- -

-
PALYNOLOGICAL STUDIES
VACHERIE AND RAYBURN'S DOMES
NORTH LOUISIANA SALT DOME BASIN
A Topical Report
by
Charles R. Kolb and Glen G. Fredlund
July, 1981
Institute for Environmental Studies
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Prepared for
U. S. Department of Energy
Coordination by
Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
Battelle Memorial Institute
E530-02200-T-2
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the
United States Government. Neither the United States nor the Department
of Energy, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors,
subcontractors, nor their employees, makes any warranty, express or im-
plied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibi lity for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or
process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately
owned rights.
Institute Environmental Studies
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Prepared for
U. S. Department of Energy
by
This report was as an account of work sponsored by
United States Government. Neither the United States nor the Department
of Energy, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors,
subcontractors, nor their employees, makes any warranty, express or im-
plied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or
process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately
owned rights.
PALYNOLOGICAL STUDIES
VACHERIE AND RAYBURN'S DOMES
NORTH LOUISIANA SALT DOME BASIN
A Topical Report
by
Charles R. Kolb and Glen G. Fredlund
July, 1981
Institute for Environmental Studies
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Prepared for
U. S. Department of Energy
Coordination by
Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
Battelle Memorial Institute
E530-02200-T-2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The cooperation support of the Palynology Laboratory of the
Department Geography and Anthropology of Louisiana State University
s ti seman,
of this Laboratory.
The authors also wish to acknowledge the contributions of the office
staff, including: J. Holmes, D. Nemeth, A. Peak, P. Benoit, and Y. Choi.
Technical editing by J. D. Martinez, Director of the Institute for Environ-
mental Studies, is gratefully acknowledged
Sample processing, identification of pollen types, and the review of
pertinent palynological literature were the responsibility of the junior
author, as were the age determinations of the various strata studied based
on these data. The study was directed and the report, tables, and figures
organized by the senior author who, together with the junior author, wrote
the report.
iii
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LIST OF FIGURES ..
LI
DISTRIBUTION LIST ..
ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION
II. PROCEDURE USED IN PROCESSING SAMPLES
Sample Collection .. .
Pollen Extraction .. .
Examination of Residue.
Control Slide ..... .
III. OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL POLLEN SEQUENCE.
Navarro Group (Upper Cretaceous) ..
Midway Group (Paleocene) ........ .
Wilcox Group (Lower Eocene) ~ ..
Claiborne Group (Middle Eocene) .
Jackson Group (Upper Eocene).
Oligocene and Mio-Pliocene.
Quaternary.
IV. VACHERIE DOME ......... .
Geologic Setting and Problem.
FY 78 Study . . . . . . . . .
FY 79-80 Studies ........... .
Tertiary (General) ... .
Tertiary (Wilcox) .... .
Tertiary (Cane River) ..
Tertiary (Sparta) .....
Tertiary (Moody's Branch).
Tertiary (Miocene)
"Anomalous" Zone
Quaternary . . . . .
v. RAYBURN'S DOME.
ng and Problem ..
v
Page
vii
ix
xi
xiii
3
3
3
5
5
7
7
7
7
9
9
9
10
13
. 13
16
19
19
23
23
23
24
24
24
25
27
. . . . 27
31
Zone A (spruce/pine) .....
Zone B (spruce/herbaceous).
Zone C (pine/oak forest) ..
Chrono logy. . .
Exploratory Pit . . ..
Pollen ir levance.
Bou 1 der Zone 6
Discu sion.
It
VI SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.
Summary. . .
Conclusions.
VII. REFERENCES ..
vi
Page
-33
33
37
37
38
40
41
1
.:,45
45
47
49 'e
LIST OF FIGURES
Figures
Page
1
and nomenclature referred to
cal c stic
8
2a Location map of borings comprising Section A-A'
and B-B' on Figure 2a ............ .
14
2b. Subsurface sections above and north of Vacherie dome
showing locations and depths of pollen samples. . 15
3. Subsurface sections above Rayburn's dome showing
locations and depths of pollen samples. . ...
4. Percentage of pollen taxa from boring A-9,
Rayburn's dome.
5. Generalized stratigraphy of T. L. James pit at
Rayburn's dome. Units A and B correspond to
pollen zones A and B. Units C and 0 correspond
to pollen zone C ............... .
vii
29
39
Tables
I
II
III
IV.
LIST OF TABLES
Vacherie pollen (FY 1978)
Vacherie pollen data (FY 1979-80)
Prinei 1 pollen found in signifi
numbers at Vacherie. Includes a sample from
the Moody's Branch formation from Montgomery
Landing, Louisiana ...........
Rayburn's pollen data (FY 1979-80) ....
ix
Page
18
t
20
21
32
DISTRIBUTION LIST
H George Acti
ic oration
Divis on I
Department of Energy
Mailstop B-107 Germantown Building
Washington, D.C. 20545
Michael G. Gibbons
Assistant Project Manager
Salt Domes Geologic Project Office
Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
Battelle Memorial Institute
505 King Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Colin A. Heath, Director
Division of Waste Isolation
Department of Energy
Mailstop B-107, Germantown Building
Washington, D.C. 20545
Charles W. Kreitler
Bureau of Economic Geology
University of Texas at Austin
University Station, Box X
Austin, TX 78712
R. B. Laughon
Manager of Site Exploration
Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
Battelle Memorial Institute
505 King Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
xi
Program Manager
Ri and Operations
505 King Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
ce
David E Pauls, Proj Manager
Law Engineering Company
2749 Delk Road, S. E.
Marietta, GA 30067
Beverly A. Rawles
Project Management Division
Office of Nuclear Was Iso1 on
Battelle Memorial Institute
505 King Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Owen Swanson, Project Manager
Salt Domes Geologic Project Office
Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
Battelle Memorial Institute
505 King Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
ABSTRACT
..
A problem associated with the interpretation of the Quaternary
deposits over Vacherie and Rayburn1s domes is that,in each instance
s
are underlain by sediments whose age is uncertain. In the case of Vacherie
dome, the sediments consist of fine sands with small amounts of silts and
clays ("anomalous" sands). At Rayburnis, a stratum containing calcite
boulders and cobbles overlies anhydrite caprock. An objective of the
palynological studies reported here was to generate data that would help
in determining the age of these two units.
A literature search established diagnostic palynological trends with-
in the Tertiary and Quaternary of the Gulf Coast. Diagnostic trends of
known geologic age from the study area were determined. Pollen assemblages
were extracted from samples derived from cored and calyx borings above
both domes using standard palynological extraction methods with some
slight modifications.
Results of the examination of pollen suites at Vacherie suggest the
"anomalous" sands can range from Miocene (20 million years) to Quaternary
in age. Prior to these studies, the age of these sands could only be
postulated as ranging from early Tertiary (65 million years) to Quaternary.
Pollen assemblages present in the boulder zone at Rayburn's indicate
an age range from Oligocene (30 million years) to late Pliocene. More
important" pollen from the known Quaternary at Rayburn's proved useful in
differentiatin glacial from interglacial deposi Rates of dissolution
dated by 14C methods, were calculated to be one,foot per thousand years
