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Salina Group
Stratigraphic range: Homerian-Ludfordian
~430–423 Ma
TypeGeological group
Unit ofCayugan Series
Sub-unitsBertie Formation, Camillus Formation, Syracuse Formation and Vernon Formation
UnderliesHelderberg Group
OverliesLockport Group & Bloomsburg Formation
Lithology
PrimaryDolomite & Shale
OtherAnhydrite, Limestone, Gypsum & Halite
Location
RegionAppalachian Basin & Michigan Basin of eastern North America
CountryUnited States of America and Canada
Type section
Named forSalt found within the formation
Named byJames Dwight Dana

The Salina Group or Salina Formation is a Late Silurian-age, Stratigraphic unit of sedimentary rock that is found in Northeastern and Midwestern North America. Named for its Halite beds, the phrase "Salina Group" was first used as a descriptive term by James D. Dana in 1863.[1]

Figure 1: Extent of the Silurian salt deposits in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and adjacent states[2]

The Salina is an extensive formation. It ranges from West Virginia, up through Ohio and Pennsylvania into Michigan, and up through Pennsylvania into New York in the United States and is also found in the Canadian province of Ontario. (See Figure 1.)

The thickness of the Salina Group varies greatly within the two basins, ranging from 84 feet in the southwestern corner of Michigan to an estimated 5,000 feet in Gladwin County.[3]

This formation is of economic importance for salt mining, as well as potential oil reservoir,[4] gypsum mining,[5] and natural gas storage.[6] Research has also been done on the viability of storing radioactive waste in the salt beds of the Salina.[7]

Description

The Salina Formation is composed chiefly of dolomite and shale, interbedded with anhydrite, gypsum, and salt.[8]

Stratigraphy

Stratigraphically, the Salina is placed in the Late Silurian age and is the lower member of the Cayugan Series. It overlies predominantly the Lockport, in parts central to northeast Pennsylvania it overlies the Bloomsburg. The Salina underlies the Helderberg Group.[9]

Being a thick formation, the Salina has subunits, as well as letter designations for the different formations. The letters originate at the base (oldest) with the A unit to the stratigraphic top H unit (youngest) made up of Anhydrite.[10] During an extensive study in the state of Michigan, each unit was mapped.

Unit H is also known as the Bertie Formation. In the Michigan Basin, the Bertie is pinched out; the Bass Islands Formation makes up the upper most Salina.

Unit G is the Camillus, which consists of dolomite and anhydrite.

Unit F is the youngest and largest salt in the group, also known as the Syracuse Formation. Where thicker, the F has beds of salt separated by rock grading from shale to dolomite, often with anhydrite present especially in the shale.

Unit E consists of shale, but can include dolomitic shale and dolomite. Anhydrite may also be present with in this unit and is also part of the Syracuse.

Unit D is the bottom of the Syracuse formation and is almost pure salt. Some dolomite may also occur with in this unit. It is the thinnest unit of the Salina, and is not always present.

Unit C marks the top of the Vernon Formation. It is a shaly dolomite; however, it can range from pure shale to pure dolomite beds within the unit. Anhydrite can be prevalent with in this unit as well.

Unit B is another salt unit and marks the Middle Vernon. The percentage of salt can be from 90% to 100%. Thin dolomite beds run through this unit.

Unit A consists of dolomite and shaly dolomite and is the bottom of the Vernon. Where the formation thickens, there may also be one or two large salt beds within the unit. Anhydrite can be found throughout this unit.[3]

Due to unit A having two salt or anhydrite beds, it is often divided into the A1 and A2, with A1 being the basal unit.[11]

Economic Resources

Carbonite and Evaporite deposits in North East United States

Salt

Mines for extracting salt as well as brine wells can be found in Western New York and Northeast Ohio. In Michigan Detroit is host to salt mining operations as well.

