## Age **(million**

**years ago)**  **Sequences General**  **Features (Interpreted**  **Events)**

**SAUK TIPPECANOE I** **(Creek Holostrome of Wheeler** **, 1963) TIPPECANOE II** **(T utelo Holostrome** **of Wheeler , 1963)** **ABSAROKA**



### Carbonate

**strata Siliciclastic**  **Siliciclastic**

**strata (T** 

**aconic orogeny)**  **Carbonate**

**strata**

**Siliciclastic**
**strata Carbonate** 

**strata**

**Carbonate**

**strata**

**Carbonate**

**Carbonate**

**strata Siliciclastic** 

**strata (Acadian**  **orogeny) Siliciclastic** 

**strata (Alleghanian** 

**orogeny)**

**Evaporitic**

**strata** 

## Sequence **Boundaries**

**Owl Creek unconformity**  **("Knox unconformity")**  **Cherokee unconformity** 

**W allbridge**  **unconformity Acadian**  **unconformity Sub-Absaroka**  **unconformity Piankasha** **Holostrome (Wheeler** **, 1963)** **T amaroa Holostrome** **(Wheeler , 1963)** **KASKASKIA II (Sloss, 1988) KASKASKIA I** **(Sloss, 1988)**



### Precambrian **basement Precambrian** 

**basement Siliciclastic** 

**strata Leonardian** 

**W olfcampian** 

**V irgilian** 

**Missourian**

**Desmoinesian**

**Atokan**

**Morrowan**

**Chesterian**

**Meramecian**

**Osagean**

**Kinderhookian**

**Alexandrian**

**Canadian**



## North **American Series** 

**Croixian**

**Albertian**

**W aucoban**  **Champlainian Cincinnatian**  **Chautauquan**

**Senecan**

**Erian**

**Ulsterian**

**Cayugan**

**Niagaran Famennian** 

**Frasnian**

**Givetian**

**Eifelian**

**Emsian**

**Pragian**

**Lochkovian (Gedinnian)**  **Zechstein**

**Rotliegendes**

**Gzelian**

**Kasimovian**

**Moscovian**

**Bashkirian**

**Serpuk- hovian** 

**V isean** 

**T**

**ournaisian**

**Pridolian**

**Ludlovian**

**W enlockian** 

**Llandoverian**

**Ashgillian**

**Caradocian**

**Llandeilian**

**Llanvirnian**

**Arenigian**

**T remadocian** 

**Merioneth**

**St. David's**

**Caerfaian** 

## D3

**D2**

**D1 Epochs**  **Periods PERMIAN** **PENNSYL V** **ANIAN MISSISSIPPIAN** **CARBONIFEROUS DEVONIAN** **SILURIAN ORDOVICIAN** **CAMBRIAN PRE-** **CAMBRIAN** 

## North **American**

**Stages Age**  **(million**

**years ago)** 

**Richmondian Conewangoan** 

**(Cassadagan)**
**(Chemungian)**

**(Fingerlakesian)**
**T**

**aghanic T**  **ioughniogan**

**Cazenovian**
**Southwoodian**

**(Esopusian) Deerparkian** 

**Helderbergian**

**(Murderian)**

**(Canastotan)**

**Lockportian**

**T**

**onawandan**

**Maysvillian Edenian** 

**Shermanian**

**Kirkfieldian**

**Rocklandian**

**Blackriverian**

**Chazyan**

**Whiterockian**

**T rempealeauan** 

**Franconian**

**Dresbachian**

**Ontarian**

**Gamachian**

**540 510**  **480 290** 

**560 550**  **530 520**  **500 490**  **470 460**  **450 430**  **420 410**  **400 390**  **380 370**  **360 350**  **340 330**  **320 310**  **300 280**  **270 260** 

**440**

**570 Stephanian** **W estphalian** **Namurian** 

## North**central Pa.** **North**

**west**

**Pa. North** 

**east Ohio** **South**

**east Pa.** **South**

**west**

**Pa. East**  **central**

**Ohio Eastern** 

**T**

**enn. Central** 

**T**

**enn.** 

# 20 **19 18**  **17 16**  **15**

**W estern**  **Md. Northern** 

**W .V**  **a. North** 

**west W**  **.V a.**  **Central**
**W .V**  **a.** 

# 13 **12 11**  **10**

**South**

**east Ohio** 



# 14

**South**

**west W**  **.V a.**  

# 8

**W estern**  **V a.** 



# 6

**Eastern Ky.**  

# 7 **5 4**  **9**

**South**

**east W**  **.V a.**  **Southern Ontario**  

# 21

**East central** 

**N.Y**

**.** 

# 24

**W estern**  **N.Y**

**.** 

# 22

**W est**  **central**

**N.Y**

**.** 

# 23

**North**

**east Ala.** **East central** 

**Ala. North** 

**west**

**Ga.** 

# 3 **2 1**  **NOR THEAST**  **SOUTHWEST**

**540 510**  **480 290** 

**560 550**  **530 520**  **500 490**  **470 460**  **450 430**  **420 410**  **400 390**  **380 370**  **360 350**  **340 330**  **320 310**  **300 280**  **270 260** 

**440**

**570** Evaporite

Carbonate rock or chert

Conglomerate

Sandstone

Interbedded mudstone and sandstone

Mudstone

Section not present A l t h o u g h n o t d e s i g n a t e d a s a s e p a r a t e l i t h o l o g y , m a n y c o a l b e d s a r e
p r e s e n t i n P e n n s y l v a n i a n s t r a t a a n d s o m e c o a l b e d s a r e p r e s e n t i n M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n

.**Middle Middle** **Middle Lower** **Lower Lower** **Lower Upper** **Upper Upper** **Upper** 

## Periods**PERMIAN PENNSYL** **V ANIAN** **MISSISSIPPIAN CARBONIFEROUS** **DEVONIAN SILURIAN** **ORDOVICIAN CAMBRIAN** **PRE- CAMBRIAN** **Middle Middle** **Middle Lower** **Lower Lower** **Lower Upper** **Upper Upper** **Upper** 

### strata

**strata** EXPLANA TION

F i g u r e 1

. — R e g i o n a l s t r a t i g r a p h y a n d p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m s o f t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n , N o r t h A m e r i c a

. S t r a t i g r a p h i c d a t a a r e m o d i f i e d f r o m A A P G ( 1 9 8 5 a , b ) a n d S a n f o r d ( 1 9 9 3 )

. T h e t i m e s c a l e i s t a k e n f r o m H a r l a n d a n d o t h e r s ( 1 9 9 0 ) ; i n f o r m a l N o r t h A m e r i c a n c h r o n o s t r a t i g r a p h i c t e r m s f r o m A A P G ( 1 9 8 5 a , b ) a r e s h o w n i n

p a r e n t h e s e s

. S e q u e n c e s a n d s e q u e n c e b o u n d a r y l o c a t i o n s a r e f r o m S l o s s ( 1 9 6 3

, 1 9 8 8 ) a n d W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 )

. D a t a o n p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s a r e c o m p i l e d f r o m R o e n a n d W a l k e r ( 1 9 9 6 )

. N a m e s o f p e t r o l e u m p l a y s a r e f r o m R o e n a n d W a l k e r ( 1 9 9 6 ) ; a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n o n A l a b a m a p e t r o l e u m p l a y s i s f r o m E p s m a n ( 1 9 8 7 )

. F i g u r e 2

. — E x t e n t o f t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n i s s h o w n i n r e d

. T h e b a s i n i s s u b d i v i d e d i n t o 2 4

r e g i o n s , a n d t h e g e n e r a l i z e d s t r a t i g r a p h y o f e a c h r e g i o n i s d e p i c t e d i n f i g u r e 1

. C o l u m n

n u m b e r s i n f i g u r e 1 c o r r e s p o n d t o r e g i o n n u m b e r s i n f i g u r e 2

. F i g u r e m o d i f i e d f r o m A A P G ( 1 9 8 5 a ) a n d f r o m S a n f o r d ( 1 9 9 3 )

