Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

5-28-1965

Abstract

Each formation of the Mississippian System in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico yields conodonts. Six distinctive conodont assemblages are recognized. The lowest assemblage coincides with the Caballero Formation (Kinderhook). Three distinct assemblages occur in the Lake Valley Formation (Osage). The Rancheria Formation (Meramec) and the Helms Formation (Meramec and Chester) also yield distinctive faunas. The assemblages correlate locally, regionally, and interregionally. The limestones and interbedded shales of the entire stratigraphic sequence were sampled continuously. The shale sequences were barren. The limestones yielded large, diversified, indigenous faunas. The lower part of the Lake Valley Formation contains Kinderhook and Osage species admixed. The Rancheria Formation yields specimens with broken edges which are polished and rounded, indicating reworking. The total fauna consists of 120 identified species that represent 32 genera. Seven new species are described but not named, and a single specimen appears to be a new genus. The genera represented are: Angulodus, Apatognathus, Bactrognathus, Bryantodus, Cavusgnathus, Doliognathus, Elictognathus, Euprioniodina, Gnathodus, Hindeodella, Hindeodus, Lambdagnathus, Ligonodina, Lonchodina, Magnilaterella, Metalonchodina, Neoprioniodus, Nothognathella?, Oneotodus?, Ozarkodina, Pelekygnathus, Polygnathus, Prioniodina, Pseudopolygnathus, Roundya, Scaliognathus, Siphonodella, Spathognathodus, Staurognathus, Synprioniodina, Trichonodella. The fauna is Mississippian in character and distinctive from Devonian and Pennsylvanian faunas. Faunas similar to those in the Sacramento Mountains have been reported in Texas, the Mississippi Valley, and Iowa. The fauna of the Caballero Formation is similar to faunas from the upper part of the Houy and lower part of the Chappel Formations in Texas, and the upper part of the Chouteau Formation in the Mississippi Valley. Assemblages from the Lake Valley Formation agree with faunas from the Chappel Formation in Texas and the Sedalia, Fern Glen, and Burlington Formations in the Mississippi Valley. Conodonts from the Rancheria and Helms Formations correlate with faunas representing the St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Aux Vases, and Renault Formations in the Mississippi Valley, and with the fauna from the Pella Formation in Iowa. Two of the bioherms in the Lake Valley Formation yield conodonts. The bioherms are correlated locally on the basis of their conodont faunas.

Degree Name

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Roger Yates Anderson

Second Committee Member

Stuart Alvord Northrop

Third Committee Member

Illegible

Fourth Committee Member

Vincent Cooper Kelley

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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