Black Shales of Jurassic Newark Basin

Michael S. Fedosh

Rock cores have exposed the complete Jurassic section of the Newark basin, including three sedimentary formations of fluvial origin. Within the Feltville, Towaco, and Boonton formations, 16 lacustrine/fan units range in thickness from 1 to 15 m. Each unit contains one black shale facies, although lower units of the Towaco contain multiple fining-upward sequences ending with truncated deep-water shale. Additional thinner gray sandstone facies in each formation occur at the margin of lacustrine units located farther southwest, in the paleodrainage direction of the Newark basin. Most microlaminated black shale shows evidence of turbidity flows. Freshly broken pieces of black shale and adjacent sandstones also have a strong organic odor.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91043©1986 AAPG Annual Convention, Atlanta, Georgia, June 15-18, 1986.