. 45 ° N

40 ° N

35 ° N 35 ° N 40 ° N 45 ° N 80 ° W 75 ° W 85 ° W

80 ° W 75 ° W 85 ° W



### Postulated Petroleum Source Rocks of the Appalachian Basin (compiled from Roen and W alker , 1996)

G r o u p 1

**1** P e n n s y l v a n i a n M o n o n g a h e l a G r o u p
**2** P e n n s y l v a n i a n C o n e m a u g h G r o u p
**3** P e n n s y l v a n i a n A l l e g h e n y G r o u p
**4** P e n n s y l v a n i a n P o t t s v i l l e G r o u p

G r o u p 2

**5** S h a l e s i n t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n W a r s a w L i m e s t o n e
**6** S h a l e s i n t h e u p p e r p a r t o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n F o r t P a y n e F o r m a t i o n
**7** M i s s i s s i p p i a n S u n b u r y S h a l e
**8** U p p e r D e v o n i a n ( F a m e n n i a n ) s h a l e s ( i n c l u d i n g C h a t t a n o o g a S h a l e , O h i o S h a l e ,
a n d H u r o n S h a l e M e m b e r o f t h e O h i o S h a l e )

**9** U p p e r D e v o n i a n J a v a F o r m a t i o n
**1 0**  U p p e r D e v o n i a n ( F r a s n i a n ) R h i n e s t r e e t S h a l e ( W e s t F a l l s F o r m a t i o n ) **1**

**1 1**  U p p e r D e v o n i a n ( F r a s n i a n ) S o n y e a F o r m a t i o n ( M i d d l e s e x M e m b e r ) **1**

**1 2**  U p p e r D e v o n i a n ( F r a s n i a n ) G e n e s e e F o r m a t i o n ( R e n w i c k M e m b e r a n d G e n e s e o M e m b e r ) **1**

**1 3**  U p p e r D e v o n i a n H a r r e l l F o r m a t i o n ( B u r k e t M e m b e r ) **1**

**1 4**  M i d d l e D e v o n i a n H a m i l t o n G r o u p
**1 5**  M i d d l e D e v o n i a n M a r c e l l u s S h a l e
**1 6**  L o w e r a n d M i d d l e D e v o n i a n N e e d m o r e S h a l e

G r o u p 3

**1 7**  U p p e r S i l u r i a n A k r o n D o l o m i t e
**1 8**  U p p e r S i l u r i a n B e r t i e D o l o m i t e
**1 9**  U p p e r S i l u r i a n C a m i l l u s F o r m a t i o n
**2 0**  U p p e r S i l u r i a n S a l i n a F o r m a t i o n ( i n c l u d i n g b l a c k s h a l e w i t h i n N e w b u r g s a n d s t o n e )

**2 1**  U p p e r S i l u r i a n L o c k p o r t D o l o m i t e
**2 2**  L o w e r S i l u r i a n C l i n t o n G r o u p ( i n c l u d i n g C l i n t o n S h a l e , R o s e H i l l F o r m a t i o n ,
a n d C r a b O r c h a r d F o r m a t i o n )

**2 3**  L o w e r S i l u r i a n M e d i n a G r o u p ( i n c l u d i n g C a b o t H e a d S h a l e )

**2 4**  U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n M a r t i n s b u r g S h a l e , R e e d s v i l l e S h a l e , U t i c a ( A n t e s ) S h a l e , a n d

e q u i v a l e n t s t r a t a
**2 5**  U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n P o i n t P l e a s a n t S h a l e a n d d o l o m i t i c m u d s t o n e s w i t h i n t h e U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n L e x i n g t o n L i m e s t o n e ( T r e n t o n L i m e s t o n e )

**2 6**  U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n B l o c k h o u s e S h a l e ( A t h e n s S h a l e )

**2 7**  M i d d l e O r d o v i c i a n W e l l s C r e e k F o r m a t i o n

G r o u p 4

**2 8**  C a m b r i a n R o m e F o r m a t i o n
**2 9**  U n s p e c i f i e d C a m b r i a n o r o l d e r s o u r c e r o c k s ( n o t s h o w n i n f i g

. 1 )

**3 0**  D e e p b a s e m e n t o r i g i n ( p o s t u l a t e d f o r l o w B r i t i s h T h e r m a l U n i t g a s i n e a s t e r n K e n t u c k y a n d s o u t h e r n O h i o ) ( n o t s h o w n i n f i g

. 1 )

**1** Equivalent to the Upper Devonian Kettle Point For mation in Ontario, Canada.



### Petroleum Plays of the Appalachian Basin

(modified from Roen and W alker , 1996)

**Paf** Middle Pennsylvanian Allegheny For mation and (or) Gr oup sandstones **Pps** Lower and Middle Pennsylvanian Pottsville, New River , and Lee For mation sandstones

**Mmc** Upper Mississippian Mauch Chunk Gr oup and equivalent strata **Mgn** Upper Mississippian Gr eenbrier and (or) Newman Limestones

**Mbi** Lower Mississippian Big Injun sandstones

**Mws** Lower Mississippian W eir sandstones **Mfp** Lower Mississippian Fort Payne For mation (carbonate mounds)

**MDe** Lower Mississippian-Upper Devonian Ber ea Sandstone and equivalent strata

**Dvs** Upper Devonian V enango (upper Catskill) sandstones and siltstones

**Dbs** Upper Devonian Bradfor d (middle Catskill) sandstones and siltstones

**Des** Upper Devonian Elk (lower Catskill) sandstones and siltstones **Dbg** Upper Devonian fractur ed black and gray shales and siltstones

**UDs** Upper Devonian black shales

**Dol** Middle Devonian Onondaga Limestone (r eef play)

**Dho** Fractur ed Middle Devonian Huntersville Chert and Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone

**Dos** Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone structural traps

**Doc** Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone combination traps **Dop** Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone updip per meability pinchout traps

**DSu** Lower Devonian-Upper Silurian unconfor mity traps

**Sbi** Upper Silurian Bass Islands Dolomite

**Sns** Upper Silurian Newbur g sandstone

**Sld** Silurian Lockport Dolomite-Keefer (Big Six) Sandstone

**Sts** Lower Silurian T uscar ora Sandstone

**Scm** Lower Silurian Cataract and (or) Medina Gr oup ("Clinton") sandstones

**Obe** Upper Or dovician Bald Eagle For mation
**Obc** Upper Or dovician bioclastic carbonate ("T r enton For mation")

**MOf** Or dovician fractur ed carbonates **Osp** Lower and Middle Or dovician St. Peter Sandstone

| **Ok** Cambrian-Or dovician Knox Gr oup unconfor mity traps

| **pk** Cambrian pr e-Knox Gr oup strata 

### INTRODUCTION

A l t h o u g h m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 y e a r s o f r e s e a r c h h a v e g o n e i n t o d e c i p h e r i n g t h e P a l e o z o i c s t r a t i g r a p h y o f t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n o f N o r t h A m e r i c a , i t r e m a i n s a

c h a l l e n g e t o v i s u a l i z e t h e b a s i n s t r a t i g r a p h y o n a r e g i o n a l s c a l e a n d t o d e s c r i b e

s t r a t i g r a p h i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e b a s i n

. S i m i l a r d i f f i c u l t i e s e x i s t f o r v i s u a l i z i n g a n d d e s c r i b i n g t h e r e g i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s a n d r e s e r v o i r r o c k s

. T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n a d d r e s s e s t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s b y c o m b i n i n g e x i s t i n g d a t a o n s t r a t i g r a p h y

a n d p e t r o l e u m g e o l o g y o f t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n , a n d p r e s e n t i n g t h e s e d a t a i n a

s u c c i n c t

, s c h e m a t i c f o r m a t

. S u c h a r e g i o n a l s y n t h e s i s o f t h e b a s i n w i l l b e p a r t i c u l a r l y

u s e f u l f o r p e r s o n s o n l y g e n e r a l l y a c q u a i n t e d w i t h A p p a l a c h i a n g e o l o g y

. I n a d d i t i o n ,
m a n y o f t h e b r o a d r e l a t i o n s t h a t e m e r g e f r o m t h i s c o m p i l a t i o n m a y b e o f i n t e r e s t t o

s p e c i a l i s t s o f A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n s t r a t i g r a p h y a n d p e t r o l e u m g e o l o g y

.

