Disrupted coal and carbonate facies within two Pennsylvanian cyclothems, southern Illinois basin, United States

Research Article| October 01, 1997 Disrupted coal and carbonate facies within two Pennsylvanian cyclothems, southern Illinois basin, United States Carol B. de Wet; Carol B. de Wet 1Department of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen O. Moshier; Stephen O. Moshier 2Department of Geology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James C. Hower; James C. Hower 3Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40511 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew P. de Wet; Andrew P. de Wet 1Department of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sean T. Brennan; Sean T. Brennan 4Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Charles T. Helfrich; Charles T. Helfrich 5Department of Geology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky 40475 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Anne L. Raymond Anne L. Raymond 6Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Carol B. de Wet 1Department of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604 Stephen O. Moshier 2Department of Geology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 James C. Hower 3Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40511 Andrew P. de Wet 1Department of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604 Sean T. Brennan 4Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 Charles T. Helfrich 5Department of Geology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky 40475 Anne L. Raymond 6Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1997) 109 (10): 1231–1248. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1997)109<1231:DCACFW>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Carol B. de Wet, Stephen O. Moshier, James C. Hower, Andrew P. de Wet, Sean T. Brennan, Charles T. Helfrich, Anne L. Raymond; Disrupted coal and carbonate facies within two Pennsylvanian cyclothems, southern Illinois basin, United States. GSA Bulletin 1997;; 109 (10): 1231–1248. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1997)109<1231:DCACFW>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Two cyclothems contain an unusual suite of disrupted fabrics. This study's interdisciplinary integration of coal maceral and sedimentological information offers significant new interpretations of coal-limestone interchange, both depositionally and diagenetically. Disrupted fabrics within the Herrin Coal and Providence Limestone are interpreted as representing previously undocumented interactive processes between coals and limestones.The Herrin Coal contains brecciated beds that are the result of marine transgression over a coastal-plain mire, representing high-energy conditions at the swamp-beach interface. This interface has rarely been documented in detail. Peat is inherently unstable prior to its conversion to coal, and we document this by interpreting conglomeratic beds in overlying strata. Differential compaction of Herrin peats generated subaqueous debris flows in the overlying Providence Limestone. This mechanism for syndiagenetic and early diagenetic sediment deformation has not been previously recognized.In addition, near-surface and surface processes produced other disrupted fabrics in the Providence Limestone, such as in situ mosaic breccias, nodular fabrics, and calcrete horizons. This study also documents that stratigraphically adjacent, alkaline carbonate sediments were further altered by undersaturated acidic pore waters, derived from compacting peats during early diagenesis. Our interdisciplinary approach to distinguishing and interpreting all of these disrupted fabrics led to a new appraisal of the importance of depositional and postdepositional interactions between coal and limestone. The presence of mire deposits can have a significant influence on the thickness, distribution, and fabrics in overlying strata. In cyclothems, climatic and eustatic changes may control overall depositional patterns, but peat compaction may determine certain facies. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.