Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants

Strontium and sulfur isotopic data support Chesterian (Late Mississippian) age for the Michigan Formation

Department

Geology Department

College

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Date Range

2012-2013

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Determining the age of the Michigan Formation is difficult due to the general lack of biostratigraphic indicators. The literature shows that historically the formation has been assigned a chronostratigraphic position of Osagean-Meramecian (equivalent to Salem and St. Louis Limestones of the Illinois Basin) based mainly on the fauna of the conformably overlying Bayport Limestone. However, recent studies using pollen and spores suggest the age of the Michigan and Bayport Formations is Chesterian (uppermost Mississippian). Gypsum samples (Kent and Iosco Counties) were analyzed for strontium (87Sr/86Sr; range 0.70792 to 0.70806; mean 0.70799±0.00006; n = 8) and sulfur (d34S; range +15.2 to +17.0; mean +16.3±0.4; n = 40) isotopes. Consistent isotopic values, both stratigraphically and laterally, indicate a marine origin for the gypsum, and that the isotopic signature was not significantly affected by nonmarine waters or diagenesis. As a result, the 87Sr/86Sr values can be compared to the global secular curve for Mississippian marine precipitates to help determine the formations age. These data indicate the formation is either Kinderhookian or Chesterian. Because none of the data collected by prior researchers, including the recent pollen and spore data, suggest a Kinderhookian age, we suggest the isotopic data support a Chesterian age.

Conference Name

Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters

Conference Location

Hope College, Holland, MI

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