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    Deltaic Sedimentation On A Carbonate Shelf Stanton Formation (Upper Pennsylvanian), Southeastern Kansas

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    Cris Tina

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Deltaic Sedimentation on a Carbonate Shelf: Stanton Formation (Upper Pennsylvanian), Southeastern Kansas’ REZA MOUSSAVI-HARAME and ROBERT L. BRENNER’ ABSTRACT ‘The Pennsylvanian epicontinental sea periodically cov- ered much of Mid-Continent North America during Mis- sourian time, burying local siliciclastic source areas in Kansas—such as the Nemaha uplift and Central Kansas uplift—with carbonate sediments. During regressive dep- ositional phases in the Missourian (Late Pennsylvanian), silcilasti sediments were transported into Kansas mainly from the southeast. The five members of the latest Missourian Stanton For- mation (in ascending order: Captain Creek Limestone, Eudora Shale, Stoner Limestone, Rock Lake Shale, and South Bend Limestone), form a transgressive-regressive- transgressive sequence, in which the black phosphati shale of the Eudora Member represents maximum trans- sression and the sandy Rock Lake shale represents maxi- mum regression, In southernmost Kansas, the regressive Stoner Lime- stone Member grades into a siliciclastic sequence, most of which is assigned to the Rock Lake Shale Member. Detailed study of surface and subsurface data from these siliciclasties show that deltaic systems prograded into the cratonic sea from Ouachita sources. Analyses of texture and sedimentary structures in lithic samples and of geo- physical well-log characteristics indicate that early during Stanton regressive deposition, a fluvially dominated del- taic lobe complex prograded northwestward across the Okiahoma-Kansas border and initiated Stanton siiciclas- tie deposi tal-facies belt in southeastern Kansas. This lobe complex was eventually abandoned as, the sediment sources shifted northward along the eastern margin of the sea, and a later deltaic lobe complex (repre- on Creek Sandstone) prograded along of the carbonate platform (Stoner Limestone Member) to the north. ‘Textural and compositional characteristics of Stanton silicictastis indicate that they were derived from preexist- ing sedimentary rocks. Pennsylvanian plate collisions that formed the Ouachita and Appalachian Mountains “©Copyright 1986. The American Assccsten of PtoIouM Geog. Al tals recone Maruserp received, January 17,1963 accepted, Jy 13,1903 ZPreeont accross: Departmen of Geology. Fac of Slence, Mashnas Lryersiy, Masha, Fan “SDeparment et Geology The University of lows, towa Cy lows 52222. ‘This study was supported te Kansas Geolsical Survey and te Depa ‘mont ot Gecogy st he Univers of ows, andi based to lage extent on 8 ‘otra ciesrtnion bye senor author WJ Ebanes, former oe Karas ‘Geological Survey need in acqurirg subsurace deta, Special hanks goto PH. Hecke whe suggested the area tty nroduces ot autor oh tacsouran geoegyeteasiem anes, arccrtealyrevewedaoveral diate! this manustnpl We alse thank MVE Longman and WL Fisher fr ortieal ‘evew otis paper resulted in the uplift of early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Sediments derived from these rocks were transported northward and westward, particularly during regressive episodes resulting in punctuation of the dominantly car- bonate Missourian Series with siliciclastis in southeastern Kansas. Although very little petroleum has been produced from the siliciclastie portions of the Stanton Formation, similar sedimentary complexes may be more productive. It is hoped ths efforts int tings. INTRODUCTION Geologie Setting, ‘The Stanton Formation is the youngest unit of the Mis- sourian Series (Upper Pennsylvanian) in Mid-Continent United States, where it is recognized from eastern Nebraska through southern Iowa, northwestern Missouri, and eastern Kansas to the Oklahoma border (Heckel, 1975b). It comprises five members (in ascending order): Captain Creek Limestone, Eudora Shale, Stoner Lime- stone, Rock Lake Shale, and South Bend Limestone (Fig- ure 1). TheStanton Formation overlies the Vilas Shale and underlies the Weston Shale Member of the Stranger For- ‘mation (Douglas Group, Virgilian Stage). Ineastern Kansas, these strata dip gently toward the west and northwest at approximately 30 fr/mi (5 m/km). The study area extends from the southern Forest City basin across the Bourbon arch into the northern end of the Cherokee platform, all of which were relatively stable dur- ing the late Missourian (Moore, 1979). The area of study, ‘outcrop localities, and subsurface data collection areas are shown on Figure 2 Outcrops of the Stanton Formation in eastern Kansas are developed in three different facies belts, From north to south these are the open-marine facies belt, the algal- ‘mound facies