during the last 15,000 years.
xiii
I. Introduction
One of problems associ with the interpretation of the Quater-
nary deposits over Vacherie and Rayburn's domes is that, in each instance,
are underlain by sediments whose age is uncertain. In the case of Vacherie
dome, the sediments consist of fine sands with minor amounts of silts and
clays. They are thinly bedded, are usually oxidized, and cored samples
show them to have horizontal or nearly horizontal strata. They are re-
ferred to in our reports (Martinez et al., 1977 1978, and 1979) as
"anomalous" sands. At Rayburn's, a bouldery unit of variable thickness
overlies anhydrite caprock and is overlain, in turn, by known Quaternary
gravelly deposits. The boulders consist of calcite, some ranging up to
several feet in diameter, in a matrix of dark gray sands and clays. The
two units, -the "anomalous" sands at Vacherie and the boulder zone at Ray-
burn's, could range in age from Quaternary through early Eocene. An ob-
jective of the palynological studies was to generate data that would help
in determining the age or ages of these two units.
Palynology, the study of fossil pollen, spores, and other acid-resistant
microfossils, is an important aid to lithological and stratigraphic -inter-
pretation. It is often possible to reconstruct past vegetative sequences
based on pollen content. In the case of Rayburn's dome, it has been possible
to use pollen content to distinguish among stratigraphic units within the
known Quaternary sediments and to determine, on a qualitative basis, the
amount downwarping or subsi has occurred since uni
II. Procedure used in Processing Samples
Procedures used in the preparation of sediment and rock samples from
the Vacherie and Rayburn's salt domes are similar to standard palynological
ion methods u for the study of acid insoluble microorganisms;
s 1 i y mod i t more
effective use of time. Procedures can be divided into three general
1. collection of samples from core and calyx returns;
2. extraction of pollen sediment samples;
3. examination of resulting residues.
Two laboratory notebooks are kept. one containing notes on the coll on
and extractions of pollen samples and the other containing observations
and pollen counts made on residues.
Sample Collection
A sample, consisting of from five to ten grams of sediment, is cut
from either a core or calyx sample with a clean knife. The exterior of the
sample is scraped clean to prevent contamination. Samples are stored in
labeled plastic bags until the extraction procedure commences.
Pollen Extraction
The extraction procedure consists of two steps: (1) sediment de-
flocculation and pollen concentration and (2) matrix destruction.
Solidified sediments must be disaggregated with a mortar and pestle.
Particles of sand size and larger are removed from the disaggregated sample
either by pouring the sediment through a lOO-mesh sieve and discarding the
coarse fraction, or by suspending the fines in distilled water, decanting
the suspension and retaining the fines.
iment occul on and pollen on begins by pl ng
e in di 11 ium
3
(a detergent to deflocculate the clays). The contents are stirred and
centrifuged, and the liquid is decanted.
The first step in matrix destruction is to slowly add 25 ml of 10%
hydrochloric acid (HC1) The sample is stirred and centrifuged, and the
acid is decanted. The step is repeated using HC1. All calcium car-
is now removed and occul on is compl
After washing the sample with distill water 30 ml 48%
flouric acid (HF) are added and the sample allowed to stand for 24 hours.
The sample is centrifuged and the remaining HF decanted. The step is re-
peated. At the end of the second 24-hour period, the sample is boiled
in HF for thirty minutes. The sample is then washed in in boiling dis-
tilled water. In order to remove inorganic colloids released by HF, the
sample is treated with 30 ml of 20% nitric acid for ten minutes, followed
by two washes with boiling distilled water. Thirty ml of 36% Hel are then
added and the sample brought to a boil. The sample is then washed twice
with boiling water. Thirty ml of 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH) are then
added, and the sample is allowed to stand for three minutes. The sample
is then washed with distilled water approximately ten times to remove all
chemicals from the residue. The residue is then transferred to glass vials
containing glycerol and basic fushsin (an organic stain).
Samples taken from the boulder zone of Rayburn's dome presented a'
unique problem. When processed using the standard procedure above, a fine
black "oily" insoluble residue persisted. This residue tended to obscure
palynomorphs which may have been present in these samples. In an effort
to clear this residue, an additional step was added to the processing of
ei FY sampl use los; ut;on (a mi c
sul c acid). s were inconsi
4
In two samples that were acetolized, Eucalyptus pollen, a distinctive ex-
otic pollen type, were added. The acetol isis process destroyed this intro-
duced pollen and, therefore, presumably, the original pollen. In other
samples the black oily residue was not affected. In only one the ight
(X-2E, 119') was ci cl i i wi
out destroying the pollen
Examination of Residue
Vials containing the residues, mounting medium (glycerol), and stain
(basic fuchsin) are agitated until the contents are homogeneous. A drop
is removed and placed on a clean glass slide. A glass cover slip is placed
on the slide and the edges sealed. Using a binocular microscope, the slide
is systematically scanned at a magnification of 100x. Magnifications of up
to 800x were used to identify the fossil pollen. Each sample must have a
total of 100 pollen grains recorded for the results to be considered signif-
icant. A count of 200 or over is preferred.
Control Slide
One method employed to insure the integrity of the results is the use
of control slides. Glass slides covered with glycerin are left exposed
while processing and extraction of samples is being carried out. The control
slides are examined in order to obtain a record of the types of pollen grains
present in the air which might contaminate the samples.
5
III. Overview of Regional Pollen Sequence
The chronological placement of palynological samples is based on the
sequence of palynomorph assemblages of the region. Changes in the micro-
floral assemblages are due to general evolutionary trends as well as cli-
i i
coun in the iments of north Louisiana is Cretaceous. The
majority of the lithologic units, however, are Tertiary, Eocene in particular.
Geologic time represented by formations pertinent to this study is shown
on Figure 1. The diagnostic palynological trends characteristic of each
geologic group are outlined below.
Angiosperms, the true flowering plants, came into being in the Cre-
tace"ous. The palynological assemblage, however, was still dominated by
spores of the ferns and fern allies and by gemnosperm pollen. The Creta-
ceous palynology of Louisiana has not been reported. There are, however,
studies of the Upper Cretaceous sediments from northeast Texas (Edson, 1976).
Midway Group (Paleocene)
By Paleocene times, the angiosperms dominated the pollen record of the
area (Jones, 1962); however, these angiosperms were still primitive. Very
few are recognized as members of modern genera. Spores of the fern, fern
allies, and gemnosperm pollen, although no longer dominant, were still very
common in the Paleocene.
Wilcox Group (Lower Eocene)
The flora of the Wilcox is well known from both macro and microflora
(Berry, 1924 and 1930; Elsik, 1965 and 1968; Jones, 1961a and 1961b; and
Nichols, 1970). This is southern assembl the Arcto-Tertiary Geoflora
t modern came into during this time. Such
7
SYSTEM SERIES
t
rtS
Holocene
s:::
s..
Pleistocene
QJ
.j..)
rtS


