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REGIONAL GEOLOGY
of the uplift, the San Marcos arch, trends southeast– was a low-lying subaerial terrain, receiving and sup-
northwest (Dravis, 1980; Young, 1986) and, in the plying little sediment, similar to modern-day Florida
Early Cretaceous, was a minor topographic high (Tyler (Young, 1986). The study location in Austin lies on the
and Ambrose, 1986; Figure 2) where a large carbonate northeastern flank of the San Marcos arch (Figure 2).
platform developed (Donovan and Staerker, 2010). Thick progradational carbonate packages com-
During most of the Cretaceous, the San Marcos arch prising the Comanche shelf developed during the
Wells Name in Study Eagle Ford Depths (ft [m]) County API Operator
C. J. Hendershot 1 Hendershot 4734–4774 (1443–1455) Caldwell 4217730218 Tesoro Petroleum
W. Brechtel 1 Brechtel 3280–3315 (1000–1010) Wilson 4249330208 Prairie Producing Co.
H. P. Orts 2 Orts 7684–7757 (2342–2364) Gonzales 4217730203 Transocean Oil, Inc.
F. T. Schauer et al. 1 Schauer 8093–8159 (2467–2487) Gonzales 4217730394 Geological Res Corp.
J. W. Blumberg 1-B Blumberg 4175–4225 (1273–1288) Wilson 4218730532 Prairie Producing Co.
Burkland 1 Burkland 935–977 (285–298) Caldwell 4205534144 Vista Energy Corp.
*Outcrop: West Bouldin Creek, approximate coordinates: N30°1599.88860 and W97°45941.31660; Walnut Creek, approximate coordinates: N30°24928.25940 and
W97°42931.79520.
Early Cretaceous (Figure 3). During the Hauterivian which contributed a substantial clay mineral com-
Stage of the Early Cretaceous, the Sligo shelf margin ponent within the Eagle Ford facies. Figure 2
developed (Salvador and Muñeton, 1989), forming summarizes the paleogeographic setting near the
a raised rim shelf margin profile (Galloway, 2008; Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. Eagle Ford dep-
Figure 3). Flooding during the Aptian Stage initiated osition was immediately followed by Coniacian–
a landward shift in reef development, forming the Santonian Austin Chalk deposition and subsequently
Stuart City shelf margin (Salvador and Muñeton, the rest of the Upper Cretaceous Series strata (Hentz
1989; Phelps, 2011). Until the Cenomanian, rudist–coral and Ruppel, 2010; Hentz et al., 2014; Figure 3).
communities acted as constructers and formed baffles
to normal wave action, which formed the nearly con-
tinuous carbonate reef of the Stuart City rimming the STUDY AREA
Gulf of Mexico (Sohl et al., 1991; Scott, 2010; Figure 2).
A major transgression of the Comanchean In Central Texas, the Eagle Ford outcrop belt passes
shelf in the middle-to-late Cenomanian initiated the through Travis County and directly through the city
deposition of the Eagle Ford Group (Sohl et al., 1991; of Austin (Figure 1). An outcrop located along West
Phelps, 2011; Figure 3). To the northeast, sedimentation Bouldin Creek forms the type locality for the
in the Woodbine delta system resulted in deposition of Bouldin Member (Adkins and Lozo, 1951; Jiang,
the coeval Tuscaloosa and Woodbine Formations in 1989) and has been described in detail by previous
a fluvial and deltaic setting (Sohl et al., 1991; Dubiel authors (Feray and Young, 1949; Adkins and Lozo,
et al., 2010), as well as incised-valley-fill, nearshore 1951; Pessagno, 1969; Young, 1977; Liro et al., 1994;
marine, and wave-dominated-delta deposits (Hentz Lundquist, 2000). Another outcrop in north Austin is
et al., 2014). During the Cretaceous, much of the encountered along a cutbank of Walnut Creek, south
riverborne detritus included illite (Pratt, 1984), of Park Bend Road (Figure 1).