belt, and the terrigenous-cetrtal facies belt (Heckel, 1968, 197Sa, b, 1977; Heckel and Cocke, 1969) (Figure 2). The sandstones discussed in this paper are in the terrigenous-detrital facies belt Heckel (1975b, 1977, 1978), Heckel and Baesemann (1975), and Heckel et ‘al (1979) described in detail the ‘major transgressive-regressive (cyclothemic) sequence of the Stanton Formation and other Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian formations in Kansas. Within the Stanton Formation in eastern Kansas, one complete cyclothem (Captain Creek-Eudora-Stoner) and the beginning of another cycle (South Bend) were recognized by Heckel (1975a, b). The marine parts of these two cycles are sepa- 150 Reza Moussavi-Harami and Robert L. Brenner Fermatien Group Stage 3|2 Monnens _ 3 g soura weno ose _[ smn | 8/5 OCR TAKE 8h rs i [sess Zz corsnim ena ims] Jesfoensmnst || fasorte 3 2/5 rz |= 53/3 a2 23/8 cma] 3/3 | Sl eursune a] Z| = ‘swore us] © & veern| |S | Gecrenero 3 Figure 1—Stratigraphic column of part of Upper Pennsylvanian Series in Kansas showing postion of Stanton Formation, using Kansas Geological Survey recommended terminology (modified from Heckel, 1978), rated by the Rock Lake Shale Member, which was depos- ited mainly during the intervening regressive phase The Rock Lake Shale Member of the Stanton Formation ranges in thickness from 3 it (0.9 m) to 14 ft (4.3 m) in northeastern Kansas where it is predominantly shale. It thickens regionally and grades into sandstone southward in the terrigenous-detrital facies belt, where its lower part correlates to the Stoner Limestone Member which grades southward into shale in north-central Montgomery County (Heckel, 1975p). In western Montgomery County, as much as 86 ft (25.8 m) of Rock Lake Member is exposed in outerops, and a total of 180 ft ($4 m) of section can be interpreted from well logs in the subsurface Purpose of Investigation The purpose of this study was to determine the nature and origin of siliciciastic sandstones in the dominantly car- bbonate cratonic shelf setting that existed during the Mis- sourian (Late Pennsylvanian) in southeastern Kansas. Previous studies inferred that these units may have been deposited in deltaic environments, but rigorous analyses of these sandstone units had not been conducted. This investigation was designed to yield a better understanding of the stratigraphy and depositional environments of the sandstones of the Rock Lake Member of the Stanton For mation. The results of this study should provide guidelines 151 for future studies of siliciclastic paleodepositional systems, within dominantly carbonate-shelf paleoenvironments Combining the results of surface and subsurface data (geophysical well logs) with information concerning the stratigraphic setting of these units led to the development of a process-response model to explain the origin and characteristics of these lithologic types. STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS To reconstruct properly the distributions of paleoenvi- ronments, stratigraphic relations among lithologie units within the study area were determined by combining out- crop data with those from electric logs. Although neither cores nor cuttings were available for any of the wells for which electric logs were run, subsurface lithotogic types were interpreted from electic-log curves by comparing them to nearby outerops (Figure 3) AA structural contour map of the top of the easily trace- able South Bend Member of the Stanton Formation shows a regional dip of 30 ft/mi (5 m/km) toward the west, as well as several local anticinal features (Figure 4). These “highs” may be caused partly by thickness variations of lithologic types and differential compaction within the Stanton Formation. The nature of these types i discussed below. Within the terigenous-detrital facies belt, the Stanton Formation ranges in thickness from less than 90 ft (27 m) in the northern sector to more than 180 ft (54 m) in the south (Figure 5). The Scanton thins again southward near the Oklahoma border. By comparing the isopach map toa net-sandstone isolith map of the same area (Figure 6), a close association exists between isopach “ticks” and iso- lich “highs” (Figures 5,6) ‘Twomajor sandstones are included on the sandstoneiso- Jith map (Figure 6): (1) in T33S, a sandstone upto 50 fe (15 1m) thick that corresponds to the Onion Creek Sandstone of Heckel (1975b), and (2) in T34S, approximately 80 ft (24 m) of an unnamed sandstone body. The Onion Creek Sandstone thins northward toward the northern limit of the terrigenous-detrital bet, where the limestone units of, the Stanton Formation have shinned abruptly atthe south- ern end of the algal-mound belt. One small lobe of sand- stone in the extreme north (Southeastern part of T32S, RIE) appears related to local thickening of the Onion Creek Sandstone