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Paleomagnetism of paleozoic asphaltic deposits in southern Oklahoma, USA
Author(s) -
Ellwood Brooks B.,
Crick Rex E.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl015i005p00436
Subject(s) - paleomagnetism , authigenic , geology , apparent polar wander , permian , pennsylvanian , paleozoic , polar wander , red beds , paleontology , magnetite , fold (higher order function) , diagenesis , sedimentary rock , mechanical engineering , structural basin , engineering
Paleomagnetic measurements on asphaltic samples from two formations in southern Oklahoma have been performed. A bioclastic unit from the Boggy Formation, known as the Buckhorn asphalt, exhibited a stable, characteristic remanent moment (RM) after A.F. demagnetization between 5–20 mT. We infer from our data that very fine, possibly authigenic magnetite, like that shown to have a genetic relationship with the migration through rocks of hydrocarbons [Elmore et al., 1987], is the primary RM carrier in these samples. The tilt corrected paleopole for the Buckhorn asphalt (121.9 E; 43.5N; δ p =1.3; δ m =2.3) falls on the Early Permian Apparent Polar Wander Path for North America of Irving and Irving [1982], using a 30 Ma window (270–280 Ma). Because the Boggy Form‐ation, containing the Buckhorn asphalt, was depos‐ited during the Late Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian), we interpret the data to indicate magnetization during minor uplift in the Early Permian of the Arbuckle Mountain region. The RM appears to have been acquired at this time, probably as the result of magnetite production facilitated by the introduction time of sulfate reducing bacteria.