53 a
ABSTRACTS.
Oil f ie l d Ex pl o r a tio n a nd Ex p l o it a t io n.
G eology...
G eophysics a n d G eochem ical P ro sp ec tin g
D rillin g ...
P ro d u c tio n D e v elo p m en t ...
Tr a n spo r tand Storage Re f in e r y Op e r a t io n s.
R efineries a n d A u x ilia ry R e finery P la n t ... ...
D istillatio n
P A G E
53 a 67 a 67 a 67 a 70 a 72 a
72 a
73 a
P A G E
C hem ical a n d P h y s ic a l R efining 73 a
S a fe ty P re c a u tio n s ... ... 74 a Pr o d u c t s.
C h em istry a n d P h y sics ... 74 a
A nalysis a n d T estin g ... ... 74 a
C rude Oils ... ... ... 74 a
E n g in e F u e ls ... ... ... 75 a B itu m e n , A s p h a lt a n d T ar ... 75 a D eriv ed C hem ical P ro d u c ts ... 76 a
Coal, Shale a n d P e a t ... ... 76 a
M iscellaneous P ro d u c ts ... 7 8a
Mi s c e l l a n e o u s ... ... ... 7 8 a
B ook R eview s ... ... ... 79 a
A U T H O R IN D E X .
T h e n u m b ers refer to th e A b s tra c t N u m b er.
The original papers referred to in the abstracts marked with an asterisk may be borrowed by Members from the Institute Library.
A lexander, C. I ., 211 A ppalachian Geological
Society * 211 B arr, K . W ., 232 B au rrnschinidt, - A. J .,
177 Bed, A. H ., 211 B en n ett, J . G., 237 Blanpied, B. W ., 210 Borden, J . L ., 211 Bourne, A. I ., 235 B u rn ett, T . J ., 211 Clark, S. K ., 204 Cole, C. L ., 205 Crawford, F . W ., 231 C urran, J . F ., 160 D aly, J . W ., 198 Decker, 0 . E ., 162 Desjardins, L., 164 Donnelly, A. S., 211 D o tt, R . H ., 170 Ehlers, A., 168
E llio tt, G. R ., 203 Freem an, L. B., 181 Gregersen, A. I., 211 H am , W . E ., 170 H ardenberg, H . J ., 211 H azzard , R . T., 210 H eckm an, L. E ., 222 H edberg, H . D ., 173 H eim en, R . Y ., 167 H en n y , F ., 169 H o y te, W . N ., 233 H ughes, U . B., 211 H um e, G. S., 211 H u n tin g to n , R . L., 227 Im lay , R . W ., 163 K azam ovskaia,fB. E ., 202 H elium , L . B ., 178 K ing, J . G., 238 K irkbride, 0 . G., 226 K oester, E. A ., 211 K unkel, J . H ., 236
Lahee, F . H ., 199 Landes, K . K ., 176 Larsen, R. M., 211 Leavenw orth, P . B ., 211 Logan, L. J ., 186 Longwell, 0 . R ., 172 Love, F . H ., 228 Lovell, R. G., 241 M cFaddin, D. E ., 225 M cFarlan, A. C., 181 McGlothlin, T ., 174 M artens, J . H . C., 165,
166
Meyer, W. G., 182 Miller, M. C., 221 Miser, H . D ., 161 M organ, T. D ., 231 M orton, F ., 232 Nelson, Y. E ., 181 N o rth Texas Geological
Society, 211 Paddleford, J . T., 191 P etro v , A. D ., 230
P olonbarinova-K ochina, P . J ., 201, 202 P o rte r, W . W ., 211 P ry o r, 0 . C., 207, 208 Pye, W. D ., 175 P y re, A., 173 R ichards, A. R ., 232 Rouse, J . T., 180 Royds, J . S., 204 Spiee, W . H . J r ., 211 S titt, J . R ., 209 S u tto n , C., 200 Swain, F. M., 183 Sweetm an, H . L., 235 Taliaferro, N . L ., 179 Thom son, G. H ., 234 Tom linson, C. W ., 204 Y ittik h , M. Y., 230 W atkins, J . C., 229 W inter, N . B., 211 W olcott, P . B ., 171
Oi l f i e l d Ex p l o r a t i o n a n d Ex p l o i t a t i o n. G e o lo g y .
160.* Eocene Stratigraphy of Chico Martinez Creek Area, Kern County, California.
J . F . C urran. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Oeol., O cto b er 1943, 27 (10), 1361-1386.— T h e general strik e is from n o rth -w est to so u th -east. T h e C arneros a n ticlin e p itc h e s in th is d irectio n , a n d its crest is tra v e rse d b y th e C arneros p iv o ta l or reverse fa u lt, in d ic a tin g com pression from th e n o rth -e a st. T o th e s o u th th e o v e rtu rn e d Chico M artin ez a n ti cline show s n o rth -ea stw a rd th ru s tin g along th e T em b lo r th ru s t-fa u lt. B o th a n ti clines a re c u t across b y th e n o rth -n o rth -w e s t-s o u th -s o u th -e a s t- C ard in al fault-zone, w hich is of Pleistocene d a te (P a sa d en a n orogeny of Stille). T h e m ain d efo rm a tio n w as p re-M cK ittrick (late K ainozoic), b u t earlier local p re-R efu g ian m o v em en ts can be traced .
B
5 4 a ABSTRACTS.
T h e Oligo-M iocene geology is w ell k n o w n , especially th e sa n d y , h o rizo n -m ark in g
“ Phacoides ” (= L u c in o m a acutilineata) reef, ab o v e w h ich fossils h a v e also b e en fo u n d in th e C arneros sa n d sto n e — viz., Ostrea tita n , P ecten sp p ., a n d B a la n u s sp. I n th e
“ B u tto n b ed s ” a b u n d a n t E chinarachnius m erriam i is asso c ia ted w ith Pecten andersom a n d Ostrea sp. T hese a ll belong to th e T em b lo r, a n d ab o v e th e m th e G ou ld sh ale is assig n ed to th e M o n terey o r M a rico p a fo rm a tio n (M iocene).
T h e E o cen e shale m em b ers a re d e a lt w ith a cco rd in g to th e ir a b u n d a n t F o ra m in ife ra . A ssociations lik e t h a t of B u lim in a p u p u la S tach e, Cibicides sp. D C u sh m a n a n d M cM asters, a n d U vigerina churchi C u sh m an a n d Siegfus a id m a te ria lly in m ap p in g . A ll th e E o cen e sam ples c o n ta in R a d io la ria of th e legion S p u m e lla ria , fam ilies L io- sphserida a n d P laco d iscid a. T h ese a re a cco m p an ied b y n u m ero u s Olobigerina trilo- culinoides P lu m m e r, a n d m em b e rs of th e B ulim inidse, Lagenidas, e tc ., in d ic a tin g o p e n sea in s u b -tro p ica l to tro p ic a l co n d itio n s : a conclusion w h ic h is s u p p o rte d b y th e ab sen ce of R a d io la ria legion N a ssellaria. R a p id a c c u m u la tio n of d e tr itu s o n a ste ep ly sloping b o tto m , a t or below th e edge of th e c o n tin e n ta l shelf, is also su g g ested . M ost of th e fo ram in iferal g en era in v e s tig a te d h a v e a w ide b a th y m e tric a l ra n g e , b u t lim itin g fa c to rs seem to b e p ro v id e d b y L en ticu lin a , w h ic h is n o t re p o rte d in p re s e n t o ceans a t less t h a n 4 5 -5 0 fa th o m s, a n d b y R obulus a n d G yroidina, w h ic h a re n o t fo u n d a t less t h a n 20 fa th o m s. A c tu a lly R obulus a n d L e n tic u lin a a tt a in th e ir m a x im u m d e v elo p m e n t off tro p ic a l c o asts in cold w a te r a t d e p th s of 100—500 fa th o m s . A g a in , Dorothia, T extu la ria , a n d T r ita x ilin a h a v e m a x im u m d e p th s u p to 500 fa th o m s . A s re g ard s te m p e ra tu re , th e lim its a p p e a r to lie b e tw ee n 45° a n d 58° E ., w h e re th e low er te m p e ra tu re is th e m in im um fo r T r ita x ilin a a n d th e h ig h e r is th e m a x im u m fo r R o b u lu s, A m m o - baculites, a n d T r ita x ilin a . T h e a ssig n m en t of 50° F . a s th e m a x im u m fo r H aplo- phragm oides is in a d e q u a te ly b ase d . I n a n y case th e s to ry seem s to h e o n e of w a te rs
of m ed iu m d e p th w h ic h w ere cool b u t n o t cold.
C om parison of ch ee k lis ts of F o ra m in ife ra show t h a t in d o w n w ard seq u en ce th e m em b e rs 1, 2, a n d to p of 3 of th e “ T e jo n ” (E ocene) a t Z em o rra C reek a re p ro b a b ly sy n ch ro n o u s w ith th e S a g a sa r sh a le m e m b e r of th e K re y e n h a g e n fo rm a tio n o f R e e l R id g e, a n d t h a t th e low er p a r t of 3, a s w ell as 4, 5, 6, a n d 7 a re a p p a re n tly e q u iv a len t to th e C anoas siltsto n e . T h u s w hile siliceous sh ales w ere b e in g fo rm ed in th e R e ef R id g e d is tric t, coarse sa n d sto n e s w ere b ein g d e p o site d in th e Chico M a rtin ez C re ek - C arneros C reek reg io n . A tte m p te d co rre latio n w ith th e ty p e T ejo n fo rm a tio n a n d th e ty p e D e v il’s D e n sh a le d id n o t succeed.