Miocene Grand Fleming
Gulf
i Vi 0
Jackson
Moody's
Branch
field
Cook Mt.
<lJ
...-
Claiborne "'0
Sparta

"'0
or-
rtS
::E
.......

Cane River
s..
QJ
I-
Eocene
s.. Wilcox
QJ
3:,
o
.....I
Paleocene Midway
Upper Cretaceous Navarro
i 1 i c ime
and palynol
1 i
8
S
Alternating perjods of
temperate and
cold weather pollen
Compositae first appear
cal
i ng
dcimi
Grasses first appear
Flora becomes less trop; though
many tropical persi
Pine and oak pollen first occur in
significant amounts.
Development of the Arcto-Tertiary
Geoflora. Most of the modern
temperate flora of North America
present but in close association
wi th tropi ca 1 and exti net Te'rti ary
anglosperms.
Primitive angiosperm pollen
becomes dominant.
Spores of the fern and fern allies,
gemnosperm and primitive
angiosperm pollen
in
temperate genera as Alnus, Betula, Castanea, Corylus, Nyssa, Pinus, and
Sassafras grew in close association with tropical genera such as Cycas, Drimys,
Engelhardtia, Ficus, Nectandra, Sabal, and Tetracera (Daubenmire, 1978).
Also t in the pollen assembl of the early Eocene are a number
which have no defini modern representatives (e.g.,
Claiborne Group (Middle Eocene)
The North American flora of this age has been called IIsubtropical
ll
in that there are less tropical pollen than in the Wilcox. Qualitatively,
however, the assemblages are similar. This microflora has been reported
by Gray (1960) and Englehardt (1964).
Jackson Group (Upper Eocene)
Fredericksen (1969) reports many common Tertiary types persisting
into the Jackson (e.g., Englehardtia, Castanea, Cupuliferoidae types,
Bombacacipites, Basopollis, and Trudopollis). There is, for the first
time, an increase in modern temperate types such as Quercus and Pinus.
Gramineae (grass) pollen also appears for the first time.
Oligocene and Mio-Pliocene
Little research is available for this time bracket. The one study
available (Ebtehadj, 1969) shows that the general trend toward dominance
of modern temperate pollen types continues. In his research, Ebtehadj
found that the Frio Formation of coastal Texas (Lower Oligocene age)
was abundant in Pinus, Liguidambar, Quercus, Ilex, Ulmus, Betula, and
Chenopodiaceae pollen taxa. Still reported as common is one typically
Tertiary pollen type, Engelhardtia. Other typically Tertiary taxa, however,
were ther absent or rare by ali Other conclusions reported
i
9
Compositae types and a high frequency of Ephredra taxa. Compositae did not
evolve until Upper Oligocene times (Leopold, 1969). The abundance of
Ephredra at this time may signal that the arid climate, hypothesized for
Miocene (A1t, 1974), al begun.
palynology Miocene- iocene li most the Upper Tertiary,
i i i
to our knowledge, and only one sample was processed as part of this research.
This was a sample obtained from the Fleming Formation (Miocene) where it
crops out on Cherry Creek near Colfax, Louisiana. Analytic results of this
one sample were ambiguous. Because of the low pollen count and lack of
other organic materials in the extraction, contamination cannot be ruled
out. This analysis from the Cherry Creek sample suggests a- dominance of
modern temperate flora.
Quaternary
By Quaternary times, the pollen assemblage is essentially that found
in modern North America. However, w i ~ h i n the Quaternary, there is a great
deal of variation in the pollen "assemblage. Delcourt and Delcourt (1974;
1977) have documented some of this variation in the lower Mississippi
Valley. They found that during glacial maxima of Wisconsinan time, species
normally associated with colder climates (Picea and Larix) invaded the
southern hardwood forest. These taxa are absent from those pollen assemblages
taken from what the Delcourts believe to be the Sangamonian interglacial.
Instead, a more Holocene-like assemblage dominated by Pinus and Quercus
was recorded. \
Watts (1980), working mostly along the Atlantic Coast and the Florida
insu1 , 1y su Delcou Delcourt as it
10
He traces the changes in Holocene vegetation in southeastern United States
and shows, for example, that although Pinus predominates in this area
at the present time, such dominance did not begin until about 5,000 years
ago. Prior to this, a hardwood iduous t This point was
important in our analysis pollen samples from Rayburn's.
11
IV. Vacherie Dome
Geologic Setting and Problem
As previously mentioned, a problem associated with the interpretation
of the Quaternary sediments over Vacherie dome is the occurrence of
lIanomalous" fine sands extending depth beneath
particularly over the western end of the dome. It is uncertain whether
these fine are (1) s Wilcox y ) or Lower
age ( ~ 1 i ddl e Eocene); (2) fi ne sands of Quaternary age; or, (3) sands of Late
Tertiary age (Miocene-Pliocene) filling depressions formed over the dome
by dissolution of the underlying salt. Figure 2a shows the locations of
borings at Vacherie from which samples were taken for this study The two
subsurface sections on Figure 2b show tentative interpretations of the
stratigraphy. One section crosses in a generally west-to-east direction
over the western end of the dome (Section A-AI). The other consists of a
roughly west-to-east section beginning at the Dresser Minerals sand pit
just north of the dome (Section 8-8
1
).
Section A-AI shows a tentative interpretation of subsurface data
above the dome which illustrates those areas where the "anomalous" sands
are hypothesized (delineated with dashed lines). As indicated on this
section, wedges of sediment identified from microfaunal evidence as Upper
Cane River and Lower Cane River (stratigraphically between the Wilcox and
the Sparta) lie at dissimilar elevations at only short lateral distances.
Numerous samples from the borings shown on this section were examined for
microfaunal evidence. Where the samples contained diagnostic suites of
foraminifera, LCR or UCR for Lower Cane River or Upper Cane River is in-
di Samples. which were exami but which ined no foramini
are shown as i a i ons
13
B
300 I!
:J
Ill)

