Small-scale spatial heterogeneity in Pennsylvanian-age vegetation from the roof shale of the Springfield coal (Illinois Basin)

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Palaois; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3514775· OSTI ID:6990897

DiMichele, W A ^[1]; Nelson, W J ^[2]

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1. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (USA)
2. Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign (USA)

An underground mine in southern Illinois exposes the spatial composition of the final forest of the Springfield (No. 5) Coal swamp. The area studied is within 600 m of the Galatia channel, contemporaneous deposits that mark the course of a river that periodically flooded the surface of the adjacent peat-forming forest. A nearly pure stand of Sigillaria mamillaris is flanked on the south, the side farthest from the channel, by a pteridosperm-calamite vegetation from which Sigillaria is absent. The ecotonal contact of these two assemblages may be as narrow as 2 m wide. On the north end, the side closest to the channel, the Sigillaria stand grades over a 40 m wide ecotone into a mixed lycopod-calamite vegetation with minor pteridosperms. Tree ferns and ground cover are nearly absent from all assemblages. This exposure provides a rare look at the short-term spatial heterogeneity of a Pennsylvanian-age peat-forming forest, and reveals an unexpected degree of patchiness, which is not demonstrable from most outcrop or coal-ball exposures.

• OSTI ID: 6990897
• Journal Information: Palaois; (USA), Vol. 4:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL DEPOSITS
PALEONTOLOGY
ILLINOIS
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD
COAL MINES
FORESTS
FOSSILS
ILLINOIS BASIN
OVERBURDEN
PEAT
SHALES
SWAMPS
TREES
UNDERGROUND MINING
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
PALEOZOIC ERA
PLANTS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
WETLANDS
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration