Stratigraphic distribution of significant Eocene palynomorphs of the Mississippi embayment

Abstract

The stratigraphic occurrences are given for about 45 of the more significant plant microfossil types from some well-documented reference localities in the Mississippi embayment area of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. Rocks of the Wilcox, Claiborne, and Jackson Groups of Eocene age can be differentiated on the basis of their plant microfossil content. The palynological change between the Wilcox and Claiborne Groups is easily recognized by the abrupt termination of several species and by the first occurrences of other species. The palynological change from the Claiborne Group to the Jackson Group is not as abrupt as that from the Wilcox Group to the Claiborne Group. A Claiborne-Jackson pollen transition zone, corresponding somewhat to the lithological transition zone, is recognized in the upper part of the Cockfield Formation of the Claiborne Group.