Raymer, Janet D. et al. (2008): Palynology of Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments in West Africa

Leg/Site/Hole:
ODP 159
ODP 159 959
Identifier:
2012-060187
georefid

Creator:
Raymer, Janet D.
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, Rolla, MO, United States
author

Oboh-Ikuenobe, Francisca E.
author

Jaramillo, Carlos
author

Identification:
Palynology of Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments in West Africa
2008
In: Anonymous, Geological Society of America, 2008 annual meeting
Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
40
6
508
An estimated 60 to 80 percent of all living species were affected by the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary mass extinction event, which continues to be studied in great detail in order to understand its overall effects. Although several mid to high latitude studies have yielded information on regional paleofloral response to this event (e.g., the fern spike), very few similar low latitude studies have been undertaken. Seventy-seven samples from the ALO-1 well in the Anambra Basin, Nigeria and Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 959D in the Coete d'Ivoire-Ghana Transform Margin provide information on the response of tropical paleofloras to this extinction event. The ALO-1 K/T sediments are from the Nsukka (upper Maastrichtian-lower Paleocene) and Imo (Paleocene) Formations and represent dominantly clastic deposition in prodeltaic and shallow marine environments, respectively. In the ODP Hole 959D this interval consists of black claystone deposited in a bathyal environment. Statistical techniques (cluster analysis, range through, rarefaction) yield palynological data for interpreting biodiversity patterns in these study areas. Comparisons of pollen and spore records in these sediments to tropical South American data help with evaluating the similarities and differences between the two regions during this time period. Preliminary data suggests that during the Paleocene similar genera such as Proxapertites, Longapertites, Mauritiidites, Echitriporites, and Spinizonocolpites were present in both areas.
English
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:75.0000
West:-80.0000East: 24.0000
South:0.0000

Stratigraphy; Africa; Atlantic Ocean; Cenozoic; Cretaceous; Equatorial Atlantic; K-T boundary; Leg 159; lower Paleocene; marine environment; mass extinctions; Mesozoic; microfossils; miospores; North Atlantic; Ocean Drilling Program; ODP Site 959; Paleocene; Paleogene; palynomorphs; pollen; shallow-water environment; spores; stratigraphic boundary; Tertiary; Upper Cretaceous; West Africa;

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