Mississippian Carbonates in Indiana…….and beyond

Brian D. KeithIndiana Geological Survey

GeneralizedGeology of the

Midwest-

structural features

Illinois Basin

MichiganBasin

Mississippian

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/globaltext.html

Pennsylvanian

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/globaltext.html

TIMEPASSIVE MARGIN ACTIVE MARGIN

CONTINENTALCOLLISION

SEAFLOORCONTRACTION

SEAFLOOR SPREADING

CONTINENTALPULL-APART

TERTIARY

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

PC

CRETACEOUS

JURASSIC

TRIASSIC

PERMIAN

CARBONIFEROUS

DEVONIAN

SILURIAN

ORDOVICIAN

CAMBRIAN

EDIACARIAN-HADRYNIAN

ALLEGHENIAN

ACADIAN

CALEDONIAN

TACONIAN

Sanford et al (1985)

Eastern North America Tectonic events

This image cannot currently be displayed.This image cannot currently be displayed.This image cannot currently be displayed.

ILLINOIS INDIANA MICHIGAN OHIO

Coal

Alleganian Clastic Wedge

Acadian Clastic Wedge

Taconic Clastic Wedge II

Taconic Clastic Wedge I

Carbonate platform Clastic Wedge Evaporites Mixed carbonate and clastic

Generalized Paleozoic Facies

Granite, basalt, arkose, and other rocks

Maquoketa

Black River

Ancell

200to

1000

35to

230100to

550

0to

500

0to

160

0to

2000

20to

2000

50to

400

400to

1000290to

2180

>1900

Trenton

Ever-ton

Potosi

Mt.Simon

Muscatatuck

NewHarmony

Bainbridge

20to

250

0to

750

50to

770

50to

350

NewAlbany

Brassfield/Sexton Creek

BuffaloWallow

Stephensport

West Baden

Blue River

Sanders

Borden

160to

375

130to

240

100to

260

40to

680

130to

910

35to

760

90to

350

NewAlbany

GROUP ORFORMATION

ROCK UNIT

McLeansboro

Carbondale

RaccoonCreek

170to

770

290to

460

160to

980

Sandstone

Shale

Carbonate

KEY

Igneous andmetamorphic

Paleozoic Stratigraphic Framework for Indiana

Vail et al, 1977Icehouse

Greenhouse

I

G

IOther Factors to Consider

Global sea-level(Vail, et al 1977)

Global climate(Fischer, 1981)

Flooding of North Americaduring much ofPaleozoic

+

Position near equator during warmer global climate

Lots of carbonate-secretingorganisms making lots of limestone *

* Interrupted unfortunately by the periodic clastic wedges

The Net Result

Granite, basalt, arkose, and other rocks

Maquoketa

Black River

Ancell

200to

1000

35to

230100to

550

0to

500

0to

160

0to

2000

20to

2000

50to

400

400to

1000290to

2180

>1900

Trenton

Ever-ton

Potosi

Mt.Simon

Muscatatuck

NewHarmony

Bainbridge

20to

250

0to

750

50to

770

50to

350

NewAlbany

Brassfield/Sexton Creek

BuffaloWallow

Stephensport

West Baden

Blue River

Sanders

Borden

160to

375

130to

240

100to

260

40to

680

130to

910

35to

760

90to

350

NewAlbany

GROUP ORFORMATION

ROCK UNIT

McLeansboro

Carbondale

RaccoonCreek

170to

770

290to

460

160to

980

Sandstone

Shale

Carbonate

KEY

Igneous andmetamorphic

Paleozoic Stratigraphic Framework for Indiana

Mississippian PeriodMississippian PeriodThe Geologic History of IndianaThe Geologic History of Indiana

PALEOGEOGRAPHY: PALEOGEOGRAPHY: Early Mississippian (Osagean)Early Mississippian (Osagean)

Modified from Kepferle (1978)Modified from Kepferle (1978)Modified from Gutschick and Sandberg (1983)Modified from Gutschick and Sandberg (1983)

Establishment of the Mississippian Platform in the Illinois Basin

Facies model and analogy with Mississippian carbonates of Illinois Basin

(1997)

Mississippian PeriodMississippian PeriodThe Geologic History of IndianaThe Geologic History of Indiana

PALEOGEOGRAPHY:PALEOGEOGRAPHY:Middle Mississippian (Meramecian)Middle Mississippian (Meramecian)

Big Snowy -Williston Basin

Acadian Foreland

Basin

Palo Duro Basin

Powder R.Basin

WisconsinHighlands

CARBONATE PLATFORM

PROBABLE ERODED CARBONATE PLATFORM

Illinois Basin

Michigan Basin

Fort WorthBasin

??

?

?

?

?

?

