The Origin of Pennsylvanian Magnetic Shale from the Viper Pit Mine, Illinois
Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Major
Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Locmelis, Marek
Wronkiewicz, David J.
Liu, Kelly H.
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri S&T- Opportunity for Undergraduate Research Program
Abstract
Highly magnetic rock samples of unknown origin were discovered in an underground Viper Pit coal mine near Springfield, Illinois. Low oxygen atmospheric conditions are known to have resulted in the deposition of significant iron; however, such conditions were no longer prevalent in the Pennsylvanian period. The magnetic shales are anomalous because the inferred magnetite content of the rocks is significantly higher than expected in contrast to similar sedimentary depositional environments. The aim of this study is to determine the chemical and mineral composition of the rocks to provide insight on factors that accumulate significant amounts of iron.
Magnetic surveys were conducted and failed to detect magnetism in the overlying and underlying strata. From petrographic analysis, the polished rock surface texture of the samples are observed to be relatively homogenous in comparison to banded iron formation rock samples. Furthermore, X-Ray diffraction results indicate the presence of magnetite, aluminum silicates and magnetoplumbite.
Biography
Osvaldino Contreiras is a senior student in the Geology and Geophysics program. He is currently participating in the Opportunity for Undergraduate Research (O.U.R.E) Program. His main academic interest areas are Geochemistry, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, and Geomechanics with applications to hydrocarbon and mineral resource exploration. Osvaldino has participated on numerous on campus organizations but most noticeable is his position as a Peer Learning Assistant in Missouri S&T’s Learning Enhancement Across the Disciplines (L.E.A.D) Organization where he has tutored Mineralogy and Petrology, Structural Geology, and Calculus.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Sciences poster session, Third place
Location
Upper Atrium
Presentation Date
17 Apr 2018, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Origin of Pennsylvanian Magnetic Shale from the Viper Pit Mine, Illinois
Upper Atrium
Highly magnetic rock samples of unknown origin were discovered in an underground Viper Pit coal mine near Springfield, Illinois. Low oxygen atmospheric conditions are known to have resulted in the deposition of significant iron; however, such conditions were no longer prevalent in the Pennsylvanian period. The magnetic shales are anomalous because the inferred magnetite content of the rocks is significantly higher than expected in contrast to similar sedimentary depositional environments. The aim of this study is to determine the chemical and mineral composition of the rocks to provide insight on factors that accumulate significant amounts of iron.
Magnetic surveys were conducted and failed to detect magnetism in the overlying and underlying strata. From petrographic analysis, the polished rock surface texture of the samples are observed to be relatively homogenous in comparison to banded iron formation rock samples. Furthermore, X-Ray diffraction results indicate the presence of magnetite, aluminum silicates and magnetoplumbite.
