2020 RMS-AAPG Awards

»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 are unfavorable for other planktonic primary producers (Schwark and Empt 2006). High C 28 /C 29 sterane values have only been measured in oils from Late Cretaceous to Miocene source rocks (reflecting the evolutionary rise of the diatoms), except for Late Mississippian reservoired oils on the Las Animas Arch. In fact, the Late Mississippian Las Animas Arch oils, likely sourced from Late

Mississippian shales (perhaps from the Hugoton

Embayment to the east in Kansas), also correlate best with the Williston Heath/Amsden oils with respect to the classic pristane/phytane ratio, carbon isotopic compositions, and lack of upwelling

The Rocky Mountain Section of AAPG has announced their 2020 award recipients, several of whom are RMAG members. Robbie Gries is the 2020 recipient of the Robert J. Weimer Lifetime Contribution Award, which recognizes contributions to the practice of the geosciences and/or petroleum geology in the Rocky Mountain region. Rob Diedrich will receive the RMS-AAPG Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to members who have distinguished themselves in singular and beneficial long-term service to RMS-AAPG. The John D. Haun Landmark Publication Award recognizes the authors or editors of a book, guidebook or other publication that has had exceptional influence on developing new hydrocarbon plays or providing deeper biomarkers. The Late Mississippian Williston and Las Animas Arch oils are the only pre-Cretaceous sourced oils we are aware that have these exceptionally high C 28 steranes (C 28 /C 29 > 1.5), and likely reflect a dominance of Prasinophyte algae in oxygen depleted waters. The Mississippian Barnett (TX), Caney (OK), and Chainman (NV) shale sourced oils are generally correlative with each other amid some variation in degree of upwelling and algal/bacteria sources. All have typically low Paleozoic C 28 /C 29 sterane ratios (<1). The Covenant oil from the central Utah Thrust Belt correlates best with the carbonate facies oils from

Central Montana. understanding of fundamental geology within the Rocky Mountain region. This year’s recipients are Michael Dolan, Debra Higley, and Paul Lillis, who edited the 2016 RMAG guidebook “Hydrocarbon Source Rocks in Unconventional Plays, Rocky Mountain Region”. Gus Gustason will receive the 2020 Julie Lefever Memorial Award, which is presented in recognition of those who have done an exceptional job at sharing geoscience knowledge with the science community and/or general public. In addition, Matt Thomas and Merideth Sparks, RMAG’s 2020 Teacher of the Year awardees, were runners up in the RMSAAPG Teacher of the Year Award. Congratulations to all of the 2020 RMS-AAPG awardees!