DOCUMENTATION OF PHYTOLITHS AND OTHER BIOSILICATES FROM THE MUSSENTUCHIT MEMBER OF THE CEDAR MOUNTAIN FORMATION, UTAH

Phytoliths (microscopic silica bodies precipitated in many plants) have been used in many studies of Quaternary paleoenvironments. The discovery of phytoliths in Maastrichtian- aged rocks in India shows that phytoliths can be used for studies in deeper geologic time than the Quaternary. Mudstones from the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah were processed to determine if phytoliths were present. Phytoliths and other biosilicates were discovered in two of the four samples processed. Phytoliths that were discovered were primarily spherical bodies and opaque platelets. Other biosilicates included diatoms and algal statospores. Spherical and opaque platelet phytoliths occur in ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Phytoliths were compared with phytoliths reference slides from modern plants of families known to exist in the Cedar Mountain Formation. This is the first documentation of phytoliths in the Cedar Mountain Formation, and future studies of phytoliths could prove useful in better characterizing environmental and floral changes throughout the formation.