A b ib lio g ra p h y of 61 item s, in clu d in g 7 on th e ecology of F o ra m in ife ra , is given.
A . L . 161.* Regional Geologic Studies for Oil and Natural Gas. H . D . M iser. B u ll. A m er.
A s s . Petrol. Oeol., O cto b er 1943, 27 (10), 1387-1388.— T h e ty p e of w o rk t h a t is b ein g u n d e rta k e n is m a in ly re g io n a l s tra tig ra p h y , b o th su b -su rface a n d su rfa ce , of larg e area s, su ch as b a sin s o r sim ila r geological p ro v in ce s. D a ta w ill b e a c c u m u la te d fo r m a p s a n d sectio n s show ing (a) th ic k n e ss of o il-p ro d u c in g fo rm atio n s, (6) changes of facies o r p o ro sity in oil fo rm a tio n s o r p o te n tia l oil fo rm atio n s, (c) m a rg in s of p ro d u c in g o r p o ssib ly p ro d u c tiv e zones, (d) re la tio n s a n d e x te n t of le n tic u la r sa n d s. T h ese stu d ies w ill h a v e a s th e ir o b je c tiv e th e d e lim ita tio n of b ro a d a re a s t h a t a re fa v o u ra b le fo r e x p lo ra tio n . T h e d e te rm in a tio n of local s tr u c tu r a l fe a tu re s , w h e th e r b y su rface, su b -su rfac e, o r g eo p h y sical m eth o d s, w ill n o t b e stressed .
T h e re s u lts w ill b e re le ased p ro m p tly th ro u g h th e F e d e ra l a n d S ta te geological s u rv e y s a n d th e A m e ric an A sso ciatio n of P e tro le u m G eologists.
A . R . D en iso n of T u lsa c o m m en ts t h a t th is n e w p ro g ra m m e is d esig n ed to s t a r t w h ere th e a v era g e o il-co m p an y geologist leav es off, a n d to c a rry fo rw a rd reg io n al w o rk of a scope p ossible in th e p a s t o nly w h ere c o -o p era tiv e e ffo rts w ere s p o n s o red b y
lo cal geological societies. A . L .
162.* Three More Graptolites irom the Simpson of Oklahoma. C. E . D eck er. B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Oeol., O cto b er 1943, 27 (10), 1388-1392.— T h re e n e w g ra p to lite s h a v e b een collected fro m th e u p p e r p a r t of th e B ro m id e, u p p e rm o s t fo rm a tio n of th e S im p so n (O rdovician), in th e C riner hills, 8 m l. so u th -w e st of A rdm ore, O klahom a.
T h is is th e sam e zone t h a t y ield s D iplograptus m axw elli D eck er, w h ic h p e rm its c o rre la tio n of th e u p p e r p a r t of th e B ro m id e w ith th e m id d le of th e M ifflin m e m b e r of th e P la tte v ille of W isconsin. T h e Z one is t h a t o f A m ,p yx mcgeheei.
D ictyonem a francesice now d escribed is fro m argillaceous lim estone, in w h ich th e b row nish-yellow colony h a s escaped d a rk en in g due to c arb o n izatio n . Thecse of th re e k in d s a re p re se n t : th o se fo r reg u lar poly p s, large gonothecse for re p ro d u c tio n , a n d sm all elo n g ate bithecse, d o u b tle ss fo r stin g in g cells.
D ictyonem a rockcrossingensis h a s less re g u la r v e rtic a l stip es a n d m eshes w id er in p ro p o rtio n to le n g th th a n th e foregoing. I t th u s ap p ro ach es th e fo rm of Desm ograptus.
Dicellograptus gurleyi L ap w o rth , th e th ir d discovery, lin k s th e to p of th e B rom ide w ith th e N o rm an sk ill shale of N ew V o rk a n d w ith th e W om ble shale of A rk a n s a s ; a n d , as 18 of th e g ra p to lite species fo u n d in th ese tw o fo rm atio n s occur in th e low er p a r t of th e V iola lim estone, N o rm an sk ill a n d W om ble m ay b e ta k e n a s b rid g in g th e brief h ia tu s b etw een B ro m id e a n d V iola.
K eb le a n jl B enson lis t D . gurleyi from th e U p p e r O rdovician of A u stralia.
D eck er recognizes stin g in g bithecse in D . gurleyi. B u lm a n illu stra te s th e presence of th ese in p ro fu sely b ra n c h e d form s like Clonograptus tenellus a n d Bryograptus hunnbergensis, b u t D ecker now a d d s t h a t th e y also occur in Dicellograptus, D iplo- graptus, a n d D idym ograplus. R u e d em an n (N ew Y o rk State M u s ., M em ., 11, 1908, 297-309) h a s show n th ese s tru c tu re s w ith o u t co m m en t on th e ir co n n ectio n w ith
bithecse. A. L.
163.* Jurassic Formations of Gulf Region. R . W . Im la y . B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol.
Oeol., N o v em b er 1943, 27 (11), 1407—1533. B ib lio g rap h y of 98 item s.— L ow er a n d M iddle Ju ra ss ic rocks of th e G ulf region h a v e b een identified o nly in so u th e rn Mexico a n d n o rth e rn C en tral A m erica. T h e y c onsist of several th o u s a n d feet of green or d a rk er m arin e b eds a n d of v ari-co lo u red c o n tin e n ta l feeds w h ich m a y derive th e ir ferric oxide fro m earlier re d b eds o r fro m c o n te m p o ra ry late riz atio n . P u re ly m arin e co n ditions w ere lim ited , a n d th e am m o n ite facies of th e L ow er Ju ra ss ic h a s only been identified in n o rth -w e s t V eracruz, e a s te rn H id alg o , a n d n o rth e rn P u e b la. T he c o n tin e n ta l facies h a s been recognized’in w e stern O axaca, so u th e rn P u e b la, a n d n o rth e rn C hiapas, b u t p ro b a b ly ex ists also in n o rth e rn G u atem ala, S alvador, H o n d u ra s, a n d N icarag u a. I t c o n ta in s som e coal, a n d th e shales a re o fte n carbonaceous, w ith excellent p la n t rem ain s, w hich p o in t to a clim ate a t le a st seasonally h o t a n d h u m id . T h e c o n tin e n ta l facies of th e L ow er Ju ra ss ic re sts on schist, gneiss, a n d g ra n ite , or u p o n U p p e r Palaeozoic se d im e n tary s tr a ta , a n d g rades u p w a rd s in to m ix ed c o n tin e n ta l a n d m arin e M iddle Ju ra ss ic , in w h ich m arin e b ivalves m ay occur in sa n d sto n es a n d am m o n ites in n o dules in shales. T h e M iddle Ju ra ss ic of C hiapas a n d n o rth e rn C en tral A m erica is c o n tin e n ta l th ro u g h o u t a n d c an n o t y e t b e d istin g u ish ed fro m Low er Ju rassic. One reg ard s th e m a in geosyncline as lying n o rth of a rising lan d m ass w hich occupied th e site of H o n d u ra s a n d so u th e rn m o st G u atem ala. M arine w a te rs e n te red th e region of V eracru z e arly in th e L ow er Ju ra ss ic , sp re ad w estw ard s a n d s o u th w est in a n a rro w e m b a y m e n t, secured a b e ach -h ead in th e region of n o rth -e a ste rn G uerrero b y la te L ow er Ju ra ss ic , a n d fa n n ed o u t m ore a n d m ore w idely d u rin g M iddle
oi Ju rassic tim e.
T he M exican fa u n a l re p re se n tativ es of m o st of th e E n g lish L ow er L ia s (excluding th e H e tta n g ian ) a re : Goroniceras aff. bisulcatum , Arnioceras aff. geometricum, Euagas- siceras aff. sauzeanum , Oxynoticeras aff. oxynotum , Vermiceras aff. bavaricum , Pleure- ffl, chioceras aff. deciduum , A rnioceras james-dance, Echioceras aff. raricostatum, Micro-
deroceras cf. bispinatum , a n d U ptonia cf. jam esoni. U p p e r a n d M iddle L ias h a v e n o t cal been identified. B u t covering p a r t of In fe rio r a n d G re a t O olite tim e w e h a v e Teloceras
a n d Strenoceras aff. bifurcatum , a n d re p rese n tin g th e C ornbrash th e re a re Strenoceras at paracontrarium a n d Eurycephalites bossi. A t th e b ase of th e U p p e r Ju ra ss ic th e nal Mexican zonal e q u i v a l e n t ^ th e K ellaw ay s b eds is Subgrossouvria neogoea, a n d syn-
by chronous w ith th e low er p a r t of th e O xford clay Erym noceras m ixtecorum . A n in te re s t
ing problem is p re sen te d b y th e q u estio n of to w h a t e x te n t th ese beds a re p re sen t in C uba, w here th e earliest identified Ju ra ss ic is th e S an C ayetano, w h ic h b eg an to be deposited in C orallian tim e. I t includes sc h ist a n d m arb le, a n d p h y llites w h ich from co n tain ed nodules yield C orallian a n d p e rh ap s e arly K im m erid g ian am m o n ites.
