Abstract

The Smackover Formation was deposited as a coarsening-upward carbonate unit that developed first with the deposition of transgressive laminated silty limestones in deep anoxic waters. Mudstones and wackestones were deposited during a slow rise in sea level as the carbonate system became established. Packstones and grainstones were deposited at the Smackover shelf margin in thick coarsening-upward sequences. Local lenses of anhydrite and dolomitic mud developed on the shoreward side of the shelf break. Pelleted sands also developed in the low-energy Smackover lagoon. Ultimately, a thin blanket of ooid sands covered the shelf. During Haynesville deposition, a carbonate barrier at the shelf margin created an evaporative lagoon in which Buckner anhydrite and halite precipitated. As sea level rose, limestones and dolomites were deposited along the downdip margin of the Buckner lagoon. Terrigenous clastics began to prograde into the updip areas. Continued sea level rise flooded the shelf, and Gilmer limestones were deposited as far updip as the present Mexia-Talco fault zone. At the end of Haynesville deposition, limestones and shales were deposited on either side of the Gilmer shelf margin as quartzose clastics continued to prograde into updip areas. Evidence in east Texas suggests that the depositional model for the Smackover followed a shelf margin rather than the generally accepted ramp model. The shelf margin is clearly identified as a carbonate barrier during Haynesville deposition, outlining a Buckner lagoon as the depocenter that continued to subside at least through the end of Haynesville deposition. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1220------------

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.