Publicdata File 89-26c PALYNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF OUTCROP SAMPLES

							Publicdata File 89-26c PALYNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF 48 OUTCROP SAMPLES FROM THE COLVILLE RIVER AND IVISHAK RIVER AREAS, NORTHERN ALASKA by Bujak Davies Group

Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys

September 1989

THIS REPORT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR TECHNICAL CONTENT (EXCEPT AS NOTED IN TEXT) OR FOR CONFORMITY TO THE EDITORIAL STANDARDS OF DGGS.

794 University Avenue, Suite 200 Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3645

Bujak Davies Group

State of Alaska

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PALYNOLOGICALA A Y I O 48 O T R P S M L S N L SS F U C O A PE F O THE COLVILLE RIVER AND IVISHAK RIVER AREAS, RM N RH R AA K OTEN LSA INTRODUCTION This report describes the resutts of palynological analyses of nine samples from the Colville River area and 39 samples from the lvishak River area, northern Alaska. The samples were processedby Eric Young at the Bujak DaviesGroup and palynological analysis was performed by Dr, J.P. Bujak and Dr. E.H. Davies to determine the age and depositional environments of the samples. Sample processing involved standard acid maceration in HCI and HF: followed by heavy liquidseparation utilbringzinc bromidesolution at 2.0 SG. Kerogensub-samples were taken for the determination of Thermal Alteration Index (TAl): priorto concentration of the palynomorphs through oxidation and sieving. During the palynological analysis, an unoxldized kerogen slide, a coarse fraction palynolglcal slide (>20microns) and a fine fraction palynologlcai slide (>10 and <20microns)were examined to determine the relative abundances of the in situ palynological assemblages In each sample. The following categories were used to record the relative abundances of species: present: rare: common: abundant: one specimen 2 to 4 specimens 5 to 19 specimens more than 20 specimens

Palynological age assignments of the examined samples mainly utilize the occurrences of index species of marine dinoflagellates; brackish and freshwater algae includingsome dinoflagellates: the spores and pollen of terrestrial plants; and fungal spores. The integrated Mesozoic-Cenozoic palynological zonation used for the biostratigraphlc subdivision and age determinations in the examined samples has not been published but is shown in Figure 1. The zonation primarily utilizes unpublisheddata from previously examined surface and subsurface sections from North Alaska, plus data

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from adjacent regions including the Bering Sea and the Beaufort-Mackende area. The age assignments of these zones are basedon the establishedstratigraphic ranges of speciesfrom well-documentedsurface sections inregionsextendingfrom theJapanese area to northwest Europe. The unpublished Cenzoic zonation for North Alaska i calibrated against zonations s which have beenpublishedor are in pressfor the BeringSea (Matsuoka & Bujak, 19881, the Japanese area (Matsuoka, 1983; Matsuoka et al., 19871, and the Beaufort Sea (Bujak & Matsuoka, in press). These in turn are calibrated against the published Bering Sea diatom-silicoflagellateand radiolarian zonations; the Japanese planktonic foraminiferal and nannofossii zonations: and dinoflagellate zonations previously established for the North Atlantic (Costa & Downie, 1979))Norwegian Sea (Manum, 19761, northwest Europe (listed in Williams & Bujak, 1985), offshore eastern Canada wlliams & Bujak, 19771, and the Bay of Biscay (Harland, 1979). Previous unpublished palynological work utilized from North Alaska includes subsurface localities from the Flaxman Island Area and surface samples from the ANWR. In the nearby Beaufort-Mackende region, a synthesis of existing data by Bujak (1984a) utilized his observations on offshore and onshore sections plus the published work of Doerenkamp et al. (1976), loannides & Mclntyre(1980), and Rouse (1977). Additional data on the age of certain zones were also provided by Piel (1 97 1) based on surface sections from British Columbia. The Mesozoic paiynologicalzonationusedinthe presentstudy i primarilybasedon uns published data from North Slope Alaskan surface and subsurface sections due to the scarcity of published Alaskan information, plus published and unpublished data from the adjacent MacKenzie Delta and other relevant Arctic regions. Published data on the Cretaceous have been synthesized by Bujak (1984a) and includethe following papers: Brldeaux (1976,1977), Brideaux & Fisher (1 976), Brideaux & Mclntyre (1973,19751, Brideaux & Myhr (1976), Brideaux et al. (1975, 1976), Davies (1979, 1983, Doerenkamp et 01. (1976), Felix & Burbridge (1973, 1976), Manum & Cookson (19641, Mclntyre (I 974, 1973, Mclntyre & Brideaux (1980), and Sweet (1978). Publisheddata on the Jurassic are rare and include Brideaux (1977), Brideaux & Fisher (19761, and Davies (1979,19831, plus the unpublished Northern HemisphereOxfordian and younger Miospore Atlas of the Bujak Davies Group which also discusses the Berriasian to Turronian section. Data are also given for each samples on the Thermal Alteration Index UAl) based on the scale documented by Bujak eta/.(1976aI1976b), as shown in figure 2 of this report.

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State of Alaska ,

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Figure 1. MesozoicCenozolc poiynologicalzonation used in the present study, based on published wok and unpublished data of the Bujak Davies Group.

