Bivalve Associations of the Cannonball Formation (Paleocene, Danian) of North Dakota Rosanne M
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University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects 1984 Bivalve associations of the Cannonball Formation (Paleocene, Danian) of North Dakota Rosanne M. Lindholm University of North Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Lindholm, Rosanne M., "Bivalve associations of the Cannonball Formation (Paleocene, Danian) of North Dakota" (1984). Theses and Dissertations. 175. https://commons.und.edu/theses/175 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BIVALVE ASSOCIATIONS OF THE CANNONBALL FORMATION (PALEOCENE, DANIAN) OF NORTH DAKOTA by Rosanne M. Lindholm Bachelor of Science University of North Dakota A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota May 1984 .I This thesis submitted by Rosanne M. Lindholm in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science from the University of North Dakota is hereby approved by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done. This thesis meets the standards for appearance arrd conforms to the style and format requirements of the Graduate School of the University of North Dakota, and is hereby approved. Dean of the Graduate School ii 548133 Permission '!:itle Bivalve Associations of the Cannonball Formation (Paleocene, Danian) of North Dakota Department Geolo Degree Master of Science In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Da~ota, I agree that the Library of this University shall make it freely available for scholarly purposes and may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work or, in his absence, by the Chairman of the Department or the Dean of the Graduate School. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this thesis or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Date --------------- I iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. vii ' LIST OF TABLES. ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. X ABSTRACT •• xi INTRODUCTION 1 General Purpose of Study Previous Work Stratigraohy Paleontology and Age Structural Setting Regional Stratigraphy METHODS OF STUDY ••• .. .. • • . • .. • .. .. .. • • . • . • • 16 Fossil Localities Fieldwork Field Area Fossil Sampling Grain Size Analysis Organic Carbon Analysis Cluster Analysis Bivalve Counts Bivalve Measurements and Morphological Characters RESULTS ••• . .. .. .. .. • • • 26 Lithology General Mudstone Sandstone Cannonball Bivalve Species Bivalve Associations General Ostrea-Corbula-Corbicula Association Crassostrea-Corbicula-Corbula Association Isognomon Association Glycymeris-Arctica Association iv Crassatella-Nucula Association Modified Crassatella-Nucula Association Ophiomorpha-~-Driftwood-Shark Teeth Association PALEOECOLOGY. .. .. .. .. .. 61 General Functional Morphology and Paleoecology of Dominant Cannonball Bivalves General Deposit Feeders Nucula planomarginata Suspension Feeders Glycyrneris subimbricata Arctica ova.ta Isognomon lloydi Crassostrea glabra and Ostrea sp. Crassatella - Dosiniopsis - Caestocorbula Corbula - Corbicula PALEOENVIRONMENTS OF THE CANNONBALL FORMATION BASED ON BIVALVE ASSOCIATIONS. • • • • • • • • • • •••• 75 Ostrea-Corbula-Corbicula Association Crassostrea-Corbicula-Corbula Association Isomiomon Association Glycymeris-Arctica Association Crassatella-Nucula Association Modified Crassatella-Nucula Association Ophiomon:,ha-Crab-Driftwood-Shark Teeth Association DISCUSSION. • • • • • • • • • • • • 102 Stratigraphic Relationships of Lithologic Units and Bivalve Associations Lower Unit Lower-Middle Unit Upper-Middle Unit Upper Unit Environments of Deposition Source of the Cannonball Sea Paleostrnndlines Water Depths Depositional Models for the Cannonball Formation Depositional History of the Cannonball Formation PROBLEMS DESERVING FURTHER STUDY. 127 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . • • • • 129 V APPfillDICES APPENDIX I. Cannonball Fossil Occurrence Localities •• 135 APPENDIX II. Summary of Cannonball Fossil Localities Examined for this Study. • • • • • • • 147 APPENDIX III. Macrofossil Counts from Fossil Localities Examined for this Study. • • • • • • • 156 APPENDIX rv. Localities of Measured Sections used in Fig. 16 . • • . • . • • 159 APPENDIX V. Systematic Paleontology: A Review. 