Conodont Biostratigraphy and Taxonomy of the Type Mercer Limestone

Authors: Sofia Corsico-Sánchez, Nicholas J. Hogancamp

Field of Study: Biological Sciences; Environmental Sciences: Ecosystems

Faculty Mentors: Adriane Lam, Nicholas Hogancamp

Easel: 71

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: The Pennsylvanian stratigraphy in the Appalachian basin comprises hundreds of localized lithostratigraphic units. Relating these broadly defined regionally mapped units with finely subdivided local stratigraphies is challenging. The “Mercer Formation” is an informally recognized interval in the upper part of the Pottsville Group consisting of sequences of sand, silt, shale, coal, and limestone. It is split into “Upper” and “Lower” beds, but their character and preservation is varied across the basin, making them difficult to recognize using lithology alone. Furthermore, only a single limestone is observed at the Mercer Limestone type locality, and it remains unclear whether this type limestone correlates to the Upper or Lower Mercer. This study utilizes conodonts from the type Mercer to determine the limestone’s biostratigraphic properties and compares these condonts to others reported globally. This is a necessary first step towards stratigraphically resolving the “Mercer Formation” and refining the Atokan-Desmoinesian conodont biostratigraphy in the basin.