Abstract: Anomalous Zones within the Salt at Weeks Island, Louisiana

KUPFER, DONALD H.
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA (emeritus);
BRIAN E. LOCK
University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA;
PAUL R. SCHANK
Morton Salt Company, Fairport Mine, Grand River, OH

Three or more anomalous salt trends are currently being shown on the latest maps of the salt stock at Weeks Island, Louisiana, published by various recent authors. On these maps, the anomalous zones are labeled "shear" zones and are indicated by pairs of straight, parallel lines. These trends are being used to aid in the prediction of mining problems and cavern stability, especially at the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). In fact, these zones, like most anomalous zones in Gulf Coast salt domes, are not necessarily associated with shearing or faulting, but generally have various origins and are not all well defined in the mines.

The present authors, based on extensive mapping of the geology as exposed within the salt mines, believe that the most important (north-south) trend is being minimized, while the evidence for two or three other trends, considered by us to be of only average or misinterpreted importance, is being overplayed. The data for the several zones are examined and corrected locations for the anomalous zones are suggested. Some reported zones are rejected.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90932©1998 GCAGS/GCS-SEPM Meeting, Corpus Christi, Texas