PALEONTOLOGICAL SITE CHARACTERIZATION OF UPPER CRETACEOUS STRATA WITHIN CLAY COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

A lime mine in Clay County, Mississippi exhibits excellent stratigraphic exposure of Campanian-aged marl and chalk beds and is rich in well-preserved, in situ fossils of marine organisms. While previous paleontological studies have been conducted throughout the Northern Gulf Coast Plain, no prior research has been done at this locality. The location of this site within an active surface mining operation additionally places a constraint on future availability of data.

Using a combination of field and laboratory methods, a complete stratigraphic, biostratigraphic, and paleontological analysis of the site is currently being conducted. This has included measuring the exposed stratigraphic sections and collecting fossil and sediment samples from each measured section for chemical, taphonomic, and systematic assessments. Thus far, various bivalves have been collected, including specimens of Exogyra, Pycnodonte, Arctostrea, Acutostrea, Pododesmus, and Anomia. Occurrences of infaunal and epifaunal ichnofossils, as well as fish and marine reptile remains, have also been recorded.

This research ultimately aims to deliver a detailed site description, confirm the site’s general geochronological placement, and compare its sedimentological and paleontological characteristics to those of other units of the same age range within the Mississippi Embayment. In addition, this project will also generate an educational outreach report to communicate the scientific results for a general audience that can be used to optimize public understanding of the paleoenvironment of this area and its economic benefits to the community.