Doctoral Dissertations

Keywords and Phrases

Clayton Formation

Abstract

"Upper Cretaceous to lower Paleogene sedimentary rocks in Southeastern Missouri record the northwest extension of the Mississippi Embayment, yet very little information exists about them due to lack of exposures. Access to borehole and trench material and well logs provided an opportunity to study the sedimentology, palynology and micropaleontology of the three formations spanning the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary interval: Owl Creek (Cretaceous) and Clayton and Porters Creek (Paleocene). Lithologic features, palynomorphs (mainly spores, pollen, dinoflagellate cysts), dispersed organic matter, and foraminifera were used to interpret biostratigraphy, paleovegetation, paleoclimatic and depositional conditions, thereby creating a framework upon which further questions involving the K-Pg boundary transition could be addressed. Three hundred and seventy-nine palynomorph taxa have been identified; most are angiosperms and six taxa (one pollen and five dinoflagellate cysts) are potentially new. Seventeen of the 18 foraminifera identified are benthic. These microfossil assemblages contain Late Cretaceous and Paleocene taxa, and confirm a Danian age for the Clayton Formation, which rests unconformably on the Owl Creek. Thus, the K-Pg boundary itself is missing. The characteristics of four distinct graded Clayton units, i.e., basal Coquina Zone containing rip-up clasts with microtektites, reworked Cretaceous macrofossils, microfossils and palynomorphs, Glauconite Zone, Gray Zone, and upper Hardground Zone, and driller's log information suggest that the Clayton Formation was deposited as a single megatsunami following the K-Pg Chicxulub impact event"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Oboh-Ikuenobe, Francisca

Committee Member(s)

Hogan, John Patrick
Rogers, J. David
Laudon, Robert C.
Holbrook, J. M.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Geology and Geophysics

Sponsor(s)

American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists
Missouri. Department of Natural Resources
Geological Survey (U.S.)

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2009

Pagination

xvi, 266 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-265).

Geographic Coverage

Mississippi Embayment
Missouri

Rights

© 2009 Tambra L. Eifert, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Geology, Stratigraphic -- Cretaceous
Geology, Stratigraphic -- Paleogene
Paleontology -- Missouri
Palynology -- Missouri
Sequence stratigraphy

Thesis Number

T 9511

Print OCLC #

436169927

Electronic OCLC #

320127131

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