Front RangeUplift

Ozark Uplift

Oolites

OolitesOolitesOolites

Oolites

Modified from Ettensohn (1993)Modified from Ettensohn (1993)

LAND

LAND

DEEP MARINE(mud and chert)

DEEPMARINE

(mud)

W

EMM

SHALLOW MARINE(silt, shale, carbonate mud)

SHALLOW MARINE(carbonate sand and mud)

LAND

LANDMM

Early to Middle Mississippian Paleogeography

Deltaic deposition from east followed byextensive shallow carbonate platform

Borden Valmeyeran

LAND

LAND LM1

LAND

LAND LM2

Late Mississippian Paleogeography

Alternation of thick sand and shale depositionvs. widespread thin limestone deposition -

Control an issue

Chesterian

PP

Pre-Pennsylvanian Paleogeography

Erosion and incision of major paleovalleysinto exposed Mississippian surface

PERMIAN **PENNSYLVANIANMISSISSIPPIAN

DEVONIANSILURIAN

ORDOVICIAN

CAMBRIAN *

PALEOZOIC

MESOZOIC

CENOZOIC

TRIASSIC **

JURASSIC **

CRETACEOUS **

TERTIARY ***

QUATERNARYEON ERA PERIOD

PHANEROZOIC

PROTEROZOIC

ARCHEAN

PRECAMBRIAN *

Millions ofYears Ago

540

500

435410355

295325

250

203

135

65

1.75

± 5

± 6± 8± 5

± 5± 3

± 3

± 5

± 0.5

± 0.05

* Not exposed at the surface *** Scattered deposits** Not present4,600

Industrial Minerals of Indiana ($775 million for 2009)*1. Crushed stone (limestone & dolostone)

MississippianDevonianSilurianOrdovician

2. Portland cement (limestone and clay)

Quaternary (clay)MississippianMississippian-Devonian (clay)DevonianSilurian

3. Sand & gravel 6. Clay & shaleQuaternary Pennsylvanian

Mississippian4. Lime and masonry cement (limestone)

Mississippian, Devonian, Silurian 7. OtherGypsum (Mississippian)

5. Dimension stone Industrial sand (Quaternary &Pennsylvanian (sandstone) Mississippian)Mississippian (limestone and sandstone)Devonian & Silurian * USGS

10 0 30 Miles

10 0 50 Km

Granite, basalt, arkose, and other rocks

Maquoketa

Black River

Ancell

200to

1000

35to

230100to

550

0to

500

0to

160

0to

2000

20to

2000

50to

400

400to

1000290to

2180

>1900

Trenton

Ever-ton

Potosi

Mt.Simon

Muscatatuck

NewHarmony

Bainbridge

20to

250

0to

750

50to

770

50to

350

NewAlbany

Brassfield/Sexton Creek

BuffaloWallow

Stephensport

West Baden

Blue River

Sanders

Borden

160to

375

130to

240

100to

260

40to

680

130to

910

35to

760

90to

350

NewAlbany

GROUP ORFORMATION

ROCK UNIT

McLeansboro

Carbondale

RaccoonCreek

170to

770

290to

460

160to

980

Sandstone

Shale

Carbonate

KEY

Igneous andmetamorphic

Paleozoic Stratigraphic Framework for Indiana

Bahama Platform as model for warm shallow water seas

Enos (1974)

Bahama Platformfacies distribution

Mississippian PeriodMississippian PeriodThe Geologic History of IndianaThe Geologic History of Indiana

MODERN CARBONATE SHOALS:MODERN CARBONATE SHOALS:BahamasBahamas

SPILLOVER LOBESSPILLOVER LOBES

2D DUNES2D DUNES

Images from Hine and others (1985)Images from Hine and others (1985)

Mississippian PeriodMississippian PeriodThe Geologic History of IndianaThe Geologic History of Indiana

DEPOSITIONAL MODEL:DEPOSITIONAL MODEL:Salem LimestoneSalem Limestone

OpenMarine

Platform

ShoalComplex

RestrictedPlatformInterior

After Brown (1990)After Brown (1990)

Granite, basalt, arkose, and other rocks

Maquoketa

Black River

Ancell

200to

1000

35to

230100to

550

0to

500

0to

160

0to

2000

20to

2000

50to

400

400to

1000290to

2180

>1900

Trenton

Ever-ton

Potosi

Mt.Simon

Muscatatuck

NewHarmony

Bainbridge

20to

250

0to

750

50to

770

50to

350

NewAlbany

Brassfield/Sexton Creek

BuffaloWallow

Stephensport

West Baden

Blue River

Sanders

Borden

160to

375

130to

240

100to

260

40to

680

130to

910

35to

760

90to

350

NewAlbany

GROUP ORFORMATION

ROCK UNIT

McLeansboro

Carbondale

RaccoonCreek

170to

770

290to

460

160to

980

Sandstone

Shale

Carbonate

KEY

Igneous andmetamorphic

Paleozoic Stratigraphic Framework for Indiana

Monroe County Geology

Borden

Salem

Penn.

Ste. Genevieve

West Baden(Lower Chesterian)

Paoli Ls.

Ste. GenevieveLs.

St. Louis Ls.

Salem Ls.Harrodsburg Ls.Ramp Creek Fm.

Paoli Ls.

Keith (2011, 2013)

Summary of Mississippian Rocks in Monroe and Lawrence Counties - Interpretation and possible sea-level curve

Facies model and analogy with Mississippian carbonates of Illinois Basin

St. LouisSalemHarrodsburgRamp Creek

(1997)

Ste. Genevieve

Global implications of regional events?

Ross and Ross (1975)

Indian Creek beds?

Acrocyathus bed?