in this area. Southward, the Onion Creek Sandstone thins from more than $0 ft (15 m)to 10 ft G m) in the southern part of T33S (Figure 6). Sandstone thickens again toward the south in T34S, where it consti tutes an unnamed sandstone body that reaches a maxi- mum thickness of more than 90 ft (27 m) and then thins southward to tess than 50 ft (15 m) between T34 and 355 igure 6). InT35S, total sandstone thickness increases t0 ‘more than 60 ft (18m). This feature is related to thickening of the upper sandstone (in wells 134 and 138) (Figure 7) in the southern terrigenous-detrtal belt. The sequence then thins southward into northeastern Oklahoma where the Stanton Formation in outcrop consists mainly of shale (P. H. Heckel, personal communication, 1981). The net- sandsione isolith map indicates that sandstone bodies in the detrital belt have a southeast-northwest alignment, 152 Stanton Formation, Southeastern Kansas, OPEN. EN. MARINE P ACIES Bey y ALGay ~~ ens ant L P. N WILSON | | NEOSHO BA CONTY y | county Cs Ll Hole K 2 of 7 MONTGOMERY (te ia COUNTY Fa CHAUTAUQUA COON|CREEK . ONION |oRSE CHEYENNE T CREEK — GENoys i Tat OKLAHOMA BEL @ 10 zm = BORDER SECTION ouaery a a ——_ Figure 2—Location of study areain southeastern Kansas. Distribution of sandsto pattern; area of subsurface (geophysical well logs) shown in oblique lines. Localities discussed are named and marked wit black dots. and generally thin toward the northwest (Figure 6) ‘A south-north cross section (AB) has been constructed along the subsurface strike of the Stanton Formation in eastern Chautauqua County (Figure 7), Well 37, in the southernmost part of the algal-mound belt, penetrated the entire Stanton Formation. Log signatures indicate that this sequence is dominated by carbonate rocks. Detailed descriptions of lithic units that are exposed in southeastern Kansas, together with their stratigraphic relationships, were presented by Moussavi-Harami (1980) and will also be published by the Kansas Geological Sur- vey (Moussavi-Harami, in press) in Stanton Formation outcrops shown as stippled row and SEDIMENTOLOGIC ANALYSIS. Outerop Analysis The general ascending vertical sequence of Rock Lake units in western Montgomery County consists of: (A) clayey shale atthe base grading upward to silty shale; (B) interstratified, thin-bedded, very fine to fine-grained sandstone and silty shale; (C) massive, medium-grained sandstone with conglomerate at the base; (D) medium- scale, trough eross-bedded, fine to medium-grained sand stone; (E) fine-grained, planar cross-bedded sandstone; Reza Moussavi-Harami and Robert L. Brenner | = 3.8m HOLE #7 Feet SOUTH BEND Ls. ONION GREEK 8 TimpeR mit 6 EUDORA Sh. GAPTAIN CREEK L RES. S.P. s.P. 153 (6.0 km) > Jos mi (0.8 km) | HOLE #55 OUTCROP LOCATION Tazs.n hse Line of Sectiont L aaa Lo Figure 3—Relationships among Stanton Formation lithologic units in outerop and electric og signature in nearby wells. Datum is base of Captain Creek Member. Distances are not to scale. and (F) thin-bedded, fine to very fine-grained sandstone, ‘As an illustration of how these lithologic types relate to ‘one another, an exposure of the Rock Lake, just north of the Oklahoma border (Figure 2), is described in detail (see Figure 8). Unit 1 (equals lithologie type A) is horizontally stratified calcareous clayey shale at the base, coarsening upward to silty shale with scattered wood fragments. This ‘unit was probably deposited in a quiet-water environment primarily by suspension sedimentation. Unit 2 (equalslith- logic type B) is interbedded silty shale and well-sorted, ‘ery fine to fine-grained sandstone, with scattered marine fossil fragments (such as echinoderms, brachiopods, bryozoans, and mollusks) and a few wood fragments, The sandstones are calcite cemented, very thin-bedded, and laminated. Thin-bedded sandstones were probably formed in the lower upper flow regime (terminology from ‘Simons and Richardson, 1961; Harms and Fahnestock, 1965) from a greater amount of coarser sediments thai ‘were supplied from the source area. Unit 3 (equals upper portion of lithologic type A) is unfossliferous silty shale with scattered wood fragments, This unit was deposited in Quiet water, but probably at a somewhat higher deposi- tional rate and under more fluctuating energy conditions than were those of the underlying clayey unit. Unit 4 (equals lithologic types C and D) is massive, wellsorted, medjum-grained sandstone with a conglomeratic base overlying an erosional contact marked by grooves and burrows. Orientation of the basal grooves suggests unidi- rectional transport primarily to the northwest, Internal stratification was not observed in either the massive sand- stone or the conglomerate. Pebbles in the conglomerate consist mainly of clay chips derived from the underlying shale unit and range in diameter from 0.4 t0 0.8 in. (1 to 2 em). The