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Depositional environments and petrology of the Felix coal interval (Eocene), Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5376096
A study of a 250 ft. stratigraphic interval that includes the Eocene-age Felix coal of the Wasatch Formation was undertaken in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming to establish a depositional model based on the interrelations of coal-seam geometry, coal maceral composition, and spatial distribution of adjoining rocks. Regional cross sections and maps of major rock bodies were prepared from 147 measured stratigraphic sections and 56 geophysical logs. Trends in maceral and chemical properties within the Felix coal were identified from petrographic and geochemical analyses of 72 coal channel samples. The combined data sets indicate that the thickest portions of the coal are underlain by widespread, interconnected, sandstone-dominated fining-upward sequences whereas areas of thin or split coal are underlain by stacked predominantly fine grained, coarsening-upward sequences. Above the coal, fining-upward sequences are concentrated over thin coal areas and widespread coarsening-upward sequences overlie thick coal areas. The deposits below the Felix resulted from north-northwest flowing meandering rivers. The base and split portions of the seam are the remains of predominantly coniferous trees that grew within a nutrient-rich environment, and the duller central and upper portions of the seam indicate oxidation associated with a raised peat deposit. Ash falls and fires during late stages of peat accumulation may have contributed to the demise of the swamp. After vegetation died large lakes formed and were subsequently filled by crevasse deposits from streams. The final phase of compaction of the fine-grained lake sediments and the thick underlying peat attracted anastomosed alluvial channels.
Research Organization:
Kentucky Univ., Lexington (USA)
OSTI ID:
5376096
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL SEAMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MACERALS
MAPS
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLOGY
POWDER RIVER BASIN
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
USA
WYOMING