I n o r d e r t o f a c i l i t a t e c o m p a r i s o n s o f s t r a t a a c r o s s t h e b a s i n a n d t o o b s e r v e b r o a d

p a t t e r n s i n s t r a t i g r a p h y , 2 4 s c h e m a t i c c h r o n o s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n s w e r e a r r a n g e d f r o m s o u t h w e s t t o n o r t h e a s t

, w i t h t i m e d e n o t e d i n e q u a l i n c r e m e n t s a l o n g t h e s e c t i o n s ( f i g s

. 1 a n d 2 )

. T h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c d a t a w e r e m o d i f i e d f r o m A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f
P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g i s t s , A A P G ( 1 9 8 5 a , b ) a n d S a n f o r d ( 1 9 9 3 )

, a n d t h e t i m e s c a l e w a s
t a k e n f r o m H a r l a n d a n d o t h e r s ( 1 9 9 0 ) ; i n f o r m a l N o r t h A m e r i c a n c h r o n o s t r a t i g r a p h i c
t e r m s f r o m A A P G ( 1 9 8 5 a , b ) a r e s h o w n i n p a r e n t h e s e s

. S t r a t i g r a p h i c s e q u e n c e s a s d e f i n e d b y S l o s s ( 1 9 6 3

, 1 9 8 8 ) a n d W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) a l s o w e r e i n c l u d e d

, a s w e l l a s b r i e f
d e s c r i p t i o n s o f g e n e r a l f e a t u r e s a n d i n t e r p r e t e d e v e n t s

. I n a d d i t i o n , f i g u r e 1 s h o w s t h e l o c a t i o n s o f p o s t u l a t e d p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s ( c o m p i l e d f r o m R o e n a n d W a l k e r , 1 9 9 6 ) a n d a l s o t h e l o c a t i o n s o f p e t r o l e u m p l a y s ( c o m p i l e d f r o m E p s m a n , 1 9 8 7 ; R o e n a n d W a l k e r , 1 9 9 6 )

. A l l o f t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c u n i t s s h o w n o n f i g u r e 1 h a v e b e e n

c o l o r e d a c c o r d i n g t o p r e d o m i n a n t l i t h o l o g y , a l t h o u g h m a n y o f t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c n a m e s h a v e b e e n d e l i b e r a t e l y r e m o v e d s o a s t o e m p h a s i z e g e n e r a l l i t h o l o g i c p a t t e r n s a n d t o

p r o v i d e a b r o a d o v e r v i e w o f t h e b a s i n

.



### GENERAL STRA TIGRAPHY

F i g u r e 1 s h o w s o n l y t h e p r e d o m i n a n t l i t h o l o g i e s f o r g i v e n a r e a s w i t h i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n

. T h e o l d e s t o f t h e s e r o c k s i s d e s i g n a t e d a s P r e c a m b r i a n b a s e m e n t

,
o v e r l a i n b y L o w e r C a m b r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a

. T h e L o w e r C a m b r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a , i n t u r n , a r e o v e r l a i n b y C a m b r i a n a n d O r d o v i c i a n c a r b o n a t e r o c k s

. N o t e t h a t t h e r e i s

a d i s t i n c t i n t e r v a l o f s i l i c i c l a s t i c r o c k s ( S t

. P e t e r S a n d s t o n e ) r e p r e s e n t i n g a r e l a t i v e l y

s h o r t d u r a t i o n ( 4 8 0

– 4 7 5 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o ) w i t h i n t h e o v e r a l l p a c k a g e o f O r d o v i c i a n

c a r b o n a t e r o c k s

. T h e C a m b r i a n

- O r d o v i c i a n c a r b o n a t e r o c k s a r e o v e r l a i n b y U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n

- U p p e r S i l u r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a

. T h e l o w e r h a l f o f t h e s e s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a ( 4 5 0

– 4 3 5 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o ) e x h i b i t s a g e n e r a l b a s i n w i d e p a t t e r n o f f i n e r g r a i n e d

r o c k s o v e r l a i n b y c o a r s e r g r a i n e d r o c k s

. T h e u p p e r h a l f o f t h e U p p e r O r d o v i c a n

U p p e r S i l u r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a ( 4 3 5

– 4 2 8 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

, h o w e v e r , d o e s n o t s h o w

s u c h a t r e n d

. T h e U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n

- U p p e r S i l u r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a r e o v e r l a i n b y U p p e r S i l u r i a n

- M i d d l e D e v o n i a n c a r b o n a t e r o c k s ( 4 2 8

– 3 8 2 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

, a n d

t h e r e i s a w i d e s p r e a d i n t e r v a l o f U p p e r S i l u r i a n e v a p o r i t e s ( S a l i n a F o r m a t i o n ) w i t h i n
t h i s o v e r a l l c a r b o n a t e p a c k a g e

. A l s o , t h e r e i s a d i s t i n c t i n t e r v a l o f s i l i c i c l a s t i c r o c k s ( O r i s k a n y S a n d s t o n e ) r e p r e s e n t i n g a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t d u r a t i o n ( 3 8 9

– 3 8 7 m i l l i o n y e a r s

a g o ) w i t h i n t h e u p p e r p a r t o f t h e U p p e r S i l u r i a n

- M i d d l e D e v o n i a n c a r b o n a t e p a c k a g e

. T h e U p p e r S i l u r i a n

- M i d d l e D e v o n i a n c a r b o n a t e r o c k s a r e o v e r l a i n b y M i d d l e D e v o n i a n

- L o w e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a

. A l a t e r a l l y e x t e n s i v e c a r b o n a t e ( 3 7 9

– 3 7 7 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o ) i s p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e l o w e r p a r t o f t h e s e s t r a t a , a n d t h e

s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a b o v e t h i s c a r b o n a t e e x h i b i t a g e n e r a l c o a r s e n i n g

- u p w a r d s t r e n d

. T h e M i d d l e D e v o n i a n

- L o w e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a , i n t u r n , a r e o v e r l a i n b y M i s s i s s i p p i a n c a r b o n a t e r o c k s , w h i c h a r e m o r e e x t e n s i v e a n d s p a n a l o n g e r i n t e r v a l o f

t i m e i n t h e s o u t h e r n h a l f o f t h e b a s i n

. F i n a l l y , t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n c a r b o n a t e r o c k s a r e

o v e r l a i n b y U p p e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n

- P e r m i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a

. T h e l o w e r p a r t ( U p p e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n

- L o w e r P e n n s y l v a n i a n ) o f t h e s e s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a h a s a g e n e r a l p a t t e r n o f f i n e r g r a i n e d r o c k s o v e r l a i n b y c o a r s e r g r a i n e d r o c k s , b u t t h e u p p e r h a l f ( U p p e r P e n n s y l v a n i a n

- P e r m i a n ) o f t h e s e s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a d o e s n o t s h o w t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c

.

A s f o r c o r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e s e q u e n c e s o f S l o s s ( 1 9 6 3

, 1 9 8 8 ) a n d W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 )

, t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n c o n t a i n s t h e f o l l o w i n g f o u r m a j o r s e q u e n c e s : S a u k

, T i p p e c a n o e , K a s k a s k i a , a n d A b s a r o k a

. T h e s e f o u r s e q u e n c e s a r e b o u n d e d b y

u n c o n f o r m i t i e s t h a t h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d a c r o s s m o s t o f N o r t h A m e r i c a

. A d d i t i o n a l

u n c o n f o r m i t i e s o f m o r e l o c a l e x t e n t a r e p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n ( f o r

e x a m p l e , B r e t t a n d o t h e r s , 1 9 9 0 ; E t t e n s o h n , 1 9 9 4 )

, b u t f i g u r e 1 s h o w s o n l y t h e

m a j o r u n c o n f o r m i t i e s i d e n t i f i e d b y S l o s s ( 1 9 6 3

, 1 9 8 8 ) a n d W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 )

. T h e S a u k S e q u e n c e i s b o u n d e d a t t h e b a s e b y t h e u n c o n f o r m i t y b e t w e e n C a m b r i a n

s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a n d P r e c a m b r i a n b a s e m e n t

, a n d t h e s e q u e n c e i s b o u n d e d a t t h e t o p b y t h e O w l C r e e k u n c o n f o r m i t y ( w h i c h l i e s a t t h e b a s e o f t h e S t

. P e t e r S a n d s t o n e a n d

e q u i v a l e n t u n i t s )

. T h e O w l C r e e k u n c o n f o r m i t y i s s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e " p o s t

K n o x u n c o n f o r m i t y " o r t h e " K n o x u n c o n f o r m i t y " ( f o r e x a m p l e , R e a d

, 1 9 8 9 ; B r e t t a n d

o t h e r s , 1 9 9 0 ) b e c a u s e i n m a n y p l a c e s i t i s a n u n c o n f o r m i t y a t t h e t o p o f t h e K n o x G r o u p ( f i g

. 1 )

. S l o s s ( 1 9 6 3

, 1 9 8 8 ) d i v i d e d t h e S a u k S e q u e n c e i n t o t h r e e u n i t s ( S a u k I

, S a u k I I

, a n d S a u k I I I )

, b u t t h e e x a c t S a u k I

– S a u k I I a n d S a u k I I

– S a u k I I I l i t h o s t r a t i g r a p h i c b o u n d a r i e s a r e n o t w e l l d o c u m e n t e d i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n ( P a l m e r , 1 9 8 1 )

.

