Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Sulfur isotopes related to sedimentation conditions for metalliferous black shales of Pennsylvanian Age

Conference · · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5853854
Sulfur isotope composition were determined for pyrite and sphalerite grains isolated from 8 metalliferous Missourian, Desmoinesian, and Atokan black shales from Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Indiana. The younger Missourian shales from the Forest City and Illinois basins contain consistently light sulfur as expected for euxinic conditions, but sulfides from the older shales show heavier and more erratic sulfur values. These isotope patterns suggest that younger shales accumulated slowly offshore, although older shales may have been deposited more quickly in shallower water. Isotope values, which also correlate with heavy metal patterns (e.g., higher molybdenum values for the eastern most older shales), may therefore reflect gradually deepening conditions for the epicontinental Pennsylvanian seas of the US Mid-Continent.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Missouri, Kansas, City
OSTI ID:
5853854
Report Number(s):
CONF-850322-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 69:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English