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TAI 1 1+

SPORE COLOUR

Ro% AMORPHOUS EQUIVALENT KEROGEN

HERBACEOUS/ WOODY KEROGEN

Green-yellow Yellow Yellow-orange Orange Orange-brown Brown-orange Ught brown

<0,3% 0.35%
0~45%

Immature Immature Immature Onset of maturity Mature Peak maturlty Peak matority Hlghly mature Hlghty mature Hlghly mature Overmature Overmature Overmature Overmature

Immature Immature Immature Immature immature Onset of maturity Onset of maturity Peak maturity Peak maturity Peak maturity Peak maturity Highly mature Hlghly mature Overmature

22-to 2
2

0.50%

Oh% 0,7%

2 to 2+
2+

0.0%

2+ to 33-

Ught brown-brown 1,0% Brown Medlum brown
1.I%

3-to 3 3 3+
4-

12%

Brown/dark brown 1.5% Dark brown Black Black/corroded

2.0%
2.5%
4.0%

4
i

Figure 2. Thermal Alteratton Index (TAl) scale used in the present study.

Bujak Davies Group

BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC SUMMARY LISTING ONLY THOSE SAMPLES WITH RELIABLE AGE DETERMINATIONS BASED ON PALYNOLOGY
lsabelldlnlum amphlatum Zone (early Maastrlchtlan) marginally marlne

sAbmmwa

Indeterminatezone (possibly Alblan) non-marineto parallc

sAlwumm

State of Alaska ,

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lndetermlnatezone (Early Cretaceous) parallc - marginal marine
Vesperopsis may1 Zone (early Alblan) parallc

sAhmwMw

. -.

3&iwuw2
Indeterminatezone (Cretaceous) marglnally marine

IsabelMlnlum amphldum Zone (early Maastrlchtlan) non-marineto parallc Chatanglella ditIssIma Zone (late Santonlan) lnner to mlddle nerttlc

lndetermlnatezone (probably Jurasslc) paralic to marginally marine Indeterminate (Banemlan to Aptlan) marginal marlne

s w A 8 A m W

lsabelldlnium amphlatum Zone (early Maastrlchtian) non-marine to parallc

lndetermlnatezone (probable Earty Cretaceous) non-marineto paralic

sAwmmux

lndetennlnate zone (Banemlan to Alblan) marglnally marlne

3AMEmwK

indeterminatezone (Jurassic) non-marineto parallc

sAwmm!s

Ollgosphaerldlum aboculum Zone or older (Berrlaslan to Hauterivian) marginal marlne
tentatively Paragonyaulacysta borealls Zone

(8enlaslan) marginally marlne lnner nerltlc

-

Chatangiella ditlssma to C,coronata Zones (Santonlan to Campanian) marginally marine lnner neritic

-

3AMwwEa

possibly Kyllndrocysta sp.C Zone (possible Bathonlan) parallc lnner nerttlc

-

Indeterminate zone (probable Jurasslc) parallc lnner nerttlc

-

sm m E A m m

Wallodnlum elongatum Zone (Bajocian) paralic to marginally marine

s f w A Aw m

indeterminate zone (Aptlan to earty Alblan) parallc to marginally marlne

Bujak Davies Group

State of Alaska

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BlOSTRATlGRAPHlC RESULTS

Ages are assigned according to the concurrent ranges of the marker species, indicated by (+),

Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age)

Allsporites bilateralls (Cornm on) Corollina torosa (?reworked) CyaMidites australis (Rare) Laevigatosporites ovatus (Cornrnon) Lycopodiumsporites austroclavltldites Lycopodiumsporites circolumenus Lycopodlumsporites marginatus Osmundacidites wellmannii (Rare) Stereisporites antiquasporites Taxodiaceaepollenites hiatus

Assemblage Characteristics
miospores uncommon mostly woody kerogen no dinoflagellates observed
Paleoenvlronment:A non-marineto paralic depositional environment is Indicatedby the presence of common terrigenous rniospores and the lack of marine dinoffagellates. Commenk All of the palynomorphs presnt in this sample are long-rangingtaxa, s that o It Is not possibleto determine the age or zonal assignment based on the presentstudy. If the single observed specimen of C. torosa were in place it would Indicate an age no younger than Turonian based on its stratigraphic range in the Alaskan North Slope region.
TAI: 2-

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lsubelidinium amphiaturn Zone (early Maastrichtlan)

Microplankton
lsabelidinium amphiaturn (+)

Mlospores
Acanthotriletes varispinosus Alisporites bilateralis (Rare) Araucariacites australis (Rare) Araucariacites punctatus Cyathidites austra/is(Rare) Cyathldites minor Deltoidospora hallii Manclcorpus senonicum (+) (Rare) Laevigatosporites ovatus (Common) Lycopodiacidites inegularis Lycopodlumsporites austroclavltldltes (Rare) Lycopodiumsporites circolumenus Osrnundacidites wellmannil (Abundant) Sfereisporites antiquasporites (Abundant)

Assemblage Characteristics

dinoflagellates rare mlospores uncommon mostly woody kerogen
Paleoenvironment: A marginally marine depositionalenvironment is indicated by the presence of rare dinoflagellates. Comments:Most speciesare long-rangingand poorly preserved,with only rare marker species being present.
TAI: 2

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State of Alaska .

