Butler Anticline (Discarded)

Location

Mostly in T9N, R4W, Montgomery County

References

Lee 1915, 1926

Description

Lee inferred the presence of an anticline from widely scattered outcrop and well data. His structure contour map on the Herrin Coal Member (Pennsylvanian) shows a northeast-trending high, having possible closure in Section 4, T9N, R4W. Many of Lee's elevations on the Herrin Coal were extrapolated downward from younger beds exposed at the surface or penetrated in shallow boreholes. This technique introduced uncertainty into his contouring.

Subsequent drilling in the area has revealed that the Herrin Coal is replaced by sandstone and shale of the Walshville channel under most of the Butler Anticline. It is possible that the relatively high elevations of younger strata, from which Lee projected his contour lines, are due to differential compaction of the sediments over the relatively incompactable fill of the channel. No indication of a genuine anticline is apparent (Nelson 1987b), and use of this name should be discontinued.