Salt production in Ohio predates settlement by Europeans. Native Americans collected and processed brine from springs in several locations across Ohio. Salt was also collected at "salt licks," where brine seeped out of the ground and deposited minerals on the ground. Licking County was named for the abundant salt licks found in the area.[12] Mahoning County's name is derived from a Native American term "ma-hon-ink" meaning "at the lick."[13]

Halite (Salina Group, Silurian; Detroit Salt Company mine, Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Throughout the early 1800s, Ohio's salt demand exceeded its production from brine wells and licks. Oil and gas exploration facilitated the discovery of salt during the 1860s; however, it was not until 1886 when the Cleveland Rolling Mill was drilling its second natural gas well that it hit brine. The salt was at a depth of approximately 1,900 feet. After a series of discoveries of salt around the same depth, it was concluded that there must be a large regional salt deposit. By the 1890s, several brine wells were drilled and operating in Cleveland. In total during this period, five salt-producing companies operating in Northeast Ohio. Clarence Foster examined drilling records from Standard Oil along Lake Erie. Sterling Morton built a salt mine at a depth of 1800 feet during the 1890s. This was located on Cleveland's east side.[13]

Gypsum

Rock gypsum (gyprock) (Salina Group, Upper Silurian; Ottawa County, Ohio, USA)

In 1827, Gypsum was first identified in Michigan, near Grand Rapids. An Odawa man discovered it in a rock outcrop along Plaster Creek where it enters Grand River. In 1838, Michigan's first state geologist, Douglass Houghton, arrived to select a site for salt mining. He reported an abundance of gypsum in the area. Daniel Ball and business partner Warren Granger constructed a mill to process gypsum in 1841.[14]

In 1838, Douglass Houghton and Bela Hubbard discovered an outcrop of gypsum at the mouth of the Au Gres River located Saginaw Bay. The first mill was operational in 1862 in Alabaster, Michigan.[14]

Oil and Gas

The Salina serves as an oil reservoir formation along the Findlay Arch from Southwestern Michigan down into Northwest Ohio. Salt in not present along the Arch System.

References

  1. ^ Elowski, Ronald C. (1980). "GIMDL-RI25.PDF" (PDF). State of Michigan.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Norris, Stanley E. (1978). "HYDROLOGIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE SILURIAN SALT DEPOSITS IN PARTS OF MICHIGAN, OHIO, AND NEW YORK" (PDF). United State Geological Survey.
  3. ^ a b Landes, Kenneth K. (1945). "THE SALINA AND BASS ISLAND ROCKS IN THE MICHIGAN BASIN". United States Geological Survey.
  4. ^ Ells, Garland D. (April 1958). "PROGRESS REPORT NUMBER EIGHTEEN Notes on the Devonian-Silurian in the Subsurface of Southwest Michigan" (PDF). State of Michigan - michigan.gov.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Stone, R.W (1920). "GYPSUM DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES" (PDF). United States Geological Survey.
  6. ^ Carter, Kristin M.; Patchen, Douglas G.; Moore, Jessica P.; Fakhari, Mohammad; Daft, Jr., Gary W.; Solis, Michael; Dunst, Brian J.; Anthony, Robin V.; Metz, Kyle (August 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017). "A Geological Study to Determine the Potential to Create an Appalachian Storage Hub for Natural Gas Liquids" (PDF). West Virginia Geological Survey.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ PIERCE, W. G.; RICH, E. I. (1962). "Summary of Rock Salt Deposits in the United States as Possible Storage Sites for Radioactive Waste Materials" (PDF). United States Geological Survey.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Norris, Stanley E. (June 1978). "HYDROLOGIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE SILURIAN SALT DEPOSITS IN PARTS OF MICHIGAN, OHIO, AND NEW YORK" (PDF). United States Geological Survey.
  9. ^ Fergusson, William B.; Prather, Bruce A. (1968). "Salt Deposits in the Salina Group in Pennsylvania". Pennsylvania, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey.
  10. ^ Janssens, Adriaan (1977). "SILURIAN ROCKS IN THE SUBSURFACE OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO" (PDF). OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Rickard, Lawernce (1969). "Stratigraphy of the Upper Silurian Salina Group New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ontario" (PDF). New York State Museum. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  12. ^ Sheban, Jeffrey (30 November 2011). "Saltology 101". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  13. ^ a b "ROCK SALT". Case Western Reserve University. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  14. ^ a b Schaetzl, Richard. "Gypsum Mining". Michigan State University.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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