T h e T i p p e c a n o e S e q u e n c e i s b o u n d e d a t t h e b a s e b y t h e O w l C r e e k u n c o n f o r m i t y ( d e s c r i b e d a b o v e ) a n d a t t h e t o p b y t h e W a l l b r i d g e u n c o n f o r m i t y ( w h i c h l i e s a t t h e b a s e o f t h e O r i s k a n y S a n d s t o n e a n d e q u i v a l e n t u n i t s )

. T h e T i p p e c a n o e S e q u e n c e w a s d i v i d e d b y S l o s s ( 1 9 8 8 ) i n t o a l o w e r u n i t ( T i p p e c a n o e I ) a n d a n u p p e r u n i t ( T i p p e c a n o e I I )

. W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) r e f e r r e d t o t h e l o w e r u n i t a s t h e C r e e k H o l o s t r o m e ,
a n d h e r e f e r r e d t o t h e u p p e r u n i t a s t h e T u t e l o H o l o s t r o m e

. T h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n
t h e s e t w o T i p p e c a n o e u n i t s i s a n u n c o n f o r m i t y a m o n g a v a r i e t y o f s t r a t a a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h t h e O r d o v i c i a n

- S i l u r i a n b o u n d a r y

. W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) n a m e d t h i s u n c o n f o r m i t y t h e

" T

a c o n i c d i s c o n t i n u i t y , " a n d h e i n d i c a t e d t h a t i t i s f o u n d a t t h e b a s e o f t h e T u s c a r o r a S a n d s t o n e ( i n P e n n s y l v a n i a , M a r y l a n d

, a n d n o r t h e r n W e s t V i r g i n i a )

, a t t h e b a s e o f t h e C l i n c h S a n d s t o n e ( i n s o u t h e r n W e s t V i r g i n i a , V i r g i n i a , a n d T e n n e s s e e )

, a n d a t t h e b a s e o f t h e R e d M o u n t a i n F o r m a t i o n ( i n A l a b a m a )

. D e n n i s o n a n d H e a d ( 1 9 7 5 ) l a t e r

p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e n a m e " T a c o n i c d i s c o n f o r m i t y " b e r e p l a c e d b y " C h e r o k e e

u n c o n f o r m i t y , " w h i c h i s a n A m e r i c a n I n d i a n n a m e ( s i m i l a r t o t h e n a m e s o f t h e S l o s s

a n d W h e e l e r s e q u e n c e s ) a n d d o e s n o t i m p l y a n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e T a c o n i c o r o g e n y

. T h e " T a c o n i c d i s c o n t i n u i t y " h a s a l s o b e e n r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e " T u s c a r o r a u n c o n f o r m i t y " ( f o r e x a m p l e , D o r s c h a n d o t h e r s , 1 9 9 4 )

.

T h e K a s k a s k i a S e q u e n c e , w h i c h l i e s a b o v e t h e T i p p e c a n o e S e q u e n c e , i s b o u n d e d a t

t h e b a s e b y t h e W a l l b r i d g e u n c o n f o r m i t y a n d a t t h e t o p b y t h e S u b

- A b s a r o k a

u n c o n f o r m i t y , w h i c h i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n

- P e n n s y l v a n i a n b o u n d a r y

. M o r e r e c e n t w o r k

, h o w e v e r , s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e S u b

- A b s a r o k a u n c o n f o r m i t y i s a c t u a l l y

o f E a r l y P e n n s y l v a n i a n a g e ( E t t e n s o h n , 1 9 9 4 )

. T h e K a s k a s k i a S e q u e n c e w a s d i v i d e d b y S l o s s ( 1 9 8 8 ) i n t o a l o w e r u n i t ( K a s k a s k i a I ) a n d a n u p p e r u n i t ( K a s k a s k i a I I )

, w i t h

t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n t h e t w o u n i t s b e i n g " n e a r t h e c l o s e o f D e v o n i a n t i m e " ( S l o s s , 1 9 8 8

, p

. 3 5 )

. W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) a l s o d i v i d e d t h e s t r a t a b e t w e e n t h e W a l l b r i d g e

u n c o n f o r m i t y a n d t h e S u b

- A b s a r o k a u n c o n f o r m i t y i n t o t w o u n i t s , a n d h e r e f e r r e d t o
t h e l o w e r u n i t a s t h e P i a n k a s h a H o l o s t r o m e a n d t h e u p p e r u n i t a s t h e T a m a r o a H o l o s t r o m e

. H o w e v e r , t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n t h e s e t w o u n i t s d e s i g n a t e d b y W h e e l e r i s n o t t h e s a m e a s t h e K a s k a s k i a I

– K a s k a s k i a I I b o u n d a r y o f S l o s s

. W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 )

i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n t h e P i a n k a s h a H o l o s t r o m e a n d t h e T a m a r o a H o l o s t r o m e i s t h e A c a d i a n u n c o n f o r m i t y , w h i c h i s f o u n d a t t h e b a s e o f t h e O h i o , H u r o n , a n d C h a t t a n o o g a S h a l e s

.

T h e A b s a r o k a S e q u e n c e , w h i c h l i e s a b o v e t h e K a s k a s k i a S e q u e n c e , i s b o u n d e d a t

t h e b a s e b y t h e " S u b

- A b s a r o k a u n c o n f o r m i t y " ( d e s c r i b e d a b o v e ) a n d a t t h e t o p b y a n

u n c o n f o r m i t y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e L o w e r J u r a s s i c

- M i d d l e J u r a s s i c b o u n d a r y

. T r i a s s i c

a n d J u r a s s i c s t r a t a a r e n o t p r e s e r v e d i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n , h o w e v e r , a n d t h u s t h e
t o p o f t h e A b s a r o k a S e q u e n c e i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h e e r o s i o n a l

s u r f a c e a t t h e t o p o f t h e P a l e o z o i c s t r a t a t h r o u g h o u t t h e b a s i n

.

Petroleum Source Rocks

T h e n a m e s o f p o s t u l a t e d p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s ( r o c k s f r o m w h i c h p e t r o l e u m i s d e r i v e d )

, a s p r e s e n t e d i n f i g u r e 1

, h a v e b e e n c o m p i l e d f r o m R o e n a n d W a l k e r ( 1 9 9 6 )

. T h e s e s o u r c e r o c k s f a l l i n t o f o u r d i s t i n c t g r o u p s a c c o r d i n g t o s t r a t i g r a p h i c o c c u r r e n c e

. G r o u p 1 c o n s i s t s o f P e n n s y l v a n i a n s t r a t a

. G r o u p 2 c o n s i s t s o f L o w e r D e v o n i a n

M i s s i s s i p p i a n s h a l e s

. G r o u p 3 c o n s i s t s o f s h a l e s w i t h i n M i d d l e O r d o v i c i a n

- U p p e r S i l u r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c a n d c a r b o n a t e s t r a t a

. G r o u p 4 c o n s i s t s o f v a r i o u s s t r a t a o f
C a m b r i a n a n d p o s s i b l y L a t e P r e c a m b r i a n a g e

. G r o u p 4 a l s o i n c l u d e s a p e t r o l e u m

s o u r c e o f " d e e p b a s e m e n t o r i g i n " t h a t i s p o s t u a t e d f o r l o w B r i t i s h T h e r m a l U n i t ( B T U )

g a s ( i n o t h e r w o r d s , g a s t h a t h a s a h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f n i t r o g e n o r h e l i u m o r b o t h )

i n a f e w w e l l s i n e a s t e r n K e n t u c k y a n d s o u t h e r n O h i o

.

