Fayetteville Formation
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The Fayetteville Shale is a geologic
formation Formation may refer to: Linguistics * Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes Mathematics and science * Cave formation or speleothem, a secondar ...
of
Mississippian age The Mississippian ( , also known as Lower Carboniferous or Early Carboniferous) is a subperiod in the geologic timescale or a subsystem of the geologic record. It is the earlier of two subperiods of the Carboniferous period lasting from roughly ...
(354–323 million years ago) composed of tight
shale Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock formed from mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4) and tiny fragments (silt-sized particles) of other minerals, especial ...
within the Arkoma Basin of
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
and
Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
. It is named for the city of
Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville () is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. The city is on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains, deep within the Ozarks. Known as Washington until ...
, and requires
hydraulic fracturing Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of bedrock formations by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of "frack ...
to release the
natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...
contained within.


Nomenclature

Named by Frederick Willard Simonds in 1891, Simonds recognized what is now the Fayetteville Shale as three separate formations overlying the now abandoned Wyman Sandstone: the Fayetteville Shale, the Batesville Sandstone, and the Marshall Shale. In 1904, the name "Fayetteville Shale" replaced all three of these names. The Fayetteville Shale that Simonds recognized is now considered as the lower Fayetteville Shale. Simonds' Batesville Sandstone was found to be the same as the Wyman Sandstone, and replaced the name "Wyman Sandstone", while Simonds' Batesville Sandstone became known as the "Wedington Sandstone Member" presumably after Wedington Mountain. The name Marshall Shale was abandoned and is now known as the upper Fayetteville Shale.


Natural gas

The formation holds
natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...
in a fine-grained rock matrix which requires
hydraulic fracturing Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of bedrock formations by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of "frack ...
to release the gas. This process became cost-effective in some shales such as the Fayetteville after years of experimentation in the Barnett Shale in North Texas, especially when combined with horizontal drilling. The Fayetteville Shale play began in July 2004 by Southwestern Energy Company in north-central Arkansas with the Thomas #1-9 vertical well in
Conway County Conway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 11th county on October 20, 1825, Conway County has four incorporated municipalities, including Morrilton, the county seat and most populous city. The county ...
, Arkansas. In February 2005, Southwestern Energy drilled the first horizontal well, the Seeco-Vaughan #4-22H, also in Conway County. The US
Energy Information Administration The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and publ ...
estimated that the shale play held 13,240 billion cubic ft (375 billion cubic meters) of unproved, technically recoverable gas. The average well was estimated to produce 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas. As of 2018, new drilling in the Fayetteville Shale had ceased and almost 1/5 of wells were abandoned.


