzose, craton-derived sands to lithic, orogen-derived sands, indicating that the Illinois basin was overflowing with sediment and that sand derived from the Appalachians was diverted around the north and west sides of the Ozark uplift.
- OSTI ID:
- 5011460
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9303210-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 25:3; Conference: 27. annual Geological Society of America (GSA) North-Central Section meeting, Rolla, MO (United States), 29-30 Mar 1993; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Pennsylvanian tectonic and depositional history, southern Ozark dome, Arkansas and Missouri
Pennsylvanian history of the Chautauqua Arch