Palynostratigraphic zonation of Paleocene strata in the central and south-central Alberta Plains

Abstract

Paleocene strata of the Scollard and Paskapoo formations in the central and south-central Alberta Plains can be subdivided into five formal biostratigraphic zones, based in part on a Momipites–Caryapollenites palynofloral lineage. A similar zonation previously identified from strata of the Wind River basin in Wyoming displays similar palynomorph occurrences. However, differences that are present are likely a result of latitudinal climatic zonation between Alberta and Wyoming during Paleocene time.Lowermost Paleocene strata of Alberta (Wodehouseia fimbriata Zone) are barren of Momipites species, which subsequently first appear in the Momipites wyomingensis Zone. These two zones include strata from the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary (Nevis coal seam) to the top of the Scollard Formation. A diverse assemblage of Momipites spp. plus Aquilapollenites spinulosus, Caryapollenites prodromus, and Tiliaepollenites danei are present in the Aquilapollenites spinulosus Zone within the lowermost Paskapoo Formation. Two more species of Caryapollenites appear in the Caryapollenites wodehousei Zone. The Pistillipollenites mcgregorii Zone is characterized by the presence of Pistillipollenites mcgregorii, Insulapollenites rugulatus, and Caryapollenites inelegans. Momipites leffingwellii is absent from the lower portion of this zone, with Momipites waltmanensis, Momipites actinus, and Momipites triorbicularis absent from the upper portion. Lower P. mcgregorii Zone strata are the youngest strata encountered in the vicinity of the Red Deer River valley. Upper P. mcgregorii Zone strata include strata of the Obed–Marsh coal zone within the uppermost part of the Paskapoo Formation adjacent to the Alberta Foothills.

Magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the continental Paleocene in the Calgary area, southwestern Alberta

“…All assemblages from the Cochrane section are compatible with the Aquilapollenites spinulosus Zone of Demchuk (1990) ( Fig. 6, this paper).…”

Palynostratigraphy of the Tullock Member (lower Paleocene) of the Fort Union Formation in the Powder River basin, Montana and Wyoming

“…Relationship between the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary, which is defined on the basis of palynostratigraphy (this study), and formation contacts, which are placed at the base of the first persistent coal bed above the stratigraphically highest dinosaur remains, at three sections in the Powder River Basin. No dinosaur bones were present in the East Burnt Creek section, but the coal bed shown is bed A of Rogers and Lee (1923) presence of Wodehouseia fimbriata in the Tullock in the Montana part of the Powder River Basin indicates biostratigraphic similarity with the lower Paleocene of Alberta, based on data of Demchuk (1990). The palynoflora of the Tullock Member in the Powder River Basin includes 75 or more taxa.…”

“…Their lower Paleocene zones Pl and P2 are relevant to the Tullock Member, but the present study reveals some interbasinal variations in lower Paleocene palynofloras. Recent work by Demchuk ( 1990) in Alberta and by Fleming (1990) in New Mexico documents other regional variations in lower Paleocene palynostratigraphy.…”

“…Wodehouseia fimbriata is a characteristic species of palynostratigraphic zone P2 in Albena (Demchuk, 1990) but is near the southern limit of its paleogeographic range in the Pow.der River Basin and is rarely found in the Paleocene of the United States. Wodehouseia spinata is another typically Upper Cretaceous species that, like Aquilapollenites reticu/arus, persists into the lowermost Paleocene in southern Canada (Jerzykiewicz and Sweet, 1986).…”

Emergence of the Canadian Rockies and adjacent plains: A comparison of physiography between end-of-Laramide time and the present day

“…According to Kalkreuth and McMechan (1996), the youngest known stratum deformed in the Laramide Orogeny (Obed Marsh, Paskapoo Formation, Paleocene Zone 5) has an age of 58.3 Ma (Demchuk, 1990;Jerzykiewicz and Norris, 1994). The sediments constituting the Paskapoo and its Saskatchewan-equivalent Ravenscrag Formation record a late aggradational episode in the plains followed by deformation associated with a final pulse of mountain-building (Dawson et al, 1994).…”