Paleontology


Flora

Because the Fayetteville Formation is a marine unit, most of the plants found in the black shales must have been washed into the Carboniferous sea from a landmass. However one unit within the formation, the Weddington Sandstone Member, is a series of river deposited sand beds. Fossil plants from this unit were probably deposited closer to their source. *'' Adiantites'' :''A. minima'' *'' Ankyropteris'' *'' Archaeocalamites'' :''A. fayettevillensis'' :''A. gracilentus'' :''A. umbralis'' :''A. wedingtonensis'' *'' Bothrodendron'' *'' Carpolithus'' :''C. inquirenda'' *''
Cardiopteris ''Cardiopteris'' is a genus of vines in the family Cardiopteridaceae described as a genus in 1834. ''Cardiopteris'' is native to Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Mot ...
'' :''C. hirta'' *'' Chlamidostachys'' :''C. chesterianus'' *''
Lepidocystis ''Lepidocystis'' is a Palaeozoic genus of imbricate lepidocystoid eocrinoid, closely related to '' Kinzercystis'', It bore a stalk, with which it attached to firm substrates; and brachioles arising as lateral branches from its arms. It is only k ...
'' :''L. chesterensis'' *'' Lepidodendron'' :''L. henbesti'' :''L. occidentale'' :''L. purduei'' :''L. wedingtonense'' *'' Lepidophloios'' *''
Lepidophyllum ''Lepidophyllum'' is a genus of South American flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.Lepidostrobus ''Lepidodendron'' is an extinct genus of primitive vascular plants belonging to the family Lepidodendraceae, part of a group of Lycopodiopsida known as scale trees or arborescent lycophytes, related to quillworts and lycopsids (club mosses). T ...
'' :''L. occidentalis'' *'' Lepidostrous'' Taylor, T., Eggard, D.,1967. Petrified Plants from the Upper Mississippian (Chester Series) of Arkansas. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society. 86: 4 *''
Lyginopteris ''Lyginopteris'' is a genus of Late Carboniferous seed fern A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants ...
'' :''L. royalii''Tomescu, A. 2001. Lyginopteris royalii sp. nov. from the Upper Mississippian of North America. Review of Paleobotany and Palynology. 116: 3-4 *'' Medullosa'' *''
Neuropteris ''Neuropteris'' is an extinct seed fern that existed in the Carboniferous period, known only from fossils. Major species include ''Neuropteris loschi''. See also *Coal forest *''Macroneuropteris ''Macroneuropteris'' is a genus of Carbonifer ...
'' *'' Pachytesta'' *'' Rhacopteris'' *'' Rhynchogonium'' :''R. fayettevillense'' *'' Rhynochosperma'' :''R. quinnii'' Dunn, M., Rothwell, G., Mapes, G. 2002.Additional observations on Rhynchosperma quinnii (Medullosaceae): a permineralized ovule from the Chesterian (Upper Mississippian) Fayetteville Formation of Arkansas. Journal of Botany. 89:11 *''
Sphenopteris ''Sphenopteris'' is a genus of seed ferns containing the foliage of various extinct plants, ranging from the Devonian to Late Cretaceous. One species, ''S. höninghausi'', was transferred to the genus ''Crossotheca'' in 1911. Biology The frond ...
'' :''S. (Palmatopteris) erectiloba'' :''S. (Calymmatotheca) mississippiana'' *'' Stigmaria'' :''S. arkansana'' :''S. wedingtonensis'' *'' Tivena'' :''T. arkansana''Dunn, M., Rothwell, G., Mapes, G. 2003. On Paleozoic plants from marine strata: Trivena arkansana (Lyginopteridaceae) gen. et sp. nov., a lyginopterid from the Fayetteville Formation (middle Chesterian/Upper Mississippian) of Arkansas, USA. Journal of Botany. 90:8


Fauna


Vertebrates

*'' Carcharopsis wortheni''Lund, R., Mapes, R. 1984. Carcharopsis wortheni from the Fayetteville Formation (Mississippian) of Arkansas. Journal of Paleontology. 58:3. *"''
Cobelodus ''Cobelodus'' is an extinct genus of holocephalid known from the late Carboniferous to the early Permian period. The type specimen, assigned to the genus '' Styptobasis'', was discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in Illinois Basin black coal shales ...
''" Maisey, J. G. (2007). The braincase in Paleozoic symmoriiform and cladoselachian sharks. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 2007(307), 1-122. *'' Ozarcus mapesae''


Echinoderms

*'' Acrocrinus constrictus'' *'' Agassizocrinus conicus'' *'' Alcimocrinus ornatus'' *'' Allocatillocrinus carpenteri'' *'' Ampelocrinus erectus'' *'' Aphelecrinus exoticus'' ::*'' A. planus'' *'' Childonocrinus trinodus'' *'' Cymbiocrinus gravis'' *'' Dasciocrinus aulicus'' *'' Heliosocrinus aftonensis'' *'' Intermediacrinus modernus'' *'' Linocrinus'' *'' Mantikosocrinus castus'' *'' Onchyocrinus''Burdick, D., Strimple, H. 1973. Flexible Crinoids from the Fayetteville Formation (Chesterian) of Northeastern Oklahoma. Journal of Paleontology. 47:2 *'' Onychocrinus pulaskiensis'' *'' Ophiurocrinus hebdenensis'' *'' Pentremites platybasis'' ::*'' P. pulchellus'' *'' Phacelocrinus'' *'' Phanocrinus'' Strimple, H. 1948. Notes on Phanocrinus from the Fayetteville Formation of Northeastern Oklahoma. Journal of Paleontology. 22:4 ::*'' P. alexanderi'' ::*'' P. cylindricus'' ::*'' P. formosus'' *'' Scytalocrinus aftonensis'' *'' Taxocrinus cestriensis'' ::*'' T. whitefieldi''. *'' Ulrichicrinus chesterensis''


