Spectrometry and Geochemical Investigation of Selected Outcrops of the Chattanooga Shale in the Ozark Region of North America
Abstract
The Devonian-Mississippian Chattanooga Shale of the Ozark region is organically rich black shale that provides an excellent opportunity to establish that a close relationship exists between the total spectral gamma ray signatures and total organic carbon (TOC) content of black shales. This thesis investigated and compared the gamma ray and total organic carbon (TOC) concentration of five Chattanooga Shale outcrops in the Ozark region. The area of study includes Jane Missouri, Bella-Vista Arkansas and Tahlequah Oklahoma. In the Ozark region, the concentration of total gamma intensity of the Chattanooga Shale increases with that of TOC southwards into the basin. Of importance, the high uranium and TOC content of the Chattanooga Shales in Oklahoma indicate that they are the distal water facies of the Chattanooga Shale deposited in an open marine environment. An average total gamma ray value of 500 API was recorded in the Chattanooga shales in Oklahoma while an average value of 200 API was recorded in Jane, Missouri and Bella Vista, Arkansas. The average value of total organic carbon content of the Chattanooga shales in Oklahoma was 5.0 wt%, while Jane, Missouri and Bella Vista, Arkansas has average TOC values of 1wt%.
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