Early Paleozoic sedimentation in Reelfoot rift

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

OSTI ID:6535806

Houseknecht, D W; Weaverling, P H

Analysis of subsurface data from deep tests drilled in the northern Mississippi embayment and southern Mid-Continent suggests that earliest Paleozoic sedimentation was dominated by the tectonic evolution of the Reelfoot rift. Throughout most of the Mid-Continent, the Upper Cambrian Lamotte (Mt. Simon) sandstone rests nonconformably on Precambrian basement and is overlain by the Bonneterre (Eau Claire) Formation. However, in the area of the Reelfoot rift, both the Lamotte and Bonneterre grade into thick, basinal shales that locally display evidence of episodic deposition of coarse clastics, perhaps on submarine fans. Moreover, two major sedimentary units are present beneath the Lamotte-Bonneterre basinal facies within the Reelfoot rift. Immediately underlying the Lamotte-Bonneterre shale is a carbonate stratum (probably dolomite) that thickens to more than 1,000 ft (300 m) along the axis of the basin in eastern Arkansas. Underlying this carbonate is a detrital unit that grades from arkosic sandstone near the northern terminus of the basin to a basinal shale southward. This basinal shale is at least several hundred feet thick near the axis of the basin. These two strata occupy the stratigraphic position of the Conasauga (Middle Cambrian) and Rome (Lower Cambrian) Formations of the southern Appalachians. The axial and transverse distribution of these strata suggests that the Reelfoot evolved as paired grabens or half grabens during the Early and Middle Cambrian. Subsequently, the Reelfoot remained the axis for more widespread subsidence and sedimentation throughout much of the Paleozoic.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
• OSTI ID: 6535806
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310301-
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 67:9; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists eastern section meeting, Carbondale, IL, USA, 3 Oct 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
RIFT ZONES
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
ARKANSAS
CAMBRIAN PERIOD
ILLINOIS
KENTUCKY
MISSOURI
PRECAMBRIAN ERA
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEDIMENTATION
TENNESSEE
WELL DRILLING
DRILLING
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION V
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VII
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
ROCKS
USA
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)