Discuss the environment of deposition of the Late Devonian-Early Mississippian black shales. Describe the

characteristics of black shales. Include some examples of formation names for these black shales. What will be an ideal response?


Black shales are clay-rich sediments that include high proportions of organic material.
Depositional conditions apparently were distinguished by undisturbed bottom water, reduced
supply of coarse detrital sediments, organic matter, and low oxygen levels/anoxic
environments. Fossils that are found in black shales include conodonts, acritarchs, and plant
spores. In the eastern part of the United States, many of these black shales are called the
Chattanooga Shale

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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