Petroleum Plays

A p e t r o l e u m p l a y i s d e f i n e d a s a g r o u p o f d r i l l i n g p r o s p e c t s h a v i n g s i m i l a r g e o l o g i c

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t c o n t r o l p r o d u c t i o n ( M a g o o n a n d D o w , 1 9 9 4 ; P a t c h e n , 1 9 9 6 )

. P l a y s a r e c o m m o n l y d e s i g n a t e d i n t e r m s o f s t r a t i g r a p h y , a l t h o u g h p l a y n a m e s c a n

a l s o b e m o d i f i e d b y r e f e r e n c e t o p e t r o l e u m t r a p t y p e

. I n f i g u r e 1

, t h e n a m e s o f

p e t r o l e u m p l a y s a r e f r o m R o e n a n d W a l k e r ( 1 9 9 6 )

, w i t h s o m e a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n

o n A l a b a m a p e t r o l e u m p l a y s f r o m E p s m a n ( 1 9 8 7

, f i g

. 2 )

. T h e s e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n

p l a y s a r e m o r e w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n s t h a n t h e s o u r c e

r o c k s , b u t m o s t o f t h e p l a y s d o s h o w s o m e s t r a t i g r a p h i c p r o x i m i t y t o t h e s o u r c e r o c k s

.



### DISCUSSION

M o s t o f t h e s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n a r e t r a d i t i o n a l l y i n t e r p r e t e d

a s b e i n g a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t e c t o n i c e v e n t s ( f o r e x a m p l e , H a t c h e r , 1 9 8 9 )

, a l t h o u g h C e c i l

a n d o t h e r s ( 1 9 9 8 ) s u g g e s t t h a t c l i m a t e i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t

. T h e U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n

U p p e r S i l u r i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e T a c o n i c o r o g e n y

. T h e M i d d l e D e v o n i a n

- L o w e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e A c a d i a n

o r o g e n y , a n d t h e U p p e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n

- P e r m i a n s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

t h e A l l e g h a n i a n o r o g e n y

. A l l o f t h e s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o r o g e n i e s e x h i b i t

a g e n e r a l p a t t e r n o f f i n e r g r a i n e d r o c k s o v e r l a i n b y c o a r s e r g r a i n e d r o c k s i n a t l e a s t

t h e l o w e r h a l f o f e a c h s i l i c i c l a s t i c p a c k a g e

.

F o r e a c h p a c k a g e o f s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a n o r o g e n i c e v e n t

, t h e r e i s a

m a j o r u n c o n f o r m i t y ( s e q u e n c e b o u n d a r y ) w i t h i n t h e s i l i c i c l a s t i c p a c k a g e

. N o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e s e u n c o n f o r m i t i e s ( C h e r o k e e , A c a d i a n , S u b

- A b s a r o k a ) a r e n o t l o c a t e d e x a c t l y a t t h e b a s e o f t h e r e s p e c t i v e s i l i c i c l a s t i c p a c k a g e s

. L i k e w i s e , t h e s e
t h r e e u n c o n f o r m i t i e s a r e n o t l o c a t e d a t t h e t o p s o f m a j o r c o a r s e n i n g

- u p w a r d s o r f i n i n g

- u p w a r d s t r e n d s

. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e m a j o r p a c k a g e s o f s i l i c i c l a s t i c r o c k s , t h e r e a r e t w o m i n o r p a c k a g e s

o f s i l i c i c l a s t i c r o c k s t h a t w e r e d e p o s i t e d a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 8 0 t o 4 7 5 m i l l i o n y e a r s

a g o ( S t

. P e t e r S a n d s t o n e ) a n d a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 8 9 t o 3 8 7 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o ( O r i s k a n y S a n d s t o n e )

. T h e s e t w o m i n o r p a c k a g e s o f s i l i c i c l a s t i c r o c k s a r e p r e s e n t

w i t h i n p r e d o m i n a n t l y c a r b o n a t e s t r a t a a n d t h e y a r e n o t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h s i g n i f i c a n t f i n i n g

- u p w a r d s o r c o a r s e n i n g

- u p w a r d s t r e n d s

. F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e s e s i l i c i c l a s t i c r o c k s

r e p r e s e n t r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t d u r a t i o n s o f t i m e , a n d t h e y a r e n o t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m a j o r

o r o g e n i c e v e n t s

. T h e s e r o c k s m a y o w e t h e i r o r i g i n p r i m a r i l y t o c h a n g e s i n c l i m a t e o r

s e a l e v e l

, o r b o t h

. A l i k e l y s c e n a r i o i s t h a t t h e s e s a n d s t o n e s a r e o f e o l i a n o r i g i n o r t h a t

t h e y w e r e o r i g i n a l l y e o l i a n s e d i m e n t s t h a t w e r e s u b s e q u e n t l y r e d e p o s i t e d i n a

s u b a q u e o u s e n v i r o n m e n t ( B e r k e y , 1 9 0 6 ; G r a b a u , 1 9 4 0 ; D o t t a n d o t h e r s , 1 9 8 6 ; C e c i l

a n d o t h e r s , 1 9 9 1

, 1 9 9 8 )

.

C a r b o n a t e r o c k s a r e p r e s e n t b e t w e e n e a c h o f t h e t h r e e m a j o r s i l i c i c l a s t i c p a c k a g e s

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o r o g e n i c e v e n t s

. T h e S i l u r i a n

- D e v o n i a n c a r b o n a t e p a c k a g e i s u n u s u a l

, h o w e v e r , i n t h a t i t c o n t a i n s e x t e n s i v e e v a p o r i t e d e p o s i t s ( S a l i n a F o r m a t i o n )

. T h e s e

e v a p o r i t e s a r e t h o u g h t t o h a v e f o r m e d i n s a b k h a a n d s h a l l o w

- w a t e r e n v i r o n m e n t s ( H a y n e s a n d o t h e r s , 1 9 8 9 ; T o m a s t i k

, 1 9 9 7 )

, w h i c h c o u l d h a v e d e v e l o p e d a s t h e r e s u l t

o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e o r r e s t r i c t e d c i r c u l a t i o n o r b o t h

.

E a c h g r o u p o f p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s c l u s t e r s a r o u n d s i l i c i c l a s t i c s t r a t a

. T h e

p e t r o l e u m p l a y s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d

, a r e m o r e w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e

s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n s , b u t m o s t o f t h e p l a y s s h o w s o m e s t r a t i g r a p h i c p r o x i m i t y t o t h e

p o s t u l a t e d s o u r c e r o c k s

. N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f f o u r d i s c r e t e g r o u p s o f

p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s p r o v i d e s a c o n t e x t f o r e v a l u a t i n g h y d r o c a r b o n r e s o u r c e s o f

t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n i n t e r m s o f f o u r p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m s ( i n t h e s e n s e o f M a g o o n

a n d D o w , 1 9 9 4 )

. T h e e x i s t e n c e o f d i f f e r e n t p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m s w i t h i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n i s s u p p o r t e d b y d a t a f r o m C o l e a n d o t h e r s ( 1 9 8 7 ) a n d D r o z d a n d
C o l e ( 1 9 9 4 )

, w h o s h o w e d t h a t o i l s f o u n d s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y b e l o w e v a p o r i t e s o f t h e S i l u r i a n S a l i n a F o r m a t i o n a r e c h e m i c a l l y d i s t i n c t f r o m o i l s f o u n d s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y

a b o v e t h e e v a p o r i t e s

. D r o z d a n d C o l e ( 1 9 9 4 ) a l s o s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e S a l i n a e v a p o r i t e s

a r e a r e g i o n a l h y d r o c a r b o n s e a l ( a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e a v a r i e t y o f l o c a l h y d r o c a r b o n

s e a l s f o r i n d i v i d u a l r e s e r v o i r s )

. O i l s i n r e s e r v o i r s t h a t o c c u r s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y b e l o w t h e S a l i n a e v a p o r i t e s a r e d e r i v e d f r o m p r e

- S a l i n a s o u r c e r o c k s , w h e r e a s o i l s i n r e s e r v o i r s
t h a t o c c u r s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y a b o v e t h e S a l i n a e v a p o r i t e s a r e d e r i v e d f r o m p o s t

- S a l i n a

s o u r c e r o c k s

. O b v i o u s l y , i n t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t o f t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n w h e r e t h e S a l i n a e v a p o r i t e s a r e a b s e n t

, t h i s r e l a t i o n m a y n o t h o l d a n d h y d r o c a r b o n s f r o m o l d e r ( p r e

- S a l i n a ) s o u r c e r o c k s c o u l d h a v e m i g r a t e d i n t o r e s e r v o i r s h i g h e r i n t h e s e c t i o n

.