presence of an erosional contact with conglomer- ate at the base and the absence of internal stratification suggest that this massive sandstone was formed by rapid deposition of sediments carried in channels. Unit 5 (equals lithologic type E) consists of planar cross-bedded, moder- ately to well-sorted, fine to medium-grained sandstones. ‘Owing to poor exposure, it is not possible to determine unequivocally the presence or absence of trough cross bedding in this outcrop. However, itis possible that some of the planar cross-beds observed are actually oblique to longitudinal views of trough cross-bed sets. The planar cross-beds in this unit were formed under the upper part of the lower flow regime, similar to that described by Harms and Fahnestock (1965) in the Rio Grande. Mean azimuth of dip direction of planar cross-bedded sets at this locality indicate that sediment transport was toward the north- west. Unit 6 (equals lithologic type F) is thin to very thin- bedded and laminated, well-sorted, fine-grained sandstone that grades upward into very fine-grained sand- stone. Horizontal stratification in channel sandstones are probably a product of plane-bed transport in the transi- tional regime (between upper lower flow and lower upper flow regime of Harms and Fahnestock, 1965). Some thin, beds of silty shale (less than 1 cm) are present between, thin-bedced sandstone toward the top of this sequence. 154 ‘Stanton Formation, Southeastern Kansas WAN tlk WNP, aS ~ NG : ’ \, |'8 y\ X AW Terrigencus-Detrlial STRUCTURE /, RY] Facies Belt | CONTOUR v4 BI 2mi — kin ¢ aN count 5 \, \) ¥: Det = Ouicrop 7 y so isee ‘ Ain | wrmmdle 11 | A | 7A Fae srowene ons \* | Guvtatoun ISN KANSAS OKLAHOMA Figure 4—Structural contour map of top of South Bend Member of Stanton Formation. Datum is mean sea level. Parallel stratification in the silty shale at the top is proba- bly a product of slow deposition of suspension materials, under quiet water conditions. These silty shales are over- lain by thin-bedded sandstone with scattered clay chips at the base. This pattern indicates rapid deposition of sand above the shale unit. Locally small-scale cut-and-fillstruc- tures are present and consist of conglomeratic quartz sandstone with basal shale pebbles, overlain by small- scale, very thinly planar, cross-bedded, horizontal lami- nated sandstone and paraliel-stratified silty and clayey shale that are cut by the overlying sandstone. Grooves and. burrows are present at the base of the sandstone unit above the cut-and-fill structure. Processes that formed these channels are probably related to local changes in velocity of the major channel. Northeastward in the Tyro Quarry (SE'/s, Sec. 30, 34S, RISE; Figure 2), the base of the Rack Lake Member is a conglomeratic quartz sandstone, containing pebbles up to 2.4 in, (6 cm) in diameter. This basal unit grades ‘upward into thin-bedded sandstone with scattered marine fossil fragments and small-scale cross-laminations dipping east and west in different zones. This conglomerate may have een depositedin the upper flow regime similar tothe situation described by Fahnestock and Haushild (1962). Velocity and turbulence ofthe depositional environment decreased to lower flow regime at the top, as indicated by the thin-bedded sandstone that contains small-scale dune ‘cross-lamination. Small-scale asymmetrical current rip- ples (amplitude about 0.5 em) present at the top of this, unit indicate that current conditions decreased and the direction of transport shifted toward the south, One of the best exposures of Rock Lake sandstone is located in Montgomery County, along Cheyenne Creek (NE!/s NE'/+NE/«, See. 32, T34S, RIAE; Figure). This sequence consists of two distinct lithologic units, which are described below in ascending order. Unit 1 (equals lith- Reza Moussavi-Harami and Robert L. Brenner r x 3 NET ISOPACH 155 wae Algal-Mound Focles Belt SS t- — — SAY Terrigencus-Detrital Facies Belt x ‘OKLAHOMA Figure 5—Isopach map of Stanton Formation from base of Captain Creek Member (and stratigraphic equivalents) to top of South Bend Member. ‘logic types A and B) consists of thin interbedded fine- grained sandstone and silty shale in the lower part. The sandstone beds are well sorted and contain scattered ‘marine fossils (echinoderms, brachiopods, bryozoans, and mollusks) and a few scattered ooliths. The upper part Of this unit consists of interbedded, moderately to well- sorted, fine to medium-grained sandstone and silty shale. This suggests that the lower sandstone beds were formed. under low-energy conditions with relatively slow rates of detrital influx. In contrast, the upper, coarser grained sandstone beds were formed under more turbulent condi- tions, during times of more rapid detrital influx. Unit 2 (equals lithologic types C and D) is thin-bedded, well- sorted, medium-grained sandstone