Morrow Formation

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Morrow Formation
Stratigraphic range: Pennsylvanian
Type Formation
AreaNew Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas
Location
Country United States

The Morrow Formation is a geologic formation from the Pennsylvanian geological age that is found in locations ranging from Southeast New Mexico and West Texas to locations in Oklahoma, Southwestern Kansas, and Arkansas. [1] [2] It preserves fossils dating back to the Carboniferous period.

Contents

Arkansas Morrow Sands

Published research on the Morrow Formation goes back to 1904 in research discussing the zinc and lead deposits of northern Arkansas. [3]

New Mexico Morrow Sands

The Morrow Formation is found in the Delaware Basin of southeastern New Mexico.

Map of Delaware Basin. Morrow sand was largely deposited in the NW Shelf of the basin Delaware Basin geology exhibit.JPG
Map of Delaware Basin. Morrow sand was largely deposited in the NW Shelf of the basin
An example of the flatness found in the region. Image from near the Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Delaware Basin New Mexico.jpg
An example of the flatness found in the region. Image from near the Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

It can be found at depths of 8,200 to 12,500 feet. In some parts of southeast Eddy County and west areas of Lea counties, New Mexico, it may be found as deep as 15,000 feet.

Unique characteristics of this formation are:

Source: [4]

The Morrow facies (body of rock with specific characteristics) was deposited in a complex of mixed siliciclastic (mostly silica bearing rock) and carbonate depositional environments. [5]

The Morrow Formation is typically divided into two intervals:

Source: [6]

Analogue to depositional process

In Prediction of reservoir geometries in the Morrow of southeastern New Mexico, the southern shelf of Belize, Central America is considered an analogue in the present time to the depositional process that had taken place in the Morrowan in SE New Mexico, during the time of the ancient Delaware Sea. [7]

See also

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References


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  1. ↑ Stratigraphic description of the Morrow Formation using mode-converted shear waves: Interpretation tools and techniques for three land surveys (sterlingseismic.com)
  2. ↑ "Geolex — Morrow publications". ngmdb.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  3. ↑ "Geolex — Morrow publications". ngmdb.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  4. ↑ Henry, J. B. (1974-12-01). "Status of Morrow gas sand exploitation in Eddy County, N. M". Pet. Eng.; (United States). 46:14.
  5. ↑ Prediction of reservoir geometries in the Morrow of southeastern New Mexico (Conference) | OSTI.GOV
  6. ↑ A regional look at Morrow Formation gas in light of conflicting resource development in southeast New Mexico | AAPG Bulletin | GeoScienceWorld
  7. ↑ Mazzullo, L. J. (1991-08-01). "Prediction of reservoir geometries in the Morrow of southeastern New Mexico". AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States). 75:8. ISSN   0149-1423.
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