Abstract
The Kinderhookian-Osagean (Lower Mississippian) St. Joe and Boone Limestone represent an unconformity bounded transgressive-regressive sequence widely distributed throughout the southern midcontinent. An irregular erosional surface developed on the Chattanooga Shale (Upper Devonian) or older strata. As Mississippian Seas transgressed, they deposited a thin interval of sandstone, shale, or the two together derived from these old beds. Carbonate deposition was initiated as grain-dominated, crinozoan-bryozoan packstones and grainstones, with subordinate wackestones, and is essentially chert free. These carbonates, referred to as the St. Joe Limestone, reflect a ramp across northern Arkansas that experienced condensed sedimentation and red coloration along its conditions reflected by carbonate mudstones, very fine-grained packstones and grainstones, and penecontemperaneous chert of the overlying lower Boone Formation. The upper Boone (Burlington-Keokuk equivalents) represents a regressive sequence that returned St. Joe-type, grain-dominated, lithologies with diagenetic chert replacement to the shelf. The regression terminated in a pronounced regional unconformity overlain by Meramecian or younger strata.
Recommended Citation
Shelby, Phillip R.
(1986)
"Depositional History of the St. Joe and Boone Formations in Northern Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 40, Article 22.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol40/iss1/22