D uring th e D ivesian (u p p er p a r t of O xford Clay) co n ditions becam e v e ry arid , a n d g re at deposits of sa lt a n d red b eds w ere laid dow n, in clu d in g th e E agle Mills fo rm atio n of th e G ulf Coast. T he s a lt in th ese b eds is th e source of t h a t in th e sa lt dom es.
These red beds are a b se n t in W est T exas. D u rin g th e succeeding A rgovian (Corallian) th e clim ate rem ained arid , b u t lim estone dep o sitio n su p erv en ed . T h e n early in th e
5 6 a ABSTRACTS.
L ow er K im m erid g ian th e w a te rs re tre a te d b a sin w a rd s fo r 50-100 m l., lea v in g lag o o n s in w h ich a n h y d rite a n d re d beds g a th e re d . To th e C o rallian belo n g th e b la c k P o sid o n ia shales w h ich in te rfin g er w ith th e co ral-b rach io p o d reefs of th e S m ack o v er.
T h e L ow er K im m e rid g ia n o rogeny follow ed. I t b u ilt fo ld ed a n d m e ta m o rp h ic m o u n ta in s in C uba w h ich re m a in e d as la n d till th e d ep o sitio n of th e V ihales lim esto n e (late P o rtla n d ia n )— a fo rm a tio n w h ic h is belie v ed to b e th e source of m a n y oil-seepa a n d larg e a s p h a lt dep o sits. I t is fro m it t h a t th e sm all b u t co m m ercially p ro d u c tiv e se rp en tin e m asses a re im p re g n a te d in H a v a n a a n d S a n ta C lara p ro v in ces.
T h is L ow er K im m e rid g ia n d ia s tro p h ism also fo u n d e x p ressio n in b lo ck -fa u ltin g on b o th sides of th e N o rth A tla n tic : in th e P a lis a d e d istu rb a n c e , in b o u ld e r b e d s a n d tu n a m is of H elm sd ale, S c o tla n d ; a n d in slu m p in g in th e S olen h o fen lith o g ra p h ic lim esto n e. T h e N e v a d ia n orogeny is also of th is tim e.
T h e B u c k n er re d b ed s in th e G ulf region, w ith th e ir a n h y d rite dep o sits, a re a p ro d u c t of erosion a f te r u p lift. T h e y a re follow ed b y th e im p o r ta n t C o tto n V alley sh ales a n d lim esto n e, th e low er p a r t of w h ic h c o n ta in s a m m o n ite s ty p ic a l of A m e ric an M iddle K im m e rid g ia n — Idoceras cf. durangense B u r c k h a r d t a n d Glochiceras cf. fia la r (O ppel).
T h e u p p e r p a r t of th e C o tto n V alley h a s few fossils, b u t one— Tancredia louisianensis Im la y — belongs to th e g ro u p of T . a x in ifo rm is (see L . R . Cox, A n n . M ag. N a t. H ist., ser. 10, vol. 3, 1929), w h ich is ra re a b o v e th e J u ra s s ic . T h e C o tto n V alley is re g a rd e d a s e q u iv a le n t to th e L a C asita fo rm a tio n of M exico, a n d to th e M o rriso n of th e W e s te rn In te rio r. T h e c lim ate w as m o is te r th a n t h a t of th e A rg o v ia n a n d D iv e sian stag es, a n d n e ar-sh o re d ep o sits c o n ta in m u c h co n g lo m e rate a n d sa n d sto n e .
T h e Ju ra ss ic e n d ed w ith c o n tin u e d erosion of th e h ig h la n d s p ro d u c e d d u rin g th e P a lis a d e d is tu r b a n c e ; th e e v e n tu a l p ro d u c t w as th e F a ll Z one p e n e p la in of th e early U p p e r C retaceous.
U p p e r Ju ra ss ic ro ck s in th e s o u th e rn U .S . h a v e y ield e d oil a n d g as o n ly in A rk a n sa s a n d L o u isian a. T h e C o tto n V alley fo rm a tio n h a s b e en a m in o r source of oil fro m sand- lenses in a few fields n e a r th e A rk a n s a s -L o u is ia n a b o rd e r. T h e S m ack o v er h a s been a m a jo r p ro d u c e r of oil a n d gas in s o u th e rn A rk a n sa s a n d a m in o r so u rce in n o r th e r n L o u isian a. M ost of th e o u tp u t fro m th e S m ack o v er h a s com e fro m p o ro u s o o litic lim esto n e s o u th of a fa u lt-z o n e p ro b a b ly c o n tin u in g th e B alco n es f a u lt- z o n e ; b u t sim ilar lim esto n e is also s a tu r a te d w ith oil a t th e M id w ay field, n o r th e r n L a fa y e tte C o u n ty , A rk a n sa s, n o r th o f th e fa u lt-zo n e . T h e M id w ay d isco v ery h a s s tim u la te d searc h fo r shoreline tr a p s in m a rg in a l a rea s of th e S m ack o v er lim esto n e in A rk a n sa s a n d e a s te rn T ex as, th o u g h p re s e n t S m ack o v er p ro d u c tio n is a ll fro m s tr u c tu r a l tra p s . T h e m ain a re a s w ith in re a c h of th e d rill a re in a zone 10-30 m l. w id e e x te n d in g fro m so u th e rn A rk a n sa s a n d n o r th e r n L o u is ia n a so u th -w e stw a rd s to th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d o f D el R io , T ex as, ro u g h ly p a ra lle l to th e B alco n es fa u lt-zo n e . E a s t of A rk a n sa s sm all a rea s of u p lift in M ississippi, A la b am a, a n d p e rh a p s w e s te rn F lo rid a a re w o rth te s tin g , b u t th ro u g h o u t m o st of th e reg io n e a s t of th e M ississippi th e S m a ck o v e r lies a t excessive d e p th s fo r p re s e n t-d a y drillin g . Since so m a n y fields in s o u th e rn A rk a n sa s a n d n o rth e rn L o u isia n a a re p ro d u c in g fro m th e J u ra s s ic , i t w o u ld b e a su rp rise if th e co rresp o n d in g J u ra s s ic ro ck s elsew here in th e s o u th e rn U .S ., a n d in M exico, w ere n o t also p ro d u c tiv e.
M an y b eds in th e L ow er, M iddle, a n d U p p e r J u ra s s ic of M exico a re h ig h ly b itu m in o u s ; th e re a re good show ings of oil in la te U p p e r J u ra s s ic lim e sto n e in se v e ra l w ells n e a r T am p ico ; a n d th e re is a seepage n e a r V irgenes in s o u th e rn N u ev o L eo n . J . M.
M uir first su g g ested th e Ju ra ss ic as th e o il-m o th er ro c k fo r p a r t of th e oil in th e n o r th e r n fields of th e T am p ico region. B e st co m m ercial p ro sp e c ts a re p ro b a b ly in c o a s ta l a re a s w h ere th e Ju ra ss ic ro ck s a re less stro n g ly folded th a n o n t h e M ex ican P la te a u .
T h e U p p e r Ju ra ss ic sequence of C olom bia, B o liv ia, a n d P e r u is re m a rk a b ly lik e t h a t of th e so u th e rn U n ite d S ta te s. A th ic k m ass of s a lt a t th e b a se is o v e rla in b y lim esto n e sim ilar to th e S m ack o v er, a n d th e n b y sev eral th o u s a n d fe e t of re d b e d s lik e th e Schuler, w h ich is a la te ra l n o rth w a rd v a r ia n t of th e m a rin e C o tto n V alley fo rm a tio n in so u th e rn A rk a n sa s w ells, o r like th e re d H o s sto n fo rm atio n , w h ic h succeeds t h e C o tto n V alley beds.
F a r th e r s o u th in A rg e n tin a m arin e C allovian b e d s (low est p a r t of th e U p p e r Ju ra ss ic ) a re covered b y a th ic k m ass of g y p su m , w h ic h in t u r n is o v e rla in b y m a rin e K im m erid g ian to T ith o n ia n s tr a ta . T h e fa u n a s a re a k in to th o se of M exico, w h e re th e K im m e rid g ia n is c h ara c te riz e d b y , in asc en d in g o rd e r, S u tn e r ia aff. p la ty n o ta , Idoceras aff. balderum, Glochiceras fia la r a sso c iated w ith th e Idoceras durangense g ro u p , W aagenia,
a n d M a zapilites. T h e P o rtla n d ia n includes Subplanites a n d K o ssm a tia a n d D urangites divisions, a s well a s Aulacosphinctoides. T h e P u rb e c k (T ith o n ian ) eq u iv a len t h as Substeueroceras a n d Proniceras, a n d in a d d itio n M icranthoceras a n d Hildoglochiceras,
w h ich p e rsist u p w a rd s fro m th e P o rtla n d ia n . A . L.
164.* Measurement of Dip Angles on Aerial Photographs. L . D esjard in s. B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., N o v e m b er 1943, 27 (11), 1534-1538.— I n m a p p in g appreciably- d ip p in g b eds o n a erial p h o to g ra p h s u n d e r th e stereoscope d irec tio n s of d ip a n d strik e m ay b e read ily d eterm in e d . B u t a tte m p ts to assess angles of d ip m a y m iss th e m a rk b ecau se of ex ag g e rate d relief a n d d is to rtio n in th e stereoscopic view . I t is difficult to e stim a te a d ip slope, w h ich one sees a s 45°, a t 15°, w h ich i t p ro b a b ly is. Form ulae a re p ro v id ed for m ak in g c o rrec t e stim a te s. L ouis D e sja rd in s is also th e a u th o r of
“ C o n to u rin g a n d E le v a tio n M ea su rem en t on V e rtic al A erial P h o to g ra p h s ” in
Photogrammetric Engineering, 1943. A. L .