I-
W
W
LL.
?:
z
Q
I-

>
W

...I
W
--"
.po
E
B'
VR5
VRI VRIE
PIA J R
--- ----. ---- ..,.
5 ... .,-.,_....... ---........... I A

......... ,..... 1 ..../
.,./ .../'" CAN E R I V E R (?) . ...--.. _--...... __ _--------..--
............'...... (Chocolate brown shale) -----------
IH2
"-:12 "-II V-7 M-9
81 up.. _ .... ,"
lIIo.. w'"" ..... et'
.... pt .... ZI 1-1Ior, ... of
, ..... e.. ..., .. .....
.............. ,-
"-8
. -.. - -......
"-7 "-I .... 5. "-5 "-4
CANE
(Chocolate
M-3 M-2

0- 5()O 1000 1500 METERS
(1-3 (1-2 ClH COREHOLE.
:lSwm--
i ... Ufttu ... l .... lljjnt.lli2'@ ,J ,/ " ,
,
uca Up,., Co III .,
Lca Low.. CO"G .. , ...
T
MIOCENE-PLIOCENEI?) fiNE SANDS
E R TI A R Y
ANHYDRITE
SAL T
Figure 2a. Subsurface sections above and north
locations and depths of pollen sampl
,'Kolb in Martinez et al. (1919)
i -
t 500 1,0,00 HET
o 100 200 300 METERS
""'A,"'''' 'J-
,04J\- ...........