Facies Name Sedimentary Structures Mineralogy Dominant Fauna Color Occurrence (Formation) Thickness
Massive argillaceous Massive 53% clay minerals, Rare globigerinid Dark gray to Pepper Shale 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m)
mudrock 32% calcite, foraminifera medium-dark gray
17% quartz
Massive foraminiferal Massive 50% calcite, 38% Globigerinid foraminifera, Medium-dark gray Unnamed unit, South 1–5 ft (0.3–1.5 m)
calcareous mudrock clay minerals, inoceramid, and Bosque Formation
14% quartz pelecypod fragments
Laminated calcareous Very thin planar 62% calcite, 24% Globigerinid foraminifera, Medium gray Unnamed unit, South 1–5 ft (0.3–1.5 m)
foraminiferal lime laminations, scours clay minerals, inoceramid, and Bosque Formation
mudstone 8% quartz pelecypod fragments
Laminated foraminiferal Very thin planar–subplanar 76% calcite, 10% Globigerinid foraminifera, Medium gray with Bouldin Member 0.5–1 ft (15–30 cm)
wackestone laminations, slump folds, clay minerals, inoceramid, and white-to–light-gray
fine ripple laminations, 7% quartz pelecypod fragments bands
scours
Cross-laminated Thin subplanar and 86% calcite, 5% Globigerinid foraminifera, Light-to-medium gray Unnamed unit, 0.5–6 in. (1–15 cm)
foraminiferal cross-laminations, scours quartz, 3% clay inoceramid, and Bouldin Member
packstone– grainstone minerals pelecypod fragments
Massive bentonitic Massive 69% smectite, Rare globigerinid Whitish gray to Primarily Bouldin 0.5–6 in. (1–15 cm)
claystone 12% kaolinite, foraminifera medium rust orange Member
8% illite
Nodular foraminiferal Massive, planar and 84% calcite, Globigerinid foraminifera, Light-to-medium gray Bouldin Member, 1–6 in. (2–15 cm)
packstone– grainstone cross-laminated 13% clay minerals, inoceramid, and unnamed unit
2% quartz pelecypod fragments
Fairbanks et al.
385
Figure 4. Composite strati-
graphic chart reviewing nomen-
clature used in the Central Texas
Eagle Ford intervals, compared
with those used in West Texas
and near Waco, Texas. This study
adopts the names of Pepper
Shale, unnamed unit of the Lake
Waco Formation, Bouldin Mem-
ber of the Lake Waco Formation,
and South Bosque Formation.
Ford facies and their associated attributes is found from the scope of this study, previous studies have
in Table 2. shown that much of the fine silt and clay-sized car-
bonate in Eagle Ford rocks is composed of coccolith
debris. The depositional environment of this facies is
Massive Argillaceous Mudrock Facies
interpreted to have been in anoxic marine conditions
Restricted to the basal Pepper Shale of the Eagle Ford
below storm weather wave base, as suggested by the
Group (Figure 4), this facies is dark-to–medium-dark
paucity of benthonic fauna, bioturbation, and wave-
gray in core (Figure 5), weathers recessively in out-
generated structures.
crop, and displays a distinctively smooth or soapy
texture (Table 2). It splits into thin sheets along
planar as well as irregular partings, with common Massive Foraminiferal Calcareous Mudrock Facies
ammonite impressions in the partings. The mineral Massive foraminiferal calcareous mudrock is the
composition, as revealed by XRD and XRF data, is most common facies in the Eagle Ford succes-
primarily clay minerals (average 53%, range sion in Central Texas, and it is found in the
32%–68%), which in decreasing abundance include unnamed member as well as the South Bosque
illite, kaolinite, illite and smectite mixed, and Formation (Figure 4). Medium-to-dark gray in
smectite. Calcite and dolomite constitute an average core, this facies is dominantly structureless and
of 32% (range 3%–60%). Although not apparent weathers recessively (Figure 5). Compared with
(B) (D)
the massive argillaceous mudrock facies, this suggest that the depositional environment was
facies is coarser grained and more calcareous, in oxygen-poor marine conditions below storm
and it contains a higher quantity of planktonic weather wave base.
