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Aquifer Evaluation Using Depositional Systems: An Example in North‐Central Texas
Author(s) -
Hall W. Douglas,
Turk L. Jan
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1975.tb03617.x
Subject(s) - sedimentary depositional environment , geology , facies , fluvial , anhydrite , geochemistry , delta , geomorphology , paleontology , gypsum , structural basin , aerospace engineering , engineering
Delineation of major depositional systems and their component facies within the Lower Cretaceous Hosston and Hensel Sandstones provides a model for predicting the distribution and chemical composition of water in the aquifer. Two major depositional trends occur in the Hosston Formation: (1) a dip‐oriented meanderbelt fluvial system which supplied sediment to (2) a strike‐oriented, high‐destructive, wave‐dominated delta system in the east. The Hensel deposits prograded eastward across the featureless upper surface of the Pearsall Formation, forming two depositional systems similar to those of the Hosston. The meanderbelt sandstone facies of the fluvial systems and the coastal barrier facies of the delta systems are capable of supplying greater amounts of ground water than the floodbasin, lagoon‐marsh‐embayment, or prodelta/shelf facies. Ground water is dominantly of the calcium‐magnesium bicarbonate type in the fluvial systems but changes downdip to sodium sulfate and sodium bicarbonate types in the delta systems. The change in chemical equilibrium probably occurs as dolomite‐rich waters from the fluvial facies percolate downdip and dissolve anhydrite or oxidize pyrite in lagoonal facies within the delta system, and calcium may be exchanged for sodium on the marine clays.