Thickness and quality of Springfield Coal Member, Gibson County, Indiana, as a function of differential compaction of precursor sediments

Conference · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6561243

Eggert, D L

The Springfield Coal Member is a time transgressive coal that formed during the Pennsylvanian on a delta platform within the slowly subsiding Illinois basin. In Gibson County, Indiana, the locations of the major Galatia channel and the minor Leslie Cemetery channel were determined by differential compaction of precursor sediments beneath this platform. The springfield coal is thick proximal to both channels, but proximal to the Galatia channel it is either a low-sulfur or a high-sulfur coal. It is a low-sulfur coal where it is underlain by a thick platform of shale with some sandstone and overlain by nonmarine shale. It is a high-sulfur coal where it is underlain by a thick platform of fluvial sandstone and overlain by brackish to marine rocks. Distal to both channels the coal is thin and high in sulfur. At distal locations the Springfield is underlain by a platform of either thick bay-fill sandstone or fluvial sandstone and overlain by brackish to marine shale and limestone. Compaction of pre-Springfield delta sediments allowed for accumulation of thicker peat along the axis of more rapid local subsidence. Compaction of muddy parts of the delta platform proximal to the Galatia channel resulted in rapid subsidence and the deposition of nonmarine shale over the peat. In the areas underlain by bay-fill and fluvial sandstone where compaction was less, the peat became a relatively thin and high-sulfur coal. Differences in coal thickness and quality in this 500 mi/sup 2/ (1,300 km/sup 2/) area of Gibson County can be explained largely by differential compaction and deltaic sedimentation.

• Research Organization: Indiana Geological Survey, Bloomington
• OSTI ID: 6561243
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310301-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 67:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL SEAMS
COMPRESSION
DIMENSIONS
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
ILLINOIS BASIN
INDIANA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
ORIGIN
PALEOZOIC ERA
PENNSYLVANIAN PERIOD
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTATION
SULFUR CONTENT
THICKNESS
USA