165.* Stratigraphy of Deep Well in Harrison County, West Virginia. J . H , C.
M arten s. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., N o v em b er 1943, 27 (11), 1539-1542.— T h e G. S. G ribble No. 1 W ell, H a rris o n C ounty, W e s t V irginia, is th e d eep est (10,018 ft.) in th e A p p a lac h ia n a rea . I n th e P e n n sy lv a n ia n sy ste m it p e n e tra te s, in descending order, th e C onem augh sa n d sto n es a n d shales, th e A llegheny g rey to g reen sa n d y shale a n d san d sto n e, a n d th e P o tts v ille w h ite to g rey sa n d sto n e a n d d a rk shales.
T h e M ississippian sy stem is m e t w ith below 870 ft. I t in cludes M auch C h u n k red , grey a n d green shales, a n d lig h t g reen san d sto n e, w ith , n e a r th e base, 10 ft. of “ L ittle L im e ” w ith fossils, a n d fa rth e r dow n G reen b rier lim estone, u n d e r w h ich th e B ig I n ju n sa n d is m issing, a n d a t th e base th e P ocono g rey a n d g reen shale w h itis h s a n d sto n e ; a b a sa l sa n d h a s n o t b e en definitely c o rre late d w ith th e B erea.
T h e D ev o n ian ex te n d s d o w nw ards fro m 1618 ? ft. to 7785 ft. I t includes U p p e rm o st D ev o n ian g rey a n d g reen shale a n d w h ite to green s a n d s to n e ; H a m p sh ire (C atskill) red, grey, a n d g reen shales a n d w h ite, grey, a n d green s a n d s to n e ; C hem ung a n d P o rta g e grey, green, a n d b lac k shales, a n d w h ite , grey, a n d green sa n d sto n es, becom ing finer a n d d a rk e r to w a rd s th e b a s e ; T u lly fine-grained, b ro w n lim estone, a n d d a rk s h a le ; H a m ilto n shale (including M arcellus if p re sen t), w h ich is d a rk w ith sm all am o u n ts of b ro w n lim e sto n e ; H u n te rsv ille c h e rt ( = O nondaga lim estone), o ften silty a n d bro w n or grey-coloured w ith v e ry sm all a m o u n ts of b ro w n lim estone ; O riskany sa n d sto n e , g rey to brow nish, calcareous, finer a n d d a rk e r to w a rd s th e base, w ith a show ing of gas (b u t sh o o tin g failed) ; a n d H eld erb erg b ro w n lim estones, w ith considerable c h e rt, silt, a n d sand.
A t 7785 ft. th e S ilu rian S alin a a n d L o ck p o rt fo rm atio n s w ere to p p e d . T h ey consist of b ro w n to g rey lim estone a n d d o lom ite w ith sm all to larg e a m o u n ts of a n h y d rite a n d tw o beds of h a lite of 6 ft. a n d 67 ft., respectively. U n d e r th is th e C linton w ith grey ish -red a n d g reyish-green shales includes sa n d sto n e w ith a 20 ft. gas stra tu m a n d 5 ft. of re d oolitic h aem atite. T h e C linton of Ohio, it m ay b e n o ted , is th e s tra ti- g rap h ical e q u iv a len t of th e A lbion of N ew Y o rk , of th e T u sc aro ra of w estern P e n n sy l
v an ia, a n d of th e W h ite M edinan of e a s te rn W est V irginia. T hese beds are re p re se n ted in th e G. S. G ribble N o. 1 w ell b y th e ex ce p tio n ally th ic k d ev elo p m en t of 247 ft. of w hite, fine-grained q u a rtz itic sa n d sto n e w ith som e in te rs tra tific a tio n of b lac k shale.
T he well w as d isco n tin u ed a fte r e n co u n terin g 22 ft. of red, silty , a n d m icaceous shale (O rdovician ?), w h ich is c o rre late d w ith th e J u a n ita of P e n n sy lv a n ia a n d w ith th e
R e d M edinan of e a s te rn W e s t V irginia. A. L .
166.* Deep Well in Russell County, Virginia. J . I I . C. M arten s. B u ll. A m er. A ss.
Petrol. Geol., N o v em b er 1943, 27 (11), 1543-1547.— Clinchfield Coal C om pany N o. 1 well reaches 6006 ft., in th e Palseozoics of w e ste rn V irginia. U n d e r 25 ft. of surface gravel th e re a re 1940 ft. of P o ttsv ille (P e n n sy lv an ian ), in clu d in g 19 coal seam s w hich aggregate 50 ft. O th e r s tr a ta m a y be classified a s siltsto n e , 33-3% ; a n d san d sto n e, 64-1% . T h ere is no evidence of m arin e beds.
T he P e n n in g to n shale (M ississippian) is 2087 ft. th ic k , a n d corresponds w ith all or a g reat p a r t of th e M auch C reek of so u th e rn W e s t V irginia. Colours of th e shale v a ry fro m re d to grey, a n d th e re is w h ite sa n d sto n e. I n th e low er p a r t som e grey lim estone appears. T h e N ew m an lim esto n e (M ississippian) occupies 585 ft. of th e v e rtic a l sequence w ith lig h t grey to d a rk b ro w n , o ften oolitic beds, including som e grey c h ert,
5 8 a ABSTRACTS.
as w ell a s re d shales w ith a n h y d rite a t th e b ase . T h e M a c era d y fo rm a tio n , 31 ft., w ith a n h y d rite , re d shale, a n d d o lo m itic silts, a n d th e P o eo n o g re y sa n d s, sh ales a n d silts, a m o u n tin g to 627 f t., a re also M ississippian.
T h e N e w m an is e q u a l to th e G reen b rie r of s o u th e rn W e s t V irg in ia , a n d i t in clu d e s th e o u tcro p s classified as G asper, S te. G enevieve, a n d S t. L o u is lim e sto n es b y H . P . W o o d w ard (V ir g in ia Geol. S u rv . B u ll., 1938, 49). A t th e b a se of t h e M ississip p ian a th in w h ite sa n d sto n e m a y re p re se n t th e B e rea , w h ile a d a rk sh ale j u s t a b o v e i t m a y b e th e S u n b u ry .
T h e 731 ft. of D ev o n ia n g rey sh ale, silt, a n d v e ry fine sa n d sto n e a re c o n sid ere d as
b e in g B ra ille r sh a le of t h e P o rta g e g ro u p . A .-L .
167.* Tertiary Geology and Oil and Gas Prospects in Dakota Basin of North Dakota.
R . V. H e n n e n . B u ll. A m e r. A s s . Petrol. Geol., D ecem b er 1943, 27 (12), 1567—1594.—
T h e D a k o ta B a sin c o n ta in s se d im e n ta ry s t r a ta of a b o u t 12,000 ft. in th ic k n e ss, ra n g in g fro m O rd o v ician to T e rtia ry . T h e O rd o v ician h a s a th ic k se c tio n of p o ro u s zones w ith tra c e s of oil a s re v ea le d in th e Sem ling w ell in s o u th -e a s te rn O liv er C o u n ty . T h is w ell is n o t a fa ir t e s t of th e p o te n tia litie s , since i t is s itu a te d in a sy n e lin e o b se rv e d in a m in o r su rface fe a tu re . E a s tw a rd s fro m a n o r th —s o u th lin e th ro u g h t h e Sem lin g w ell, th e O rd o v ician , D e v o n ia n , a n d M ississippian fe a th e r o u t, successiv ely a g a in s t th e e a s tw a rd rise of th e b a s e m e n t com plex. T h is o ccurs to w a rd s th e e a s te r n b o u n d a ry o f-N o rth D a k o ta , b u t m a n y w ells a re n e e d e d to fill in th e o u tlin e of o u r k n o w led g e.
B o rin g s h e re w o u ld of course b e m u c h less deep t h a n th o s e w h ic h h a v e b e e n p u t do w n w e st of th e M issouri R iv er. A n a re a a s larg e a s W e s t V irg in ia h a s so f a r h a d n o te s t w ells drilled.
T h e m o s t prolific pools— a s in th e B ig H o rn b a s in of W y o m in g , t h e A p p a la c h ia n b a s in of P e n n s y lv a n ia a n d W e s t V irg in ia, a n d th e P e rm ia n b a s in of W e s te rn T ex a s—
a re to b e e x p e c te d a t re la tiv e ly low s tr u c tu r a l levels, in lo cal a n tic lin a l o r s tra tig ra p h ic a l tr a p s , w ith in t h e b a sin , a n d n o t o n t h e h ig h o u te r m arg in s. S u ch a s tr u c tu r e is p ro v id e d in th e N esso n a n tic lin e , in n o r th e r n M cK enzie C o u n ty . T h e su rfa ce s tru c tu re in th e T e r tia r y b e d s is a c c e n tu a te d , a s is k n o w n fro m seism ic ev id en ce, a t d e p th in a m o re p ro n o u n c e d M ississippian a n d O rd o v ic ia n a n tic lin e.