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Zone indeterminate (possibly Aibian)

Allsporites bilateralis (Rare) Araucariacites australis Araucariacites punctatus Baculatlsporites cornaumensis Cyathidltes australis (Abundant) Cyathidites minor (Common) Deltoidospora diaphana (Comrnon) Dettoidospora hallli (Common) Granulutisporites#EA (+) (Abundant) Laevigatosporites ovatus (Abundant) Leptolepidites bossus (+) Lycopodiacidites irregularis (+) (Common) Lycopodiurnsporites austroclavitldites (Common) Lycopodiurnsporites clrcolumenus (Common) Osmundacidites wellrnannii (Abundant) Perinopollenites elatoldes (Rare) Polypodiidftesfuvus (Rare) Psilatricolpites panlus (+) Stereisporites antiquasporites (Comrnon) Taxodlaceaepolleniteshlatus (Rare)

Assemblage Charactetistics
abundant fern spores abundant woody kerogen

Paleoenvlronmenk A non-marineto paralic depositional environment is indicated by abundant terrigenous miospores and rare dinoflagellates. Commensk Similar assemblages dominated by the species Granulatisporites #€A occur rarely in the Albian of Alberta and northeastern British Columbia.
TAI: 2-to 2

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State of Alaska

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lsabelldinlum amphiatum Zone (early MaasMchtian)

Alisporites bilateralis (Common) Aquilapollenites quadrilobatus (+) (Dominant) Cyathidites australis (Rare) Laevigatosporites ovatus (Rare) 1 ycopodiumsporites circolumenus Osmundacidites wellmannll (Common) Perinopollenites elatoldes Stereisporites antlquasporites (Abundant) Stereisporites clavus (Common) Taxodiaceaepolleniteshlatus (Abundant) Vermcosisporites subrotundus (Abundant)
Assemblage Characteristics

common woody kerogen
Paleoenvironment: A non-marineto paralic depositional environment is indicated by a temgenous high-dominance pollen assemblage and the lack of dinoflagellates. Comments: The high dominance of the angiosperm pollen Aquilapollenites suggests deposition close to the plant source. TAI: 2-

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Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age)

Allsporites bilateralis (Common) Betulaceoipollenites betuloldes (+) (Questionably present) Cerebropollenites #ECoptosporoid (+) Deltoldospora diaphana Laevigatosporites ovatus Taxodiaceaepolleniteshiatus

Assemblage Characteristics
poor preservation two kerogen populations

Paleoenvironment: A non-marine to paralic depositional environment is indicated by the presence of a terrigenous mlospore assemblagewith predominately gymnospermous pollen, and by the lack of dinoflagellates. Comments A highly tentative mid Cretaceous age i indicated by the presence of s Cerebropollenites #ECoptosporoid, but this specimen may be reworked into a Cene zolc section containing the pollen Betulaceoipollenites betuloides, TAI: 2

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State of Alaska

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Zone indeterminate (Indeterminate age) Assemblage Characteristics
mostly woody kerogen

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: No palynomorphs were observed in this sample. TAl: 1+ to 2-

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ChcrtangielladitissimaZone (late Santonian)

Mkroplankton
Atterbidinium minor (+) Chatangielia ditissima (+) Mlospores Acanthotriletes varispinosus Allsporites bilateralis (Common) Araucariacites australis (Rare) Cyathidites australis (Common) Cyathidites minor (Common) Deltoidospora diaphana (Common) Laevigatosporites ovatus (Abundant) Lycopodiacidites irregularis (Rare) Lycopodiumsporites austroclavitldites (Common) Lycopodlumsporites circolumenus (Common) Osmundacidites wellmannii (Abundant) Stereisporites antlquasporites (Common) Taxodiaceaepoiienites hiatus (Common) Vemrcosisporites subrotundus (Rare)

Paleoenvironment: A nearshore inner to middle neritic marine depositional environment i indicated by the presence of rare dinoflagellates and abundant terrestrial s miospores.
TAI: 1+

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Zone Indeterminate (Cretaceous) Mkroplankton
Odontochitina operculata (+)

Allsporites bilateralis (Rare) Cyathidites austalis (Rare) Cyathidites minor Laevigatosporites ovatus Osmundacidites wellmannii (Rare) Stereisporites antiquasporftes Vemrcosisporitessubrotundus

Paleoenvironrnenf:A marginally marine depositional environment is indicated by the presence of a single dinoflagellate specimen.

