PALYNOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF COAL BEDS IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY

This paper describes the palynology of Pennsylvanian coal beds in northeastern Kentucky with emphasis on forms that assist both intra- and inter-basinal coal bed correlation. The stratigraphically lowest coals in northeastern Kentucky, which occur below the Betsie Shale Member, include some unnamed beds, the Beattyville, Gray Hawk and Zachariah coal. Most are dominated by Lycospora and contain Laevigatosporites, Schulzospora, Endosporites, Densosporites irregularis and Radiizonates striatus, indicating a Late Langsettian (Late Morrowan) age. Coals between the Betsie Shale and Kendrick Shale Members, which include the Bruin, Little Caney, and Cannel City are also dominated by Lycospora, but differ from coals below the Betsie Shale in that they contain higher percentages of Punctatisporites minutus and Apiculatasporites saetiger, and lack Schulzospora, Densosporites irregularis and Radiizonates striatus. Palynologically, this interval is Early Duckmantian (Early Atokan) in age. Coals between the Kendrick and Magoffin Shale Members include the Whitesburg and Fire Clay, with the Fire Clay marking the introduction of Triquitrites sculptilis and Microreticulatisporites sulcatus. Palynologically, the Kendrick to Magoffin interval is Late Duckmantian (Middle Atokan) in age. Coals between the Magoffin and Stoney Fork Members, the Princess No. 3 and 4 coals, contain an abundance of tree fern taxa, and include the first occurrences of Laevigatosporites globosus, Torispora securis, and Radiizonates difformis. Palynologically, this interval is Early Bolsovian (Middle-Late Atokan) in age. The Princess No. 5 to 9 coals are the stratigraphically highest coals of Middle Pennsylvanian age in northeastern Kentucky, and include the origins of Murospora kosankei, Triquitrites minutus, Cadiospora magna, Mooreisporites inusitatus and Schopfites dimorphus. Forms that terminate this interval include Radiizonates difformis, Densosporites annulatus, Dictyotriletes bireticulatus, Vestispora magna and Savitrisporites nux, Lycospora, Granasporites medius, Triquitrites sculptilis Cirratriradites, Vestispora, Thymospora and Torispora securis. Palynologically, this interval is Late Bolsovian to Westphalian D (Late Atokan to Desmoinesian) in age.