Adverse effects of crevasse-splay deposits in an Appalachian coal mine, eastern Kentucky
Conference
·
· AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5786567
Facies analysis of highwall exposures, roof and pillar information, and 56 core descriptions indicate that a series of narrow, bifurcating paleochannels and associated sheet sandstones in an eastern Kentucky coal mine were deposited by at least three crevasse-splay and overbank flooding events that occurred during and immediately following peat accumulation in a fluviolacustrine flood-basin environment. The proximal crevasse facies is channel-form, dominantly gray, very fine to fine-grained sandstone exhibiting ripple-drift, current-ripple, and small-scale trough cross-bedding, abundant micaceous laminae, and common disseminated plant and stem debris. The proximal crevasse channels grade laterally, and are incised into distal splay sandstones, shales, claystones, and coal riders. Sandstones of the distal splay facies are gray, sheet form to wedge shaped, shaly to very fine grained, and exhibiting ripple-drift, irregular, and massive bedding, disseminated and well-preserved plant and stem fossils, micaceous concentrations, coal spar, and rooting structures. Shales of the distal splay facies are gray and laminated, with abundant, well-preserved plant and stem fossils, sideritic nodules, claystone, and coal laminae. Economic problems resulting from the crevasse-splay facies include 1) multiple washouts of the coal seam, 2) increased parting thickness and frequency, 3) split wedges in the coal seam, and 4) significant roof stability problems. Large roof falls in the crevasse-splay (stackrock) roofs result from 1) thin bedding of facies, 2) rapid lateral and vertical changes of facies, 3) internal bedding weaknesses, such as fossil plant and micaceous concentrations, sideritic nodules, and coal spar, 4) thin coal riders and streaks in the roof, and 5) slickensided shale beneath sandstone channels. Mapping of the crevasse-splay facies may help to predict coal quality and roof stability problems in unmined areas.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
- OSTI ID:
- 5786567
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8710197-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 71:9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Facies and depositional environments of Energy Shale Member (Carbondale Formation, Pennsylvanian), southwestern Jefferson County, Illinois
Depositional environments of lower portion of Pottsville Group (Pennsylvanian) in southern Ohio
Sedimentary regime of Tullock Member of Fort Union Formation, Tullock Creek type locality, South-central Montana
Conference
·
Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983
· Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6850123
Depositional environments of lower portion of Pottsville Group (Pennsylvanian) in southern Ohio
Conference
·
Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1983
· Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6327189
Sedimentary regime of Tullock Member of Fort Union Formation, Tullock Creek type locality, South-central Montana
Conference
·
Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986
· Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6962818