THE GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY OF THE LATE PALEOZOIC AT BIG SOUTH FORK NATIONAL RIVER AND RECREATION AREA (BISO) AND OBED WILD AND SCENIC RIVER (OBED) IN TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY

The National Park Service has identified paleontological resources within 286 different parks, but fossils are less commonly recognized in parks of the southeastern U.S. This research examined the geology and paleontology of parks in the Appalachian Highlands Network in eastern Tennessee and Kentucky. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO) and Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBED) are two parks which contain rocks from the Carboniferous, a period in Earth history that yielded many fossil deposits in the region due to changing paleoenvironmental conditions. Nomenclature of geologic units in this area however is complicated by boundary faults and differences in names that are used for the same suite of rocks across state lines. Upper Mississippian rocks include the Pennington/Paragon Formations and Bangor/Hartselle Formations. Lower Pennsylvanian strata from these parks include units in the Breathitt Group/Crooked Fork Group and Fentress/Alvy Creek Formations. BISO has over 30 different kinds of confirmed fossils at the park including plants (e.g., Calamites, Neuropteris), marine invertebrates (e.g., brachiopods, echinoderms), and a variety of invertebrate ichnofossils. Fossils are not yet reported from OBED but similar lithology indicates their potential; both parks largely consist of shales, sandstones, and other sedimentary rocks that are often fossiliferous. This research undertaken by students in a paleontology class at Georgia State University involved literature review of fossils in and around these parks as well as study and analysis of the geologic history and relevant local fossil-bearing strata. Geologic maps with park trails overlain were also constructed to examine the potential for future paleontological discoveries; management concerns were additionally considered. Summative fact sheets for both parks were completed to aid in communicating with park staff about the geology and paleontology of their parks and in offering ideas for interpretation regarding the fossil record. The possibility of finding new fossils in both parks is very high and warrants future fieldwork. This research is a first step in exploring further the paleontological resources at these parks that may help inform park managers about the fossil record at their parks.