Depositional Environment of Carter Sandstone (Chesterian) of Black Warrior Basin in Northwestern Alabama and Northeastern Mississippi: ABSTRACT

Abstract

The Late Mississippian (Chesterian) Carter sandstone, which is present in the subsurface of the Black Warrior basin in northwestern Alabama and northeastern Mississippi, was deposited as lower to subaqueous delta-plain facies of a high-constructive delta. Specific deltaic environments identified include bar finger, which is a combination of distributary mouth bar and channel facies, delta front, and prodelta or interdistributary bay. These paleoenvironmental interpretations are based on primary sedimentary rock properties and characteristic spontaneous potential curves. The Carter delta prograded from the northwest toward the southeast in the basin. The morphology of the delta is elongate through most of the basin; however, in the area of the southeasternmost extent of Carter deposition the morphology becomes lobate. The change in morphology is a result of reworking of the delta-front sands by marine proceses. The overall compositional maturity of the sandstone suggests that the constituents had a long distance of transport, with the source area being most likely a sedimentary source terrane. The direction of transport was from the northwest to the southeast, as indicated by sandstone morphology, grain size and thickness trends, paleontology, and facies distribution. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1437------------