Publication Date

1981

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Weiss, Malcolm P. (Malcolm Pickett), 1921-

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Geology

LCSH

Petrology--Illinois; Geology; Stratigraphic--Mississippian

Abstract

The Fort Payne Formation was originally designated hy Smith (1890) from exposures near Fort Payne, Alabama. The Illinois State Geological Survey has adopted the term for Lower Mississippian rocks of the Valmeyeran series in southern Illinois which overlie the Springville Shale, Chouteau Limestone or the lower portion of the Borden siltstone delta and underlie the Ullin Limestone (Willman, 1975). The objectives of this study are to characterize the Fort Payne rocks in southern Illinois, to determine their diagenetic history and to comment on the environment of deposition. Silicified mudstone and wackestone (Dunham, 1962) are the dominant lithic types. Siliceous sponge spicules and crinoid fragments comprise the greater part of the fossils, but brachiopods, bryozoa and radiolaria are also present. Compaction of the limy sediment formed stylolites and wavy clay seams in many cases and was generally followed by silicification. Dolomitization usually followed silicification. Pyritization followed the dolomite in some cases, but in most this cannot be demonstrated. Contrary to his published work, Jerry Lineback now believes the Fort Payne Formation and the Ullin Limestone are lateral facies equivalents of a prograding carbonate shelf. Based upon my examination of the Fort Payne from southern Illinois, it probably represents the basin-margin or deep shelf-margin of J.L. Wilson's facies belts in an ideal carbonate complex.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.||Includes illustrations and map.

Extent

vii, 67 pages, 3 unnumbered pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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