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Dolomitization of the Madison Group, Wyoming and Utah overthrust belt

Journal Article · · AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5753357

Two stages of pretectonic dolomitization are recorded in the upper Madison Group of the Wyoming-Utah thrust belt. Marine to hypersaline dolomitization occurred during deposition of upper Madison carbonates and evaporites in peritidal and sabkha settings. This timing is supported by the common association of fine-grained, nonluminescent dolomite with restricted, shallow-water facies, and the relatively enriched isotopic composition of the dolomite (delta/sup 18/O = +2.0 per thousand; delta/sup 13/C = +4.0 per thousand). A second stage of dolomitization began during exposure of the Madison shelf and continued through deposition of the overlying Amsden Formation. Regressions and transgressions during this time caused migration of marine-meteoric mixing zones across the Madison shelf and widespread dolomitization of all depositional facies within the Madison Group. The second stage of dolomitization is volumetrically dominant, has a meteoric isotopic composition (delta/sup 18/O = -2.0 per thousand; delta/sup 13/C = +2.0 to +7.0 per thousand), and in most locations has masked the isotopic record of the first-stage, synsedimentary dolomite. In addition to replacive dolomite, dolomite and calcite cements were also formed during this diagenetic stage. These three components exhibit isotopic variations concomitant with stratigraphic position that reflect spatial gradients in ground water chemistry. 16 figures, 1 table.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
OSTI ID:
5753357
Journal Information:
AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Vol. 71:8; ISSN AABUD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English