Coal-ball floras of Maritime Canada and palynology of the Foord seam: geologic, paleobotanical and paleoecological implications

Abstract

Coal balls in the Canadian Carboniferous System are known from the Clifton Formation (late Bolsovian) of New Brunswick and from the Foord seam (Stellarton Formation, late Bolsovian) of the Stellarton Basin of Nova Scotia. Coal balls from these two units are dominated by arborescent lycopods but ferns, seed ferns, calamiteans, and cordaiteans also occur. Baxter's list (Baxter, 1960) of coal-ball plants from New Brunswick is updated and these fossil plants are illustrated here for the first time on the basis of an examination of his peels. The palynomorphs and coal-ball plants of the Foord seam of the Stellarton Basin are illustrated and their paleoecology is discussed. Five genera of arborescent lycopods were present in the Foord swamp: Diaphorodendron, Paralycopodites, Lepidophloios, Sigillaria and Lepidodendron. The first three genera are represented in coal balls; the second two are also represented as compressions in the Foord seam; and all genera are represented in the spore assemblages from the Foord seam. The palynostratigraphy indicates that Sigillaria and Diaphorodendron were almost exclusively confined to the upper bench, whereas the other three genera were probably present in the Foord mire throughout its entire history. Palynomorphic changes in the Foord mire probably reflect gradual changes in wet and dry conditions.