with a conglomeratic base and an erosional basal contact. Pebbles in the con- ¢glomerate are primarily shale, and range in diameter from 0.4 to 1.2in. (1 to 3 em). This sandstone unit is overlain by trough cross-bedded and ripple-laminated sandstones, Mean azimuth of the axes of trough cross-bedded sets indicates transport toward the northwest. This lithic sequence represents sediments deposited under initial shallow-marine, relatively low-energy conditions, which ‘were subsequently cut by a channel formed under higher energy conditions. ‘The presence of slightly oolitic quartz sandstone with scattered marine fossilsin the “thitd oolite” zone (T34.and 35S; Figure 2), in the lower part of the Rock Lake, indi- cates that deposition occurred in an agitated shallow- water environment as Heckel (1975b) suggested. The skeletal ooltic quartz sandstone of the “fourth oolite” zone (T34 and 35S; Figure 2), which is cross-bedded in some areas, probably records deposition in an even more highly agitated, shallow-water environment with low detrital influx. The presence of generally stenohaline orga- nisms, such as echinoderms, indicates that nearly normal ‘marine salinities were established (Heckel, 1972) in parts 156 NET-SS FP ISOLITH © Outerog * Bleatrls og rT La Drler tog ' x 4 ‘Stanton Formation, Southeastern Kansas Toe ‘Algal-Mound = - §W&- - - - = NAY, Terrigenous-Oetrita! Si aye Belt + STANTON ouTcRoP KANSAS. ‘OKLAHOMA Figure 6—Net-sandstone isolith map of Rock Lake Member of Stanton Formation. of the study area during deposition of the lower and mid: dle Rock Lake. Other Rock Lake Member exposures in Montgomery County, Kansas, are characterized by sandstone and shale units that indicate initial low-energy conditions followed by increasingly higher energy conditions as siliielastic sediment supplies increased and water depths decreased. This entire sequence is exposed in the Onion Creek area (Figure 2), where the upper portion has been interrupted by sandstone-filled channels cut into shale. These features indicate that in this area there was a fluctuating supply of siliciclastics, perhaps due to channel meandering or aban- donment and reoccupation. Mean azimuth of the axes of trough cross-bedded sets at this locality indicate that the direction of sand transport in the channels was toward the northwest. Figure 9 shows the predominantly northerly and westerly mean transport directions indicated by trough cross-bedded sets measured on outcrops where they could be accurately determined within the terrigenous-detrital Facies belt. Subsurface Analysis Four different lithofacies were identified in the subsur- face by using resistivity and spontaneous potential logs in conjunction with outcrops. These lithofacies are: (1) lime stone, (2) sandstone, (3) shale (mainly clayey), and (4) mixed rocks (mixture of clayey or silty shale and shaly sandstone). The thickness of the predominantly siliciclas- tic Rock Lake Member increases from north to south. The Stanton Formation net-sandstone isolith map (Figure 6) and cross section AB (Figure 7) both indicate that the amount of sandstone increases southward toward the ‘Oklahoma border before decreasing south of the border in Oklahoma. These relationships, and the geometries of sandstone units, indicate that the source area for the Rock 157 Reza Moussavi-Harami and Robert L. Brenner pags Wo sem LE wiosy pouwusaiap 219% Tae saw & W FT fee (ince Vv gq Ea 158 Stanton Formation, Southeastern Kansas Motaucne ccwscs == FACIES PHASE OF DEPOSITION DISTRI - BUTARY z|2 X ° FA CHANNELS - <| wu 2, S| , x|s @. 3 ®, Ol, %, “ys DELTA o ° z B| & ° cE FRONT z < Eh 4 ol] w z z PRODELTA < - a S S OPEN Fy MARINE ? TRAN bs — -t E oorre oor Of 03 imm TRANSGRESSIV’ Figure 8—Columnar section of Stanton Formation in outerop, measured 0.5 mi (0.8 km) north of Oklahoma border (SW1/s, See. 11, ‘7388, RIAE), showing sequences of lithologi units, relative grain-size distribution (determined petrographically), and depositional interpretations. Lake silciclastics was southeast of the study area. Analyses of geophysical well logs from west of the out- crop belt (Figure 2) showed vertical relationships analo- gous to those observed on outcrops. In general, resistivities and SP deflections increase upward through the Rock Lake Member, indicating coarsening of sedi- ments through time. This sequence of lithologic units, which appears to represent a regressive phase of deposi- tion, grades upward from offshore clayey and silty shales, to nearshore mixed sandstones and shales to channel sand- stones. Southward thinning of offshore clayey and silty shales, as they are replaced from the top by mixed rocks ‘and channel sandstones, seems related to progressive increase in supply of coarse siliciclastic sediments from a southern source area. PROCESS RESPONSE DEPOSITIONAL MODEL. ‘Model Construction