I n s u m m a r y , t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n o f N o r t h A m e r i c a e x t e n d s f r o m A l a b a m a t o O n t a r i o a n d N e w Y o r k

, a n d c o n t a i n s s t r a t a r a n g i n g f r o m P r e c a m b r i a n t o P e r m i a n i n

a g e ( f i g

. 1 )

. T h e s e s t r a t a c o m p r i s e t h e S a u k

, T i p p e c a n o e , K a s k a s k i a , a n d A b s a r o k a S e q u e n c e s o f S l o s s ( 1 9 6 3

, 1 9 8 8 ) a n d W h e e l e r ( 1 9 6 3 )

. A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n s t r a t a a r e

c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y d i s t i n c t l i t h o l o g i e s t h a t p e r s i s t e d g e o l o g i c a l l y o n t h e o r d e r o f t e n s o f

m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s

. T h e L o w e r C a m b r i a n s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y s i l i c i c l a s t i c ( 5 7 0

– 5 4 5

m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

. L o w e r C a m b r i a n t o U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y

c a r b o n a t e ( 5 4 5

– 4 4 5 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

. T h e U p p e r O r d o v i c i a n t o U p p e r S i l u r i a n

s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y s i l i c i c l a s t i c ( 4 4 5

– 4 2 8 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

, a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e T

a c o n i c o r o g e n y

. T h e U p p e r S i l u r i a n t o M i d d l e D e v o n i a n s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y

c a r b o n a t e ( 4 2 8

– 3 0 1 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

. T h e M i d d l e D e v o n i a n t o L o w e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n

s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y s i l i c i c l a s t i c ( 3 8 1

– 3 4 5 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

, a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e A c a d i a n o r o g e n y

. T h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y c a r b o n a t e ( 3 4 5

– 3 3 0

m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

. T h e U p p e r M i s s i s s i p p i a n t o P e r m i a n s t r a t a a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y

s i l i c i c l a s t i c ( 3 3 0

– 2 5 0 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o )

, a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e A l l e g h a n i a n o r o g e n y

. L i t h o l o g i c v a r i a b i l i t y o n t h e o r d e r o f t e n s o f m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s i s c o r r e l a t e d w i t h

t e c t o n i c a c t i v i t y i n c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h c l i m a t i c c h a n g e s , w h e r e a s l i t h o l o g i c v a r i a b i l i t y o f

s h o r t e r d u r a t i o n ( < 1 0 m i l l i o n y e a r s ) m a y h a v e b e e n c a u s e d b y c h a n g e s i n c l i m a t e o r

s e a l e v e l o r b o t h ( w i t h o u t n e c e s s a r i l y a t e c t o n i c i n f l u e n c e )

.

P o s t u l a t e d p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s f a l l i n t o f o u r g r o u p s a c c o r d i n g t o s t r a t i g r a p h i c

o c c u r r e n c e

. T h e s e f o u r g r o u p s c o n s i s t o f C a m b r i a n a n d o l d e r s t r a t a , M i d d l e O r d o v i c i a n

- U p p e r S i l u r i a n s t r a t a , L o w e r D e v o n i a n

- M i s s i s s i p p i a n s t r a t a , a n d
P e n n s y l v a n i a n s t r a t a

. T h e p e t r o l e u m p l a y s a r e m o r e w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e

s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n s t h a n t h e s o u r c e r o c k s , b u t m o s t o f t h e p l a y s s h o w s o m e

s t r a t i g r a p h i c p r o x i m i t y t o t h e s o u r c e r o c k s i d e n t i f i e d i n f i g u r e 1

. T h e S i l u r i a n S a l i n a

e v a p o r i t e s a r e t h o u g h t t o f o r m a r e g i o n a l h y d r o c a r b o n s e a l a c r o s s m u c h o f t h e b a s i n ,
w i t h t w o o f t h e s o u r c e r o c k g r o u p s o c c u r r i n g b e l o w t h e S a l i n a e v a p o r i t e s a n d t h e

o t h e r t w o s o u r c e r o c k g r o u p s o c c u r r i n g a b o v e t h e e v a p o r i t e s

. T h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f f o u r d i s c r e t e g r o u p s o f p e t r o l e u m s o u r c e r o c k s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e r e a r e f o u r d i f f e r e n t

p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m s w i t h i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n

.



### ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T h i s w o r k w a s i m p r o v e d b y s u g g e s t i o n s f r o m U

. S

. G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y r e v i e w e r s C

. B

. C e c i l

, R

. T

. R y d e r , C

. S

. S o u t h w o r t h

, a n d I

. L

. T a y l o r

. T h a n k s t o K

. S

. S c h i n d l e r

a n d J

. R

. E s t a b r o o k f o r m a p e d i t i n g

. T h a n k s t o C

. J

. S c h e n k a n d I

. L

. T a y l o r f o r t h e i r

e n c o u r a g e m e n t w i t h t h i s p r o j e c t

.



### REFERENCES CITED

A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g i s t s ( A A P G )

, 1 9 8 5 a , N o r t h e r n

A p p a l a c h i a n R e g i o n [ c o r r e l a t i o n c h a r t ] : T u l s a , O k l a

. , 1 f o l d e d s h e e t i n j a c k e t

. ( C o r r e l a t i o n o f S t r a t i g r a p h i c U n i t s o f N o r t h A m e r i c a ( C O S U N A ) P r o j e c t

. )

—

—

— 1 9 8 5 b

, S o u t h e r n A p p a l a c h i a n R e g i o n [ c o r r e l a t i o n c h a r t ] : T u l s a , O k l a

. , 1 f o l d e d

s h e e t i n j a c k e t

. ( C o r r e l a t i o n o f S t r a t i g r a p h i c U n i t s o f N o r t h A m e r i c a ( C O S U N A )
P r o j e c t

. )
B e r k e y , C

. P

. , 1 9 0 6

, P a l e o g e o g r a p h y o f S t

. P e t e r t i m e : G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a

B u l l e t i n , v

. 1 7

, p

. 2 2 9

– 2 5 0

. B r e t t

, C

. E

. , G o o d m a n , W

. M

. , a n d L o D u c a , S

. T

. , 1 9 9 0

, S e q u e n c e s , c y c l e s , a n d b a s i n

d y n a m i c s i n t h e S i l u r i a n o f t h e A p p a l a c h i a n F o r e l a n d B a s i n : S e d i m e n t a r y G e o l o g y ,
v

. 6 9

, n o

. 3

, p

. 1 9 1

– 2 4 4

. C e c i l

, C

. B

. , A h l b r a n d t

, T

. S

. , a n d H e a l d

, M

. T

. , 1 9 9 1

, P a l e o c l i m a t e i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e

o r i g i n o f P a l e o z o i c q u a r t z a r e n i t e s i n t h e A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n : G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y o f
A m e r i c a A b s t r a c t s w i t h P r o g r a m s , v

. 2 3

, n o

. 5

, p

. A 7 2

. C e c i l

, C

. B

. , B r e z i n s k i

, D

. K

. , a n d D u l o n g , F

. T

. , 1 9 9 8

, A l l o c y c l i c c o n t r o l s o n P a l e o z o i c

s e d i m e n t a t i o n i n t h e c e n t r a l A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n : U

. S

. G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y O p e n

- F i l e R e p o r t 9 8

– 5 7 7

, 7 5 p

. C o l e , G

. A

. , D r o z d

, R

. J

. , S e d i v y , R

. A

. , a n d H a l p e r n , H

. I

. , 1 9 8 7

, O r g a n i c

g e o c h e m i s t r y a n d o i l

- s o u r c e c o r r e l a t i o n s , P a l e o z o i c o f O h i o : A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n

o f P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g i s t s B u l l e t i n , v