Comment: All palynomorphs belong to long-rangingspecies, althoughthe dinoflagellate Odontochitina operculata has a stratigraphic range from the Beniasian to Campanian.
TAI: 1+

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State of Alaska

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lsabelMinium amphiaturn Zone (early Maasttfchtian)

Microplankton
Palaeoperidinium pyrophorurn (+)

Mlospores
Alisporites bilateralis Triptojectusmagnus (+) Cyathidites minor Stereisporftes antiquaspon'tes Taxodiaceaepollenites hiatus

Amemblage Characteristics

mostly woody kerogen
Paleoenvironment: A non-marineto paralic depositional environment is indicated by the assemblage of rare terrigenous miospores and dinoflagellates.
TAI: I +

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State of Alaska

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Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Mlospores
Deltoidospora h allil

Assemblage Characteristics
Black woody and coaly material dominant

Paleoenvironment:Indeterminate Comments The single paiynomorph found In the sample is a long-ranging Mesozoic to Cenozoic spore. TAI: 2+

SAkuamw
Zone indeterminate (Jurassic to Cretaceous)

AIIsporites bilateralis

Assemblage Characteristics
abundant black coaly material poor preservation

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: The rare in situ palynomorph is highly corroded. The assemblage is contaminated with rare modem pollen. TAI: 2+

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Zone Indeterminate (indeterminate age) Miospores
Lycopodiumsporites annotlnioides

Assemblage Characteristics
abundant black coaly material

Paleoenvironmenk indeterminate Comments: The highly corroded and thermally altered kerogen i contaminated with s rare modem spores.
TAI: 2+ to 3-

Zone indeterminate (probable Earty Cretaceous) Mlospores
Cedripites canadensis (Questionsbly present) Perinopollenites elatoldes

Assemblage Characteristics
abundant black coaly material thermally corroded

Paleoenvironmenk A non-marineto paralic depositional environment is indicated by the presence of rare terrQenous gymnospermous pollen and the absence of dinoflagellates. Comments: The palynomorphs ore highly theholly altered making, identifications difflcutt.

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Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age)

Laevigatosporites ovatus Lycopodiumsporites annotinioides (Common)

Assemblage Characterfstics
abundant black coaly material

Paleoenvlronment:indeterminate Comments: The dark thermally altered in situ assemblage Is contaminated by common modern spores TAI: 3

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Zone indeterminate (Barremian to Albian) Microplankton
Achomosphaera sp. indet. (Rare) Astrocysta cretacea (+) (Rare) Cleistosphaeridiumsp, indet. (Common) Cribroperidinium spaindet Kleithriasphaeridium loffrense (+) Muderongia simplex simplex (+) (Questionsbly present) Pterodinium aliferum (+) (Questlonobly present) Spiniferites ramosus ramosus

.

Alisporites grandis Araucariacites australis Cedripites canadensis (+) (Rare) Laevigatosporites ovatus Podocarpidites granulosus

Assemblage Characteristics black coaly material (Abundant) Paleoenvlronment: A marginally marine depositional environment is indicated by an assemblage of dinoflagellates with low diversity and low abundances. Comments The assemblage mostty contains long-ranging Early Cretaceous species.

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State of Alaska

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TAl: 2

Zone indeterminate (Jurassic) Mlospores
Acan thotriletes varispinosus Corollina sp. indet. (+) (Abundant)

Assemblage Characteristics

black coaly material (Dominant) thermally corroded
Paleoenvironment: A non-marineto paralic depositional environment i indicated by s the high-dominance gymnospermous assemblage and the absence of dinoflagellates. Comments: Palynomorphs In this sample have high thermal alteration and are very difficult to identify. Assemblages dominated by Corolllna are generally Jurassic but they may rarely found in Early Cretaceous in the Alaskan North Slope region. TAl: 3+

BuJakDavies Group

Zone indeterminate (Jurassic to Earty Cretaceous)

Cerebropollenites mesozoicus (Questionably present) Corollina sp, indet.

Assemblage Characteristics

black coaly material (Dominant) poor preservation !thermally corroded

Paleoenvironmenk A non-marineto paralic depositional environment is indicated by the terrigenous assemblage of rare gymnospermous pollen and the absence of dinoflagellates.
Comments: Only rare thermally altered miospores which are highly corroded are present.

TAI: 4-

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Wallodlnium eiongufum Zone (Bajocian)

Mkroplankton
Escharisphaeridiasp. indet. (+) (Rare) Nannoceratopsis senex (+) (Questionably present) Pan/ocystacracens (+) (Common)

Alisporites thornasii (+) Corollina sp. indet. (Rare) Deltoidosporahallil Podocarpldites epistriatus

Assemblage Characteristics
black cwly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvlronment: A paralic to marginally marine depositional environment is indicated by the presence of a hlgh-dominancedinoflagellate assemblage. Comments: The few palynomorphs are thermally corroded but still easily identifiable such a the zonal marker species Parvocysta cracens. s TAI: 3

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,

Zone lndeterminate (indeterminate age) Miospores
Spore indet.

Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: The rare palynomorphs are too thermally altered to be identified.
TAI: 4-

Zone lndeterminate (Indeterminateage) Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant) fungal hyphae and spores (Common)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments Only thermally altered black coaty material is considered to be in place. The common fungal hyphae and spores in the sample probably represent a weathered soil zone.
TAI: 3

Bujak Davles Group

State o Alaska f

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Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Assemblage Characteristics

black coaly material (Dominant)
Paleoenvironmenk indeterminate TAI: 4-

Zone indeterrninate (indeterrninate age) Microplankton Meiourogonyaulax sp, indet, (+) (Questtonably present) Assemblage Characterisks

abundant black coaly material
Paleoenvironmenk indeterminate Comments: If the highty corroded specimen of Meiourogonyaulax is identified correctly then a Middle to Late Jurassic age and a marine depositional environment is indicated.

