JANUARY 2026 LUNCHEON MEETING
JULIE BLOXSON
presents:
Understanding the Lithium Content Trends in the Smackover Formation: Potential Influencing Factors in the Ark-La-Tex Region
11:30 AM Wednesday, January 21, 2025
at Willow Brook Country Club
3205 W Erwin St.
Tyler, TX 75702
Cost: $25 if you RSVP
$30 at the door if you do NOT reserve
Abstract
The Jurassic Smackover Formation is known as a prolific hydrocarbon reservoir in the Ark-La-Tex region since the 1920’s, comprised of limestones, dolostones and mudstones deposited on a carbonate platform setting. Porous and permeable fossiliferous zones have created excellent reservoirs along the Gulf Coast, allowing for the extensive development of this reservoir. In recent investigations, substantial lithium concentrations have been identified within the Smackover oilfield brines, creating a practical application for oilfield waste by-products and introducing a novel prospective exploration target within the region. Despite its economic significance, little research has been conducted on understanding the source of the lithium in the oilfield brines. The Smackover Formation presents challenges related to reservoir heterogeneity, diagenesis, and structural complexities. The structural complexity of the Smackover Formation influences the distribution of reservoirs. Furthermore, the Smackover and the Louann Salt are intricately linked throughout their geologic history, with the salt acting as both a depositional feature and a structural influence on deposition and preservation of hydrocarbons in the Smackover. This study explores the potential influences of the lithium content within the Smackover Formation, including structural, potential rifting dynamics in the region, and its association with the Louann Salt. It uses a combination of spatial and statistical analysis to explore the extensive datasets available, analyzing seemingly unrelated features across the Gulf Coast to determine potential sources of lithium in the region.
Biography
Dr. Julie M. Bloxson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences & Geologic Resources at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Her work focuses on Gulf Coast and East Texas geology, and Appalachian Basin systems, including petroleum systems, stratigraphy, critical minerals in brines, geothermal resources, and salt tectonics. She directs student-driven research on subsurface systems using an integrated approach that combines field geology, petrophysics, geochemistry, and geospatial analysis. Before joining SFA, she work in the Energy Group at the Ohio Division of Geological Survey, working on CCUS reservoir characterization, salt studies, and general subsurface characterization. Her PhD in Earth Sciences is from Case Western Reserve University, where she studied the mineralogy and facies distribution of the Utica Shale Play. Her MS in Geology is from Kent State University, focusing on the Clinton Sands in Ashtabula County, Ohio for CCUS reservoir characterization. Her BS in Geology is from the University of Akron, with a research project on tidal rhythmites associated with coal seams in the Youngstown, Ohio region.