The basic problem of this study was to determine whether strata of Dornick Hills age crop out in the Pleasant Hills syncline and around the north end of the Criner anticline. It was accomplished by faunal studies, detail mapping one or more strata, and associating adjacent strata on the basis of the above findings.

One fairly fossiliferous bed was found in the center of the syncline cropping out primarily in the southwest corner of Sec. 23, T-5S., R-1E, Carter County, Oklahoma. A detailed fusulinid study was made, and compared with fusulinids from established horizons in the Ardmore basin, especially in the stratigraphic interval between the upper Big Branch formation and the base of the Hoxbar. Also ostrocodal content and megascopic fossils were collected, classified and correlated from the subject bed and others.

Confirmation of stratigraphic location of the subject bed was made by detail surface mapping of the bed and a younger bed (Confederate limestone) throughout the Pleasant Hill syncline and around the northern end of the Criner anticline.

The subject bed most investigated was found to be the Camp Ground member of the Deese group and a complete faunal listing is made with four plates, complete bibliography; and two tables of measurements of Fusulina eximia Thompson.

A brief interpretation of the structural history of the area is given, and a resume of the stratigraphy pertaining to the general area of thesis work is included.

Conclusions were (a) In this type of study comparisons of fusulinid fauna encountered constitutes the best approach. (b) There were no rocks of Upper Dornick Hills (now Big Branch) age deposited over the Criner Hills. (c) The oldest rocks that covered the Criner Hills are probably middle Deese in age, with the possibility that lower Deese sediments may have been present. (d) There was rejuvenation along the Kirby fault zone probably in post-Hoxbar times. (e) The bed primarily investigated is the equivalent of the Camp Ground member of the Deese group. (f) A limestone unit cropping out in N1/2 SE NW Sec. 23, T-5S., R-1E., and traceable around the Pleasant Hill syncline, and the north end of the Criner anticline is the Williams member of the Hoxbar formation. (g) Another limestone unit traceable and parallel to the Williams and Confederate members is equivalent to the Natsy member of the Hoxbar group. (h) The westward thinning of the unnamed intervals in the northwestern corner of Sec. 26 and the southwestern corner of Sec. 23, T-5S., R-1E is essentially due to onlap and to a minor extent by compression from the northeast.

* Presently with Gulf Oil Corporation, Houston, Texas; written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science from the Graduate College, University of Oklahoma 1957.

Pre-Atokan Paleogeologic Map - Criner Hills Axis - by B. K. Reed

Geologic Map of the Criner Hills Area, Oklahoma - by Dr. E. A. Frederickson

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