Two cores of more than 1000 ft (300 m) of lower Permian (Wolfcampian) strata from Midland Basin, Texas were described bed by bed to establish an integrated lithostratigraphic, chemostratigraphic, and sequence stratigraphic framework. Ten lithofacies, where mudstones were defined as being finer than coarse silt in size, include (1) dolostone, (2) floatstone, (3) graded skeletal grainstone, (4) graded skeletal wackestone and packstone, (5) graded calcisiltstone, (6) siliceous siltstone, (7) carbonate mudstone, (8) mixed siliceous–carbonate mudstone, (9) siliceous mudstone, and (10) argillaceous mudstone. Using this framework, in conjunction with significant stratigraphic surfaces, four depositional sequences were identified and correlated between the two cores. Each sequence transitions up section from carbonate-rich intervals interpreted as lowstand deposits upward into siliceous mudstone beds where the dominant source of silica is biogenic, interpreted as pelagic-transgressive to highstand deposits. This differs from the traditional deep-water reciprocal sedimentation model where quartz-rich strata are interpreted as lowstand deposits, and carbonate-rich strata are interpreted as transgressive to highstand deposits.

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