Upper Cambrian Intrashelf Basin, Nolichucky formation, southwest Virginia Appalachians

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6736784

Markello, J R ^[1]; Read, J F

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1. Superior Oil Co., Houston, TX

An intrashelf basin located on the Upper Cambrian carbonate-rimmed shelf (miogeocline) of the Appalachian orogene, appears to have controlled facies distribution during deposition of the Nolichucky Formation (0 to 985 ft; 0 to 300 m thick). The intrashelf basin was bordered along strike and toward the regional shelf edge by a rim of peritidal carbonates and by nearshore clastics toward the craton. The peritidal carbonates passed into the intrashelf basin by way of a gently sloping carbonate ramp. Development of the Late Cambrian carbonate-rimmed shelf and its intrashelf ramp and basin may have been influenced by high carbonate production along the regional shelf edge, by tectonic subsidence associated with a major shelf depocenter, and by influx of terrigenous sediments which suppressed carbonate deposition in the basin. Understanding the Nolichucky facies within a ramp to intrashelf basin model provides a framework for understanding similar continental-shelf facies which are widely distributed in the lower Paleozoic and in the subsurface of the Mesozoic. Recognition of basins located on pericratonic shelves is important because such basins influence the distribution of potential petroleum source beds and reservoir facies whose trends may be unrelated to regional shelf-edge trends. (JMT)

• OSTI ID: 6736784
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 66:7; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
APPALACHIA
CAMBRIAN PERIOD
CARBONATE ROCKS
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOURCE ROCKS
TECTONICS
USA
VIRGINIA