GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF THE MUENSTER ARCH

The Muenster Arch is a positive structural feature characterized by a set of NW-SE trending reverse faults which extend from the Wichita Uplift in southwestern Oklahoma to the Ouachita folded thrust belt in northeast Texas. Previous studies indicate the arch was formed by the reactivation of pre-existing basement faults associated with the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen (SOA) (Walper, 1977, 1982). The age of the uplift is generally accepted as Late Mississippian when it became a prominent positive structure through Late Pennsylvanian time. Recent advances in petroleum exploration of unconventional plays has led to additional well and seismic data in the Fort Worth Basin. An integrated study of well, seismic, and gravity data is underway to examine the faulted nature of the Muenster Arch in northeast Texas, and gain new insight into the basement core complex and relationships to other structures of the SOA, as well as understand its significance as a positive structure and sediment source during formation of the Fort Worth Basin.

Walper, J. L., 1977, Paleozoic Tectonics of the Southern Margin of North America: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 27, p. 230-239.

Walper, J. L., 1982, Plate Tectonic Evolution of the Fort Worth basin, in Martin, C. A., ed., Petroleum Geology of the Fort Worth Basin and Bend Arch Area: Dallas Geological Society, p. 237-251.