R. Douglas Elmore

Doug Elmore Faculty Page

Sedimentology, applications of paleomagnetism to geologic problems, diagenesis

My current research interests are focused determining the timing and origin of fluid flow and burial diagenetic events. My students and I are using an integrated paleomagnetic/geochemical approach to date diagenetic events and to investigate the nature of the diagenetic alteration. We recently completed integrated diagenetic studies of units such as the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, and Mississippian Formation in Oklahoma and we are currently finishing up studies of the Wolfcamp (Texas), Antrim Shale (Michigan Basin) where are testing if we can date hydrothermal alteration center of the basin. One of my students just started a study of the New Albany Shale in Kentucky/Indiana. We just published a paleomagnetic and diagenetic study of the Woodford in Oklahoma, where we have dated hydrothermal alteration in mineralized veins to the late Permian. Several students also finished diagenetic studies of the Meramec in Oklahoma. We also recently completed a paleomagnetic and diagenetic study of the Kentland Impact crater in Indiana.  Current students are working on diagenetic studies of Precambrian the Nonesuch Shale and stromatolites in the Copper Harbor Conglomerate in upper Michigan, as well as determining the timing of tectonic dolomites in Ordovician limestones in Kentucky.

We are also conducting diagenetic and paleomagnetic studies of Precambrian rocks in Oklahoma. One study focuses on developing a better understand of induced seismicity in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has experienced a dramatic increase in seismicity since 2009 and most widely accepted hypothesis for the increase in earthquakes is the disposal of produced water from oil and gas wells into the Arbuckle Group. The nature of the communication between the Arbuckle Group and the basement, where the earthquakes occur, has not been documented, but is presumably through fractures and faults. We are characterizing the upper part of the basement to test for fluid conduits and alteration. Another project is focused on constraining Cambrian apparent polar wander of North America. The data for this time period is sparse and samples from across the igneous rocks of the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen (SOA) will be collected to maximize reliability and potentially identify the cause of disparities between Cambrian magnetic data from Oklahoma and elsewhere in North America.

Another project is on paleoweathering surfaces and their climatic implications. Permo-Triassic chemical remanent magnetizations (CRMs) are reported granitic rocks below weathering surfaces from several localities in Europe and in North America. We are currently investigating if similar paleoweathering surfaces occur at the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary at several localities.

Several years ago I was the lead PI on an NSF-supported project “Diversity in Geosciences: Development of a "Pipeline" for Native American Students at the University of Oklahoma” 

Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrology (Spring 2019)

Paleomagnetism (Fall 2019)

Paleomagnetism and Diagenesis Seminar (Fall 2019)

Diagenesis (Spring 2019)

Clastic Facies (Fall, 2018)

Introductory Geology (Fall, 2015)

Heij, G. and Elmore, R. D., 2019, The magnetic fabric of the Wolfcamp Shale, Midland Basin, west, Texas: Understanding petrofabric variability, hydrocarbon distribution, and iron enrichment, AAPG Bulletin, (in press).

Roberts, J., Heij, G., and Elmore, R. Douglas., 2019, A diagenetic study of the Woodford Shale in the southeastern Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma, USA: Evidence for hydrothermal alteration in mineralized fractures. Geological Magazine, 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756819000360

Elmore, R. D., Haynes, J., Farzaneh, S., Anzaldua, S., 2017. Integrated paleomagnetic and diagenetic study of the Mississippian Limestone, North Central Oklahoma. AAPG Memoir 116, 116. DOI:10.1306/13632156M11667.

Elmore, R. D., Heij, G., Wickard, A., 2016. Paragenesis of mineralized fractures  and Diagenesis of prominent North American Shales. Sedimentary Record, 14, 2-10. SEPM.org.

Hamilton, M. E., Elmore, R. D., Weaver, B., Dulin, S., and Jackson, J., 2015, Paleomagnetic and petrologic study of the origin of early and late Paleozoic events in the Long Mountain Granite, Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma. GSA Bulletin, v. 128, 187-202, doi:10.1130/B31277.1

Manning, E. and R. D. Elmore, 2015, An Integrated Paleomagnetic, Rock Magnetic, and Geochemical Study of the Marcellus Shale in the Valley and Ridge province in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, JGR – Solid Earth, v. 120, 705-724, doi:10.1002/2014JB011418.

Elmore R. D.,Muxworthy,A.R., & Aldana, M., & Mena, M. 2012. Remagnetization and Chemical Alteration of Sedimentary Rocks. In: Elmore, R. D., Muxworthy, A. R., Aldana, M. & Mena, M. (eds) Remagnetization and Chemical Alteration of Sedimentary Rocks, Geological Society, London, Special Publications 371, first published online 7 November 2012, http://dx doi 10.1144/SP371.15.

Elmore, R.D., Engel, M.H. Elmore, M., Engel, D., Hood, R., and Parnell, J., 2010, Paleomagnetic Dating Of Fracturing Using Breccia Veins In Durness Group Carbonates, NW Scotland, Structural Geology, 10.1016/j.jsg.2010.05.011.

O'Brien, V. J., K. M. Moreland, R. D. Elmore, M. H. Engel, and M. A. Evans (2007), Origin of orogenic remagnetizations in Mississippian carbonates, Sawtooth Range, Montana, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B06103, doi:10.1029/2006JB004699. 

Elmore, R. D., and S. Dulin, 2007, New paleomagnetic age constraints on the Decaturville impact structure and Weaubleau structure along the 38th parallel in Missouri (North America), Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L13308, doi:10.1029/2007GL030113.