Sedimentology and Diagenesis of Mississippian (Kinderhookian and Osagean: Tournaisian and Visean) Reefs in Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas, and Northeast Oklahoma

Abstract

Reefs within the Kinderhookian Compton and basal Osagean Pierson formations are interpreted to have formed on aggradational to progradational distally-steepened ramps, respectively. Pierson reefs are mainly layered bafflestones, containing abundant fenestrate bryozoans and crinoids, capped by crinoid grainstones. They are interpreted to have been deposited in a relatively shallow, high-energy environment. Compton reefs are hybrid mud-dominated lithoherms/fenestrate bryozoan-crinoid muddy bafflestones. Interpreted to have been deposited in low-energy, deeper-water environments than the Pierson reefs. The lithoherm/bafflestone reefs were uplifted and subaerially exposed in mid-Compton time. Meteoric-dissolution vugs formed and were floored by crystal silt and occluded by coarse calcite cement. Then the reefs were dislodged and redeposited to the north within thick sections of upper Compton that downlapped an intraformational exposure surface.