. .. ----------------
f(
400. E
100
300"
100
.<1(1)
-socI 'eo
.fOO
w

w
:if
,200
7
-IlOO
--'I
01
a

...
6 M3
BI " "'""'-M .
7
" . M5
1
Bg. lOb V Mll "\
BI

1500 FEET
o , I
,
,
16
__
42>
c:;:: ,
----------
Figure 2b. Location map of borings comprising
Fi gure 2a.
I MILE
1500 METERS
from samples and from geophysical well logs at the corehole and the water
well labeled V-7 are also shown. The faults shown on the figure are very
tentative and are included only to account for the displacement of paleon-
tologically identified s The di ition ous geologic
un; t 1 is even more ve n ~ attempt is made
show the dips and thic units
permits, the depths of the samples which were examined for pollen are. also
shown Where many samples were ected from a single boring, an appropri
notation is included on the figure.
Section 8-8
1
extends from an open pit at Dresser Mineral Industries
about one mile north .of the dome and generally parallels the axis of the dome
toward the east, crossing the Quaternary deposits associated with Black
Lake Bayou. Because the Dresser Pit is mining known Sparta sand, samples
were selected for palynological study from the exposed face of the pit and
from a core boring made at the base of the pit. The samples were needed
so that a definitive study could be made of the pollen contained in known
Sparta sediments. A chocolate brown shale, believed to be topmost Cane
River, was encountered near the base of the Dresser boring. Other samples
were selected from this section so that additional data on the pollen con-
tent of the Cane River could be obtained. Most of the borings along this
section were made for our study of the Quaternary terraces. As indicated
on Section B-BI, chocolate brown shale, currently identified as Cane River,
was encountered in many of these borings.
FY 78 Study
Two palynological studies preceded the 1979-1980 research reported here.
studies involved ion pollen from two samples: one
16
of George Hart, Director, Museum of Geoscience at LSU; and the other
processed in an independent study by Wiseman, istant protessor,
Department of Geography and Anthropology at LSU. e I summarizes the
pollen samples processed by Wrenn and Hart and by Wiseman during FY 78.
Boring (sample) numbers and depths of each sample are identified and the
samples are divided into those taken from the known Quaternary, the
"anomalous" zone, and the Tertiary.
Of the 15 samples run under Hartis supervision, three contained pol-
len in sufficient quantities to warrant further study. These were sent
to William Elsik of Exxon Company for identification. Miospores found at
97 feet in Boring B-8a and at 160 feet in Boring M-7 were considered too
weathered and fragmented for identification. Miospores found at 197 feet
in Boring B-8a (about five feet below the "anomalous" sand/Tertiary contact,
see Figure 2) were identified asPlagianthus type, Tilia, Salix, Leguapollis,
Ulmus, Quercus, and cf. Taxodium. As anticipated, Elsik considered this
group to be of Paleogene age.
Fifty-six samples, some of them the same as those examined by Hart,
were processed by Wiseman: 12 from Group I, the Quaternary; 20 from
Group II, the "anomalous" zone and 24 from Group III, the Tertiary.
Of these, 25 contained some pollen; however, it is now felt that conclusions
based on counts of less than 100 pollen grains in any given sample are
unwarranted. Only four of Wiseman's samples met this criterion (indicated
as IIpollen significant
ll
in Table I); one of these four is from what is
i i 2 II nomalous" zone, 17.5 Wiseman
found that 12% of the pollen from this sample were ~ ____ ~ This
with more recent data from the FY 79-80 studies, and supports the conclusion
that the deep sands encountered in Borings B-8a and B-9 are of Early Eocene
age, probably Sparta or Wilcox.
17
I'-
:z
w
VI
!Xl
""
Z
~
Z
w
I'- ...J
c:: VI ...J
SAMPLE DEPTH
~
:;
a:
1. QUATERNARY
'"
B-3 11.0
1
+
'*
8-4 4.5
1
+
B-8 5.0
1
+
'*
It
16.0
1
+ +
II
17.0 I +
'*
8-12 5.0
1
+
1<
M-l 11.5' +
II
17.0
1
+
11
M-2 26.0
1
-I-
II
40.0' +
M-4 14.0
1
+
'*
M-7 17.0
1
+
II. "AtlOMALOUS
Il
ZONE
8-Sa 97.0
1
+ +
II
120.0
1
+ +
11
II
124.0
1
+ +
..,
II
134.0
1
+ +
..,
II
144.0
1
'+ +
..,
II
160.0
1
+ +
.,.
B-9 17.5 +
II
21.0
1
+
M-3 60.5
1
+
..,
II
61.0
1
+
*
II
70.5
1
+
*
II
71.0
1
+
*
M-7 41.0 + +
II
45.0 ' + +
II
46.0
1
+ +
II
47.0
1
+
II
48.0
1
+ +
II
57.0
1
+ +
II
89.0
1
+ +
II
160.0
1
+ +
Table I.
I'-
Z
w
I'- VI
U) Z
c::
""
Q.
;:!
Z Zu.
w w-
...J ...JZ
...J ...Jc.!:I
0
a::;:; Q.
'Itt
'*
11
11
'Itt
*
'*
'*
11
."
11
*
11
."
..,
*
'*
*
."
*
."
'*
l-
I- z
z
W
w VI
VI t!J
!Xl c::
z
""
Q.
ffi
z: z
~
W W
...J ...J
Vl
...J ...J
SAMPLE DEPTH
~ :;
a:
0
Q.
III. TERTIARY
B-la 39.0' +
.,.
It
40.0
1
+
.,.
II
41.0 I +
'*
B-1
11.0 I +
'*
II
16.5
1
+
.,.
II
21.0 ' +
."
"
22.0
1
II
42.5
1
+
.,.
"
73.0' +
8-3
51.0 I +
8-4 61.0 +
*
"
76.0
1
+
*
II
77 .0
1
+
11
"
78.5' +
*
B-Sa 197.0 ' + +
*
8-12 17.5
1
+
*
M-1 56.0
1
+
..,
II
56.5' +
'*
"
57.0' +
*
M-3
140.21 +
*
II
150.2' +
.,.
M-4
64.0 I +
*
"
64.5
1
+
*
II
65.0 ' +
*
* See Figure VI-3 and VI-4 of Martinez et. a1.
(1978) for location of boring .
Vacherie pollen data (FY 1978).
18
!;:
C(
!::
z: u.
w_
...J :z
...Jt.:l
~ : ; : ;
'"
,.
and compared during 79-80: (1) Quaternary samples (2) sand from the
lIanomalous" zones and (3) Tertiary samples, subdivided into those of
Wilcox, Sparta, Cane River, Moody's Branch, and Miocene age (see Table II).
It is generally true that samples contained either large numbers of pollen
grains, i.e., thousands per sample, or were almost entirely barren of pollen.
Only samples containing large numbers of pollen grains per sample (usually
far more but never less than 100) were considered statistically significant.
At least 100 pollen grains were identified in each of these samples and the
results are shown on Table III. Modern temperate zone taxa on this table
are subdivided into two groups: trees and shrubs, and herbaceous and
aquatic types. Those which characterized Middle and Early Tertiary times
are listed to the right. It should be understood that many taxa which are
found in modern times have persisted since the Early Tertiary. On the other
hand, only Castanea (chestnut) of the dominant Tertiary types listed on the
table has persisted until the present time.
a. Tertiary (General). Significant amounts of pollen were found in
samples from the Wilcox, the Cane River, the Sparta, and the Moody's Branch.
Although the sample from the Miocene proved to have too few pollen grains
to qualify as significant, a short discussion of this sample is included
below for completenesse In general, pollen from the Early to Middle Eocene
represented by Wilcox River ions
similare However, as indicated by the percentage pollen count at the right
of Table I I I ~ there is a slight decrease in dominant Tertiary types as
these formations become younger. A pronounced decrease in dominant Tertiary
types is indicated in the Moody's Branch of Upper Eocene age. By Quaternary
19
0::
85.0 :z
z I.IJ
-II)...J
Z: .... ...I
I.IJ zo
O:::::I:::::JQ.
SAMPLE DEPTH
0:: .... 0

X. QUATERNARY
5-4 4.5
8-45 4.5
M-1 11.0
'iii
10
14.0
*
19.0 I
19
21.0
10
25.0
11
II
29.0
111
30.0
M-5a 0.5
10
6.0
S.O
10
17.5
*
10
27.5
10
38.5
10
41.8
II
44.8
..
45.0
*
H-J 0.0
II
9.0
111
II
12.0
*
It
12.5
111
II
17.0
..
Ii
21.0
11
VR-9 14.0
111
VR-4 20.0
II. NANOMALOUS" ZONE
B-8a 33.0
II
42.0
II
108.0
II
119.0
..
It
145.0
'It
..
181.0
'"
M7 37.0
..,
II
46.0
."
It
47.0
."
..
50.0
'"
M-3 60.0
11
It
71.0
'"
..
150.0
'"
..
180.0
..,
Q-3 55.0
'"
..
108.0
'"
..
200.0
'"
o identified from microfauna
+ Depth below Dresser pit rim. Where
2 samples are shown at same depth,
one is from a sand lense. the other
from a clay lense.
II ..
....
Z
I.IJII)
.... II)Z
ZI.IJ-

