Sedimentary depositional environments of uranium and petroleum host rocks of the Jackson Group, south Texas
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Abstract
Determination of depositional environments in rocks of the Jackson Group of late Eocene age aids in the exploration for uranium and petroleum in south Texas. During deposition of the Jackson Group, conditions were similar to those existing along the modern Gulf Coast of Texas except for a less arid climate and a greater supply of volcanic sediment. Sedimentary depositional environments recognized in both the modern coast and the Jackson rocks, in order from sea toward land, are: shoreface, beach, lagoon and bay, and paludal. Sediment deposited in these environments in places is interbedded with or transected by fluvial sediment. Both uranium and petroleum are found in the shoreface, beach, and fluvial facies. These facies are characterized by permeable well-sorted sandstone, which is commonly overlain and underlain by less permeable mudstone. A typical vertical sequence in ascending order through a unit containing a beach sandstone facies is (1) lagoonal or paludal clay stone and siltstone, (2) crossbedded fine-grained beach sandstone which contains Ophiomorpha burrows and, which, in places, is locally interbedded with lacustrine or lagoonal mudstone, (3) weakly laminated beach sandstone which contains root impressions at the top and Ophiomorpha, and (4) lagoonal or paludal claystone and siltstone. Gulfward, the beach sandstone apparently grades into highly burrowed, generally finer grained, more poorly sorted, less porous shoreface rocks. The beach facies may include barrier island beaches and mainland beaches, some of which were probably cheniers. Beach facies sandstone units extend many miles along the depositional strike, which nearly parallels the present outcrop strike, but extend only a mile or two (2-3 km) normal to the depositional strike into the subsurface. Recognition of the various facies in outcrops and drill holes is necessary for determination of true stratigraphic relations and for aid in exploration for beach and fluvial sandstone favorable for uranium and petroleum accumulations.
Study Area
Publication type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Title | Sedimentary depositional environments of uranium and petroleum host rocks of the Jackson Group, south Texas |
Series title | Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey |
Volume | 4 |
Issue | 5 |
Year Published | 1976 |
Language | English |
Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
Publisher location | Reston, VA |
Description | 15 p. |
First page | 615 |
Last page | 629 |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Karnes County, McMullen County, Duval County |
Online Only (Y/N) | N |
Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |