Magnetotelluric observations in the western Ouachita Mountains, southeastern Oklahoma

Abstract

The first magnetotelluric (MT) analysis of the Ouachita Mountains region is presented. Magnetotelluric data acquired at 19 sites along a 60-km profile in southeastern Oklahoma were used to image the western extension of the Ouachita Mountains and to determine the poorly known subsurface interaction between the Pennsylvanian Tishomingo-Belton uplift and the subsurface extension of the exposed western Ouachita Mountains. Drill-hole data, geologic mapping, seismic reflection profiles, and 1-D and 2-D MT-derived models indicate that lying beneath the low-resistivity Gulf Coastal Plain sediments are 2-3 km of deep-water lower Pennsylvanian (Jackfork Group) sediments and 6-8 km of Ouachita facies lithologies, mainly consisting of the Stanley Group. Beneath the profile's northern section are 2-4 km of Atoka Formation sediments, probably deposited within the Arkoma basin, that underlie thrusted zones of the Stanley Group. The most unique feature is a high-resistivity zone beneath stations 7-9, interpreted to be Precambrian/Cambrian granite similar to that exposed in the Tishomingo-Belton uplift. A deep (5-6 km) low-resistivity zone that may represent the northern border of the subsurface extension of the Broken Bow uplift is located along the Texas/Oklahoma border; however, this zone is not required by the MT data.

Department(s)

Geography, Geology, and Planning

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444672

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Journal Title

GEOPHYSICS

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