Geologic setting of petroleum source rocks in Permian Phosphoria formation
The Permian Phosphoria Formation in the northwestern interior United States contains two phosphatic and organic-carbon-rich shale members - the Meade Peak Phosphatic Shale Member and the Retort Phosphatic Shale Member. These rocks were formed at the periphery of a foreland basin between the Paleozoic continental margin and the North American cratonic shelf. Maximum organic-carbon concentration is as much as 30 wt. % in the organically richest beds in the shale members and the maximum average in each member is about 10 wt. %. A close association occurs in the distribution of the organic carbon, silver, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, vanadium, and zinc. Phosphorus differs slightly from the distribution of organic carbon and by contrast seems typically associated with copper, lanthanum, neodymium, strontium, yttrium, and ytterbium. Burial of the sapropelic muds by Triassic and younger sediments and the consequent rise in ambient temperature has led to catagenesis of hydrocarbons from the kerogen in these rocks. In some areas of southwestern Montana, hydrocarbons have not been generated; however, burial has been minimal and temperatures have remained low. Consequently, these rocks remain organic-rich shales that have the potential for producing synthetic oil and gas.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Denver, CO
- OSTI ID:
- 5462484
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8408161-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 68:7; Conference: Energy and More in '84, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 27 Aug 1984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Geological setting of oil shales in the permian Phosphoria Formation and some of the geochemistry of these rocks
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Related Subjects
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
SOURCE ROCKS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
CARBON
CHROMIUM
COPPER
LANTHANUM
NEODYMIUM
NICKEL
PERMIAN PERIOD
PHOSPHORITES
SHALES
SILVER
STRONTIUM
TITANIUM
TRIASSIC PERIOD
VANADIUM
YTTERBIUM
YTTRIUM
ZINC
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MESOZOIC ERA
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NONMETALS
PALEOZOIC ERA
PHOSPHATE ROCKS
RARE EARTHS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration