The thin-skinned structures of the late Paleozoic Ouachita thrust belt intersect the basement structures of the Southern Oklahoma aulacogen beneath the Mesozoic strata of the Gulf Coastal Plain in southeastern Oklahoma. The Ouachita thrust belt forms a large northwest-directed salient which extends primarily in the subsurface from central Mississippi northwestward to Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, and from there, southwestward toward central Texas. Kinematics are complicated in the center of the Ouachita salient, where the average southwesterly strike of thrust faults is nearly perpendicular to average trend of compressional basement structures in the Southern Oklahoma aulacogen (Arbuckle uplift) and Muenster arch. Furthermore, the frontal fault of the Ouachita thrust belt curves sharply eastward around the southeastern end of the Arbuckle uplift, and bends sharply to the west between the Arbuckle uplift and the Muenster arch farther south in Texas. Nine new interpreted structural cross sections show the structural complexity of the area where the Ouachita thrust belt intersects the Arbuckle uplift and Muenster arch. Detailed study of the structural geology of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma basin indicates that along-strike changes in structural style evidently are related to along-strike changes in mechanical stratigraphy (relative thicknesses of weak units, in contrast to stiff units). The middle part of the Stanley Group (Formation) evidently serves as a wavelength transition and/or volume compensation zone. Along-strike change in stratigraphic level of detachments and abrupt eastward thickening of the Atoka Formation along the Ouachita thrust front strongly affected the structural style of the Ouachita thrust belt. Regional stratigraphy, palinspastic restorations of the footwall cutoff of the Ti Valley fault, and an abrupt change in character of seismic reflectors indicate an abrupt facies transition in the Middle Ordovician-Mississippian succession along the southeastern flank of the Arbuckle uplift and southwestward toward the deep southeastern part of the Ardmore basin. Out-of-syncline structures in the Bryan smallscale salient, distinct sub-thrust angular unconformities imaged on seismic profiles, and sediment dispersal patterns in the early Atokan-Desmoinesian strata of the northern Fort Worth basin (south of the Muenster arch) all indicate that the Tishomingo-Belton and Muenster structures were pre-thrust structural highs.

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Matthew E. Brueseke / The Southern Oklahoma rift zone (SOA), which stretches from southern Oklahoma through the Texas panhandle and into Colorado and New Mexico, contains extensive bimodal mafic-silicic magmatism related to the opening of the Iapetus Ocean during the late Precambrian and early Cambrian. Within the SOA, the subsurface in and adjacent to the Arbuckle Mountains in southern Oklahoma contains thick packages of mafic to intermediate lava flows interlayered with thick, extensive rhyolite lava flows and lesser silicic intrusive bodies, which were first described during a 1982 drill test (Hamilton Brothers Turner Falls well) in the region. Well cuttings of these units were collected from that well and three others (Pan-Am Williams D-2, Pan-Am Jarman, Pan-Am Newberry). This study is focused on these mafic-intermediate lava flows, which represent an important stage in the evolution of the SOA and provide insights into the formation and tectonomagmatic evolution of the rift zone. The estimated 210,000 km[superscript]3 of mafic rocks in the SOA were extruded as a result of the break-up of Pannotia and the formation of the failed arm of a three-armed radial rift system. Samples analyzed from the wells plot as basalts to andesites on the TAS diagram of Le Bas et al (1986) and as subalkaline-alkaline basalts to andesite-trachyandesites on the Zr/TiO[subscript]2 vs. Nb/Y diagram of Winchester and Floyd (1977). They are dominantly tholeiitic on multiple discrimination diagrams including those of Miyashiro (1974) and Irvine and Baragar (1971). The lava flows contain traits common with EMI OIB coupled with upper crustal contamination, such as Zr/Nb values ranging from 8 to 10, Ba/Nb values ranging from 10 to 20, and K/Nb values ranging from 300 to 600. Chemostratigraphic comparisons between each well reveal up to five lava flow packages within the larger mafic-intermediate sequence, at least in the vicinity of the sampled wells. When compared with intrusive mafic rocks outcropped in the Wichita Mountains, the SOA lava flows display geochemical traits most similar to those of the Roosevelt Gabbros, suggesting a possible co-genetic relationship. Overall, the whole rock chemical characteristics coupled with comparisons with other large igneous provinces (Columbia River and Oregon Plateaus, East African Rift System) indicate that the SOA lava flows are the result of flood basalt volcanism.

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Saugata Datta / In response to increasing concerns over release of anthropogenic greenhouse gases the Arbuckle saline aquifer in south-central Kansas has been proposed as a potential site for geologic storage for CO2. Two wells (KGS 1-32 and 1-28) have been drilled to provide data for site specific determination of the storage potential of the Arbuckle. Cores from specific depths within Arbuckle (4164`-5130`) were utilized for study and flow-through experiments. Examination of formation rocks by thin section studies, SEM, XRD and CT scans was carried out to characterize the mineralogy of the core. Dominant mineralogy throughout the formation is dolomite with large chert nodules and occasional zones with pyrite and argillaceous minerals. Carbonate-silica contacts contain extensive heterogeneity with sulfide minerals and argillaceous material in between. Extensive vugs and microfractures are common. This study focuses on three zones of interest: the Mississippian pay zone (3670`-3700`), a potential baffle in Arbuckle (4400`-4550`) and the proposed CO2 injection zone (4900`-5050`). Drill stem tests and swabbed brine samples collected from 13 depths throughout the aquifer reveal a saline brine (~50,000-190,000 TDS) dominated by Na+, Ca2+ and Cl-. Elemental ratios of major cations with Cl- demonstrate a typical saline aquifer system. Cl/Br ratios reveal mixing between primary and secondary brines within the aquifer. Ca/Cl and Mg/Cl ratios suggest effect of dolomitization within the brines. δ18O and δ2H isotopes and Li/Cl ratios in the brine suggest the separation of upper and lower Arbuckle by a baffle zone. Swabbed waters provide Fe speciation data and reveal the importance of it in the system. Laboratory experiments carried out at 40°C and 2100 psi using formation core plug and collected brine identify reaction pathways to be anticipated when supercritical CO2 is injected. Results showed fluctuating chemistries of elements with Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and Cl- increasing during the first 15 hours, while Fe, S, and SO42- decrease. For the next 15 hours a reverse trend of the same elements were observed. Alkalinity and pH show inverse relationship throughout the experiment. We conclude that dominant reactions will occur between brine, CO2 and dolomite, calcite, chert, pyrite and argillaceous minerals. There is no perceived threat to freshwater resources in Kansas due to CO2 injection.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-269).

