Date of Award
12-1983
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. William B. Harrison III
Second Advisor
Dr. W. Thomas Straw
Third Advisor
Dr. Raymond Freeman-Lynde
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The lower Salina Group of the Michigan Basin is composed of a cyclic succession of carbonate and evaporite units. The lowermost Salina unit is the A-1 unit which consists of a lower A-1 evaporite and an upper A-1 carbonate. The A-1 unit is underlain by Niagara Group carbonates. The transition from Niagaran carbonates to A-1 evaporite to A-1 carbonate has not been thoroughly understood and previous models have not satisfied some of the evidence. This paper sets forth the hypothesis that the A-1 carbonate was deposited in a non-marine lake environment rather than an isolated marine environment. Findings supporting this include: 1) Basin morphology; 2) lack of marine organisms; 3) evaporite-free carbonate laminae; 4) dessication breccias suggestive of drying and refilling ; and 5) nodular anhydrite around pinnacle reefs indicative of a sabkha-type environment and therefore exposure of the basin margins causing isolation of the basin from marine waters.
Recommended Citation
Leonard, Barbara June, "Environment of Deposition of the A-1 Carbonate, Salina Group, Michigan Basin" (1983). Masters Theses. 1581.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1581