Southwestern Nebraska (Cambridge Arch Area): ABSTRACT

Abstract

The task of science in general is the breaking-down of the unknown into basic simplicities and the rebuilding of its findings into understandable complexities. In the case of geology and of the petroleum geologists' tasks, this also holds true, with the addition that the rebuilding must be into economically profitable understandable complexities (oil fields). The Cambridge arch represents an area in the stage of development where these theories can be applied. The Cambridge arch is a medium-size structurally positive area on a major structural belt of crustal weakness, pre-Cambrian in age. That is, it is a feature of intrastate size on a trend of interstate length, which is described by the alignment of: the Black Hills, South Dakota; Chadron and Cambridge arches, Nebraska; Central Kansas uplift, and perhaps additional extensions on both ends. just as these intermediate features have a relationship to something bigger, there is a control and an interrelationship to something smaller. That is, smaller trends emanate from the intermediates that are pre-Cambrian in age and lineament- or fracture-pattern-controlled. It is through the studies of these lineaments and intersection of lineaments that we find the exploratory tool to resolve the find ngs into the economically profitable complexities. Studies of the Warner, Cahoj, and Reiher fields are presented to bring out the salient points and offer evidence of lineaments that have had minor positive movement throughout long periods of geologic time and have in turn affected the stratigraphic deposition on a micro-scale. Maps with regional scope, covering the entire geologic column, are presented to help locate lineaments, show the inter-relationship of the intermediates to their micro-counterparts, and illustrate the general stratigraphic conditions over the arch area. End_of_Article - Last_Page 127------------