and Characteristics Data obtained from regional stratigraphic studies, out- crop observations, and well-log interpretations were com- bined into a depositional model for sandstones and shales of the Stanton Formation in the terrestrial-detrital facies belt of southeastern Kansas. This model is a process- response model in that processes were interpreted from sequences of lithologic units observed on outcrop and. interpreted from well logs. Paleoenvironments were then determined by placing sequences of processes within the proper regional framework (set up by Heckel, 19756, 197, 1980) in a manner similar to that described by Bren- ner (1980). Reza Moussavi-Harami and Robert L. Brenner ce Terrigenous Detrital ve Belt . if is 4 Phe nee EEE Figure 9—Mean transport direction of rough cross-bedsin Stan- {on Formation terigenous-detrital facies belt. ‘The Rock Lake Member was deposited during a regres- sive phase of the cyclic deposition characteristic of the Pennsylvanian epicontinental sea in Mid-Continent North America (Heckel, 1977, 1980). From our study, sedimen- tologic analysis and facies relations among different units, of the Rock Lake siliciclastics, from both surface expo- sures and subsurface well logs, in the terrestrial-detrita facies belt, strongly suggest that these rocks were depos- ited as the result of several related sequences of processes: (1) high to low-energy sequences with sharp bases, (2) alternating high and low-energy sequences, and (3) low- energy suspension, deposition sequences. ‘The distribu- tions of these process sequences within the framework described, strongly suggest that these rocks were deposited in a fluvially dominated deltaic system. Southward thinning of offshore shale, concomitant thickening of sandstone units in southern Montgomery County (Figure 6), and a reversal of trends south of the Oklahoma border in conjunction with trough cross-beds indicating transport to the northwest, all indicate that the siliciclastic source was southeast of the study area at this time. In addition, rounded overgrowths, a high degree of sorting, and the lack of unstable mineral components in the quartz arenites that make up all the Rock Lake sand- stone units suggest that the siliciclastic source rocks were preexisting sedimentary rocks (Moussavi-Harami, 1980). Combining all data and the sedimentologic interpreta- tions, we propose a two-phase depositional model to 159 explain the origin of siliciclastic lithologic units of the Rock Lake Member of the Stanton Formation in the terrestrial-detrital facies belt of southeastern Kansas. Phase One—Early Regression During early regression, a delta complex was located south and southeast of the study area. Owing to alow rate Of detrital influx, a thin sequence of offshore mud with marine fossils (Clayey shale of the Eudora Member) formed in the terrigenous-detrital belt of southern Mont- gomery County. Progradation of the delta to the north- ‘west caused a thick sequence of clayey and silty muds to be deposited from suspended sediments under quiet, prodel- taic, marine conditions. As the delta prograded to the northwest, interbeds of very fine to fine-grained sands, silts, and muds were deposited in distal deta-front envi ronments and interlobe areas (Figure 10) under various water depths and low-energy conditions. These beds con- tain a few scattered marine fossils, such as echinoderms and brachiopods, in the lower part of the Rock Lake in the southern portion of the detrital belt. The presence of lenses of calcareous oolitic sandstone with cross-beds and scattered marine fossils (third and fourth oolites), in the southern part of Montgomery ‘County (T34 and 35S), indicates thatthe water was locally shallow and agitated (Figure 10). Gradational contacts between these oolitic sandstones and sandstone units below suggest that ooliths formed largely in place and were not transported. The presence of stenohaline ec derms indicates that nearly normal marine salinities were established during deposition of these calcareous zones (Heckel, 1972). Laterally discontinuous beds suggest two possible origins for these units: (1) they formed only in the shallowest, thus warmest and most agitated, water on local highs in the broad interlobe areas, or (2)they formed in these local areas only during times of generally reduced detrital influx perhaps when periodic dry climates pre- vailed Phase Two—Late Regression Slow subsidence of the prodelta deposits, perhaps com- bined with further eustatic regression, allowed the delta front to prograde northwestward into the study area. As the delta prograded, coarse-grained sand-size sediments were transported into southeastern Kansas and deposited as intestrata of delta-front thin-bedded sands and muds (Figure 1). The presence ofa few scattered marine fossils in these units indicates that deposition still