Bujak Davles Group

State of Alaska . . . . 2 4

.

Zone Indeterminate (indeterminate age) Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate TAI: 4-

Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age)

Coronatispora valdensis (Questionabty present)

Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Abundant) woody kerogen (common)

Paleoenvironment: A probable high-energy, non-marine to paraiic depositional
environment is indicated by the presence of common woody kerogen and the absence of other pafynomorphs.

Comments: If Coronatispora valdensis s correctly identified then a Middle Jurassic to i
Early Cretaceous age is indicated. TAI: 3-

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State of Alaska

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Zone indeterminate (Early Cretaceous) Mkroplankton
Cleistosphaeridiumsp. indet.

Mlospores
Alisporites bilateralis Araucariacites australis Deltoidospora h allii Vltreisporitespallldus

Assemblage Characterisiics

black coaly material (Dominant)
Paleoenvironment: A paratic - marginal marine depositional environment is indicated by the dinoflagellate assemblage which has low diversity and l w abuno dances. Comments: The few fossils present are mostly long-rangingJurassic to Cretaceous species. TAI: 2+

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State of Alaska .

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Vesperopsis mayiZone (early Albian)
Mkroplankton

Astrocysta cretacea (+) (Rare) Cyclonepheiiurn distincturn (Rare) KIeithriasphaeridiurn loffrense (+) Subtillsphaerapirnaensis (kalyptra) (+) (Rare) Vesperopsis mayii (+) (Abundant)

Alisporites grandis (Rare) Cedflpites canadensls (+) (Common) Deltoidospora hallii Stereispontes antiquasporites Taxodiaceaepolleniteshiatus (Rare) Vitreisporites pailidus (Rare)
Assemblage Characteristics

black coaly material (Abundant)
Paleoenvironment: A paralic depositional environment with brackish water is indicated by the presence of the opportunistic species Vesperopsis rnayi. TAI: 3-

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State of Alaska

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Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: No palynomorphs were observed In the thermally corroded kerogen.
TAI: 3.c

Zone Indeterminate (indetermlnate age) Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (abundant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Commenk: The oxidized and poorty preserved kerogen suggests that the sample Is weathered rock.
TAI: 3

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Zone indeterminate (probably Jurassic) Mkroplankton Pareodinia ceratophora (+)

Alispon'tes bilateralis (Rare) Corollinasp. indet. (+) (Common) Assemblage Characteristics

black coaly material (Abundant) poor preservation thermally corroded
Paleoenvironment: A parailc to marginally marine depositional environment Is suggested by the single, poorly preserved specimen of Pareodinia ceratophora.
TAI: 3+

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State of Alaska

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Zone Indeterminate (Indeterminate age)

Osmundacidltes wellmannii Selaginellaites perinatus

Assemblage Characteristics

black coaly material (Abundant) woody and root fragments (Abundant) oxidized kerogen
Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: The highly oxldked kerogen i contaminated with woody and root frags mentsas well as modem algae and miospores,suggests that most palynomorphs inthis sample represent a weathering or soil zone. The in situ assemblage has very poor preservation s that the patynomorphs are difflcutt to identify. o TAI: 3-

Bujak Davles Group

State of Alaska

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Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment:indeterminate Comments: The kerogen I oxidized and possibly represents a weathered rock. s
TAI: 3-

Zone indeterminate (Late Jurassk to Early Cretaceous) Mlospores
Cedripites canadensis

Assemblage Characterlsks
black coaly material (Dominant) woody kerogen (Abundant)

Paleoenvironment: Non-marine to Paralic Comments The assemblage contains only rare long-ranging Late Jurassic to Eariy Cretaceous gymnospermous pollen.
TAI: 2

Bujak Davles Group

State of Akska

. . . . ,31

Zone indeterminate (Indeterminate age) Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comment: No palynomorphs were observed in thls sample.
TAI: 3+

Bujak Davies Group

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Zone Indeterminate (Barremlan to Aptlan)
Mkroplankton Sverdrupieila sp. indet. (reworked Triassic) Apteodinium sp, indet. CIeistosphaeridium huguoniotil (+) Cyclonephelium brevisplnurn (+) Gardodinium eisenackil (+) Odontochitina operculata (+) Oligosphaeridium complex (+) Splniferites ramosus ramosus

Hymenoxonosporites iepidophytus (Common) Kraeuselisporitessp. lndet. (Reworked Triassic) Taenaesporites sp. indet. Aiisporites thomasii Cedrlpites canadensis (Common) Deltoidospora diaphana (Common) Granuiatisporites#EA (+)

Paleoenvironment: A marginal marine depositional environment Is indicated by the dinoflagellate assemblage which has low diversity and low abundances.
Comments: High amounts of reworked Triassic and Paleozoic palynomorphs occur in this sample.

