Paleoecology of Early eocene strata near Buffalo, Wyoming
Palynological investigation has helped illustrate the paleoecology of a vertical section of strata from the Wasatch Formation between the Healy and Walters coal burns near Buffalo, Wyoming. Numerous silicified logs and stumps of cypress and sequoia have been preserved at the site and drew initial attention to it. Flood-basin deposits enclose the trees and include sandstones, siltstones, shale, and coal beds that accumulated as channel, levee, crevasse-splay, and swamp/marsh sediments. Detrital sediments were probably derived from the Bighorn Mountains and accumulated as they were carried into the Powder River basin fluvial system. One hundred five polynomorph taxa have been distinguished, as well as 10 types of fungal spores. Platycarya, Tilia, Sparganium, and Platanus pollen indicate an early Eocene age for the strata. Other pollen, as well as the genera of trees and megafossil remains from a clinker bed several miles from the study area, reinforce the interpretation of a warm-temperature or subtropical climate at the time of deposition. The megafossil assemblage includes pinnae of the aquatic fern Marsilea, never before described from the fossil record. Variations in the species composition of the polynomorph assemblages show that several plant communities existed in succession at the site. These varied from pond or marsh types to mature forests.
- Research Organization:
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City
- OSTI ID:
- 6963102
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8609129-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 70:8; Conference: AAPG Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Casper, WY, USA, 7 Sep 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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