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Overview of the Late Cretaceous, early Paleocene, and early Eocene megafloras of the Denver Basin, Colorado

2003; University of Wyoming; Volume: 38; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2113/gsrocky.38.1.101

1555-7340

Kirk R. Johnson, Michele L. Reynolds, Kevin W. Werth, Joseph R. Thomasson,

Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

Research Article| January 01, 2003 Overview of the Late Cretaceous, early Paleocene, and early Eocene megafloras of the Denver Basin, Colorado Kirk R. Johnson; Kirk R. Johnson * 1Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, U.S.A. *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: Kjohnson@dmns.org. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michele L. Reynolds; Michele L. Reynolds 1Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kevin W. Werth; Kevin W. Werth 1Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joseph R. Thomasson Joseph R. Thomasson 2Department of Biological Sciences, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS 67601, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Rocky Mountain Geology (2003) 38 (1): 101–120. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsrocky.38.1.101 Article history received: 22 Jan 2003 rev-recd: 31 Jan 2003 accepted: 13 Feb 2003 first online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Kirk R. Johnson, Michele L. Reynolds, Kevin W. Werth, Joseph R. Thomasson; Overview of the Late Cretaceous, early Paleocene, and early Eocene megafloras of the Denver Basin, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Geology 2003;; 38 (1): 101–120. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsrocky.38.1.101 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentBy SocietyRocky Mountain Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract Late Cretaceous and Paleogene plant fossils collected at 149 localities in the Denver Basin, Colorado, are placed into a stratigraphic framework based on palynostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, vertebrate paleontology, geochronology, sequence stratigraphy, electric well logs, and two cored wells. Between 69 and 54 Ma, the Denver Basin accumulated sedimentary rocks that recorded the withdrawal of a seaway, the uplift of a mountain range, and evidence of the Cretaceous-Tertiary and Paleocene-Eocene boundary events. Fossil floras deposited in the Denver Basin record these events as variations of floral composition, species diversity, and leaf margin and size (used to estimate mean annual temperature and precipitation, respectively). Attention to these details and to the position of the floras relative to the basin margins and sedimentary facies allows for the recognition of six megafloral associations (K-L, K-D1, P-D1-West, P-D1-Central, P-D1-East, and E-D2). Preliminary comparison of these assemblages documents: floral change at the K-T boundary; a strong paleoenvironmental gradient probably associated with increased topographic relief along the basin margin in the early Paleocene; and a warmer, drier Eocene vegetation. You do not currently have access to this article.