Bujak Davies Group

State of Alaska

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Ol~ospho8rldIum abaculum Zone or older (Beniasian to Hauterivian)

Microplankton
Apteodiniurn sp. indet. (+) Gongiyodiniumsp. indet. (Questionably present) Oiigosphaeridlumasterigerum (+) Sinniodiniurn grossii (+)

Taenaesporitessp. indet. (Reworked Triassic) Alnipollenites verus (Cavings) Cedripites #EH (+) (Rare) Cedripites canadensis Deltoidospora hailii (Rare) Stereisporites antiquasporftes

Paleoenvironment: A marginal marine depositional environment is indicated by the dinoflagellate assemblage which has low dlverslty and low abundances,
TAI: 2

Bujak Davies Group

State of Alaska

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tentatively Paragonyaulacysta borealls Zone (Berrlaslan) Mkroplankton
Ollgosphaeridium asterigerum (+) Paragonyaulacysta borealis (+)

Hymenozonosporites lepidophytus (Common- reworked Devonian) Abiespollenites s indet p Allsporites grandis (Rare) Calllalasporites dampleri (+) Cedn'pitescanadensls (Rare) Cycadopites nitldus (Rare) DistaMangulisporites sp. indet Osmundacidites wellmannil Stereisporites antlquasporites Taurocusporitesreduncus (Rare)

.

.

.

Miscellaneous Palynomorphs
Tasmanitessp. indet. (Rare)

Paleoenvironment: A marginally marine - inner neritic depositional environment is indicated by the rare dinoflagellates. Comments: Devonian reworking Is common.
TAI: 2

Bujak Davles Group

State o Alaska f

. ....35

Zone indeterminate (Indeterminate age)

Hymenozonosporltes lepldophytus (reworked Devonian)

Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: No in situ palynomorphs are presnet. Only oxidized kerogen with r e worked Devonian spores were observed. TAI: possibly 4-

Zone indeterminate (Indeterminate age)

Lycopodiumsporites annotlnloldes (Rare)

Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Abundant) wood and root fragments (Dominant) fungal hyphae and spores (Rare)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: The presence of wood and root fragments with fungal hyphae and spores suggests that this sample represents a weathered or soil zone. TAI: possibly 3-

Bujak Davies Group

State o Alaska. f

. . . .36

Chatangielia dltisslmato Chatanglella coronatcr Zones (Santonlan to Companion)

Mlcroplankton
Achomosphaera sp. indet, Chatangiella coronata (+) (Common) Chatangiella sverdrupiana (+) Cribroperidinium sp. lndet. (Reworking) Cyclonephellum distlnctum Geiselodlnlum sp. (Rare) lsabelidlnium beifastense (+) (Rare) Ollgosphaerldlum complex Tubotuberellarhomblfonnis (Reworking)

Aflsporites bilateralis Aquilapollenites quadrilobatus (+) Osmundacldites wellmannii
Assemblage Characteristks

black coaly material (Abundant)

Paleoenvironment: A marginally marine - Inner neritic depostional environment with high energy. Comments: Dinoflagellate specimens are highly weathered.
TAI: 2

Bujak Davles Group

State of Alaska.

. ...37

possible Kyllndrocysta sp.C Zone (possible Bathonlan) Mkroplankton

Kylindracysta sp. indet. (Questionably present)
Mlospores

Allsporites bilateralis Corollina sp. indet, (Rare) Deltoldospora hallll
Assemblage Characterfstics

black coaly material (Common)
Paleoenvironment: A paraiic to inner neritic depositional environment is suggested if the identification of the dinoflagellate Kyllndracysta sp. is correct. Comments: Positive ldentiflcations are inhibited by the high thermal alteration, oxldized kerogen, and poor preservation. TAI: 3+

Bujak Davles Group

State of Alaska

.. . . -38

Zone Indeterminate (probable Jurassic) Microplankton Sentusidinium sp. indet. (+) (Questionably present) Miospores Allsporites thomasil Corollina sp, indet. (Rare) Distattriangulisporites sp. indet. (Questionably present)

Asemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)
Paleoenvironment: A paralic to Inner neritic depositional environment is indicated by the presence of rare dinoflagellates.

Comments: Positive identlfications are inhibited by the high thermal alteration and
poor preservation.
TAI: 3+

Bulak Oavles Group

State of Alaska

. . . , ,39

Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Assemblage Characterlstlcs
black coaly material (Abundant) woody kerogen (Common)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comment: No palynomorphs were observed in this sample. TAI: 3-

Zone indeterminate (Indeterminate age) Mlospores

Lycopodiumsporitesannoffnloides (Rare, probable modern contaminants)
Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments:No in situ palynomorphswere observed Inthls sample: The modem spores have a TAI of 1 and are considered to be contaminants, and the in sltu kerogen i s thermally corroded.
TAI: 3-

Bujak Davies Group

State of Alaska ,

. . , .40

Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Assemblage Characterlstlcs
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: No palynomorphs were observed in this sample. TAi: 4-

Zone indeterminate (indeterminate age) Miospores

Plceae/Pinuspollenites sp. indet. (Common, probable modem contaminants)
Assembiage Characteristics
black coaly material (Abundant, probable in siiu kerogen) fungal hyphae and spores !Dominant, probable modern soil contaminants)

