===
Conodonts === •
Acodus :
A. inornatus •
Polygnathus :
P. lignuiformis This formation is found in
Illinois,
Iowa,
Missouri and
Wisconsin. The Racine is estimated to contain over 7 million barrels of oil in Illinois.
Moccasin Springs Formation The
Moccasin Springs Formation is found in
Missouri,
Illinois and
Kentucky. It is also recognized in
Indiana. This formation was first described by Becker (1974). The Moccasin Springs contains
reef facies that are more common at its base. These are pure
calcium carbonate (
limestone). These reefs also make up the
Terre Haute Bank on the eastern flank of the
Illinois Basin. The top of the formation is mostly dark-gray to black dolomitic shale. This is occasionally interbedded very fine grained limestone, that is mostly dark-greenish-gray. Below is dense to fine grained limestone. It tends to be somewhat argillaceous. The colors range from pastel shades of pink, green, yellow, tan, and gray to saturated dark-gray and red to purple colors. These colors may be mottled as well.
St. Clair Limestone The
St. Clair Limestone is a geologic unit in
Arkansas, and Oklahoma. It is classified as a Geologic Member in Indiana and Missouri. It dates back to the Middle of
Silurian period. It is high density, high magnesium dolomitic limestone. It was originally classified as a marble in Oklahoma due to the fact that it would hold a high polish, hence
Marble City. It is sold in slabs and as tiles, in a similar manner as marble would be. This unit has many economic uses in Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is used as a construction material, manufacture of
quicklime, and manganese deposits are mined as well. The St Clair is designated as a member of the
Bainbridge Group in the State of
Indiana. In
Illinois,
Missouri,
Arkansas and
Oklahoma it is part of the Hunton Megagroup. The St. Clair is the Basal member of the
Niagaran Series, making it part of the
Tippecanoe sequence. Throughout most of the Southern extent the unit is roughly 10 to 20' thick. Moving northward it thickens to approximately 80 to 100' thick in the
Illinois Basin. At its northernmost reaches where it grades in to the
Joliet and
Racine Formations it is about 150' thick. The St. Clair is composed of course calcite grains to fine grains. It may contain partings of claystone or
Mudstone. It can range in color from light-gray to chocolate brown, or even or purplish-black. Beds of pink
crinoid remains are also found with in this unit, mostly toward the base.
Sexton Creek Limestone The
Sexton Creek Limestone is
Silurian in age 443 - 441 Ma. Named by (Savage, 1909, p. 518) revised by (Ulrich, 1911). It was named for Sexton Creek in
Alexander County, Illinois. The Sexton Creek is composed of
Limestone,
Dolomite and
Chert. In parts of the unit there may be as much as 60% chert. In Indiana the Sexton Creek unconformably overlies
Ordovician aged rock. Further west it overlies the Edgewood Formation. In exposures the following fossils have been found;
Distacodus obliquicostatus,
Pterospathodus amorphognathoides,
Kockelella ranuliformis. == References ==