Cephalopods

*'' Arcanoceras furnishi'' *'' Cluthoceras glicki'' :*'' Cluthoceras pisiforme'' *'' Cravenoceras fayettevillae'' :*'' Cravenoceras lineolatum'' *'' Dombarites mapesi'' *'' Eurmorphoceras plummeri'' *'' Fayettevillea planorbis'' *'' Girtyoceras'' Doughouzhaeva L, Mapes, R., Mutvei, H. 1997. Beaks and radulae of Early Carboniferous goniatites. Lethia. 30:4 *''
Goniatites granosus ''Goniatites'' is a genus of extinct cephalopods belonging to the family Goniatitidae, included in the superfamily Goniatitaceae. '' Hibernicoceras'' and '' Hypergoniatites'' are among related genera. Species Description The shell is general ...
'' *'' Lusitanites subcircularis'' *'' Metadimorphoceras wiswellense'' *'' Neoglyphioceras crebriliratum'' *'' Paracravenoceras ozarkense'' *'' Paradimorphoceras'' *'' Pronorites baconi'' *'' Rayonnoceras solidiforme'' Mapes, R. 1966. Late Mississippian Lycopsid Branch from Arkansas. Oklahoma Geology Notes. *'' Tumulites varians''


Corals

*'' Amplexus expansus'' Easton, W. 1945. Kinkaid Corals from Illinois and Amplexoid Corals from the Chester of Illinois and Arkansas. Journal of Paleontology. 19:4 *'' Michelinia meekana'' Sando, W. 1969. Revision of Some of Girty's Invertebrate Fossils from the Fayetteville Shale (Mississippian) of Arkansas and Oklahoma: Part B- Corals. United States Geologic Survey Professional Paper 606 *'' Palaecris carinata''


Bivalves

200px, ''Aviculopecten subcardiformis'' from the Logan Formation (Lower Carboniferous) of Wooster, Ohio">Carboniferous.html" ;"title="Logan Formation (Lower Carboniferous">Logan Formation (Lower Carboniferous) of Wooster, Ohio (external mold). *''Aviculopecten, Aviculopecten squamula'' :*''Aviculopecten, Aviculopecten jennyi'' :*''Aviculopecten, Aviculopecten multilineatus'' :*'' Aviculopecten morrowensis'' :*'' Aviculopecten inspeciosus'' *'' Canyella peculiaris'' *'' Cardiomorpha inflata'' *'' Conocardium peculiare'' *'' Cypricardia fayettevillensis'' *'' Cyprecardella sublata'' *'' Edmondia equilateralis'' *'' Palaeoneilo sera'' *'' Phestia stevensiana'' Sanguinolites simulans'' *'' Solenamorpha nitida'' Pojeta, J. 1969. Revision of Some of Girty's Invertebrate Fossils from the Fayetteville Shale (Mississippian) of Arkansas and Oklahoma: Part C- Pelecypods. United States Geologic Survey Professional Paper 606 *'' Sphenotus branneri'' :*'' Sphenotus washingtonensis'' :*'' Sphenotus dubius'' :*'' Sphenotus meslerianus''


Brachiopods

*'' Adairia adairensis''M. Gordon Jr. and T. W. Henry. 1993. Late Mississippian Productoid Brachiopods Inflatia, Keokukia, and Adairia, Ozark Region of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Paleontological Society Memoir 30:1-29 *'' Inflatia gracilis'' :*'' Inflatia cherokeensis'' :*'' Inflatia pusilla'' :*'' Inflatia inflata'' *'' Orthotetes protensus'' :*'' Orthotetes subglobosus''


