Earlier sediment differential compaction in Gibson County, Indiana

A thick wedge of nonmarine gray shale extends from the Galatia Channel and overlies the Springfield Coal Member of the Petersburg Formation (Pennsylvania) in western Gibson Country, but mainly marine black shales overlie the Springfield in the eastern part of the county. The sulfur content of the Springfield coal is lower beneath this wedge of nonmarine gray shale than beneath the marine shales. Fine-grained, compacted bay and overbank deposits form the western delta platform of the coal. Less compacted deposits of fluvial channel sandstone make up the eastern delta platform. Differential compaction of the delta platform of the Springfield coal controlled gray-shale distribution and determined the sulfur content of the coal.