was slow enough to allow these organisms to live under slightly tur- bid conditions. Northward, progradation of the deta caused distribu- tary channels to cut into previously deposited delta-front sands and muds. This was a time of more rapid detrital influx from the source area. In the upper Rock Lake, dis- tributary channel deposits are represented by conglomer- atic lags with unidirectional grooves and erosional bases, ‘overlain by massive to thin-bedded medium-grained sand- stone with unidirectional grooves and erosional bases, overlain by massive to thin-bedded medium-grained sand- 160 delia front offshore shale >__inierlobe or distol ‘Stanton Formation, Southeastern Kansas Figure 10—Depositional model for Rock Lake Member of Stanton Formation in terrigenous-detrital facies belt during early egres- sion, Not to seale stones with unidirectional trough cross-beds. Interbedded silty and clayey mudrocks, which occur laterally between sandstone units, were deposited from suspension in low- energy interdistributary environments. Continued sediment influx with little delta subsidence eventually allowed the dstributary channel to move into the southern part ofthe study area and to cut through the delta- front silt and sand (Figure 12). A lobate-shaped deltaic wedge developed, which accounts for the southernmost sandstone “high” on the Stanton Formation sandstone- isolith map (Figure 6). Overextension of distributary chan- nels and stream piracy inthe proximal portions of the delta complex caused gradual shifting of deltaic distributary channels and lobes northward along the eastern edge ofthe Late Pennsylvanian seaway. The Onion Creek Sandstone body was formed in this manner asthe siliclastic depocen- ter made final northward migration before withdrawal of the sea. Each lobe was ushered in by deposition of prodel- {ac sediments that were later partially cut by the lower parts, of the advancing distributary channels, These migrating lobes are represented by sandstone-rich units that generally rise in the stratigraphic section northward (Figure 12), and which account for sandstone “highs” on the Stanton iso- pach map (Figure 5). ‘Comparison With Modern Analogs ‘The Rock Lake deltaic system is different from most well-known modern deltaic systems because of the associ- ation of deltaic facies with extensive carbonate facies on the stable cratonic shelf of the Pennsylvanian Mid- Continent. These deltaic facies represent pulses of silici- clastics that contaminated the carbonate environments as a consequence of uplifts in the Ouachita Mountains on the southeast. These positive tectonic elements were created as aresult of Late Pennsylvanian plate collisions between the North American and South American-African plates (Kluth and Coney, 1981). Reza Moussavi-Haraml and Robert L. Brenner fhe della tront _Predelia igure 11—Depositional model for sion, Not to scale. PETROLEUM POTENTIAL Although known petroleum accumulations in the sili clastic units ofthe Stanton Formation are small and not at present economically important, deltaic systems in general are among the most prolific oil and gas producers (Fisher et al, 1969). Complexes such a5 the Rock Lake deltaic complex, which have formed in relatively stable cratonie settings, present both advantages and disadvantages to the petroleum explorationist. ‘The long transport distances and sedimentary nature of the silicilastic source rocks resulted in the transportation of texturally and compositionally mature sands into these deltaic systems. When concentrated into distributary channels by fluvial processes, sand bodies with high ori nal porosities and permeabilities were formed. Mudrock units that resulted from the deposition of delta-plain and prodeltaic muds are commonly tich in organic matter and low in postourial porosities and permeabilities. The close 161 ick Lake Member of Stanton Formation in terrigenous-detrital facies belt during late regres- association of these facies provides three ofthe important conditions for stratigraphic-trap petroleum accumula tions: (1) high porosity and permeability reservoir rocks, @) nearby organic-rich petroleum source rocks, and (3) lateral and vertical seals ‘The disadvantages of exploring for petroleum in deltaic complexes similar to the Rock Lake are primarily the result of a stable depositional setting and the large volume of carbonate rocks in the immediate vicinity. The lack of a tectonic hinge line or other mechanism that would pro- duce rapid subsidence, limit both the lateral distribution of thick portions of potential reservoir sands and the development of multistoried sand bodies. Although local distributary channel sandstones attain thicknesses of 90 ft 27 m) or more, they thin very rapidly away from axes of deposition (Figures 6, 7). In addition, the development of mullistoried sandstone bodies were