Paleoenvironment: indeterminate Comments: The fungal hyphae and modern spores suggest that the sample i part s of the soil or weathering zone. TAI: 4

Bujak Davles Group

State of Alaska

. . . . . 41

Zone indeterminate (Jurassic Early Cretaceous)

-

Miospores
Alfsporites bilateralis

Assemblage Characteristics
black coaly material (Dominant)

Paleoenvironment: A non-marine to parallc depositional environment i indicated by s the presence of rare tenigenous gymnospennous pollen and the absence of dinoflagellates. Comments: The few palynomorphs observed are highly thermally corroded.
TAI: 3

Bujak Davles Group

State o Alaska. . f

.. .42

Zone indeterminate (Aptian to early Alblan)

Chlchaouadinium sp. indet, (+) Odontochitina operculata (+) Miospores Ablespollenites sp. indet Allsporites bilateralis (Abundant) Cedn'pitescanadensis (Common) Laevigatosporites ovatus (Rare) Lycopodiumsporites circolumenus Osrnundacidites wellrnannii (Rare) Perinopollenites elatoides (Rare) Platysaccus megasaccus (Rare) Podocarpidites epistriatus (Rare) Paleoenvironment:A paralic to marginally marine depositional environment i s indicated by the presence of rare dinoflagellates and abundant bisaccate gymnospermous pollen. Comments: T i assemblage Is characterlsed by good palynomorph recovery, but hs with very few marker species.

.

BuJakDavles Group

State of Alaska , , , 4 3

..

REFERENCES BANERJEE, I., & DAVIES, E.H. 1988 An integrated lithostratigraphlc and palynostratigraphic study of the Ostra code zone and adjacent strata in the Edmonton Embayment, Central Alberta. IN: James, D.P, and Leckle, D.A. (Eds.), Sequences, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology: Surface and Subsurfuce. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 15, pp. 261-274. BRIDEAUX, W.W. 1976 Berrlasian dinoflagellate assemblage, Marin Creek, northwestern District of MacKende. Geologlcal Survey of Canada Paper 76-1C. pp. 1 15-130.

1977 Taxonomy of Upper Jurassic-LowerCretaceous microplankton from the Richardson Mountains, District of Mackenzie, Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 281.
BRIDEAUX, W.W. & FISHER, M.J. 1976 Upper Jurassic - Lower Cretaceous dinoflagellate assemblages from arctic Canada. Geoloigical Survey of Canada Bulletin 259, BRIDEAUX, W.W. & MCINNRE. D.J. 1973 Lunatadinium dlssolutum gen. et sp, nov., a dinoflagellate cyst from Lower Cretaceous rocks, Yukon Tenttory and northern Dlstrict of MacKenzie. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, vol. 2 1, pp. 395-402.

1975 Miospores and microplankton from Aptian - Albian rocks along Horton River, District of MacKende. Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 252.
BRIDEAUX, W.W. & MYHR, D.W. 1976 Uthostratigraphy and dinoflagellate succession in the Gulf Mobll Parsons N- 10 well, District of MacKenzle. GeologicalSurvey of Canada Paper 76-1B, pp. 235249. BRIDEAUX, W.W. ET AL 1975 Biostratigraphlc determinations from the surface of the Districts of Franklin and Mackenzieand the Yukon Territory. GeologlcalSurvey of Canada, Paper 74-39, pp.1-19.

1976 Biostratigraphic determinations from the surface of the Districts of Franklin and Mackenzieand the Yukon Territory. GeologlcalSurvey of Canada, Paper 75-10, pp.1-18.

Bujak Davies Group

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. , . . .44

BUJAK, J.P. 1984aBeaufort - MacKenzie Palynological Atlas. Unpublished report of the Bujak Davies Group, September 1984. BUJAK, J.P., BARSS, M.S. &WILLIAMS, G.L 1976aOfshoreeastern Canada Part 1. Offshore east Canad's organic type and color and hydrocarbon potential. Oil and Gas Journal,vol. 75 (14), pp. 198-202.

1976bOfshoreeastern Canada Part 1. Offshore east Canad's organic type and color and hydrocarbon potential. Oil and Gas Journal, vol. 75 (15), pp. 96100.
COSTA, L. & DOWNIE, C. 1979 Cenozoic dinocyst stratigraphy of Sites 4 3 and 406 (Rockall Plateau), IPOD, Leg 0 48. IN: Montadert, L., Roberts, D,G., et al. (eds.): Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, vol. 48, pp. 513-529: Washlngton D.C. (US, Government Printing Offlce.) DAVIES, E.H. 1979 Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous dinoflagellate cysts of the Sverdrup Basin. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Unlverlsty of Toronto, pp. 1-591.

