53 Marcellus and Utica Shales: Geology, Natural Gas Production, and Water Resources Issues I

Monday, 24 March 2014
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Commonwealth Salon 3

DETRITAL ZIRCON GEOCHRONOLOGY AND PROVENANCE OF MIDDLE AND UPPER DEVONIAN STRATA, NORTHERN APPALACHIAN BASIN OF NEW YORK STATE

Paper number: 53-6
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 2:55 PM – 3:15 PM

Authors

Abstract

Detrital zircons from Middle and Upper Devonian strata in the northern Appalachian Basin of New York State record the increasing importance of hinterland source regions during the Acadian Orogeny. Zircon suites from the Marcellus Subgroup (Mt. Marion and Oatka Creek Formations) and overlying Skaneateles and Ashokan Formations are dominated by Grenville Orogen (950-1350 Ma) with modest Taconic/early Acadian (400-450 Ma) age clusters, plus 550–700 Ma (Brasiliano/Pan-African, per Park, et al, 2010) and 1600–1800 Ma (Yavapi/Mazatzal) populations. Zircons from 1400-1500 Ma (Granite-rhyolite Province) and 1800-1950 Ma (Trans-Hudson/Penokean Provinces) are also present. Superior Province (2500-3000 Ma) zircons are a very minor component in all Devonian samples. Zircon suites from the Upper Devonian Oneonta Formation resemble the Middle Devonian suite, with a substantial Grenville population. The overlying Upper Devonian Slide Mountain Formation zircon suite is dominated by Taconic/Acadian zircons, with minor Grenville contributions. One zircon sample from the Silurian Shawangunk Formation is dominated by Grenville zircons.

The age distributions and relative abundances of zircon age clusters from Middle and Upper Devonian strata are consistent with previously reported Nd model ages of 1504-1825 Ma (Caesar, et al, 2010). The zircon data suggest that Marcellus Subgroup sediments accumulated during early phases of basin-filling, when cratonic and reworked passive margin sources were significant. Grenville zircon suites in the older strata are moderately biased toward younger Grenville ages (Ottawan Orogeny), perhaps indicating direct unroofing of Grenville basement during Marcellus deposition. The dominance of Taconic/Acadian zircons in the Upper Devonian Slide Mountain Formation reflects derivation from volcanic and plutonic rocks of the Acadian collisional margin. Coarse clastics of the Slide Mountain contain abundant monocrystalline potash feldspar, documenting exposure of granitic rocks in the source area.