| Abstract Detail
Recent Topics Posters Jackson, Stanita C. [1], Baghai-Riding, Nina [2], Campbell, Carl [3]. Palynological analysis of an Owl Creek sample from Stoddard County, Missouri. Exposures of the Cretaceous Owl Creek Formation (Maastrichtian) extend from northern Mississippi into western Tennessee, southwestern Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southeastern Missouri. Previous paleontological research on Owl Creek has focused on its invertebrates, mainly mollusks. This study highlights a palynological sample obtained from an unweathered dark gray, finely micaceous clay/mudstone sediments at the Kitty Litter Mine on Crowleys Ridge in Stoddard County, southeastern Missouri. The site is situated in the northwestern portion of the Mississippi Embayment. The varied and abundant terrestrial and marine palynomorphs recovered, help to fill an important informational gap from Maastrichtian sediments located in the central United States. A 300-point count analysis contained 38.7% dinoflagellates, acritarchs and freshwater algae fossils, 1.7% fungal spores, 12% trilete spores, 1.7% monolete fern spores, 9.7% gymnosperms and 36% angiosperms. Recognized genera include dinoflagellates of Areoligera, Palaeocystodinium and Phelodinium, acritrachs of Baltisphaeridium, trilete spores of Appendicisporites, Camarozonosporites, Cicatricosisporites, Deltoidospora, and Gleicheniidites, monolete spores of Laevigatosporites, gymnosperms of Pinuspollenites, Rugubivesiculites, and Taxodiaceaepollenites and angiosperm pollen of Casuarinidites, Holkopollenites chemardensis, Nyssapollenites, Rhoipites, as well as other unidentified triporates and tricolporates. Other palynological debris included black inertinite, dispersed angiosperm cuticles, wood fragments, unidentified reworked trilete spores, inner linings of chitinous foraminiferan tests and algal cysts. The abundance of dinoflagellates and acritarchs imply a marine setting. Many terrestrial palynomorphs suffered corrosion, perhaps from waves and currents whereas other terrestrial palynomorphs are fresh signifying a closer proximity to land. Most of the palynomorphs with the exception of Extratriporopollenites nonperfectus are known from the underlying McNairy Formation and other Maastrichtian units from the southeastern United States. Pollen of Extratriporopollenites nonperfectus is associated with Oak Hill Member of the Naheola Formation Danian (Paleocene) section in Alabama, suggesting an extension of its geologic range into the older Cretaceous section.
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Related Links:
Invertebrate Fossils from Stoddard County, Missouri
1 - Delta State University, Division of Biological and Physical Sciences, DSU P.O. Box 3262, Cleveland, MS, 38733, United States
2 - Delta State University, Division of Biological & Physical Sciences, Cleveland, Mississippi, 38733, USA
3 - St. Louis Community College, Meramec, Department of Geology, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, United States
Keywords:
Owl Creek
Maastrichtian
Palynomorphs
Missouri.
Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P79035
Abstract ID:2699 |
