GRAPHIC CORRELATION OF THE UPPER DEVONIAN IN THE CENTRAL-SOUTH APPALACHIAN BASIN

The Upper Devonian (Frasnian and Fammenian)has been extensively studied with respect to macrofossil data, but there is a lack of systematic high-resolution biostratigraphic studies. A detailed biostratigraphic study of eight outcrops was done in the Central-South Appalachian Basin. The eight outcrops were studied and data was collected (Brame, 2001). The biostratigraphic data was inserted into a graphic correlation program, CONOP9 (Sadler,2001). The data was collected from the middle Devonian Period to Lower Mississippian. The stratigraphic members that are in the research area are from oldest to youngest: Millsboro, (Foreknobs Formation)Brallier, Briery Gap, Blizzard, Pound and Red Lick. The CONOP9 program produces range charts that depict the Frasnian and Fammenian Extinction Event. The range charts show the biozones that seperate the members of the Brallier Formation. The data is run throught the Graphic Correlation process. The best sampled and most extended outcrop is considered the Standard Reference Section (SRS). The other seven outcrops are plotted versus the SRS. The process runs throught three trials in ehich the best fit correlation between all the outcrops become constrained. The best fit line,Line of Correlation (LOC), is studied for the rate of accumulation, sequence stratigraphy and the extent of the Frasnian and Fammenian Extinction. After the LOC is constrained the database of the eight input files are considered the Composite Standard (CS). Future plans are to obtain more data that extends into the Lower Mississippian.