Abstract: Paleozoic Depositional Sequences
; Comparisons and Contrasts in Magnitude and Amplitude of
Sea
-
Level
Changes
Charles A. Ross, June R. P. Ross
Using third-order depositional sequences
,
sea
-
level
fluctuations within Sloss' Paleozoic Sauk, Tippecanoe, Kaskaskia, and lower and middle parts of the Absaroka megasequences may be grouped into seven intervals of general
sea
-
level
highstands and lowstands. Similarity of depositional
sequences
within each interval suggests that patterns in
sea
-
level
changes, and possibly the causes of these changes, remained fairly consistent through time intervals of 15 to 35 my.
Sauk third-order sequences
show a general rise of
sea
levels (15 my) which flooded the cratonic shelves. This was followed by a long interval (35 my) of high
sea
levels. The Sauk was terminated by an interval (15 my) of generally low
sea
levels (Whiterockian Stage).
The Tippecanoe is divisible into three intervals. The Mohawkian highstands (15 my) ended with a major lowstand. Succeeding Cincinnatian cycles
have greater amplitude (7 to 8 my). Latest Ordovician low
sea
levels lasted about 2 to 3 my. Early and Middle Silurian (25 my) flooding of cratonic shelves was gradual. After the Middle Silurian,
sea
level
fell and remained relatively low during earliest Devonian (20 to 25 my).
Third-order sequences
in the Kaskaskia covered the cratonic shelves by the Middle Devonian and flooded most of the craton by the Frasnian (15 to 20 my). Famennian and early Tournaisian
cycles
had relatively large fluctuations of
sea
levels. Visean
sea
levels remained relatively high and then fell abruptly near the end of the Mississippian. These low
sea
levels continued through the Early Pennsylvanian (20 my).
By the Middle Pennsylvanian (20 my), Absaroka depositional sequences
gradually transgressed onto the shelf. They were internally complex, relatively short (1 my), and with large amplitudes (100-200m). Low
sea
levels near the end of the Pennsylvanian and the end of the Permian divide the Absaroka into lower (Pennsylvanian), middle (Permian), and upper (Triassic) parts.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994