--> Abstract: Sulfur Contents of Peats at the Confluence of Carbonate and Peat-Forming Depositional Systems, Southeastern Florida, by A. D. Cohen, T. D. Davies, and W. Spackman; #90995 (1993).
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COHEN, ARTHUR D., University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, THOMAS D. DAVIES, Exxon Exploration Company, Houston, TX, and WILLIAM SPACKMAN, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

ABSTRACT: Sulfur Contents of Peats at the Confluence of Carbonate and Peat-Forming Depositional Systems, Southeastern Florida

Complex stratigraphic and compositional relationships have been reported by others at sites where coal beds are laterally in contact with Previous HitmarineNext Hit carbonates (such as in the southern portion of the Illinois basin). These basin edges are important in that they may (1) represent sites of active coal mining, (2) contain important clues as to the development of the basin, and (3) be sources of the dispersed terrestrial organics encountered in nearby Previous HitmarineNext Hit rocks. This study was undertaken to investigate peat/carbonate relationships in a modern setting, with initial research on sulfur contents relative to stratigraphic/petrographic conditions. Thirty-eight cores were taken along northwest-southeast transects from the mainland to Florida Bay. The most inland cores consist entirely of peat, re resenting transgression of Previous HitmarineNext Hit types (mangrove) over freshwater types. Toward the carbonate-rich bay, a more complex stratigraphy exists. Previous HitMarineNext Hit carbonates and peats interfinger, with erosional contacts indicating that parts of the peat sequence are missing. At the coastline, most of the peat is replaced by Previous HitmarineNext Hit carbonate except for thin (1-10 cm) basal erosional remnants. Florida Bay cores also contain basal peats (usually overlain by Previous HitmarineNext Hit carbonates), with the best preserved peat sequences tending to occur beneath bay islands. Total sulfur ranges from 0.6 to 5.0% (dry) at the most inland sites, 2.5 to 7.8% near the coastline, and 1.5 to 5.9% in bay sediments. Total sulfur is higher in Previous HitmarineNext Hit than freshwater peats, but freshwater peats overlain by Previous HitmarineNext Hit peats are enriched in sul ur. Freshwater peats beneath Previous HitmarineNext Hit carbonates are relatively low in sulfur, but are higher if the peat is overlain by a Previous HitmarineTop peat before being overlain by the carbonate.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90995©1993 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia, September 19-21, 1993.