Gastropods

*'' Euconospira disjuncta'' *'' Mourlonia lativittata'' *'' Patellilabia laevigata'' *'' Platyceras subelegans'' :*'' Platyceras compressum'' *'' Sinuitina venata'' Yochelson, E 1969. Revision of Some of Girty's Invertebrate Fossils from the Fayetteville Shale (Mississippian) of Arkansas and Oklahoma: Part C- Pelecypods. United States Geologic Survey Professional Paper 606 *'' Trepospira discus''


Arthropods

*'' Amphissites'' *'' Bairdia'' *'' Cyrtoproetus kerhini'' *'' Kirkbya'' Sohn, I. 1969.Revision of Some of Girty's Invertebrate Fossils from the Fayetteville Shale (Mississippian) of Arkansas and Oklahoma: Part F- Ostracodes. United States Geologic Survey Professional Paper 606 *'' Geisina'' *'' Glyptopleura'' *''
Graphiadactyllis ''Graphiadactyllis'' is an extinct genus of ostracod (seed shrimp) belonging to the family Quasillitidae and order Podocopida. Specimens have been found in Mississippian to Permian The Permian ( ) is a geologic period and System (stratigrap ...
'' *'' Orthobairdia'' *'' Paladin murconatus'' Gordon, M. 1969.Revision of Some of Girty's Invertebrate Fossils from the Fayetteville Shale (Mississippian) of Arkansas and Oklahoma: Part E- Trilobites. United States Geologic Survey Professional Paper 606 *'' Paraparchites'' *''
Roundyella ''Roundyella'' is an extinct genus of ostracod (seed shrimp) belonging to the order Leperditellocopida and family Scrobiculidae. Specimens have been found in beds of Devonian to Triassic The Triassic ( ) is a geologic period and system (str ...
'' *'' Sansabella'' *'' Serenida''


Ostracods

*'' Cavellina'' *'' Kegelites'' *'' Sargentina''


Bryozoans

*'' Archimedes communis'' :*'' Archimedes compactus'' :*'' Archimedes confertus'' :*'' Archimedes distans'' :*'' Archimedes inflatus'' :*'' Archimedes intermedius'' :*'' Archimedes invaginatus'' :*'' Archimedes meekanus'' :*'' Archimedes owenanus'' :*'' Archimedes proutanus'' :*'' Archimedes sublaxus'' :*'' Archimedes terebriformis'' *'' Batostomella parvula'' *'' Fenestella cestriensis'' :*'' Fenestella compress'' :*'' Fenestella elevatipora'' :*'' Fenestella serratula'' :*'' Fenestella tenax'' *'' Leioclema'' *'' Polypora cestriensis'' :*'' Polypora corticosa'' :*'' Polypora spinulifera'' *'' Rhombopora tabulata'' *'' Septopora cestriensis'' *'' Streblotrypa nicklesi'' :*'' Streblotrypa subspinosa'' *'' Sulcoretepora americana'' :*'' Sulcoretepora labiosa'' :*'' Sulcoretepora nitida'' *'' Thamniscus turcillatus''


Foraminifera

*'' Earlandia'' *'' Eosigmoilina rugosa''


Trace Fossils

* Cruziana *
Planolites ''Planolites'' is an ichnogenus found throughout the Ediacaran and the Phanerozoic that is made during the feeding process of worm-like animals. The traces are generally small, , unlined, and rarely branched, with fill that differs from the hos ...
*
Teichichnus ''Teichichnus'' is an ichnogenus with a distinctive form produced by the stacking of thin 'tongues' of sediment, atop one another. They are believed to be fodinichnia, with the organism adopting the habit of retracing the same route through var ...


References

{{coord missing, Arkansas Geologic formations of Arkansas Carboniferous Arkansas Mississippian United States Serpukhovian Shale formations of the United States Oil-bearing shales in the United States Natural gas fields in the United States Carboniferous System of North America Carboniferous southern paleotropical deposits