(forams) and benthonic (inoceramid and bivalve
fragments) fauna (Table 2). The XRF and XRD Laminated Calcareous Foraminiferal Lime Mudstone Facies
data indicate that this facies is composed of car- This facies is composed of very thinly planar-to-
bonate (average 50%, range 36%–68%) and clay subplanar laminated medium-dark gray (Figure 6),
minerals (average 39%, range 21%–67%). The calcareous mudrock-to-lime mudstone that is present
dark-gray color, presence of low-oxygen ben- in the unnamed unit and the South Bosque Formation
thonic fauna, and lack of sedimentary structures (Figure 4). Laminations are primarily composed of
(C)
scours) and slump folds, this facies is interpreted to mostly fine sand-sized globigerinid foraminifera
have been deposited below storm weather wave base tests, as well as highly abraded inoceramid and
on a gradually dipping seafloor with bottom-current other bivalve fragments (Figure 7). Cross-laminated
reworking. sedimentary structures and pervasive scouring sug-
gest that this facies records the highest energy of
Cross-Laminated Foraminiferal Packstone–Grainstone deposition within the study area. Based on sedi-
Facies mentary structures and paleoredox proxies from
Highly calcareous (XRD average 86%, range 82%–97% XRF, the depositional environment of this fa-
calcite) (Table 2), this facies is encountered solely cies is interpreted to have been an oxygen-poor
in the Bouldin Member (Figure 4) and contains sediment–water interface in a marine basin where
(D)
Cyclicity and Facies Continuity to 10 mi (16 km) (Figure 9). Correlation between
cores was conducted based on facies characteristics
This study uses a unique data set that provides an and associations, as defined previously in the Facies
excellent insight into variations in lateral facies con- and Stratigraphy sections.
tinuity. The 10 cores and outcrops in the Austin study High degrees of facies discontinuity are observed
area (Figure 1) constitute an approximately 11 mi, within each stratigraphic interval, even in close spac-
north–south transect. The measured sections from ings (50 ft [15 m]). For example, a nodular fora-
these cores and outcrops allow facies continuity to be miniferal packstone–grainstone bed in core 514 at 75
evaluated at several scales, ranging from 50 ft (15 m) ft (23 m), or 14 ft (4 m) above the top of the Buda, is
Members), and the South Bosque Formation can all grainstone and laminated foraminiferal wackestone
be defined regionally in cored wells in the subsurface. relative to lower-energy mudrocks. Southward, that
Three cores, Hendershot, Orts, and Schauer, are used ratio diminishes, such that finer, low-energy mudrock
in conjunction with the ACC core in Austin, Texas, to facies become more abundant in the Schauer core
provide a north–south transect of nearly 70 mi (Figure 11).
(128 km) (Figure 11). South Bosque lithologies remain fairly un-
All stratigraphic intervals experience a south- changed from Austin southward. The Schauer core
ward downdip thickening along the axis of the arch. (Figure 11) reveals that facies of the South Bosque,
The Pepper Shale thickens from 5 ft (1.5 m) in Austin massive (and laminated) argillaceous foraminiferal
to approximately 12 ft (3.6 m) in the Schauer core mudrock (which are also facies of the unnamed
(Figure 11), at which point it undergoes a facies unit), become the dominant facies of the Eagle
change from massive argillaceous mudstone to lami- Ford Group.
nated calcareous foraminiferal lime mudstone toward The general thickening of individual units and
the shelf margin (Figures 2, 11). The unnamed unit the entire Eagle Ford Group toward the south is pro-
also displays thickening southward along the arch, bably associated with differential accommodation
from 10 ft (3 m) near Austin to 16 ft (5 m) in the around the San Marcos arch. Distal locations likely
Schauer core (Figure 11). experienced greater subsidence than the arch did
The Bouldin Member not only thickens south- (Figure 11). The facies change observed in the Bouldin
ward from approximately 13 ft (4 m) (ACC core) Member unit from high planktonic sediment con-
to approximately 25 ft (7.5 m) (Schauer core) centration facies in Austin to the argillaceous and
(Figure 11), but also it displays a general facies change. foraminiferal mudrock facies toward the Schauer core
In the Austin study area, there is a higher ratio of (Figure 11) is interpreted to result from a change in
high-energy cross-laminated foraminiferal packstone– planktonic productivity. Oxic zone productivity likely
decreased to the south, based on the relative lack of Use of Gamma Ray Logs for Correlation
planktonic debris in the Schauer core.
