T247 Sigma Gamma Epsilon Undergraduate Research (Posters)

Tuesday, 29 October 2013
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Hall D

ANALYSIS OF KAOLINITE IN THE DEVONIAN AGE FURNAS FORMATION WITMARSUM, PARANA STATE, BRAZIL: A PALEOZOIC ANALOG FOR THE PIPESTONE UNIT

Paper number: T247-69
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

The goal of this research is to determine the origin of the pipestone unit, Pipestone National Park, Minnesota, The pipestone unit or “Catlinite” occurs as beds within the Early Proterozoic Sioux Quartzite. While the Sioux Quartzite is a quartz rich sandstone and siltstone that formed as a braided stream deposit, the Pipestone contains no quartz, is composed of kaolinite, and is generally structureless. It is suggested that the pipestone formed as a clay channel fill yet composition and stratigraphic occurrence is problematic.

The Devonian aged Furnas Formation, Witmarsum, Parana State, Brazil is a quartzitic sandstone deposited in a braided stream and deltaic setting. Kaolinite deposits found within the Furnas, may be an analog for the pipestone formation. This study will analyze and compare both the chemistry and stratigraphic occurrence of these kaolinite units of differing age to determine the origin of the pipestone.

This research was supported by the NSF-STEM Talent Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant (NSF/DUE-0653063))