Author	Hargrove, D.C. and Engelhardt , D.W.
Year	1997
Journal	Sedimentary Geology 108 (1997), pp. 121-140 Sedimentary Geology 108 (1997), pp. 121-140
Title	Palynology of the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary at Savannah River Site, South Carolina.

Abstract Hargrove, D.C. and Engelhardt , D.W., 1997. Palynology of the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary at Savannah River Site, South Carolina. Sedimentary Geology 108 (1997), pp. 121-140 Abstract Sixty-three core samples bracketing the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary were collected from wells at Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina for palynological investigation. The samples were collected from the Steel Creek Member of the Peedee Formation (Maastrichtian) and the base of the Ellenton Formation (Danian). Analysis of the Steel Creek Member samples indicates that sedimentation took place in an upper delta-plain to lower delta-plain freshwater environment. The pollen and spores are predominantly terrestrial in origin and no marine dinoflagellates were encountered. The top of the Peedee Formation is heavily oxidized in most areas and underlies deposits of the Ellenton Formation (Danian) with similar lithologies. The base of the Ellenton Formation contains abundant marine dinoflagellates, glauconite, and substantially lower concentrations of pollen and spores along with a decrease in the number of species encountered. There are two distinct groups of pollen and spores in these samples. Danian age species such as Intratriporopollenites stavensis and Subtriporo- pollenites nanus were encountered with Maastrichtian age species such as Rugubivesiculites reductus and Proteacidites retusus. These Maastrichtian palynomorphs are highly fragmented as a result of a high-energy influence during transport and represent sediments of Maastrichtian age that were reworked and redeposited in the Danian. The presence of marine dinoflagellates and glauconite in these samples is typical of a change from an upper delta-plain to a lower delta-plain or marginal marine depositional environment. The lithology of these units in conjunction with this palynologic study suggests that the paleo-shoreline in the Maastrichtian was located just southeast of Savannah River Site. With the onset of the Danian, a marine transgression migrated the paleo-shoreline to the northwest, partially covering the Savannah River Site with marine waters.