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Matthew Brueseke / The Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen (SOA) produced more than 250,000 km[superscript]3 of Cambrian mafic to silicic magmatism, associated with the opening of the Iapetus Ocean. In the Arbuckle Mountains, oil and gas exploration showed mafic to intermediate volcanic rock interbedded with rhyolite lavas. The first description of these lavas was a result of the 1982 drilling of the Hamilton Brothers Turner Falls well. Cuttings have been collected from this well and five others, and whole rock major and trace element analysis, Sr and Nd isotope analysis, and rare earth element analysis has been completed on these samples. These samples plot primarily as tholeiitic to transitional basalts to andesites. Trace element ratios show Zr/Nb values ranging from 8-10, K/Nb values ranging from 300-600, and Ba/Nb values ranging from 10-20, which overlap with known EM1 OIB values. Applying a conservative age of 535 Ma for these rocks yields [superscript]87Sr/[superscript]86Sr[subscript]i values of 0.703970 to 0.706403 and epsilon Nd values of 1.67 to 3.22, which also fall within the accepted range of EMI values. [superscript]87Sr/[superscript]86Sr[subscript]i increases with wt. % SiO[subscript]2 and K/P, consistent with the generation of evolved compositions via open-system processes. The sample with the least radiogenic Sr isotope ratio, combined with its trace element ratios is most consistent with an EM1-type source. These results, coupled with existing isotope and trace element constraints from regionally exposed dikes and plutonic rocks that crop out in the Wichita Mts., give better insight into understanding what tectonic model (lower-mantle derived hotspot or extension of the lithosphere) drove the magmatic production of the SOA. The results are more consistent with a lower-mantle origin for SOA mafic-intermediate magmatism, and indicate the potential for flood basalt volcanism.

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Saugata Datta / With the ever-rising atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ there arises a need to either reduce emissions or develop technology to store or utilize the gas. Geologic carbon storage is a potential solution to this global problem. This work is a part of the U.S. Department of Energy small-scale pilot studies investigating different areas for carbon storage within North America, with Kansas being one of them. This project is investigating the feasibility for CO₂ storage within the hyper-saline Arbuckle aquifer in Kansas. The study incorporates the investigation of three wells that have been drilled to basement; one well used as a western calibration study (Cutter), and the other two as injection and monitoring wells (Wellington 1-28 and 1-32). Future injection will occur at the Wellington field within the Arbuckle aquifer at a depth of 4,900-5,050 ft. This current research transects the need to understand the lateral connectivity of the aquifers, with Cutter being the focus of this study. Three zones are of interest: the Mississippian pay zone, a potential baffle zone, and the Arbuckle injection zone. Cored rock analyses and analyzed formation water chemistry determined that at Wellington there exists a zone that separated the vertical hydrologic flow units within the Arbuckle. This potential low porosity baffle zone within the Arbuckle could help impede the vertical migration of the buoyant CO₂ gas after injection. Geochemical analysis from formation water within Cutter indicates no vertical separation of the hydrologic units and instead shows a well-mixed zone. The lateral distance between Cutter and Wellington is approximately 217 miles. A well-mixed zone would allow the CO₂ plume to migrate vertically and potentially into potable water sources. Formation brine from Cutter was co-injected with supercritical CO₂ into a cored rock from within the Arbuckle (7,098 ft.). Results show that the injected CO₂ preferentially preferred a flow pathway between the chert nodules and dolomite. Post reaction formation chemistry of the brine showed the greatest reactivity occurring with redox sensitive species. Reactivity of these species could indicate that they will only be reactive on the CO₂ plumes front, and show little to no reactivity within the plume.

In the autumn of 1921, silent film comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was arrested for the rape and murder of a model and actress named Virginia Rappé. The ensuing scandal created a firestorm of controversy not just around Arbuckle but the entire motion picture industry. Religious and moral reformers seized upon the scandal to decry the decline of “traditional” moral values taking place throughout American society in the aftermath of World War I. The scandal created a common objective for an anti-film coalition representing diverse social and religious groups, all dedicated to bringing about change in the motion picture industry through public pressure, boycotts, and censorship legislation. In the face of this threat, the film industry created the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association, with Republican strategist Will Hays as its president. Hays worked to incorporate moral reformers into his new organization, giving them an outlet for their complaints while simultaneously co-opting and defusing their reform agenda. Hays’ use of public relations as the means to institute self-regulation within the motion picture industry enabled Hollywood to survive the Arbuckle scandal and continue to thrive. It also set up the mechanism by which the industry has effectively negotiated public discontent ever since.