S u p erim p o sed o n th e b ro a d n o rth -w e s t-p lu n g in g a n tic lin e so u th -w e st of th e M issouri R iv e r, p o s tu la te d o n to p of t h e D a k o ta s a n d sto n e (C retaceous), o c c u r a n u m b e r of n o rth -w e s t-s o u th -e a s t a n tic lin e s in t h e T e rtia ry . Som e o f th e s e h a v e clo su res of o v e r 100 f t., a n d d ip s n e a r th e a x is in excess of 50 f t. /m l., a s a g a in s t a reg io n a l n o r t h e a s te rly d ip of 7 ft./m l. S eism o g rap h ical ev id e n ce w ill p ro b a b ly d isp ro v e t h e c o n tin u a n c e a t d e p th of som e of th es e , b u t o th e rs p ro b a b ly re flect deep s tru c tu re s .
I n m a p p in g ex te n siv e u se h a s b e en m a d e of a “ m a rk e r-b e d ” in t h e F o r t U n io n (Paleoeene) series. T h e d a tu m h o rizo n c o n ta in s silicified p la n t ste in s , tr e e stu m p s, a n d vo lcan ic a s h fro m e ru p tio n s in th e R o c k y M o u n ta in s. T h e tre e s tu m p s a re 3 -5 ft.
in d iam e te r, a n d th e g re y ish -w h ite a s h v a rie s b e tw ee n 5 a n d 40 f t . th ic k . O th e r silicified tre e -b e a rin g zones o ccu r in th e W a s a tc h (E ocene). A p e rs is te n t lig n ite b ed , 280 ft. ab o v e th e b a se of th e S en tin el B u tte , o r lo w er d iv isio n of t h e W a s a tc h , w a s u se d b y H u d g e n s in h is m a p p in g ; a n d th e so -c alled Sandstone 21 h a s also h e e n em ployed.
A n e w s tr u c tu r a l fe a tu re of g r e a t im p o rta n c e in tro d u c e d b y R a y H e n n e n is a sy n elin e of n o rth -w e s t-s o u th -e a s t tre n d , m a in ly alo n g th e v a lle y o f th e M issouri R iv e r fro m S an ish to b e y o n d B ism arck . B etw een th is sy n elin e a n d th e n o r th -n o rth - w e st^ s o u th -s o u th -e a s t L em m o n sy n elin e th e re is a ro u g h ly e a s t- w e s t sy n e lin e u n d e r
th e F o r t B e rth o ld I n d ia n R e se rv a tio n . - A . L .
168.* Williston Basin Wildcat Test, Oliver County, North Dakota. A . E h le rs. B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., D e ce m b er 1943, 27 (12), 1618-1622.—-T his t e s t w a s d rille d a p p ro x im a te ly 25 m l. n o rth -w e s t of B ism arck , N o r th D a k o ta . D r illin g s t a r te d a t a g ro u n d e le v atio n of 2025 ft. in b e d s of t h e F o r t U n io n (P aleoeene), w h ic h in c lu d e d T o n g u e R iv e r a n d C an n o n b all m arin e sh ales a n d L u d lo w n o n -m a rin e sh a le a n d lig n ite, g iv in g in a ll 650 f t. of T e rtia ry .
T h e C retaceo u s (3020 ft.) rev ea le d , in d escen d in g o rd e r, H e ll C reek sh ales (som e b e n to n itic ) a n d s h a rp sa n d s a n d lig n ite, F o x H ills sh ales a n d sa n d sto n e s w ith g la u co n ite, P ie rre m a rin e sh ales w ith sid e rite a n d p y rite s , N io b ra ra d a r k sh ales w ith yello w a n d w h ite c h alk inclusions, Carlile slig h tly s a n d y sh a le, G ran ero s d a r k sh ales, fine
siltsto n e , a n d som e haem atite concretions, D a k o ta clear a n d fro sted , w ell-ro u n d ed san d s w ith som e p y rite s, F u s o n d a rk m icaceous shale a n d g lau co n itic p a rtin g s, a n d L a k o ta clear to fro sted , w ell-ro u n d ed sa n d w ith sm all in te rc a la tio n s of v e ry p y ritic , s u b a n g u lar, calcareo u s san d sto n e .
T h ere a re 710 f t. of J u ra ss ic , of w h ic h 28 ft. is M orrison d a rk -g re y te rre s tria l shale, a n d th e re m a in d e r is S u n d an ce c om prising greyish-green sa n d y shale a n d fine m u d d y sa n d w ith occasional re d a n d b lac k shales, a n d a t low er levels dolom itic b ed s w ith som e r e d a n d g reen m u d s.
T h e dolom itic Ju ra ss ic b e d s sh a d e d o w n w ard s in to th e Spearfish (226 ft.), of w h ich th e u p p e r tw o -th ird s a re fine-grained, re d g y psiferous san d sto n e, a n d th e low er th ir d is o f b rig h t re d , p u rp le , g reen, grey, a n d b lack shales a n d s a n d y a n h y d rite .
1784 ft. of M ississippian a re d iv id e d b etw een th e A m sden, co n sistin g of dolom ites s e p a ra te d b y a m id d le m em b e r of sp lin te ry green shale, th e B ig Snow y, w h ich includes H e a th co n o d o n t b lac k shale, O tte r red , orange, etc ., shale a n d a n h y d rite , K ib b e y b rig h t-c o lo u re d shale a n d m u d d y sa n d , C harles sa n d y a n d dolom itic lim esto n e W ith d a r k g rey a n d w h ite a n h y d rite , M ission C anyon g ra n u la r a n d oolitic b u ff lim esto n e, L odgepole flak y a n d fine dense dolom itic lim estones, a n d E ng lew o o d fissile c a rb o n aceous shales a n d silty dolom itic lim estone.
D ev o n ian (471 ft.) in clu d es A m a ra n th calcareous re d e a rth y shales, dolom ite, a n d a n h y d rite w ith one rh y n eh o n ellid , M a n ito b a b u ff lim esto n e w ith th in d o lo m ite-a n d a n h y d rite b an d s, a n d W in n ep eg o san c ry stallin e grey a n d b ro w n lim esto n e a n d dolom ite w ith trac es of a n h y d rite a n d 45 ft. of ex tre m e ly p o ro u s s tra ta .
N o S ilu rian is p re se n t, b u t th e O rd o v ician (1970 ft.) is th ic k e r t h a n w a s expected.
I t is m ad e u p of S to n y M o u n ta in -B ig h o m dolom ite a n d lim estone w ith h ig h ly coloured shales a n d a b a sa l b e d of w h ite , w ell-ro u n d ed s a n d ; R e d R iv er-W h itew o o d g rey a n d ta n lim esto n es a n d d o lom ites a n d g reen ish s h a le s ; a n d W in n ip eg s p lin te ry g reen shale w ith som e o ran g e-b ro w n a n d b lac k b ed s, san d sto n e s w ith w ell-ro u n d ed grain s, som etim es conglom eratic, a n d g lau c o n itic lim estone.
T h e b ase of th e Palaeozoic re sts a t 8831 ft. on p re -C am b rian a m p h ib o lite -^ a n
u n co n fo rm ab le ju n c tio n . A . L .
169.* Origin of Radiolarites, and Fracturing of “ Fractured Shales ” in Santa Maria Basin, California. G. H e n n y . B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., D ecem b er 1943, 27 (12), 1622-1625.— G e rard H e n n y h a s e x am in ed th e ra d io laritie s (ch erts w ith ra d io la ria n rem ains) along th e s o u th b o rd e r of th e A lps in th e “ zone d u C anavese,” in th e Isla n d of B oeroe, D u tc h E a s t In d ies, w h ere th e ra d io larites (p ro b ab ly Ju rassic) c hange la te ra lly in to co n g lo m erates a n d a re in te rb e d d e d w ith globigerine lim estones, a n d in C alifornia in th e F ra n c is c a n fo rm atio n (Ju rassic), in w h ich , as in th e o th e r cases, th e ra d io larites a re a sso ciated w ith a n a b u n d an c e of basic igneous rocks. T h e silica, b o th chalcedonic a n d opaline in th e ra d io larites, is re g ard e d as epigenetic— in tro d u c e d in to limy rocks b y so lu tio n s of volcanic origin. T h ese so lutions, acco rd in g to H e n n y , w ere p o o r in lim e, a n d h e uses th is fa c to r to a c c o u n t fo r th e c ru m p lin g of “ fra c tu re d beds ” in th e M o n terey shale (M iocene). T h e lim e in th e shale, h e says, w e n t in to solution fa s te r t h a n i t w as re p la c e d b y a sm aller q u a n tity of c h ert. T h e volum e decreased, c av ities w ere left, a n d th e shale b eg an to c ru m p le a n d fold. T h e sh rin k ag e m ade th e shale a good re serv o ir ro c k fo r oil, a s can b e seen in th e S a n ta M aria b asin , S a n ta B a rb a ra C ou n ty , C alifornia, w h ere th e fra c tu rin g is n o t du e to fa u ltin g or folding, since fre q u e n tly th e b ed s lie u n d is tu rb e d b y fa u lts o ver long d istan ces. I n th is in stan ce, H e n n y w ishes to d eriv e th e siliceous so lu tio n s fro m la v a s a n d tu ffs n e a r th e base of th e M onterey, o r fro m volcanic ro c k s of th e M iddle a n d U p p e r M iocene along th e S an R a fae l u p lift, or fro m M iddle M iocene b e n to n ite , etc. T h e “ fra c tu re d b ed s ” a re M iddle a n d U p p e r M iocene, a n d occur b etw een c o m p e ten t lay e rs of calcareous or dolom itic san d sto n e.
