Evidence for existence of Sabkhalike conditions in Upper Arbuckle Group, Slick Hills, southwestern Oklahoma

Conference · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:7157700

Ragland, D A ^[1]; Donovan, R N ^[2]

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1. Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater (USA)
2. Texas Christian Univ., Fort Worth, TX (USA)

In the Slick Hills of southwestern Oklahoma, the Ordovician upper Arbuckle Group carries a cryptic record of evaporite precipitation. This record is particularly well developed in the Cool Creek and, to a lesser extent, the West Spring Creek formations. Principal lines of evidence supporting this conclusion are (1) salt pseudomorphs (after gypsum( )) preserved in chert and, less commonly, in limestone (principal pseudomorphing minetals are calcite and dolomite), (2) molds of salts in cherts, (3) traces of anhydrite and celestite within chert nodules, (4) collapse breccias the authors interpret as resulting from the solution of sulfate deposits, (5) dolomite beds that have appropriate isotope values, and (6) length-slow and other varieties of chert indicative of waters of high ionic strength, some of which are the distinctive cauliflower variety. In addition, a number of features suggest that waters of unusual composition (ie., modified seawater) were present on the Arbuckle platform from time to time. These features include rare bedded (primary( )) cherts, subaqueous shrinkage cracks, and ooids of unusual and variable textures. Their conclusion is that during upper Arbuckle Group deposition, particularly Cool Creek deposition, the vast Arbuckle platform was periodically exposed and a sabkhalike environment developed in which dolomitization and gypsum/anhydrite precipitation took place. Subsequent reestablishment of fully marine conditions resulted in the early removal of the sulfates, leaving only a cryptic evaporite signature. Our interpretation can be supported in a general sense by the fact that (1) the fauna of the Cool Creek Formation is impoverished by comparison with adjacent formations, (2) the area was in a suitable climatic zone, and (3) the widespread occurrence of detrital quartz in the Cool Creek is compatible with exposure of the platform and consequent movement of clastics into the area.

• OSTI ID: 7157700
• Report Number(s): CONF-9003145--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 74:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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