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Grenola Limestone Environment of Deposition

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Environment of Deposition of the Grenola Limestone (Lower Permian) in Southern Kansas

by N. Gary Lane

Originally published in 1958 as Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 130, Part 3.

This is, in general, the original text as published in 1958. The information has not been updated.

Abstract

Study of the Grenola Limestone (Lower Permian) in the type area, Elk and Cowley Counties, Kansas, indicates that the formation was laid down under generally transgressive conditions, resulting in full development of a lower molluscan phase and an upper molluscoid-fusulinid phase. The Legion and Salem Point Shales represent pauses or slight shallowing in the generally transgressive hemicycle. During the time these members were being laid down, clay-size clastic material was the dominant sediment. Limestones in the formation resulted from deposition of fine-grained to granular calcium carbonate mud.

Except for phases "3" and "5," Elias' Permian cyclothem is well developed in the Grenola formation. The molluscan phase is inferred to be represented by pectinoid limestone, "osagite," and ostracode-bearing shales, which contain intercalated molluscan limestones. Shales containing charophytes may be equivalent to the Lingula phase.

The molluscan phase is characterized by a Cavellina-Hollinella- Tetrataxis microassemblage. The molluscoid-fusulinid phase is characterized by a Climacammina-Glypltostomella-Bairdia microassemblage. Thickness of chert- and fusulinid-bearing limestones in the Neva member increases southward in the area studied. It is postulated that "osagite" beds in the Sallyards and Burr Limestones are the result of wave or current sorting. Osagia is found to be an intergrowth of ?algae and Ammovertella, an arenaceous, incrusting foraminifer.


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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
Placed on web June 4, 2007; originally published June 1958.
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