GEOCHEMICAL VARIATION OF THE LAMOTTE SANDSTONE IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI

In response to concerns that increased levels of carbon dioxide are contributing to global climate change, the scientific community is investigating ways to reduce anthropogenic carbon emissions. One method is geologic carbon sequestration: the injection of carbon dioxide into subsurface rock units for disposal. Southwest Missouri has no deep sedimentary basins, unmineable coal seams, or depleted oil and gas fields which are the conventional locations for geologic carbon sequestration, so an alternative is of interest. This project focuses on the basal sedimentary units in southwest Missouri, on which there is little data. This study contributes to both the general knowledge about deep sedimentary geology in southwest Missouri and the Shallow Carbon Sequestration Demonstration Project. The primary objectives of this project are to correlate geochemical composition with previously defined lithofacies and evaluate the spatial variation of geochemistry throughout the formation. The composition of the Lamotte Sandstone will be determined using X-Ray Fluorescence analysis. Preliminary results and tasks planned for the next phase of the project will be presented. The data from this study will greatly expand understanding of deep sedimentary geology in southwest Missouri. The data will also help determine the feasibility of shallow carbon sequestration in southwest Missouri. This material is based upon work sponsored by the Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory under Award Number DE-NT0006642 to City Utilities of Springfield, MO.