Abstract

Previous investigations produced evidence that Silurian strata of the "Hunton Group" extended northward from Oklahoma into eastern Kansas, where these strata could be readily identified in the subsurface on the basis of their lithologic and microfaunal content. Results of this, as yet unfinished, investigation of the Kansas Devonian subsurface strata indicate lithologic, faunal, and age dissimilarities of the Devonian carbonate facies to the Hunton type-section of Oklahoma. Conversely, the overlying Chattanooga Shale facies exhibits close lithologic and faunal similarity with the Woodford strata of Oklahoma. Accordingly, it is inferred that a seaway connected Kansas and Oklahoma during Silurian time, but emergence of the Ellis-Chautauqua-Ozark Uplifts during Early and Middle Devonian time developed separate depositional basins north and south of the arch. In Late Devonian time the seaway connection between the two areas was reinstated and black shale deposition continued throughout the region into Early Mississippian time.