Raines
Corner Limestone
Current Projects:
Bluefield Formation Cyclicity--The Bluefield Formation represents the transition between predominantly carbonate depositon in the Middle Mississippian Greenbrier Limestone below and the Upper Mississippian Hinton, Princeton, and Bluestone formations above. This transition takes the form of a series of carbonate-clastic cycles formed due to the onset of Gondwana glaciation and the initial suturing of Gondwana and Laurasia. We are attempting to understand the nature of the carbonates in the cycles in terms of their stratigraphy, petrology and diagenesis. There are still a lot of questions to be answered.
Recent Abstracts:
Neal, Donald W. 2002, Petrology and Diagenesis of the Glenray Limestone Member of the Bluefield Formation, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol 34, p.
Cooper, John K.,and Neal, Donald W.,2001. Petrology and Diagenesis of the Raines Corner Limestone Member of the Bluefield Formation, Southeastern West Virginia. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol.33, p. A-76.
Neal, Donald, 1999, Cyclicity in the Upper Mississippian Bluefield Formation, Central Appalachian Foreland Basin, Programme with Abstracts, XIV International Congress on the Carboniferous-Permian, p. 103.
Neal, Donald, and Corbitt, Lisa B., 1999, Petrology and Diagenesis of Mixed Carbonate and Siliciclastic Sediments, Bluefield Formation, Central Appalachian Basin. GSA Abstacts With Programs, Vol. 31, No. 7, p. A281.
Raines
Corner Limestone
Greenbrier Limestone--The Greenbrier Limestone is an extensive unit deposited during the Mid-Mississippian. During this time interval, Paleozoic oceans are thought to have changed from being calcitic to being aragonitic. Is there any evidence in the Greenbrier carbonates for this change? Is the change fast or slow? Is the change marked by changes in carbonate components/organisms or in non-carbonate components/organisms? Is the pattern of diagenesis related to the change in ocean chemistry? How does world paleoclimate relate to this?
Upper Mississippian Quartz Arenites--What is the significance of the distribution of quartz arenites in the Upper Mississippian section? Are they related to significant unconformities and relative sea level drops? What is their source? They look cratonic rather than orogenic. Where do they fit in the sequence stratigraphy of the basin?