.... c..o
I.I.Z
_I.IJO
Z...Jo
c..o...l..-
-.0
Vlo..A
11
*
*

*
'It
..,
..
..,
SAMPLE DEPTH
II 1. TERTIARY
Cherry Creek e Outcrop
La
Montgomery
Landing. La
D-P1t
II
10
It
II
II
1/
II
II
II
II
II
II
II
It
II
0-2
II
It
II
..
Outcrop
19+
19+
28+
30+
30+
31+
31+
32+
33+
33+
34+
35+
37+
37+
38+
43+
29
40
59
69
139
.. Cane' River
B-50 20.0
M-l1
. 20.0
0-2 189.0
..
229.0
B-17 41.0
B-8a 192.0
II
199.0
M-5a 50.5
II
57.7
It
61.0
II
62.4
..
75.7
It
80.0
II
94.0
II
164.5
II
165.0
II
168.5
"
175.5
"
187.5
..
192.5
VR .. 9 64.0
VR-6 109.0
'Wilcox
B-43 ' 79.0
len d ) .
20
..
*
..
..
..
11
11
11
'*
'"
'"
..
'"
'" ..
."
'"
'" 'It
."
..
..
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",
..
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",
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'"
'It
..
..
..
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11
..
..,
>-
"" ..:
- I-
"" w
I-
QUATERNARY
"ANOMALOUS"
SANDS
BRANCH
SPARTA
CANE RIVER
..
-a.
E
'" V1
S- 4
B-45
M-5a
"
"
"
M-3
VR-4
B-8a
"
"
Outcrop
0-2
"
"
0-2
"
B-8a
"
M-5a
" ,.
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
4.5
4.5
0.5
6.0
27 . 5
38.5
0.0
20.0
33.0
42.0
108.0
95
27
46
72
14
16
81
5
9
16
45
I-
'-'
I-
6
8
6
10
5
8
5
20
30
14
20
2
3
1
2
2
12
'" i:'
'" '-'
4
1
4
3
II
42
4
4
5
1
2
4
22
QUATERNARY TYPES
-----------------------------------,-------------------------------------.---,-----
4
2
1
Trees and Shrubs
1
1
1
'-
'" ..0
E
'" -0

=>
0-

-'
3
4
3
1
1
2
22
1
2
3
6
1
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=>
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cu
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cr
13
12
4
20
24
18
55
63
9
16
7
..
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u
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E
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7
8
6
..
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u
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o
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3
8
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u
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1
3
2
4
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1
2
7
5
2
2
E
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1
8
15
1
2
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a.
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o
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3
9
5
8
2
4
1
1
OJ
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"'-
0'"
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E '" 00
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12
54
15
27
11
8
5
6
2
8
4
Herbaceous and Aquatic Types
=>
CT
W
2
4
3
2
1
1
..
'" ..
0:::

E
'" >-
<!>
4
6
5
7
2
5
2
2
2
2
6
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u
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-'
1
1
2
1
OJ
'" OJ
U
OJ
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:z:
1
1
1
2
1
i:'
'" c:
'-
cu

'"
cr
'-u>
cu cu
.c a.

C> I-
10
17
6
10
12
10
23
21
4
8
2
-
"'cu
a.
0>'
I- I-
162
146
98
176
107
98
212
217
70
70
95
'" OJ
....

u
'" <-
..:
8
2
9
OJ OJ
'" a. -0 >,
I-
o
.... x
OJ '"
'+- -
- '" => u..
0-
=>
<J
1
2
1

o '" <- OJ
OJ
'+-u
OJ
- "'- => VI
"'-
=>
'-'
2
OJ
'" -00
0",
<-OJ
'"
'+- U
cu _ a.
=> '" 0-
=>
<J
D0I1INANT TERTI ARY TYPES
u
'" OJ u a.
"'>' ..0 l-
E
o.
=
'" OJ
c:
'"
on
'" '-'
1
1
5
4
2
OJ":
....
'" on '- OJ

a. u
- OJ 00-
U '"
>-.
I-
2
2
1
'" en
0:::
w
3
-o
a.
o
-0
=>
'-
I-


<-
OJ
I-
<- '" OJ OJ
.c a.

