Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1974 Stratigraphic Distribution of the Ostracoda of the Conanche (Cretaceous) Series of North Texas. Walter Paul Kessinger Jr Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Kessinger, Walter Paul Jr, "Stratigraphic Distribution of the Ostracoda of the Conanche (Cretaceous) Series of North Texas." (1974). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2613. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2613 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 74-24,782 KESSINGER, Walter Paul, Jr., 1930- STRATIGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE OSTRACODA OF THE COMANCHE (CRETACEOUS) SERIES OF NORTH TEXAS. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ph.D., 1974 Paleontology University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. STRATIGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE OSTRACODA OF THE COMANCHE (CRETACEOUS) SERIES OF NORTH TEXAS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Geology by Walter Paul Kessinger, Jr. B.S., Texas Technological College, 1951 M.S., Texas Technological College, 1953 May, 19lh ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author is especially indebted to Dr. W. A. van den Bold and Dr. Bob F. Perkins of the Department of Geology, Louisiana State Univer­ sity, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They accompanied the writer in the field during the preliminary stage of the field work, critically reviewed the dissertation, and assisted with many other phases of the work too numerous to itemize. Additionally, Dr. Perkins gave valuable suggestions on stratigraphic problems and Dr. van den Bold was most helpful with the nomenclature of the ostracodes. The writer also thanks Dr. H. V. Andersen, Dr. H. J. Bennet, and Dr. D. H. Kupfer, who critically read parts of the text and made many valuable suggestions on special problems encountered during this study. For his assistance, encouragement, and special insight on many unpublished aspects of the Ostracoda, the author acknowledges the many contributions made by the late Dr. H. V. Howe. For the opportunity to examine the holotypes of the many species of ostracodes involved in this study, the author expresses his appre­ ciation to Dr. C. J. Durden of the Texas Memorial Museum, Austin, Texas, Dr. R. H. Benson and Mr. F. J. Collier of the U. S. National Museum of Natural History, and Mr. A. M. Phillips of Louisiana State University. Dr. J. E. Hazel's comments on Opimoaythere were also very helpful. To Robert W. Pierce and Thomas Naymik, the author is grateful for their work in obtaining the scanning electron microscope photographs used to illustrate the specimens in the current study. To his brother-in-law, Mr. Hugh C. Wallis, the writer expresses his appreciation for the preparation of the negatives of the final plates used to illustrate these specimens. To his wife, Dorothy, the writer is especially appreciative for her encouragement and sacrifices during all phases of this study. Her willingness to assume most all the household duties, and ignore others, allowed the author to devote his full-time to research and writing. Additional thanks are also due his children, Walter, Charles, and Linda, for understanding why this study has taken precedence over their wishes so frequently. The field work was, in part, financed by a grant from The Geological Society of America (Project no. 1238-69)- iii TABLE OF CONTENTS FIGURES vi PLATES vii ABSTRACT viii INTRODUCTION 1 PREVIOUS COMANCHE SERIES OSTRACODA STUDIES 1 LOCATION AND GEOLOGIC SETTING 2 METHOD OF INVESTIGATION 3 STRATIGRAPHY 6 INTRODUCTION 6 GENERAL STRATIGRAPHY 8 FREDERICKSBURG GROUP 11 WALNUT MARL 11 GOODLAND FORMATION 12 Marys Creek Marl Member 13 Benbrook Limestone Member lU WASHITA GROUP lU KIAMI CHI FORMATION 15 DUCK CREEK FORMATION 16 FORT WORTH LIMESTONE 18 DENISON FORMATION 19 DENTON FORMATION 20 WENO FORMATION 21 PAWPAW SHALE 23 iv MAIN STREET LIMESTONE 2k GRAYSON MARL 25 BUDA LIMESTONE 27 BIOSTRATIGRAPHY 29 INTRODUCTION 29 BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC ZONATION 30 CONCLUSIONS 1+1 BIBLIOGRAPHY bk APPENDICES A. LOCALITIES 56 B. SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS 58 C. FREQUENCY TABLES 7^ D. SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS 93 PLATES 178 VITA 193 V FIGURES Figure Page 1. Comparative terminology of the Washita and Fredericksburg Groups in north Texas 9 2. Generalized columnar section for the north Texas area 10 3. Q-Mode Analysis of Localities based on Dice Similarity Coefficients 3^ It. Q-Mode analysis of selected horizons from the Duck Creek Formation and the Fort Worth Limestone 35 5. Q-Mode analysis of selected horizons from the Main Street Limestone and the Grayson Marl 35 vi PLATES Plate Page 1. Illustrations of Ostracoda species 180 2. Illustrations of Ostracoda species 182 3. Illustrations of Ostracoda species 181* U. Illustrations of Ostracoda species... 186 5. Illustrations of Ostracoda species 188 6. Illustrations of Ostracoda species 190 7. Illustrations of Ostracoda species 192 8. Locality Map In Pocket 9A. Stratigraphic Distribution of the Ostracoda of the Comanche (Cretaceous) Series of. north Texas [Walnut, Goodland, Kiamichi, and lower Duck Creek formations ] In Pocket 9B. Stratigraphic Distribution of the Ostracoda of the Comanche (Cretaceous) Series of north Texas [Duck Creek, Fort Worth, Denton, and Weno formations] In Pocket 9C. Stratigraphic Distribution of the Ostracoda of the Comanche (Cretaceous) Series of north Texas [Pawpaw, Main Street, Grayson, and Buda formations] In Pocket vii ABSTRACT The stratigraphy of the Comanche Series of north Texas is reviewed and the stratigraphic distribution of the ostracode species within this series is related to published measured sections. Formations of the Fredericksburg and Washita groups exposed in parts of Parker, Tarrant, and Denton counties, Texas, are included in the study. A total of 70 ostracode species, including 22 new species and subspecies, were identified from these formations. One new genus is described. The distribution of 65 easily recognized and relatively common species reveals that no species occurs at all horizons within its stratigraphic range in the area of study. Laterally equivalent stratigraphic horizons and superadjacent formations are compared in Q-mode using Dice similarity coefficients. The distribution of the species and the Q-mode comparisons show that the ostracode fauna in these formations may change rather rapidly either laterally or vertically. The lateral and vertical changes of fauna are somewhat more pronounced in the formations deposited in shallow waters than in the formations deposited in the deeper waters. Additionally, the Q-mode comparisons show that the ostracode species of the Kiamichi Formation have greater affinity to the species of the Fredericksburg Group than to the species of the Washita Group. viii INTRODUCTION PREVIOUS COMANCHE SERIES OSTRACODA STUDIES The first descriptions of Cretaceous Ostracoda were by von Munster (1830) who described fourteen species from Cretaceous and Tertiary local­ ities