Core Samples

[Stocksdale]

I've been curious about 'core samples' obtained from wells and geologic exploration. Is there anywhere online that one can look at examples of bedrock cores.

For example, I'd love to see what a cambrian core looks like from deep in the Illinois bedrock and how deep the sample was located. I know mostly they are looking at microfossils to determine the age, but I've seen a few times where more easily identifiable fossils are found in the cores.

Anyone have examples or know where some are found. And with any examples, it would be of interest to know how many feet deep the core comes from.

[Oxytropidoceras]

Neophytus Elginian asked:

“I've been curious about 'core samples' obtained from wells and geologic exploration.

Is there anywhere online that one can look at examples of bedrock cores.”

Unfortunately, such core libraries, even in the digital age are few and far between.

There are state and national geological surveys that have images of some of the

cores in their core depositories (libraries) online. One of them is the Kansas

Geological Survey in “Images of Kansas Core” at http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Magellan/CoreLibrary/image.html .

Also, images of many of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Ocean Drilling Program, and

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program cores are online and can be downloaded. For

example, images of cores and other data can be found using “Ocean Drilling Data

Data Overview” at http://iodp.tamu.edu/janusweb/general/dbtable.cgi?subset=DSDP and “Core Photos

Data Request Form” at http://iodp.tamu.edu/janusweb/imaging/photo.shtml .

However, to request such images of core, a person needs to specify the leg, site,

and core for a specific drillhole. This information is found in the “DSDP Initial Reports”

listed at http://www.deepseadrilling.org/i_reports.htm

Yours,

Paul H.

[piranha]

There are a few excellent papers on trilobite faunas described via corehole discovery and some of the information is associated with petroleum based paleo. The trilobites in the following papers have been prepped without in-situ core photos but still very interesting and informative with drill core depths referenced. If you are interested please send me a PM with email address and I will be happy to send them for you.

Babcock, L.E. (1994)

Biostratigraphic Significance and Paleogeographic Implications of Cambrian Fossils from a Deep Core, Warren County, Ohio.

Journal of Paleontology 68(1):24-30

Laurie, J.R. (2004)
Early Middle Cambrian trilobite faunas from NTGS Elkedra 3 corehole, southern Georgina Basin, Northern Territory.

Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 30:221-260

Laurie, J.R. (2006)

Early Middle Cambrian trilobites from Pacific Oil & Gas Baldwin 1 well, southern Georgina Basin, Northern Territory.

Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 32:127-204

Laurie, J.R. (2006)

Ordovician trilobites from the Horn Valley Siltstone and basal Stairway Sandstone, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory.

Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 32:287-345

[Stocksdale]

Thanks. That Ohio paper sounds interesting. I think many laypeople only think of the rocks that are just a few feet from the surface. This type of info would help people understand the subsurface geology if it was more accessible.

Plus, it would be really cool to have tangible proof that there are trilobites and other critters thousands of feet below us.

[Stocksdale]

Thanks to Piranha's tip, I found a picture of the Warren County core sample showing the partial cephalon of a Cedaria.

From core nearly 3,000 feet down. Very cool. And pretty clear to even me what it is.

It is from page 6 of this bulletin.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/10/pdf/newsletter/Spring92.pdf

Here's another PDF with more info about the Ohio cambrian and the species found in the Warren County core. Also with a pic of the Cedaria

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/10/pdf/newsletter/Winter97.pdf

[piranha]

Glad to assist on a such a great topic of research. The Australian papers referenced above have no core photos but luckily the Babcock paper has some excellent in-situ core photos with a variety of fossils. I just sent it your way via PM.

[Stocksdale]

Thanks a lot. Very cool to be able to see the Cambrian material, nearly 3000 feet under Ohio.

[Stocksdale]

For added interest..... a few things I've found about fossils in deep cores.

Here's a story about dinosaur remains found 1.4 miles below the floor of the North Sea.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4950540.stm

And I found this site interesting blog about the drilling of the 5500 foot deep well for carbon sequestration in Kansas.

http://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/Ozark/index.html

All the images of this core sample is on the site Oxy had mentioned. Here's a direct link to that well.

http://chasm.kgs.ku.edu/apex/qualified.cimg2.CoreImages?f_well=1043234370