C) I-
2
4
5
-'" '" OJ a.
0>,
I- I-
1
o
o
o
1
o
o
5
20
14
18
cu
-..0
'"
'+- -0 _ cu
a.
c:>,
..
-0 c:
::>
c:
::> ""
16
17
18
24
16
16
6
15
33
41
17
9 6 1 4 1 4 5 1 2 2 5 20 1 2 1 2 3 7 76 5 2 7 17
-
'"
o
I-
179
163
116
200
124
114
218
237
123
125
129
100
49.0 9 6 3 3 3 4 5 2 1 6 42 3 3 62 31 16 2 28 145 23 210
59.0 5 2 5 3 3 5 6 2 1 11 43 7 11 3 55 12 26 1 32 144 32 219
139.0 8 6 5 1 7 4 2 1 7 4 1 3 49 7 7 12 1 49 9 4 25 114 28 191
189.0 3 4 5 1 8 11 2 2 1 37 7 16 80 7 6 29 145 32 214
229.0 1 3 5 3 8 2 4 26 2 11 75 17 5 1 45 156 21 203
192.0 4 3 2 2 1 1 3 3 0 19 19 20 1 100 19 5 19 183 28 230
199 .0 6 1 7 1 2 0 15 20 45 140 7 212 18 245
50.5 2 3 1 3 1 0 10 4 14 5 1 35 9 4 11 83 7 100
57.7 2 5 2 3 4 1 1 0 13 2 13 5 2 1 26 5 6 19 80 2 100
61 .0 1 1 1 1 4 1 11 3 2 3 37 10 2 1 11 91 5 100
62.4 2 5 1 1 1 0 10 4 16 4 3 3 29 12 1 7 79 11 100
75.7 3 1 4 3 0 11 12 20 3 33 4 2 5 74 10 100
80. 0 1 1 5 3 1 11 5 18 7 1 1 9 11 4 1 8 74 1 5 100
164.5 11 3 5 0 13 1 12 2 3 5 37 8 5 6 79 8 100
165 . 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 6 1 6 7 3 2 47 3 2 1 4 85 9 1 00
168. 5 1 1 1 1 4 17 6 1 4 42 2 3 10 86 11 100
Table III. Principal pollen types found in significant numbers at
Vacherie. Inlcudes a sample from the Moody's Branch
Formation from Montgomery Landing. Louisiana.
QUATERNARY
-.d
PI
TYPES
-- --::
:iii:::::::::>:::::::
AND UNTYPED
..... rERTlARY ......... . . .. . . . ..... .
....... . ... . . -. _ .... .
.......... . .. ........ _ . .. ... . ... .
. ::::::: ::: ::::: ::: :::::::::::: \
....... . .. .. . ........ . -........ .
TYPES .: ]
::j j j f f i i
.......... ..... , ...... .. .. .
c:: : : : : : : : : : : : : ; : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
........... .. ... ......... ... .. 1) ........ .. .... .. ... ......... .
..... ... .... .. .... .. ... ..... . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............. . ............ ... .. . . .
............................ ......
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......... . ... .. .. . .. . ...........
......... .. ... .... ..... ....... .
....... .... ... ..... . ........
.... . .... .. ....... . ......... .
175 .5 1 2 7 2 12 24 2 4 5 30 12 2 1 2 82 6 100
VR- 9 1 1 1 1 ; 1 g 16
"
3 : 1 1 1 1 12 ! g i 90 VO 50 % 100
OF TOTAL POLLEN
________ __ B-_4_8__ __ 7_9_ . 0 __ _________ 1 ________________________ 1 _________ 1 ________________________ __________________________________________ L__2 __ L_ __ _________ 5 _____ 5 ____ 2_1_____ 2 ____ 50 ______ 7 _____ 3 __________ __ 3 __ __ L_l_l__ __ v COUNT Table III. 21
times, dominant Tertiary types have disappeared almost entirely. Of the
dominant Tertiary types, only Castanea was found and these in significantly
fewer numbers when compared with the Tertiary.
b. Only one sample believed to be of Wilcox age
was examined and it contained the highest frequency of dominant Tertiary
c. The Cane River almost always contains
significant amounts of pollen Of the 20 Cane River samples examined, 16
contained significant amounts, a measure, perhaps, of the preservation of
pollen grains in the environment of deposition represented by the Cane River.
Typically, 80 percent of the pollen sum from the Cane River samples are
dominant Tertiary types.
d. Tertiary (Sparta). As previously mentioned one of the major ob-
jectives of the palynological study was to determine if the sands of the
lI anomalous
ll
zone were of possible Sparta age. The sands of both units
resemble one another lithologically. Because of this, a considerable
number of samples of known Sparta age were collected, processed, and examined.
Unlike the Cane River, of the 21 Sparta samples examined, only 3 contained
significant numbers of pollen. As indicated on Table II, most of these
samples were taken from the face of the open pit at the Dresser Minerals
Plant about one mile north of Vacherie dome. These are shown on the Table
as D-Pit samples. Some were from sand strata, others were selected from clay
strata. The more impervious clay layers were selected for sampling with the
hope that oxidation had not destroyed or otherwise affected the pollen the
sample may have contained. Care was also taken to collect samples by ex-
cavating a or so into the exposure Despite these
23
amounts. An additional five Sparta samples were taken from a cored boring
bottom of Mi Pit. In contrast to tne les
ken from pit i pollen in s1
nificant amounts. The point is that oxidation during the relatively short
time the sediments were exposed in the face of the pit was evidently suf-
ficient to destroy pollen generally characteristic of the Sparta sands and
clays. A final point: the Sparta samples contained some 60% to 70%
dominant Tertiary types. Contrast this with the 80% common in the Cane
River and almost 90% in the Wilcox. This suggests that pollen counts might
be useful in distinguishing between such lithologically similar, but chrono-
logically distinct, sediments as Wilcox and Sparta sands.
e. Tertiary (Moody's Branch). No Moody's Branch (Jackson age) sed-
iments occur near Vacherie dome. However, a sample was included in the
study to illustrate the gradual change in the pollen assemblage from sub-
tropical to temperate through time. The sample was collected from Mont-
gomery Landing on the Red River about 50 miles south of the dome. Note
that dominant Tertiary types have decreased significantly and that Gramineae
es) the fi me.
f in, no Miocene occurs Vacherie However,
a sample was collected from the Fleming Formation at Cherry Creek near Colfax,
Louisiana. Very few (17) pollen grains were found in the sample; however,
these few suggested that the tropical types dominant during Tertiary time
were giving way the more temperate types dominant during the Quaternary.
cance i tne tl occurrence
the Miocene.
g. "Anomalous" Zone. Seventeen lIanomalous" zone samples were selected
from four borings (see Figure 2 and Table II). An important result was
24
that only three of these samples contained pollen in significant amounts and
all of these were from Boring B-8a, close to the Tertiary sediments which
crop out in the hills above the valley of Bashaway Creek. The fourteen
remaining samples were ally barren of pollen. A logical conclusion
is that whatever pollen may have been incorporated in these barren samples
ime i h
or Wilcox sands were exposed in the surrounding hills and carried into
pressions formed above the dome in Late Tertiary or Quaternary time. If
the sand in these depressions was in situ Sparta or Wilcox, the suite of
pollen characteristic of these formations (as shown on Table III) should
have been preserved in at least some of these samples This hypothesis
is supported by the pollen-bearing samples from B-8a. A mixture of both
dominant Tertiary and Quaternary types including Gramineae and Compositae
occurs. In addition, there is an increase in the occurrence of worn and un-
identifiable grains. Both the apparent mixing of assemblages and the in-
crease in physical damage to the pollen can be explained by redeposition.
Because of the occurrence of Compositae types, the age of the lIanomalousll
sands is concluded to be no earlier than Miocene. That the age of these
sands is as .1 ate as Quaternary cannot be prec 1 uded.
h. Quaternary. Of the 28 samples examined from the most
were barren, probably a reflection of the oxidation characteristic of the
environment in which these sediments were deposited. Only eight of the
samples contained significant amounts of pollen. As shown on Table III,
these samples were characterized by a distinctive suite of pollen types.
They showed an abundance of modern temperate types: Pinus, TCT, Liguidambar,
.. types such as Cheno-Am, Composi

, and Gramineae.
on
25
significantly fewer numbers when compared with the Tertiary. The lack of
dominant Tertiary types in Quaternary samples also shows that redeposition
of pollen from Eocene source materials is not an important factor in dis-
tinguishing sediments thus providing an important tool in di nguishing
Quaternary deposi from underlying Early to Middle Eocene iments
26
v. Rayburn's Dome
Geologic Setting and Problem
The disposition of Quaternary deposits in plan above Rayburn's dome is
shown on the 1 on map at ght of Fi 3. In general, Quaternary
deposits 11 a roughly circular topographic low with a outlet along
1 ons
X_XI shown on Figure 3 penetrated a known Quaternary sequence that is more
than 100 feet thick on the northern, western, and eastern sides of the
dome. It was anticipated that a deep trench filled with gravel-bearing
Quaternary deposits (at least 100 feet deep) would be found along Fouse
Creek, marking the path of the stream that drained the basin during the
last glacial period. This was not the case. Only 10 feet of Quaternary
deposits were found along Fouse Creek. The possibility of an outlet which
could have drained the deep, gravelly sediments in a different direction
during previous glacial intervals was also investigated. No such outlet
was found. An alternative explanation is that dissolution of the salt
during Quaternary times caused subsidence over the northern, eastern, and
western sides of the dome displacing the Quaternary downward to levels in-
compatible with drainage during glacial maxima. It was hoped that palyno-
logical studies would permit indentificafion of floral zones within the
Quaternary and shed some light on whether or not warping and subsidence
had occurred during Quaternary times.
A zone of calcitic boulders in a matrix of sand and clay occurs be-
neath the known Quaternary and above the irregularly disposed anhydrite
caprock (Figure 3). This zone is thought to be the result of subaerial
weathering of a former calci caprock (Kolb in Martinez ale 1978 1979);
27
X
220
210
70
200
190
60
180
170
160 r-
W
W 150 50
IJ...
14
z
130
(J)
a::
W
r-
Z 120
o
40 W

