Date of Graduation

Summer 2011

Degree

Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences

Department

Geography, Geology, and Planning

Committee Chair

Thomas Plymate

Abstract

Anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide has been accepted as a possible cause of global climate change. In order to reduce the amount of CO2>released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, several countries are taking steps to capture and sequester the carbon from these emissions. A proposed target unit for CO2>sequestration is the Lamotte Sandstone, the deepest porous media available in southwest Missouri. This study contributes to the overall body of knowledge on this basal Cambrian sedimentary unit, as well as to the suitability of this unit for the Missouri Carbon Sequestration Project. This study provides a detailed petrographic analysis of the Lamotte Sandstone consisting of porosity and bulk mineral composition and how these vary spatially. Thin sections from an historic core and a new core were prepared at intervals of approximately ten feet. At least 1000 points per slide were counted. The Lamotte Sandstone is classified as a mixed quartz arenite and quartz wacke, with feldspar and pebbles near the base and glauconite and fossil fragments near the gradational contact with the overlying Bonneterre; it is considered a proximal near-shore environment. The Lamotte Sandstone has sufficient (~10 percent or greater) porosity to be a potential unit for carbon sequestration.

Keywords

Cambrian geology, stratigraphy, sedimentary petrography, carbon sequestration, epoxy-impregnated thin sections, point counting

Subject Categories

Climate | Geology

Copyright

© Marissa LeAnne Berger

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