Integrated Paleomagnetic and Diagenetic Study of the Mississippian Limestone, North–Central Oklahoma

Abstract

Abstract The Mississippian limestone is a petroleum exploration target in northern Oklahoma, and diagenetic events are significant factors in controlling porosity. In this study, paleomagnetic data, supported by petrographic results, were used to determine the origin and timing of diagenetic events in five unoriented cores from northern Oklahoma. Petrographic analysis indicates a complex paragenetic sequence, which includes precipitation of sphalerite and baroque dolomite. Thermal demagnetization removes a low-temperature viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) and a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) in magnetite. An attempt was made to orient the cores using the VRM but this resulted in a streaked distribution of declinations. The inclinations of the CRM in the specimens in the five cores are similar (mean = −2.6°) and the age of the CRM was determined by comparing the inclinations with the expected inclinations for the study area. This indicates remanence acquisition in the Permian (~310–290 Ma). This is consistent with dates for mineralization in the nearby Tri-State MVT deposit and for a hypothesized Permian hydrothermal alteration event in the study area. The age of the CRM and the presence of sphalerite and baroque dolomite suggest that the CRM was acquired via hydrothermal fluids in the Permian.