Scientific article
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Progradational and Retrogradational Trends in Pennsylvanian Fluvio-Deltaic Successions of the Grundy Formation (Appalachian Foreland, SE Kentucky): Implications for the Interpretation of Cyclothems of the Breathitt Group

Published inSoutheastern Geology, vol. 53, no. 2, p. 131-169
Publication date2019
Abstract

Pennsylvanian strata of the Breathitt Group, in eastern Kentucky, are a world-class exam- ple of complex, glacioeustatically controlled stratigraphy developed in continental to mar- ginal-marine environments of the Central Ap- palachian foreland Basin. Although the upper formations of the Breathitt are well studied, the more areally restricted, coal-bearing parts of the Lower Pennsylvanian Breathitt Group, including the Grundy Formation are less well known. This article provides a detailed sedi- mentological and stratigraphic analysis of the Grundy Formation (late Early Pennsylvanian), based on new, extensive roadcut exposures. The Grundy Formation is dominated by shallow- and marginal-marine deposits and coals, as well as continental facies associations, which are commonly preserved in incised-val- ley fills. Detailed mapping, shows facies which can be divided into progradational and retro- gradational packages similar to the younger formations of the Breathitt, but forming two superposed genetic-stratigraphic cycles, based on, a thick, mid-formation marine interval, the larger number of coal-clastic cycles, and the greater stratigraphic thickness of the Grundy Formation. Comparison of the two Grundy sequences to overlying Breathitt sequences fur- ther confirms the general progradational trend within the Group. Furthermore, comparison of high-resolutioncyclicityindicatesoverprinting of high-frequency base-level fluctuations onto genetic-sequence scale cycles, thus providing a detailed sequence-stratigraphic framework for sediment repartition in time-equivalent series.

Keywords
  • Kentucky
  • Breathitt Group
  • Pennsylvanian
  • Sequence stratigraphy
  • Coal
  • Cyclothems
Funding
  • Autre - FD-RAS
Citation (ISO format)
LE COTONNEC, Aymeric et al. Progradational and Retrogradational Trends in Pennsylvanian Fluvio-Deltaic Successions of the Grundy Formation (Appalachian Foreland, SE Kentucky): Implications for the Interpretation of Cyclothems of the Breathitt Group. In: Southeastern Geology, 2019, vol. 53, n° 2, p. 131–169.
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Article (Published version)
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Identifiers
  • PID : unige:127900
ISSN of the journal0038-3678
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