Petrology of the Middle Run Formation (Precambrian), East Continent Rift Basin, western Ohio and north-central Kentucky

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:5810232

Harris, D C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)

Non-marine sandstones and shales of the Middle Run Formation comprise the known sedimentary fill of the East Continent Rift Basin (ECRB) in the subsurface of western Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The Middle Run Formation is unconformably overlain by the Cambrian Mt. Simon Sandstone, and in two wells is directly overlain by Proterozoic mafic volcanics. Middle Run clastics were examined to determine depositional setting, framework grain composition, provenance, and the basin's hydrocarbon reservoir and source potential. Middle Run sandstones are red to gray, fine to medium-grained, and thickly bedded. The Middle Run Formation is sandstone-dominated, with shales and siltstones forming less than 10% of the unit. Sandstones were deposited in an arid continental setting, in a distal alluvial fan environment. Framework grain compositions of 21 Middle Run sandstones were determined by point counting, and most are immature lithic arenites. Lithics are composed primarily of felsic volcanic rock fragments, with minor mafic volcanics, intraclasts, and metamorphic rock fragments. Provenance is interpreted to consist of both plutonic and extrusive igneous terranes, with some intrabasinal volcanics represented. The adjacent Granite-Rhyolite Province contains rocks of suitable composition to have been a source for Middle Run clastics. Middle Run sandstones are compositionally and diagenetically distinct from the overlying Mt. Simon Sandstone. A complex history of cementation and compaction occluded all primary porosity before deposition of the Mt. Simon. Grain replacement is common, but secondary porosity development is insignificant and no intervals with porosity suitable for hydrocarbon accumulation have been encountered. Potential hydrocarbon source rocks have not been penetrated in wells drilled to date.

• OSTI ID: 5810232
• Report Number(s): CONF-921058--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 24:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
INDIANA
KENTUCKY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLOGY
POROSITY
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
RIFT ZONES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA