Model for deposition of bedded halite in a shallow shelf setting, San Andres Formation, Palo Duro Basin, Texas panhandle
Existing depositional models for evaporites do not adequately describe facies relationships, halite fabrics, and trace element geochemistry of halite from the Permian San Andres Formation. Interbedding of anhydritic halite and mudstone with disrupted bedding records alternation between marine-dominated brine pool and subaerial environments. Chevron structures and hopper crystal cumulates in the halite indicate subaqueous deposition. Abundant anhydrite partings within halite, which thicken and become interbedded with marine shelf carbonates to the south, demonstrate the facies equivalence and physical connection of evaporite and marine environments. Maintenance of marine character in trace element profiles through halite sequences documents the episodic influx of marine water. Haloturbated structure in mudstone interbeds within the halite is produced by displacive growth of halite within mudstone and dissolution and collapse of this halite as ground-water chemistry fluctuates in response to conditions of alternating desiccation and wetting. Karst features cutting the halite also imply subaerial exposure. Mapping of the fine-scale sedimentary structures, geochemical signature, and insoluble component mineralogy of halite sequences indicates that the brine pool environment extended over areas in excess of 100 km/sup 2/. Sabkha, salina, playa, and deep water basin models of halite-precipitating environments do not satisfactorily describe the shallow marine shelf depositional environment of the San Andres halite.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas, Austin (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6196994
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 17; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
580300* -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
580400 -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANHYDRITE
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DEPOSITION
EVAPORITES
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
HALIDE MINERALS
HALITE
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALEOZOIC ERA
PALO DURO BASIN
PERMIAN BASIN
PERMIAN PERIOD
ROCKS
SALT DEPOSITS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TEXAS
USA