. 7 1

, n o

. 7

, p

. 7 8 8

– 8 0 9

. D e n n i s o n , J

. M

. , a n d H e a d

, J

. W

. , 1 9 7 5

, S e a l e v e l v a r i a t i o n s i n t e r p r e t e d f r o m t h e

A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n S i l u r i a n a n d D e v o n i a n : A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f S c i e n c e , v

. 2 7 5

, n o

. 1 0

, p

. 1 0 8 9

– 1 1 2 0

. D o r s c h

, J o a c h i m , B a m b a c h

, R

. K

. , a n d D r i e s e , S

. G

. , 1 9 9 4

, B a s i n

- r e b o u n d o r i g i n f o r

t h e " T u s c a r o r a u n c o n f o r m i t y " i n s o u t h w e s t e r n V i r g i n i a a n d i t s b e a r i n g o n t h e n a t u r e

o f t h e T a c o n i c o r o g e n y : A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f S c i e n c e , v

. 2 9 4

, n o

. 2

, p

. 2 3 7

– 2 5 5

. D o t t

, R

. H

. , J r

. , B y e r s , C

. W

. , F i e l d e r , G

. W

. , S t e n z e l

, S

. R

. , a n d W i n f r e e , K

. E

. , 1 9 8 6

,

A e o l i a n t o m a r i n e t r a n s i t i o n i n C a m b r o

- O r d o v i c i a n c r a t o n i c s h e e t s a n d s t o n e s o f t h e

n o r t h e r n M i s s i s s i p p i v a l l e y , U

. S

. A

. : S e d i m e n t o l o g y , v

. 3 3

, n o

. 3

, p

. 3 4 5

– 3 6 7

. D r o z d

, R

. J

. , a n d C o l e , G

. A

. , 1 9 9 4

, P o i n t P l e a s a n t

- B r a s s f i e l d ( ! ) p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m ,

A p p a l a c h i a n B a s i n , U

. S

. A

. , i n M a g o o n , L

. B

. , a n d D o w , W

. G

. , e d s

. , T h e p e t r o l e u m

s y s t e m

— F r o m s o u r c e t o t r a p : A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g i s t s M e m o i r 6 0

, p

. 3 8 7

– 3 9 8

. E p s m a n , M

. L

. , 1 9 8 7

, S u b s u r f a c e g e o l o g y o f s e l e c t e d o i l a n d g a s f i e l d s i n t h e B l a c k

W a r r i o r B a s i n o f A l a b a m a : G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y o f A l a b a m a A t l a s 2 1

, 2 5 5 p

. E t t e n s o h n , F

. R

. , 1 9 9 4

, T e c t o n i c c o n t r o l o n f o r m a t i o n a n d c y c l i c i t y o f m a j o r A p p a l a c h i a n u n c o n f o r m i t i e s a n d a s s o c i a t e d s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e q u e n c e s , i n D e n n i s o n , J

. M

. , E t t e n s o h n , F

. R

. , a n d S c h o l l e , P

. A

. , e d s

. , T e c t o n i c a n d e u s t a t i c c o n t r o l s o n

s e d i m e n t a r y c y c l e s : S E P M C o n c e p t s i n S e d i m e n t o l o g y a n d P a l e o n t o l o g y , v

. 4

, p

. 2 1 7

– 2 4 2

. G r a b a u , A

. W

. , 1 9 4 0

, T h e r h y t h m o f t h e a g e s : P e k i n g , H e n r i V e t c h

, 5 6 1 p

. H a r l a n d

, W

. B

. , A r m s t r o n g , R

. L

. , C o x , A

. V

. , C r a i g , L

. E

. , S m i t h

, A

. G

. , a n d S m i t h

,

D

. G

. , 1 9 9 0

, A g e o l o g i c t i m e s c a l e 1 9 8 9 : C a m b r i d g e , C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 2 6 3 p

. H a t c h e r , R

. D

. , J r

. , 1 9 8 9

, T e c t o n i c s y n t h e s i s o f t h e U

. S

. A p p a l a c h i a n s , i n H a t c h e r , R

. D

. , J r

. , T h o m a s , W

. A

. , a n d V i e l e , G

. W

. , e d s

. , T h e A p p a l a c h i a n

- O u a c h i t a o r o g e n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , v

. F

– 2 o f T h e g e o l o g y o f N o r t h A m e r i c a : B o u l d e r , C o l o

. , G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a , p

. 5 1 1

– 5 3 5

. H a y n e s , S

. J

. , B o l a n d

, R

. , a n d H u g h e s

- P e a r l

, J

. , 1 9 8 9

, D e p o s i t i o n a l s e t t i n g o f g y p s u m

d e p o s i t s , s o u t h w e s t e r n O n t a r i o ; T h e D o m t a r M i n e : E c o n o m i c G e o l o g y , v

. 8 4

, p

. 8 5 7

– 8 7 0

. M a g o o n , L

. B

. , a n d D o w , W

. G

. , 1 9 9 4

, T h e p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m , i n M a g o o n , L

. B

. , a n d

D o w , W

. G

. , e d s

. , T h e p e t r o l e u m s y s t e m

— F r o m s o u r c e t o t r a p : A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g i s t s M e m o i r 6 0

, p

. 3

– 2 4

. P a l m e r , A

. R

. , 1 9 8 1

, S u b d i v i s i o n o f t h e S a u k S e q u e n c e : U

. S

. G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y O p e n

F i l e R e p o r t 8 1

– 7 4 3

, p

. 1 6 0

– 1 6 2

. P a t c h e n , D

. G

. , 1 9 9 6

, I n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e a t l a s o f m a j o r A p p a l a c h i a n g a s p l a y s , i n R o e n , J

. B

. , a n d W a l k e r , B

. J

. , e d s

. , T h e a t l a s o f m a j o r A p p a l a c h i a n g a s p l a y s : W e s t V i r g i n i a G e o l o g i c a l a n d E c o n o m i c S u r v e y P u b l i c a t i o n V

– 2 5

, p

. 1

. R e a d

, J

. F

. , 1 9 8 9

, E v o l u t i o n o f C a m b r o

- O r d o v i c i a n p a s s i v e m a r g i n , U

. S

. A p p a l a c h

i a n s , i n H a t c h e r , R

. D

. , J r

. , T h o m a s , W

. A

. , a n d V i e l e , G

. W

. , e d s

. , T h e A p p a l a c h i a n

O u a c h i t a o r o g e n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , v

. F

– 2 o f T h e g e o l o g y o f N o r t h A m e r i c a : B o u l d e r , C o l o

. , G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a , p

. 4 2

– 5 7

. R o e n , J

. B

. , a n d W a l k e r , B

. J

. , e d s

. , 1 9 9 6

, T h e a t l a s o f m a j o r A p p a l a c h i a n g a s p l a y s : W e s t V i r g i n i a G e o l o g i c a l a n d E c o n o m i c S u r v e y P u b l i c a t i o n V

– 2 5

, 2 0 1 p

. S a n f o r d

, B

. V

. , 1 9 9 3

, S t

. L a w r e n c e P l a t f o r m

— G e o l o g y , i n S t o t t

, D

. F

. , a n d A i t k i n ,

J

. D

. , e d s

. , S e d i m e n t a r y c o v e r o f t h e c r a t o n o f C a n a d a , v

. D

– 1 o f T h e g e o l o g y o f
N o r t h A m e r i c a : B o u l d e r , C o l o

. , G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a , p

. 7 2 3

– 7 8 6

. S l o s s , L

. L

. , 1 9 6 3

, S e q u e n c e s i n t h e c r a t o n i c i n t e r i o r o f N o r t h A m e r i c a : G e o l o g i c a l

S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a B u l l e t i n , v

. 7 4

, n o

. 2

, p

. 9 3

– 1 1 4

.

