THE MIDCONTINENT RIFT SYSTEM IN
IOWA
 |
WELL PENETRATIONS OF
MRS ROCKS
|
In Iowa only 73 wells penetrate into MRS rocks (click for map locating MRS drill data). Most of these wells (49) are clustered into three areas, where gas storage facilities were developed in structural domes that formed in basal Paleozoic sandstones above Iowa Horst-bounding faults. Of these gas storage wells, 44 penetrate into mafic igneous rocks (a total penetration of 388 feet -116 m), and 5 penetrate into MRS clastic rocks (total penetration of 40 feet -12 m). The gas storage drillingproduced cores from 10 wells, 6 of mafic rocks (totaling 97 feet - 29 m) and 4 of clastic rocks (totaling 79 feet - 24m). The #1 Sharp well in Webster County penetrated 57 feet (17 m) of basalt, including all or parts of three individual lava flows separated by weathered, vesicular flow tops.
return to Midcontinent Rift System of Iowa