limited by low deposi- tion and by subsidence rates that precluded rapid oscilla- tions of depositional environments, in a manner similar to 162 Si aay sundaes ‘ransor [eo ie ‘Stanton Formation, Southeastern Kansas lc ash sale Figure 12—Idealized north-south cross-section of Stanton Formation in terrigenous-detrtal faces belt, showing probable relations among facies. Not to scale. those that formed multistoried reservoirs along the Ter tiary Gulf of Mexico margin (e.g., Fisher etal, 1969). The abundance of carbonate rocks above, below and lat erally adjacent to the Rock Lake complex provide materi- als and mechanisms to cement porous and permeable sandstone units, If cementation happens prior to petro- leum generation and migration, calcite cement rather than petroleum fills most of the effective pore spaces. Prelimi- nary petrographic work with Rock Lake core specimens indicates that early cementation may have adversely affected reservoir properties of some of the sandstones along the distal margins of delta lobes (Moussavi-Harami, in press). Porosity appears to be better preserved in sand- stone units representing more proximal distributary chan- nel sandstone, despite their slightly poorer primary reservoir characteristics. This may be due to two factors: (1) insulation of more proximal sandstones from carbon: ate units by impermeable silicclastic mudrock units, and (Q) the slightly acidic nature of interstitial waters associ- ated with organic-rich, fluvially derived sediments. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Sedimentologic analysis of sliciclastic rocks of the Stan- ton Formation in the terrigenous-detrital facies belt indi- cates that the lower, fine-grained sandstones of the Rock Lake Member were deposited under very low flow-regime conditions. The cross-bedded, medium-grained sand- stones higher in the member were deposited under condi- tions within the upper part of the lower flow regime, A. fining upward sequence, basal erosional contact with con. slomerate, trough and planar cross-bedded sets, current ripple matks, and lateral relationships of these upper sandstones indicate that they were deposited in channel systems. Modal trough eross-bed transpor: directions and thinning of sandstone toward the northwest indicate that the source area was southeast of the study area. Because exact modern analogs for sedimentary systems deposited in environments of the Pennsylvanian epiconti- nental sea donot exist, depositional environments must be interpreted through a process-response model, in which sedimentary sequences are related ‘0 physical processes, that formed them, and then depositional environments are interpreted by considering these processes within the regional sedimentary and tectonic framework. This type of analysis shows that the Rock Lake Member of the Stan- ton Formation was deposited in a fluvial-dominated delta system during the regressive depositional phase of the Stanton cycle inthe late Missourian epicontinental sea of the North American Mid-Continent. Subsurface studies Reza Moussavi-Harar using geophysical logs indicate that a delta complex, con- sisting of several lobes, formed in the southern part of the detrital belt. As these lobes were abandoned and the sedi- ment source shifted to the north along the eastern margin of the sea, the Onion Creek Sandstone was deposited as a later delta lobe in the northern part of the detrital belt. The third and fourth oolitic quartz sandstone beds, with scat- tered marine fossils, in the Rock Lake in the southern part of the detrital belt, may have been deposited in shallow water on local highs in the interlobe areas during times of ‘generally reduced detrital influx. ‘The mature textural and compositional characteristics of Rock Lake sandstones indicate thatthe sliciclastie source area consisted of older sedimentary rocks, with the most probable siliciclastic source area being the Ouachita uplift. The potential for finding petroleum accumulations in the Rock Lake Member of the Stanton Formation is some- ‘What limited by the relative thinness of these rocks and the diagenetic effects related to abundant carbonate rocks in the area. However, the key factors for petroleum accumu lations are present and may be important in sedimentolo- gically and tectonically similar complexes if not in the Rock Lake itself, REFERENCES CITED Brenner, R. L., 1980, Construction of process-response models for ‘ancient epicontnentalseavay depositional systems using partial ana Togs: AAPG Bulletin, v.64, . 1223-1244, Fahresiock, RK. and WL. Hashild, 1962, lume studies ofthe trans ‘Port of pebbles and cobbles on a sand bed: GSA Bulletin, ¥. 73, 11-1436, Fisher, WL, L. F Brown, Jt, A.J, Sots, and J. H. McGowen, 1999, Delia systems in the exploration for oil and gas—a research colo-

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