1983 The dinoflagellateOppel-zonatton of the Jurassic-LowerCretaceous sequence in the Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 359, pp. 1-59.
DIXON, J., McNEIL, D.H., DIETRICH, J.R., BUJAK, J.P. & DAVIES, E.H. 1984 Geology and biostratlgraphy of the Dome Gulf et at. Hunt Kopanoar M-13 well, Beaufort Sea. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 82-13,28 pp. DOERENKAMP, A., JARDINE, S. & MOREAU, P. 1976 Cretaceous and Tertiary palynomorph assemblages from Banks Island and adjacent areas (N.W.T.). Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, vol. 24, pp.372-417. FELIX, C.J. & BURBRIDGE, P.P. 1973 A Maestrichtianage microflorafromArctlc Canada. GeoscienceandMan,vol. 7, pp. 1-29.

1976 Age of microplanktonstudied by ~ a n u m Cookson from Graham and Elef and Ringnes Islands. Geoxience and Man, vol. 15, pp. 83-86.

Bujak Davles Group

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. . . . .45

HARLAND, R. 1979 Dinoflagellateblostratigraphy of Neogene and Quaternary sediments at holes 400/400A in the Bay of Blscay (Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 48). Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, vol, 48, pp. 531-545, Washington D.C. (US, Government Printing Office.) IOANNIDES, N.W. & MclNTYRE, D.J. 1980 A preliminary palynologicalstudy of the Caribou Hills outcrop section alongthe Mackenzie River, District of Mackenzie. Current Research, Part A, Geological Survey of Canada Paper 80-l A, pp. 197-208. MANUM, S.B. 1976 Dinocysts in Tertiary Norwegian-Greenland Sea sediments (Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg3 1 with observationson palynomorphsand paiynodebris Inrelatlon 8, to environment. IN: Tahani, M., Udintsev, G., et al. (eds.); Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, vol. 38 pp. 897-919; Washington, D.C. (U.S. Government Prlntlng Offlce). MANUM, S.B. & COOKSON, I.C. 1964 Cretaceous microplanktonin a sample from Graham Island, Arctic Canada, collected during the second 'Fram'-Expeditlon (1898-1902). With notes on microplanktonfrom the Hassel Formation,Ellef Ringnes Island. Schrifer utgMav Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi i Olso. Mat-Natuw. Klasse, Ny Series 17, pp. 1-

1985 Distributionof the dinoflagellatecyst Insurface sediments of the Tsushima Warm Current. Daiyonlk-kenkyu (Quaternary Research), vol. 24, pp. 1- 12.
MATSUOKA, K. 1983 Late Cenozoic dinoflagellates and acritarchs in the NIlgata District, Central Japan. Palaeontographlcs, vol. 1878, pp. 89-154, MATSUOKA, K., BUJAK, J.P. & SHIMAKURA, T. I" press LateCenozoic dinoflagellatecyst biostrutigraphyinthe Niigatoand Akla areas, Japan. Micropaleontology. MCINTYRE, D.J. 1974 Palynologyof an Upper Cretaceoussection, HortonRiver, Distrlctof MacKentie, N.W.T., Canada. Geoscience and Man, vol. I 1, pp. 61-76.

1975 Morphological changes in Deffandrea from a Companion section, District of Mackenzie, N.W.T.. Canada. Geoscience and Man. vol. 11, pp. 61-76.

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1985 Geology, biostratlgraphy and organic geochemistv of Jurassic to Pleistocene strata, Beaufort-Mackenziearea, northwest Canada. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Course notes, November 1985, pp. 39-50. MclNNRE, D.J. & BRIDEAUX, W.W. 1980 Valanginian miospore and microplankton assemblages from the northern Richardson Mountains, District of Mackenzie, Canada. Geological Survey of Canada. Bulletin 320. NORRIS, G. 1986 Systematic and stratigraphic palynology of Eocene to Pliocene strata in Imperial Nuktak C-22well, Mackenzie Delta region, Districtof Mackenzie, N.W.T. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin.

PIEL, K.M. 1971 Patynology of Oligocene sediments from central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Botany, vol. 49, pp. 1885-1920.
ROUSE, G.E. 1977 Paleogene palynomorph ranges in Western and Northern Canada. In: W.C. Elsik, (ed.); Contributions of Stratigraphic Palynology, vol. 1, Cenozoic Palynology.American of Association of Stratitraphic Palynologists,Contribution Series no, 5A, pp, 48-65, STAPLIN, F.L 1976 Tertiary biostratigraphy, MackenzieDelta region,Canada. Bulletinof Canadian Petroleum Geology, vol. 24, pp. 1 17- 136. SWEET, A.R. 1978 Palynology of the lower part,type section, Tent IslandFormation,YukonTerritory. Geological Survey of Canada Paper 78-18, pp. 31-37. WILLIAMS, G.L. & BUJAK, J.P. 1977 Cenozoic palynostratigraphy of offshore eastern Canada. American Association of Stratigraphic Patynologists, Contribution Series, no. 5A, pp. 14-47. 1980 Palynologicalstratigraphy of D D Site 4 16A. In:Lancelot,Y., Winterer, E.L, et al., SP InitialReportsof the Deep Sea DrillingProject,vol. 50, pp. 467-495,(United States Government Prlnting Office). 1985 Mesozoic and Cenozoic dinoflagellates. In: Plankton Stratigraphy; Bolli, H.M., Saunders, J.B. and Perch-Nielsen,K. (eds,). Cambridge UniversityPress, pp. 8 4 6 964.