I n co n n ectio n w ith th e p ro d u c tio n of silica so lu tio n s H e n n y q u o tes E . S. B a s tin (Scientific M o nthly, D ecem ber 1939), w ho th in k s t h a t S iH 4, S iF4 a n d H 2S iF 6 m a y be com ponents of h ig h -te m p e ra tu re so lu tio n s given off b y cry stalliz in g m ag m as, a n d H e n n y f u rth e r refers to ores a n d gangue, e tc ., in clu d in g q u a rtz c ry sta ls p ro d u c e d in lim estone a t igneous c o n ta c ts. I t is of eourse also h e ld t h a t ores o rig in a te fro m deeper levels a n d t h a t th e ir release is th e only th in g effected b y th e d istu rb an c es a cco m p an y in g v o lca n ieity o r in tru s io n (cf. A rth u r H olm es, Econom ic Geology, 1937,
32, 763-782 ; 1938, 33, 829-867). _ A . L.
6 0 a A BSTRACTS.
170.* Age of Spavinaw Granite, Oklahoma. W . E . H a m a n d R . H . D o tt. B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., D ece m b er 1943, 27 (12), 1626—1631.— A tte m p ts h a v e b e en m a d e to p ro v e th e in tru s io n of th e S p a v in a w g ra n ite in to th e c h e rty C o tte r d o lo m ite (O rdovician) in post-M ississip p ian tim e w h e n th e ore b o d ies of th e T ri-S ta te lead -zin c d is tric t w ere em placed. T h ese a n d o th e r view s h a v e b e en s u rv e y e d b y H . A. I r e la n d (O klahom a Geol. S u rv . B u ll., 40, 1930, 3, 473-481). I n a s h a f t fo r p y rite s-m in in g o n th e n o rth -w e s t side of th e n o rth -e a s te rly tre n d in g S p a v in aw g ra n ite o u tcro p s , a t S p a v in aw Creek, H a m a n d D o tt h a v e no w fo u n d ark o se w e a th e re d fro m th e g ra n ite a n d in te rc a la te d in th e C o tte r.
T h e do lo m ite c o n ta in s a good d eal of c h e rt, a n d b o th d o lo m ite a n d c h e r t a re c u t acro ss b y p y rite s veins.
O ne 7 -in. b o u ld er of g ra n ite w as recovered show ing m a rk e d signs of exfoliation, a n d w ith g reen ch lo rite on th e o u te r c u rv e d su rfa ce s. I n th e c e n tre of th is b lo ck th e felsp ars a re p in k , a s in fresh" S p a v in aw g ra n ite . I n th e a rk o sic la y e rs a little fro ste d sa n d acco m p an ies th e g ra n ite frag m e n ts , b its of felsp ar, a n d g re en c h lo rite w ith sh red s of sericite. T h e ro u n d in g of th e q u a rtz g ra in s p ro b a b ly in d ic a te s t h a t th e y h a v e b een th ro u g h sev eral cycles of erosion (cf. G. E . A n d erso n , J . Geol., 1926, 34, 157—158), a n d in a n y case its p ro n o u n c e d u n d u la to ry e x tin c tio n ex clu d es th e p o ss ib ility of its h a v in g com e fro m th e g ra n ite . T h e q u a rtz g ra in s a re p ro b a b ly fro m L o w er O rd o v ician « o r C am b rian sa n d sto n e s of th e O zark reg io n . T h e a m o u n t of m a te ria l sh ow ing g ra p h ic in te rg ro w th of o rth o cla se a n d q u a rtz is, h o w ev er, v e ry h ig h b o th in th e g ra n ite d eb ris a n d in th e g ra n ite , so t h a t th e re is no d o u b t th e S p a v in aw g ra n ite is pre- C o tte r— a n d p ro b a b ly p re-C am b ria n .
T h a t th e a m o u n t of ark o se is sm all a t o th e r levels is a c c o u n te d fo r b y r a p id o verlaps of th e o rig in al lim esto n e on th e g ra n ite . T h e d ip off th e g ra n ite is a tt r i b u te d m ain ly to fo ld in g p rio r to th e la te -P e n n s y lv a n ia n (?) m in e ra liz a tio n d u e to so lu tio n s m ig ra tin g
alo n g th e g ra n ite-d o lo m ite c o n ta c t. A . L .
171.* Fossils from Metamorphic Eocks of the Coast Range of Venezuela. P . B.
W o lc o tt. B u ll. A m er. A s s . Petrol. Geol., D ecem b er 1943, 27 (12), 1632.— B o u ld ers in th e Q u e b rad a de C ara, a sou th -flo w in g t r ib u ta r y of th e Q u e b ra d a G u a ren a s w h ich rises in th e N o rth C oast R a n g e , V enezuela, a re of a s lig h tly m e ta m o rp h o s e d , d a rk grey, h a rd , fossiliferous lim esto n e of a ty p e a sso c ia ted w ith g ra p h itic sch ist, g re y m ic a schist, sa n d y lim esto n e, a n d q u a rtz itic s a n d sto n e in th e L as M ercedes d iv isio n of th e C aracas series. F ossils so f a r id en tifie d a re P holadom ya ? sp ., C a rd iu m sp. o r Pecten sp., M eretrix ? sp ., I/u cin a ? sp., g a s tro p o d m o u ld s a n d sectio n s, P lic a tu la sp ., Pecten (Oamponectes) cf. indidurcensis Jo n e s (B u ll. A m er. geol. Soc., 49, p . 108, P I. 3) a n d P . (Oamponectes) cf. bubonis S te p h en so n (U n iv. T e x a s P u b l. 4101, p . 731, PI. 21). T h is m ea n s t h a t th e L as M ercedes series is p ro b a b ly J u ra s s ic , less p ro b a b ly C retaceo u s.
A . L.
172.* Classification of Faults. C. R . L ongw ell. B u ll. A m e r. A s s . P etrol. Geol., D ecem b er 1943, 27 (12), 1633-1642.— L ongw ell discusses S tu a r t C la rk ’s v iew s on ten - sio n al fa u lts. A ll fa u lts, a cco rd in g to L ongw ell, a re shears. I n re g a rd to th e K e ttle - m a n H ills dom es, L ongw ell p o in ts o u t t h a t , as w ell a s a rc h in g b y la te ra l p re ssu re a n d r e s u lta n t ten s io n a l crack s on th e c rests one h a s to th in k of s u p p o rtin g cores w h ich w ere sq u eezed u p so as to p ro v id e a liftin g force. H e th e n goes o n to cite H a n s Cloos’s e x p e rim e n t (E in fü h ru n g in die Geologie, 1936, p . 265, fig. 215), w h ich sho w ed how , in su ch a case of ten sio n , sh e a r-p la n es m a y b e fo rm ed d ip p in g to w a rd s th e a x is a t a b o u t 60°. A long such p lan e s slu m p in g ta k e s place.
C lark replies b y re ferrin g to p h o to g ra p h s fro m th e B y r d A n ta rc tic e x p e d itio n in w h ich s h a rp ly a rc h e d folds of ice h a v e g a p in g r a d ia l te n s io n fra c tu re s . H e p o in ts o u t t h a t a n a p p a re n t g ra b e n o n th e a rc h of a n a n tic lin e m a y a c tu a lly b e d ev elo p ed o v er a h o r s t b y in te rse c tio n of th e fa u lt-p la n e s b o u n d in g th e sides of th e h o r s t— a p h e n o m e n o n seen o ver m a n y s a lt dom es of th e G ulf C oast, w h e n th e r e is a sufficient c o v er fo r fa u lts o rig in a tin g on o p p o site sides of th e dom e to in te rs e c t. C lark m a in ta in s h is v iew t h a t on th e co n v ex side of a n a n tic lin e te n s io n c rac k s m a y b eco m e fa u lt- p lan e s. H e c o n tin u e s to a d v o c a te a g e n etic classificatio n of fa u lts a s a g a in s t a
g e o m etrical one. A . L .
173.* Stratigraphy of North-Eastern Anzoätegui, Venezuela. H . D . H e d b e rg a n d A . B y re. B u ll. A m er. A ssoc. Petrol. Geol., J a n u a r y 1944, 28 (1) 1-28.— T h is p a p e r fo rm s a p re lim in a ry r e p o rt on th e s tr a tig r a p h y of N o rth -e a s te rn A n z o äte g u i, b u t
n ev erth ele ss c o n ta in s a considerable a m o u n t of lithological d e ta il, to g e th e r w ith s h o rt
^discussions of th e palasontologieal evidence. I t is illu s tra te d b y a sm all-scale geo
logical m ap a n d th re e pag es of stra tig ra p h ic a l colum ns, besides h a v in g a b ib lio g rap h y . T en y e ars ago a reference sectio n w as estab lish e d on R io Q uerecual for th e 40,000 ft.
of C retaceous a n d T e rtia ry rocks. Since th e n a d d itio n a l evidence h a s been collected b o th e a s t a n d w est of th e ty p e a rea , a n d th is h a s h elp ed to give a b e tte r id ea of th e facies changes p re sen t.
