Event Title
Formation of Dolomite in the Silurian Bisher Formation in Northeastern Kentucky
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Geology
Mentor Information
Patricia Videtich, videticp@gvsu.edu
Department
Geology
Location
Henry Hall Atrium 51
Start Date
13-4-2011 1:00 PM
End Date
13-4-2011 2:00 PM
Keywords
Physical Science
Abstract
The Silurian Bisher Formation, exposed at the Herron Hill Roadcut on Highway 9 between Vanceburg and Maysville in northeastern Kentucky, is a dolomitic formation that conformably overlies the Estill Shale in the Silurian Crab Orchard Group and unconformably underlies the Devonian Ohio Black Shale. The depositional environment is believed to have been a high energy, shallow water, sub-tidal environment. Point counts were done on thin sections of the dolomite using a petrographic microscope to determine crystal size and crystal shapes such as non-planar, sub-hedral, and euhedral. Our thin sections show a dolomite grain size that ranges from 10 to 200µ, in addition to quartz grains and echinoderm grains. The size and shape of the dolomite crystals may help us determine the temperature of formation and diagenetic environment in which the dolomite formed.
Formation of Dolomite in the Silurian Bisher Formation in Northeastern Kentucky
Henry Hall Atrium 51
The Silurian Bisher Formation, exposed at the Herron Hill Roadcut on Highway 9 between Vanceburg and Maysville in northeastern Kentucky, is a dolomitic formation that conformably overlies the Estill Shale in the Silurian Crab Orchard Group and unconformably underlies the Devonian Ohio Black Shale. The depositional environment is believed to have been a high energy, shallow water, sub-tidal environment. Point counts were done on thin sections of the dolomite using a petrographic microscope to determine crystal size and crystal shapes such as non-planar, sub-hedral, and euhedral. Our thin sections show a dolomite grain size that ranges from 10 to 200µ, in addition to quartz grains and echinoderm grains. The size and shape of the dolomite crystals may help us determine the temperature of formation and diagenetic environment in which the dolomite formed.