Harbor (2011) described a transitional Eagle Core–Log Relationships in Study Area
Ford–Austin Chalk interval that is not represented in Because of the lack of conventional borehole GR logs
Austin but overlies the South Bosque Formation in for the cores in the study, pseudo GR logs were
the subsurface (Figure 11). This unit contains dis- constructed from elemental abundances of Th, U,
rupted bedded foraminiferal packstone and adjacent and K gathered from XRF. Both CGR, which com-
cross-laminated foraminiferal packstone–grainstone bines the Th and K responses, and total GR, which
(Harbor, 2011) (Figure 11). The lack of this unit in combines the Th, K, and U responses, were generated
the Austin study area suggests the presence of an (Table 3). Recent studies have shown that spectral
unconformity at the top of the Eagle Ford, marked GR logs are critical for the calibration and application
by a period of erosion. Alternatively, this unit of GR logs to identifying mineralogy and facies in
observed by Harbor (2011) could also represent a mudrocks (Rowe and Ruppel, 2013). Because of the
facies change from massive foraminiferal calcareous abundant K in the minerals, CGR logs are good in-
mudrock in the ACC core to disrupted bedded fora- dicators of clay mineralogy abundance in mudrocks.
miniferal packstone and cross-laminated foramini- However, GR logs provide a more complex indica-
feral packstone–grainstone in the Hendershot and tion of rock properties, because they combine the
Orts cores. mineral response of K in clay minerals with an
Depth (ft) Depth (m) K (%) U (ppm) Th (ppm) TOC (%) Depth (ft) Depth (m) K (%) U (ppm) Th (ppm) TOC (%)
Abbreviations: K = potassium; n/a = no data available; Th = thorium; TOC = total organic carbon; U = uranium.
TOC is observed in comparison with the underlying basin environment and ideal conditions for organic
Buda Limestone (Figure 10). The Pepper Shale dis- matter preservation (Demaison and Moore, 1980).
plays a general upward increase in TOC, with an Recognition criteria for restricted basin conditions in-
average of 2.9% (range 1.7%–6.3%) TOC (Figure 10). clude the presence of black, organic rich shales con-
The overlying unnamed unit displays a large range in taining high TOC; a lack of benthonic fauna; and
organic enrichment but contains the highest overall enrichment in redox-sensitive trace elements. However,
average of 4.0% (range 0.1%–8.4%) TOC (Figure 10). the correspondence of these characteristics is not ob-
In contrast, the Bouldin Formation is characterized by served in the Central Texas Eagle Ford succession,
the lowest TOC, with an average of only 2.3% (range substantiating the recent findings that paleoceano-
0.4%–4.1%) TOC (Figure 10), a finding that is cor- graphic changes controlling anoxia were more complex
roborated by Corbett and Watkins (2013), who ob- than previously suggested (Corbett and Watkins, 2013).
served sharp declines in TOC within the Bouldin. The Maximum TOC enrichment is observed in the
overlying South Bosque Formation displays an aver- unnamed unit (average TOC 4%, maximum 8.4%)
age increase to 2.4% (range 0.2%–5.4%) TOC and (Figure 10). Facies within the unnamed unit domi-
then gradually decreases upward into the Austin nantly consist of massive foraminiferal calcareous
Chalk (Figure 10). mudrock and laminated calcareous foraminiferal
lime mudstone (Figure 10). The association between
relatively low-energy facies and high TOC would
DISCUSSION suggest that this interval represents the most distal
setting and the greatest degree of basin restriction.
According to conventional wisdom in mudrock suc- However, geochemical proxies for anoxia (enrichment
cessions, an association exists between a restricted in Mo, U, Mn, V, Cr) indicate that greatest bottom