—

—

— 1 9 8 8

, T e c t o n i c e v o l u t i o n o f t h e c r a t o n i n P h a n e r o z o i c t i m e , i n S l o s s , L

. L

. , e d

. , S e d i m e n t a r y c o v e r

— N o r t h A m e r i c a n c r a t o n , v

. D

– 2 o f T h e g e o l o g y o f N o r t h
A m e r i c a : B o u l d e r , C o l o

. , G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a , p

. 2 5

– 5 1

. T

o m a s t i k

, T

. E

. , 1 9 9 7

, T h e s e d i m e n t o l o g y o f t h e B a s s I s l a n d s a n d S a l i n a G r o u p s i n O h i o a n d i t s e f f e c t o n s a l t

- s o l u t i o n m i n i n g a n d u n d e r g r o u n d s t o r a g e , U S A : C a r b o n a t e s a n d E v a p o r i t e s , v

. 1 2

, n o

. 2

, p

. 2 3 6

– 2 5 3

. W h e e l e r , H

. E

. , 1 9 6 3

, P o s t

- S a u k a n d p r e

- A b s a r o k a P a l e o z o i c s t r a t i g r a p h i c p a t t e r n s i n

N o r t h A m e r i c a : A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g i s t s B u l l e t i n , v

. 4 7

, n o

. 8

, p

. 1 4 9 7

– 1 5 2 6

. **NEW YORK**

**NEW**

**JERSEY ONT**  **ARIO**

**PENNSYL V** 

**ANIA**

**MD. VT** 

**.**

**DEL. WEST**  **VIRGINIA OHIO** 

**VIRGINIA KENTUCKY**  **MICHIGAN**

**INDIANA ILLINOIS**  **WISCONSIN**

**TENNESSEE NOR**  **TH CAROLINA** 

**SOUTH CAROLINA** 

**GEORGIA**

**ALABAMA** Lake Erie Lake Ontario Lake
Huron

Lake Michigan 

### 24
**23 22**  **21**

**20 19** 

**17 16** 

**13**

**12 11** 

**10**

**9 8**  **18**
**15**

**14**

**7**

**6**

**4 5** 

**2 3** 

**1**

I N T E R I O R

— G E O L O G I C A L S U R V E Y

, R E S T O N

, V A

— 2 0 0 2 **Dvs Dvs** 

**Des Dbs**  **Dbs Dbg,**  **UDs**

**Des, Dbg, UDs Dbs**  **Dbs**

**Dvs**

**Dbg**

**Des**

**Dol Dol** 

**Dop, Doc, Dos**  **Doc, Dop Dos**  **Dos Dos**  **Dho, Doc, Dos**  **Doc Doc,**  **Dop Doc** 

**Sbi**

**Sld Sld**  **Sld Sld**  **Sld Sld** 

**Scm Scm**  **Scm**

**Sts Sts**  **Sts**

**Obe Obe** 

**Obc Obc, MOf** 

**MOf MOf** 

| **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok**

| **pk** | **pk** | **pk** | **pk** | **pk** | **pk**

| **pk** | **pk** | **pk** | **pk** | **pk** | **Ok Dvs, Dbs,**  **Des, Dbg**

**Sld Sld**  **Sld**

**Scm Scm**  **Scm**

**Obc, MOf**

**MOf MOf**  **MOf MOf** 

| **Ok**

| **pk Obc** 

| **Ok**

| **pk Sbi** 

**Obc, MOf**

| **Ok**

| **pk Obc** 

| **Ok**

| **pk Dvs**  **Dvs**

**Dbs Dbs** 

**Des Dbs**  **Dbg**

**Sld**

**Sts Sts**  **Sts Sts** 

**Obe**

**Obc Obc**  **Obc**

| **Ok** | **Ok** | **Ok Osp**  **Doc, Dop**

**Sld, Scm**  **Sld, Scm**  **Sld, Scm Dbg, UDs** 

**Sld Sld** 

**Sts**

| **Ok Dbg** 

**Obc, MOf** 

**MOf**

| **Ok UDs** 

**DSu DSu** 

**Sld**

**Scm**

**Obc, MOf Obc, MOf** 

**MOf MOf** 

| **Ok Pps** 

**Mmc**

**Mgn Mgn** 

**Mfp**

**MDe MDe**  **Mbi**

**Dol**

**Dos Dvs** 

**Dbs**

**Des**

**Des, Dbg**

**Dol Dbg**  **Des**

**Dol**

**Dos, Doc Pps**  **Pps**

**Pps**

**Mmc**

**Mmc**

**Mgn Mgn** 

**Mgn**

**MDe Mbi, Mws**  **Mbi, Mws Mbi, Mws**  **Mbi, Mws**  **Pps Pps** 

**MDe Mbi**  **Paf Paf**  **Paf Paf**  **Paf Paf**  **Paf**

**Pps**

**Mmc**

**Mgn**

**MDe Pps** 

**Mgn**

**Mws**

**MDe Pps** 

**Mmc**

**Mgn**

**Mbi, Mws**

**MDe**

**Sts**

**Obc**

| **Ok Sts**  **Dol, Dho Mbi** 

**Obc, MOf Mgn** 

**Obc, MOf**

| **Ok MDe** 

**Obe Dho**  **Dho Dho**  **Dho Dho**  **MDe**

**Osp Des** 

**Osp Osp**  **Mfp**

**Dop Pps** 

**Sns Sns** 

**Sns Pps**  **Pps**

**Mmc Mmc** 

**Mgn Mgn** 

**MOf MOf** 

| **Ok**

| **Ok MDe** 

**Doc Doc, Dos** 

**Sns**

**Obe Mmc** 

**Des Dvs** 

**Dbg, UDs**

**Sns Dbg, UDs** 

**Doc, Dop Dbs** 

**Des Dbs** 

**Scm Mbi** 

**Obe Mmc** 

**Dbs Dbg,**  **UDs Dbg,**  **UDs** 

## U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

## GEOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS SERIES MAP I

– 2768



# REGIONAL STRATIGRAPHY AND PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF THE APPALACHIAN BASIN, NORTH AMERICA

By

2002 Printed on recycled paper A n y u s e o f t r a d e

, p r o d u c t

, o r f i r m n a m e s i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n i s f o r d e s c r i p t i v e
p u r p o s e s o n l y a n d d o e s n o t i m p l y e n d o r s e m e n t b y t h e U

. S

. G o v e r n m e n t

F o r s a l e b y U

. S

. G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y

, I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e s

, B o x 2 5 2 8 6

, F e d e r a l C e n t e r

, D e n v e r

, C O 8 0 2 2 5 ; t e l e p h o n e 1

- 8 8 8

- A S K

- U S G S 

# Christopher S. Swezey **6 6** 

**26**

**28 28**  **28 28**  **28**

**28 8**  **8 8** 

**26**

**27 8**  **8 8** 

**6 6**  **5**

**22 22** 

**24**

**26**

**28 28**  **25 24**  **22 1** 

**2**

**5, 6**

**7**

**8**

**20**

**21**

**25**

**24**

**27 27**  **25 24** 

**21 15**  **9**

**10, 11, 12 7**  **1**

**2**

**3**

**7**

**8**

**9**

**10, 11, 12, 13**

**15**

**16**

**24**

**25**

**28 28**  **27 27**  **25 25**  **25 24**  **24 24**  **20 20**  **20 20**  **20**

**21 21**  **21 16**  **16 15**  **15 14, 15**  **14, 15 10, 11,**  **12, 13 10, 11,**  **12**
**13 1**  **1 1**  **1 1**  **1**

**2 2**  **2 2**  **2 2**  **2**

**3 3**  **3 3**  **3 3** 

**4 4** 

**4 4** 

**4 4** 

**7**

**9 9**  **1**

**2**

**3 3**  **3 3** 

**4 4**  **4**

**4**

**7 7**  **7**

**8 8**  **8 8**  **8**

**8**

**10, 11, 12**

**14, 15 13** 

**14, 15** 

**16 8**  **9**

**10, 11, 12**

**14, 15 13** 
**15**

**16 10, 11, 12** 

**14 10,**  **11, 12 10, 11, 12**  **10, 11, 12**

**14, 15 14, 15**  **14, 15**

**18 18**  **18 17,18** 

**19 19**  **19 20**  **20**

**21**

**22**

**24**

**25 24** 

**25 24** 

**25 21**  **21 21** 

**22 22**  **22**

**23**

**24**

**24**

**25 20**  **20 20**  **20 20** 

**22**

**24 21**  **21 21**  **21 21** 

**22 22** 

**22 22** 

**22 22** 

**22 23** 

**24 24**  **24 24**  **24 24** 

**25 25**  **25**

**27 27**  **10, 11, 12**

**20 1** 

**4**

**6 6**  **6**

**20 20** 

**20**

**23 4**  **4 2** 

**25 4** 

**23 16**  **7**

**22 22**  **22 22**  **22 22** 

**23 23** 

**24 23**  **20 6**