Document
Abstract
The Slade Formation, as observed in the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) in
northeastern Kentucky, consists of sediments transitioning from a deep water marine depositional
environment to fluvial conditions in the Late Mississippian Period. This transition is marked by a
series of fossiliferous limestones, dolostones, calcarenites, calcilutites, and cherts (Ettensohn et
al., 1984). The depositional environments associated with all of the members of the Slade
Formation are well known, except for the Warix Run Member. In an unpublished master’s thesis,
Klekamp (1971) conducted a petrographic study of the Warix Run and tentatively concluded that
it is made up of calcarenite deposited in tidal channels or on carbonate barrier islands.
Subsequent studies referred to Klekamp’s work and discussed his interpretations of the Warix
Run Member with similar tentative language. To build upon Klekamp’s hypothesis, this thesis
utilizes a petrographic and scanning electron microscopic study of samples collected from the
Red River Gorge area of the DBNF to determine the depositional environment of the Warix Run
Member as well as the overlying Mill Knob Member of the Slade Formation. This analysis
reveals that the Warix Run Member is composed of quartz-rich calcarenite sandstone, verifying
the marine deposition of the member identified by Klekamp (1971). In addition, this analysis
found that the Mill Knob Member is primarily composed of limestone with calcium-rich ooids in
a micrite matrix. This is consistent with the depositional environment of this member,
determined by Ettensohn et al. (1984) to be made up of carbonate sands and tidal flat deposits
during periods of transgression and regression in sea level.
northeastern Kentucky, consists of sediments transitioning from a deep water marine depositional
environment to fluvial conditions in the Late Mississippian Period. This transition is marked by a
series of fossiliferous limestones, dolostones, calcarenites, calcilutites, and cherts (Ettensohn et
al., 1984). The depositional environments associated with all of the members of the Slade
Formation are well known, except for the Warix Run Member. In an unpublished master’s thesis,
Klekamp (1971) conducted a petrographic study of the Warix Run and tentatively concluded that
it is made up of calcarenite deposited in tidal channels or on carbonate barrier islands.
Subsequent studies referred to Klekamp’s work and discussed his interpretations of the Warix
Run Member with similar tentative language. To build upon Klekamp’s hypothesis, this thesis
utilizes a petrographic and scanning electron microscopic study of samples collected from the
Red River Gorge area of the DBNF to determine the depositional environment of the Warix Run
Member as well as the overlying Mill Knob Member of the Slade Formation. This analysis
reveals that the Warix Run Member is composed of quartz-rich calcarenite sandstone, verifying
the marine deposition of the member identified by Klekamp (1971). In addition, this analysis
found that the Mill Knob Member is primarily composed of limestone with calcium-rich ooids in
a micrite matrix. This is consistent with the depositional environment of this member,
determined by Ettensohn et al. (1984) to be made up of carbonate sands and tidal flat deposits
during periods of transgression and regression in sea level.
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Publication Date
2024-04-30
English
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