162 REFERENCES CITSD 174 vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Generalized stratigraphic column for Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene strata in North Dakota ••••••• 2. Geologic map of southwestern North Dakota showing I Cannonball and adjacent formations (after Bluemle, I 1983), and showing the fossil localities used in this study. .. .. .. 18 r 3. Sand-silt-clay ratios for Cannonball samples with internreted bivalve associations found in each •••••• 28 4. Photograph of Cannonball outcrop in the type area (T. 132 N., R. 87 W.) showing the major Cannonball lithotypes; sandstone (A) and mudstone (B). A sandstone concretion (C) and what appear to be sandstone dikes and sills (D) are also present. • •• 30 5. Distribution of mean grain size of Cannonball rocks in North Dakota, based on 44 randomly selected samples from Morton, Grant, and Oliver Counties, North Dakota, reported by Fenner (1974) • • • • • • • • • • • 33 6. Mean grain size versus percent organic carbon for Cannonball samples with interpreted bivalve associa- tions found in each. • • • • • • • • • . • • 37 7. R-mode dendrogram based on 20 bivalve s,ecies, gastropods, crabs, driftwood, shark teeth, and Opfiiomoroha from 97 localities • ••..•..•..•.. 44 I 8. Q-mode dendrogra~ based on 20 bivalve species, gastropods, crabs, driftwood, shark teeth, and Ophiomor-oha from 97 localities •••.•••••.•••• 49 9. Q-mode dendrogram based on 20 bivalve species, gastropods, crabs, teredinid-bored driftwood, shark teeth, and Ophiomorpha from 50 localities with known lithology ••••••••••••••.••.• 48 10. An oyster pod in the upper Cannonball tongue in southwestern North Dakota (locality 96) • • • • • • • • 52 11. Discontinuous oyster beds in the upper Cannonball tongue in.southwestern North Dakota (locality 96) vii Figure 12. Poorly-preserved specimens of Isognomon lloydi concentrated primarily in two zones in muddy sandstone, and showing the underlying thinly-bedded sandstone and mudstone (locality 65). • • • • • • • • • • • 55 13. Pieces of the hinge belonging to Isognomon lloydi 14. Exterior view of bivalves comprising the Ostrea-Corbula-Corbicula association ••• 77 15. Interior view of bivalves comprising the Crassostrea-Corbicula-Corbula association 77 16. Cross-section of the Cannonball Formation across Grant and Morton Counties, southwest-central North Dakota showing correlation and distribution of the lithologic units and the bivalve associations. 83 17. Glycymeris-Arctica Association. • • 88 18. In situ aporrhaid gastropods and a naticid gastropod in muddy sandstone containing the Crassatella- Nucula association. • • • • • • 91 19. Crassatella-Nucula Association, 93 20. Ophiomorpha in well-sorted Cannonball sandstone 98 21. Specimens of Cannonball crabs . .. 98 22. Cannonball driftwood bored by teredinid bivalves. 101 23. Small-scale cross-bedding in muddy sandstone in the lower Cannonball unit ..•••... ~ • • • • • . 105 24. Photomicrograph of micrite concretion from Cannonball mudstone showing bioturbation and a calcisphere. • • • 117 25. Generalized distribution and correlation of Cannonball faunal associations with major transgressions and regressions during Cannonball time ••••••••• , •• 122 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Abbreviated historical summary of the Upper Cretaceous and lower Tertiary stratigraphic section nomenclature used in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. 4 2. Descriptive terms used to describe measured bivalve morphological characters (from Stanley, 1970, p. 116). 64 J. Morphological characteristics of Cannonball bivalves 65 4. Autecology of Cannonball bivalves •••.•• , • • . 66 ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Alan M. Cvancara for acting as chairman of my thesis committee, for providing guidance in and out of the field, and for his patience throughout this project. I would also like to thank the other members of my thesis committee: Dr. F. D. Holland, Jr., who provided a great deal of help in editing the manuscript, and Dr. Richard D. LeFever, whose knowledge and assistance in the world of computers and cluster analyses were invaluable. I also wish to thank Edward C. Murphy, North Dakota Geological Survey, who provided transportation into a nearly inaccessible field area. Special thanks are due to my fellow graduate students at the University of North Dakota: in particular, Charles L. LoBue for being my sounding board and for providing constant support; Brian P. Wallick for his enthusiasm and willingness to share his thoughts about Paleocene geology; and Stephen C. Thompson whose geologic insight and friendship were always appreciated. I would like to acknowledge