Munsell color value as related to organic carbon in Devonian shale of Appalachian Basin

Journal Article · Sat Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1981 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6485072

Hosterman, J W; Whitlow, S I

Comparison of Munsell color value with organic carbon content of 880 samples from 50 drill holes in the Appalachian basin shows that a power curve is the best fit for the data. A color value below 3 to 3.5 indicates the presence of organic carbon but is meaningless in determining the organic carbon content because a large increase in amount of organic carbon causes only a minor decrease in color value. Above 4, the color value is one of the factors that can be used in calculating the organic content. For samples containing equal amounts of organic carbon, calcareous shale containing more than 5% calcite is darker than shale containing less than 5% calcite.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Reston, VA
• OSTI ID: 6485072
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 65-2; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040201* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Site Geology-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
APPALACHIA
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BLACK SHALES
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATES
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLOR
DEVONIAN PERIOD
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALEOZOIC ERA
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SAMPLING
USA