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Sand-Body Geometry and Depositional Systems, Ogallala Formation, Texas

Abstract
The Neogene Ogallala Formation is an alluvial apron that occurs east of the Rocky Mountains from South Dakota to the Southern High Plains of Texas. The Ogallala was deposited by coalescent, low-gradient, wet alluvial fans that headed in mountains to the west. Geometry and depositional facies of the Ogallala Formation in Texas north of the 33rd parallel have been determined from outcrop studies and drillers' log descriptions. Averaging techniques compensated for the variability of drillers' logs by compressing all the data within a unit area (2.5-minute quadrangle) to a single data point.Three overlapping fan lobes were constructed from sediment transported east and southeast along pre-Ogallala valley systems that are as deep as 60 m (200 ft). Each lobe displays a general downdip decrease in thickness, net sand and gravel, and percentage sand and gravel.Only medial-fan and distal-fan facies are present in Texas. Medial-fan facies, in north and northwest Texas, include a thick sand and gravel sheet that is the product of braided-stream processes. To the south and southeast, medial-fan facies grade into distal-fan facies characterized by narrow channel systems that bifurcated downdip. Interchannel areas, composed predominantly of mud and silt, separate distal-fan channel systems. lnterfan areas are broad, low net-sand areas that separate fanPre-Ogallala valleys and positive physiographic elements influenced the geometry and distribution of Ogallala depositional systems. Collapse basins, formed by solution of Permian evaporites, are filled with up to 250 m (800 ft) of Ogallala sediment.Deposition shifted southward after the filling of topographic lows that existed on Permian and Triassic rocks. Sand and gravel trends bifurcate around erosional remnants capped by Cretaceous strata that were buried during the final stage of Ogallala alluviation.
Authors
Steven J. Seni
Citation

Seni, S. J., 1980, Sand-Body Geometry and Depositional Systems, Ogallala Formation, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Report of Investigations No. 105, 36 p

Code
RI105
DOI
10.23867/RI0105D
ISSN
2475-367X
Number
105
Number of figures
21
Number of pages
36
Publisher
The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology
Series
Report of Investigation
Year
1980

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