T h e old est rocks of th e a re a c o nsist alm o st e n tirely of m eta m o rp h o se d sed im en ts of th e C a rib b ean Series a n d p ro b a b ly im m e d ia tely u n d erlie th e C retaceous. Since th e c o n ta c t is no w h ere exposed a n d is in a ll p ro b a b ility a fau lt-zo n e, th e ir Mesozoic age is n o t confirm ed.
T h e L ow er C retaceous c o n ta in s a b o u t 5000 ft. of la te ra lly v a ria b le sh allo w -w ater sed im en ts belonging to th e B a rra n q u in , E l C antil, a n d C him ana fo rm atio n s. I t begins w ith n o n -m arin e san d sto n e s a n d shales, a n d g rad es u p w a rd s in to m arin e rocks t h a t in clu d e g lau co n itic san d sto n es a n d reef lim estones. T h e C u a y u ta g ro u p (U pper C retaceous) follow s w ith 3000-4000 ft. of deeper w a te r, b lack b itu m in o u s lim estone, a n d calcareous shales. T h ere is th e n a conform able p assage u p in to th e S a n ta A n ita fo rm atio n (C retaceous-E ocene), a n d th e 2400 ft. of se d im e n ts in clu d e sa n d sto n es, shales, dolom itic siltsto n es, a n d g lau co n itic san d sto n es.
T he overlying M erecure fo rm atio n is 5500-7500 ft. th ic k , a n d h a s a locally developed fo ram in iferal lim estone a t th e b a se (late E ocene), b u t m o st in te re s tin g is th e u p p e r no n -m arin e facies (p ro b ab ly p a r tly Oligocene) w ith p ro d u c tiv e coals. T ran s itio n al rocks lea d u p w a rd s in to th e S a n ta In e s fo rm atio n , w h ich is essen tially a flysch dep o sit consisting of 24,000 ft. of calcareous sa n d sto n e, g rits, a n d co n g lo m erates in te rb ed d e d w ith shales (Oligocene, la te M iocene). T h e m arin e c h a ra c te r of th is fo rm a tio n increases fro m w est to east.
T h e S aeacu al g roup ov erla p s th e S a n ta In e s a n d older fo rm atio n s, a n d consists of non-m arine, la te ra lly v a ria b le siltsto n es a n d san d sto n es w ith several in tra fo rm a tio n a l u n co n fo rm ities (p ro b ab ly Pliocene). T h e M esa fo rm atio n com pletes th e sequence a n d u n co n fo rm ab ly overlies th e S acacu al group. I t s sed im en ts ran g e fro m coarse a llu v ial fa n dep o sits in th e n o r th to finer-grain g ravels in th e so u th (p ro b ab ly Pleistocene).
T h e dep o sitio n al h isto ry of th e a re a is re la te d to t h a t of th e e as te rn V enezuelan geosyncline, of w h ich N o rth -e a ste rn Anzo&tegui is b u t a p a r t. T h e geosyncline is b o u n d ed on th e so u th b y th e re la tiv e ly sta b le G u a y an a shield, a n d to th e n o r th b y th e so u th w a rd -th ru s t b o rd e rla n d of P a ria . C om m unication w ith th e open sea h a s been largely to th e e ast. T h e th ru s tin g in th e n o r th is responsible fo r th e an g u la r u n c o n form ities, w hile in th e so u th dep o sitio n w as essen tially c o n tin u o u s d u rin g C retaceous an d T e rtia ry tim es. T h e a x is of th e geosyncline th u s suffered a re p e a te d sh iftin g
to th e so u th . C. E . M.
W . G. H . 174.* General Geology of Mississippi. T . M cG lothlin. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., J a n u a ry 1944, 28 (1), 29-62.— W ith evidence fro m w ell borin g s th e a u th o r gives a n ou tline of th e u n d e rg ro u n d s tra tig ra p h y in M ississippi, ra n g in g fro m th e to p of th e Palaeozoic to R e ce n t. T h e p a p e r c o n ta in s m u ch local in fo rm a tio n illu s tra te d b y fo rty -n in e well sections w ith ele ctrical log c o rre latio n s along specified directions, to g eth e r w ith five h o rizo n tal sections. I n a d d itio n th e re is a s tru c tu re m ap co n to u red on th e base of th e P o r te r ’s C reek clay, a n d th is b rin g s o u t th e relief of th e u n d erly in g reef-like J a c k so n gas rock, a n d to som e e x te n t t h a t of th e M onroe. C. E . M.
W . G. H . 175.* Petrology of the Bethel Sandstone of South-Central Illinois. W . D . P y e. B u ll.
A m er. A ss. Petrol. Geol., J a n u a ry 1944, 28 (1), 63-122.— T h e r e tu r n of Illinois a s a p ro m in e n t oil-producing s ta te p ro m p te d a d e ta ile d s tu d y of th e B eth el san d sto n e, w ith special reference to m ineralogy, cefn en ta tio n , a n d relatio n sh ip s of p o ro sity a n d p e rm e ab ility to oil recovery.
A t lea st fo rty m in eral species c o n ta in in g few h e a v y m in e rals h a v e b een identified in th e san d sto n e. T h e d e ta ile d s tu d y of q u a rtz w ith re g ard to th e o rigin a n d h isto ry of a n y dep o sit is considered to b e su p erio r to th e m ore laborious h e av y m in eral e x a m in a tio n , especially as m a n y h e a v y m in erals a re liable to su b seq u e n t leaching out.
T he p e tro g ra p h ic s tu d y of th e sa n d sto n e re v eals considerable u n ifo rm ity in its
A BSTRACTS.
p h y sic a l p ro p e rties . T h e sa n d is v e ry w ell so rte d , w h ile th e r e a re n o sig n ific a n t v a ria tio n s in ro u n d n e ss a n d sp h e ric ity in th e a re a a s a w hole. S ilica is th e chief c em en t, a n d is m o stly p rim a ry , b u t calcite, d o lo m ite, a n d c h alce d o n y also o c cu r, b e in g d ep o site d in th e o rd e r given.
T h e re la tio n s h ip of th e s e p h y sic a l p ro p e rtie s to p o ro sity , p e rm e a b ility , a n d oil r e c o v ery su g g ests t h a t th e m o st im p o r ta n t fa c to r is c e m e n ta tio n , follow ed in im p o rta n c e b y "size a n d so rtin g . Of su b s id ia ry im p o rta n c e is th e m in e ralo g y , w h ic h d e te rm in e s b e h a v io u r to w a rd s oil a n d w a te r, g ra in o rie n ta tio n a n d sh a p e , b e d d in g p lan e s, a n d o th e r film s of clay.
T h e h is to ry of th e B e th e l s a n d sto n e is com plex. Som e of th e g ra m s h a v e u n d e rg o n e a t le a s t th r e e p e rio d s of erosion, d ep o sitio n , a n d . e n la rg em e n t, w ith a n e a rly p e rio d of m e ta m o rp h ism , a ll p rio r to d e p o sitio n in th e B e th e l fo rm a tio n . B o th w in d a n d w a te r s h a p e d th e g ra in s h ef° re th e ir fin al d e p o sitio n in sh allo w off-shore w a ters.
B u rial, c o m p a ctio n , a n d c e m e n ta tio n , to g e th e r w ith s tr u c tu r a l d e fo rm a tio n a n d f u rth e r c e m e n ta tio n , h a v e p ro d u c e d th e B e th e l sa n d sto n e .
I t is co n clu d ed t h a t m o st of th e B e th e l d e tritu s cam e fro m L la n o ria o n th e s o u th w e st, w ith o n ly sm all a m o u n ts fro m O zark ia, th e W isco n sin h ig h la n d s, a n d th e
C a n a d ia n S hield. C. E . M.
W . G. H . 176.* Porter Oil Field, Midland County, Michigan. K. K . L an d e s. B u ll. A m e r. A ss.
Petrol. Qeol., F e b ru a ry 1944, 28 (2), 173-196.— T h e P o r te r O il-F ield, since its discovery in N o v e m b er 1931, h a s p ro d u c e d 39 m illio n b a rre ls of oil a n d lea d s a ll M ich ig an fields in to ta l p ro d u c tio n a n d re co v e ry p e r acre.
T h e source ro ck s a re D e v o n ian , a n d h a v e a n o v e rb u rd e n of a b o u t 2800 f t. of D ev o n ian a n d P e n n s y lv a n ia n s tr a ta , w ith a b o u t 280 ft. of g lacial d r if t o n th e su rfa ce , a n d th e ir re la tio n s a re sh o w n in a gen eraliz ed s tra tig ra p h ic a l co lu m n . P ra c tic a lly a ll th e oil- com es fro m th e to p of th e D u n d e e lim esto n e, w ith th e re m a in d e r fro m th e o v erlying T ra v e rs e lim esto n e.
T h e P o r te r a n tic lin e c o n tro ls th e oil-pool, w h ic h m e a su re s 9 m iles lo n g b y 3 m iles w ide, w ith a closure of a b o u t 50 ft. This, s tru c tu re , w h ic h lies on th e so u th -w e st flan k of th e M ichigan b a s in of s e d im e n ta tio n , w as m a in ly fo ld ed in p o s t-P a rm a tim es (L ow er P e n n sy lv a n ia n ). T h e c a p a c ity of th e field is chiefly d e p e n d e n t on a zone of se c o n d ary p o ro s ity in th e u p p e rm o s t D u n d e e b ed s, a n d v a rie s co n sid era b ly . Such p o ro s ity is d u e to irre g u la r h o n ey co m b -lik e ag g reg a te s of c av itie s fo rm ed d u rin g a m id- D e v o n ia n em ergence, a n d i t is th is t h a t a c c o u n ts fo r th e h ig h o il re co v e ry . C. E . M.
