Poster Session #2: UC Ballroom

Effect of salt diapirism and salt withdrawal on deposition of the Chinle Formation, Paradox Basin, Utah

Presentation Type

Poster

Faculty Mentor’s Full Name

Marc Hendrix

Faculty Mentor’s Department

Geosciences

Abstract / Artist's Statement

The Middle and Upper Triassic Chinle Formation overlies Pennsylvanian age salt deposits of the Paradox Formation, which has an original depositional thickness of about 2,500 meters. During deposition of the Chinle Formation, passive diapirism of the Pennsylvanian salt caused uplift of the ground surface, whereas salt withdrawal caused subsidence of the ground surface and the formation of depositional “minibasins” that controlled overall sedimentary style. The Chinle Formation in the Paradox Basin of southeastern Utah consists of an upper and lower sequence. The lower sequence is characterized by interconnected single and multi-story sandstone bodies sharply overlain by alternating sandstone and mudstone deposits. The upper sequence is characterized by alternating sandstone-filled single-story and multi-story channel complexes and thick overbank-mudrocks. We hypothesize that increased accommodation space in the center (axis) of the basin formed by salt withdrawal led to sand-rich deposits with the potential to serve as petroleum reservoirs. We hypothesize that the Moab Valley minibasin near Moab, Utah will be expressed through a major change in sedimentary architectural style whereby basin flanks are characterized by mud-dominated sections and mature paleosols and the basin center will be characterized by an interconnected network of channel sandstones and immature paleosols . We will test this hypothesis through photomosaics of well-exposed canyon walls of the Chinle within the Big Bend minibasin, augmented with measured stratigraphic sections through accessible portions of the Chinle stratigraphy.

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Apr 13th, 3:00 PM Apr 13th, 4:00 PM

Effect of salt diapirism and salt withdrawal on deposition of the Chinle Formation, Paradox Basin, Utah

UC Ballroom

The Middle and Upper Triassic Chinle Formation overlies Pennsylvanian age salt deposits of the Paradox Formation, which has an original depositional thickness of about 2,500 meters. During deposition of the Chinle Formation, passive diapirism of the Pennsylvanian salt caused uplift of the ground surface, whereas salt withdrawal caused subsidence of the ground surface and the formation of depositional “minibasins” that controlled overall sedimentary style. The Chinle Formation in the Paradox Basin of southeastern Utah consists of an upper and lower sequence. The lower sequence is characterized by interconnected single and multi-story sandstone bodies sharply overlain by alternating sandstone and mudstone deposits. The upper sequence is characterized by alternating sandstone-filled single-story and multi-story channel complexes and thick overbank-mudrocks. We hypothesize that increased accommodation space in the center (axis) of the basin formed by salt withdrawal led to sand-rich deposits with the potential to serve as petroleum reservoirs. We hypothesize that the Moab Valley minibasin near Moab, Utah will be expressed through a major change in sedimentary architectural style whereby basin flanks are characterized by mud-dominated sections and mature paleosols and the basin center will be characterized by an interconnected network of channel sandstones and immature paleosols . We will test this hypothesis through photomosaics of well-exposed canyon walls of the Chinle within the Big Bend minibasin, augmented with measured stratigraphic sections through accessible portions of the Chinle stratigraphy.