Ripple marks, cross-bedding, and groove casts are examples of directional features of sediments. Variations in grain size or mineral composition are examples of scalar properties. Although directional features normally are considered to be the domain of the surface geologist, by means of the oriented core and more recently the dipmeter, these features also can be used by the subsurface geologist. Recent literature abounds with reports of new types of scalar properties.

Directional features and scalar properties of sediments are used to determine paleocurrent direction. The integration of paleocurrent data with environmental information yields a paleogeographic map. Prediction of favorable areas for wildcat exploration and the exploitation of wildcat discoveries can then be made from the paleogeographic map.

The Desmoinesian-age Hartshorne Formation of eastern Oklahoma is a shallow but major gas producer within the Arkoma basin. A study in the nature of directional features ^rarr paleocurrent direction + depositional environment = paleogeographic map is presented. This study indicates that the probable nature of the productive Hartshorne sandstone in the discovery well of the South Pine Hollow field, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, is a deltaic channel sandstone with a northeast-southwest alignment. This information could have been used to exploit the discovery well.

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