W . G. H . 177.* West Ranch Oil-Field, Jackson County, Texas. A . J . B a u rrn s c h m id t, J r . B u ll. A m e r. A ss. Petrol. Beol., F e b ru a ry 1944, 28 (2), 197-216.— T h e first successful w ell w as s u n k in A u g u s t 1938, a n d s tr u c k oil a t j u s t o v er 5000 f t. Since th e n 390 p ro d u c in g w ells h a v e b een d rilled , w h ic h h a v e y ield e d 10,238,794 b rl. of oil a n d
12,790,905,000 cu b . ft. of gas since O c to b er 1942.
Seven o u t of th e n in e p ro d u c in g zones a re in th e F rio fo rm a tio n (3100 ft. th ic k ), w hile th e o th e r tw o a re in th e L o w er C a ta h o u la fo rm a tio n (270 f t. th ic k ), w h ich u n c o n fo rm a b ly overlies th e F rio . T h e so u rce-ro ck s a re sa n d s in te rb e d d e d w ith shales, a n d th e ir re la tio n s a re clearly sh o w n b y sev eral sectio n s w ith electric logs a n d palaeo n to logical m a rk e rs. T h e ir age, to g e th e r w ith 1000 f t. of th e o v e rly in g ro ck s, is e ith e r O ligocene or M iocene, c o n firm ato ry p alaeontological ev id en ce b e in g a b s e n t. F o r sim ilar reaso n s th e 4000 f t. of M iocene, P lio cen e, a n d P le is to c e n e a re also u n d iffere n tia te d .
T h e field is one of sev eral s itu a te d alo n g a zone of c ru s ta l w eak n ess, a n d th e s tru c tu re is p ro b a b ly d u e to th e m o v e m e n t of d eep s a lt m asses, a s in m o s t G u lf C o ast fields.
T h e v e ry g e n tle do m in g of th e a re a is show n in sectio n s c o n s tru c te d fro m w ells ly in g alo n g specified d irectio n s, w h ile s tru c tu re -c o n to u r m a p s a re g iv e n fo r t h e to p s of fo u r of th e o il-sands. A n in te re s tin g fe a tu re is th e la c k of m a jo r fa u ltin g in a field of such size. N o d rillin g difficulties a re e n c o u n te re d in t h e field, a n d w ells a re c o m p le te d in
12 to 15 d a y s. C. E . M.
W . G. H . 178.* Geologic History of Northern Mexico and its Bearing on Petroleum Exploration.
L . B . K ellu m . B u ll. A m e r. A ss. Petrol. Qeol., M arch 1944, 28 (3), 301—325.— I n a re a s of c e n tra l a n d c o a s ta l U n ite d S ta te s a n d th e c o a s ta l p la in of E a s te r n M exico th e r e a re se v e ra l b u rie d p la tfo rm s w h ich stro n g ly in flu en ced th e la te r se d im e n ts in su rro u n d in g
b asin s, besides c o n tro llin g th e d istrib u tio n of oil a n d gas in m a n y cases. T h e C oahuila P e n in su la of n o rth -c e n tra l M exico is a sim ilar s tru c tu re , a n d a s it is p a r tly un co v ered , its s tu d y rev eals c e rta in c riteria w h ich sh o u ld a id th e discovery of o th e r p latfo rm s, som e of w h ich m a y b e petro lifero u s. A lre ad y th e presence of several o th e r p latfo rm s is su sp ected in th e a b o v e-m en tio n ed areas. '
T h e p a p e r is illu s tra te d w ith a series of seven paleogeographic m ap s fo r in te rv als b etw een th e P e rm ia n a n d th e U p p e r C retaceous.
T h e C retaceous sectio n of th e C oahuila P en in su la show s th e influence of th e u n d e r
ly in g m assif in th re e w ays. O ver long perio d s of tim e i t co n tro lled th e lithology, th ick n ess, a n d fa u n a of th e o v erly in g sed im en ts, w h ich a re in m ark e d c o n tra s t to th e rocks of sim ilar age in th e M exican geosyncline to th e so u th . A gain, th e s tru c tu re is sim ple, fo r th e rocks a re alm o st h o rizo n ta l, w h ereas in th e geosyncline th e y a re h ig h ly d istu rb e d . F u rth e rm o re , th e p h y sio g ra p h y is d istin c tiv e . T h e p e n in s u la r a re a h a s a m a tu re rolling to p o g ra p h y w h ich gives w ay a b ru p tly a t its m arg in s to th e y o u th fu l
to p o g ra p h y of th e geo sy n elin al a rea. C. E . M.
W . G. H . 179.* Cretaceous and Paleocene of Santa Lucia Range, California. N . L . T aliafe rro . B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Beol., A p ril 1944, 28 (4), 449-521.— T h e s tu d y of th e C retaceous a n d P aleo cen e of th e S a n ta L u cia R an g e, w h ere th e effects of p o s t-Ju ra ss ic e a rth - m o v em en ts a re p ro n o u n ced , n o t o nly a d d s to th e know ledge of th e C oast R an g es in g eneral, b u t also h elp s th e in te rp re ta tio n of a rea s t h a t lie to th e e ast, w h ere u n c o n form ities a re slig h t a n d som etim es obscure, as fo r in s ta n c e on th e w est side of th e S an Jo a n q u in V alley.
T h e s tra tig ra p h y is s u p p o rte d b y a su rv e y of th e palaeontological evidence so fa r av ailab le, a n d is illu s tra te d b y sev eral u se fu l sections a n d m ap s. M ineralogical a n d m ech an ical an aly ses of several sa n d sto n es a re also given.
T h e C retaceous of th is a re a is re p re se n ted b y th re e fo rm atio n s, e ach s e p a ra te d b y a m ark e d u n c o n fo rm ity . T h e M arm olejo fo rm atio n (Low er C retaceous) re sts uncon- fo rm ab ly on F ra n c isca n -K n o x v ille ro ck s (Ju rassic) a n d co nsists of 4000-5000 ft. of d a rk shales, w ith lenses of sa n d sto n e a n d conglom erate. I t is id en tical w ith th e low er p a r t 'o f th e L ow er C retaceous th ro u g h o u t th e C oast R an g es, b o th fau n ally a n d lithologically.
P rio r to th e d ep o sitio n of th e U p p e r C retaceous, th e M arm olejo w as stro n g ly folded a n d eroded, o n ly being p reserv ed in a few deep synclines. N ev erth eless it is believed t h a t th e L ow er C retaceous sea covered p ra c tic a lly a ll th e C oast R an g e area.
T h e J a c k C reek fo rm atio n (? C enom anian-T uronian) follows w ith a v e ry th in b asal conglom erate, a n d th e n 2900 ft. of shales a n d silts, w hich suggests t h a t th e U p p e r C retaceous sea sp re a d q u ie tly o v er a region of low relief. T h is fo rm atio n is n e v er seen to re s t o n rocks older t h a n Mesozoic, lik e th e a n cie n t cry stallin e rocks. A n o th e r orogeny th e n o ccu rred , a n d fro m evidence in th e D iablo R a n g e, it is late- or even po st- T u ro n ia n in age. I t e x e rte d a p ro fo u n d effect o n th e su b seq u e n t h isto ry of th e C oast R ange b y giving rise to w id esp read erosion of th e earlier Mesozoic sed im en ts, besides c o n trolling E o cen e fa u ltin g .
F o r a th ir d tim e subsidence in te rv e n e d , b u t th is tim e th e re w as a w id esp read a n d ra p id m arine tran sg ressio n o ver a n a re a of considerable relief. T h e resu ltin g A suncion fo rm atio n ( ? p re S enonian-D anian) consists of a t le a st 6000 ft. of arkose, san d sto n e, a n d conglom erate, a lth o u g h e a s t a n d so u th i t becom es finer. D e riv a tio n is fro m th e w est, a n d in th e so u th p a r t of th e ra n g e th e re is a w e stw a rd increase of b o th F ra n c is ca n a n d an cien t c ry stallin e debris. T h is fo rm atio n is w id esp read in th e C oast R an g e.
T he C retaceous w as b ro u g h t to a close b y re la tiv e ly m ild earth -m o v e m en ts, as show n b y th e slig h t an g u la r u n c o n fo rm ity betw een th e D ip C reek fo rm a tio n (Low er Eocene) a n d th e A suncion. T h e lith o lo g y a n d fa u n a of th e D ip C reek a re v e ry sim ilar to t h a t of th e A suncion.
T h e a rea w as finally affected b y severe P aleocene-L ow er M iocene e arth -m o v e m en ts.
C. E . M.
W . G. H . 180.* Correlation of the Pecan Gap, Wolfe City, and Annona Formations in East Texas. J . T. R ouse. B u ll. A m er. A ss. Petrol. Oeol., A p ril 1944, 28 (4), 522-530.—
F re sh field evidence no longer s u b s ta n tia te s th e c o rre latio n of th e P e c a n G ap c h a lk w ith th e A n n o n a chalk. A ctu ally th e P e c a n G ap c h alk th in s a n d d isa p p ea rs w h en tra c e d
