Distribution of pollen and spores in a subsurface marine Wilcox (Paleocene‐Eocene) section in southwest Louisiana

Abstract

Abstract Fifty conventional core samples from the Ragley Lumber #D1 well located in Allen Parish, Louisiana (Sec 29, T5S, R7W) were analysed for terrigenous palynomorphs. The sediment was deposited during the Sabinian in a marine environment as evidenced by the presence of in situ dinocysts and acritarchs in every sample. One hundred twenty‐nine terrigenous taxa are recognized as compared with marine palynomorph diversity of 46 taxa. Single sample diversity among the terrigenous palynomorph component ranged from 23 to 65 taxa, while single sample marine palynomorph diversity ranged from 7 to 25 taxa. High terrigenous diversity intervals possibly indicate sourcing from multiple onshore environments or a single onshore environment with a very diverse flora. Because the terrigenous component is reworked from the onshore environments to the offshore ones, intervals of terrigenous abundance possibly indicate deltaic progradation associated with changes in sediment supply or sea‐level. Confirmation of this inte...