Abstract

The western portion of North Central Texas experienced unique depositional processes during the Upper Desmoinesian which are due discussion.

The early Desmoinesian-Fort Worth basin depo-center was moved toward the west after the Ouachita overthrust. Sediments were carried westward to the resultant Midland basin through the Knox-Baylor Trough. This asymmetrical trough (steep north) possesses two distinct depositional systems. The south or Concho Platform flank possesses a wave dominated environment with strike oriented strandplain-deltaic sands similar to the Upper Wilcox sands of the Gulf Coast. This system exists in Baylor, Knox, Throckmorton and Haskell Counties. Some of the producing areas are in the Sojourner, Herren and Weinert Fields. The deep water environment includes low-flow regime deposits. They are ripple-bedded, lack bioturbation textures, and are strike-oriented. A study of the composition demonstrates they are well-sorted, clean, fine grained bodies which indicate significant reworking during long-distance transport. This system extends from North Knox County southwest through Stonewall County, and produces in such areas as the Anne Tandy, Katz, Juliana and Jud Fields.