r-

>
W
-.J
W
110
100
90 30
80
X-I
Figure 3.
X-2
X-2E X-3

POLLEN
LII2IJ
... ....... POLLEN
[I] .. ... POLLEN
Subsurface sections above Rayburnls dome showing locations
and depths of pollen samples.
ZONE
ZONE
ZONE
C
B
A
A-I
500 FEET
,..... I
150 METERS
o 500 FEET
.1 .. i
o 150 METERS
AA-I
A'
24
230
220
210
--.J
(J) 200

-190
r- 18
W
W
IJ... 170
Z 160
Z 150
0
14
r-
13
>
W 12
-.J
W 110
70
60
(J)
a::
50 W
40
r-
W

x'
220
70
210
Z 140
Z 130
o 120 40
r-
110
>
W 100
-.J
W 90 30
80
(J)
a::
w
r-
w
:E
RAYBURN'S DOME
CORED BORINGS
o CALYX BORINGS
U WATER WELL
o QUATERNARY
o TERTIARY
',11>
lQ( '
-----
'-
...
;;
__ 1 ___ , ___ _
I
Feet
6 100 200 3bo Meters
Figure 3.
N
*
29
through dissolution and erosive action of subsurface waters. If erosion
and subaerial weathering of this zone has occurred, it was reasoned that
pollen representative of the period of such subaerial weathering should
incorpora with the boul zone barring compl oxidation.
Thus research obj ves the pollen studies Rayburn's were
hi y 1: ( 1 ) i 1 i 1
Quaternary sequence above the boulder zone as an aid to lithological and
stratigraphic interpretation of the Quaternary; and (2) the possible deter-
mination of the origin and/or possible age of the material which forms the
boulder zone.
Two hundred and thirty-four samples were selected for palynological
processing and analysis at Rayburn's. Depths from which samples were chosen
in the known Quaternary, the boulder zone, and from the Tertiary are shown
symbolically on Figure 3. Table IV lists all samples, their respective depths,
and whether the individual sample was palynologically significant (i.e.,e
or barren.
In the discussion which follows, only the pollen studies at Rayburn's
which involved known Quaternary samples or boulder zone samples are considered.
-.
Where pertinent, published data on the Cretaceous or the Tertiary studies
at Vacherie are drawn upon for evaluation.
Quaternary
As previously mentioned, a prime objective of our study of Quaternary
pollen at Rayburn's was to detect distinctive pollen zones within the
Quaternary which could be used to determine subsidence or .To
this end, 175 samples were selected and processed (See Figure 3 and Table
IV).
31
l- I-
I-
Z Z
Z
WVI WVI
WVl
I-VlZ I-VlZ
I- VI Z
0::: Z
Z w_ 0::: ZW-
0:::
Z
Z W_
..:(0:::..:( 0:::0 Z
5 g : ~
0:::0 <0:::<
0 w U Cl. 0::: oz W
oz W U Cl. 0:::
...J
-
<.!:I - V)...J
-
<.!:I
_Vl...J
<.!:I
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SAMPLE DEPTH
<
l!. -0
SAMPLE DEPTH ~ ; ~ ~
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SAMPLE DEPTH
~ ; ~ ~
-0
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L QUATERNARY
Xe13 18.0
1\-1 0.0 14.3 19.0
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6.5
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cx= 13 10.0
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15.0
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20.0 '* "
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21.0
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34.0
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II
21.8 '* X-14 10.5
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II
39.0
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II
22.0
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CX-19 3.0
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..
45.0
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"
26.2
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II
5.0
..
II
50.0
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..
29.0
..
X-21 6.0
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A-2 0.0
..
A-l0 29.0
..
CX-23 6.0
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II
2.0
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A-ll 2.2
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7.0
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9.0
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II . BOULDER ZONE
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99.0
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A-2 49.0
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39.0
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CA-11 33.0
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A-6 0.0
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31.0
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33.0
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"
44,0
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1\
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35,0
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A-13 60.0
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7.0
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51,0
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X=2 8& 118.0 '*
II
8.5
II
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X=2E 125.0
11
II
9.5
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X=2 8. 14.0
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X-6 & 45.0
1\
10.5
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X-2E 77 ,0
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X-6E 48.0
11
1\
12.0
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X"9 0.4
'*
II
54.0
."
"
13.5
11
II
4.0
*
Ii
57.0
11
II
14.5
II
9.0
11
"
64.0
'*
II
17.0
'*
"
14.0
11
X-9 42.0
11
II
18.0
11 II
20.0
'*
CX-9 44.0
'*
1\
19.0
11 II
21.8
11 II
45.0
"
20,0
'*
"
25.4
.. II
46,0
'*
1\
22.0
11 II
30.0
11
X-13 19.7
*
II
26.0
.. II
38.0
'lit
CX=13 23,0
'"
Ae9 0.0
"
39.0
II
24.0
11
II
0,13 0,6
11
"
25.0
11
II
3.7
II
4.0
..,
II
26,0
11
II
4,0 6,2 27.0
II
6.0
11 II
8,0
11 II
29.0
'"
II
8,0
II
10,0
'!If
II
8.2
II
10,8
11
.0
II
10.0 "
13.0
"
10.7
II
13.9 III. TERTlARY SAMPLES
" 10.9
,
.. II
1 S.O
11
II
11.2
* "
16.0
11
CX-23 13.0
1\
13.8
.", 11
17.0
'lit
11/
16.0
'*
Table IV. 'Rayburn's dome pollen data (FY 1979-80).
32
Three biostratigraphic zones could be distinguished on the basis of
their contained pollen: (a) spruce/pine, (b) spruce/herbaceous, and (c)
modern pine/oak forest. The distinction among these three zones is best
illustrated by the pollen profile shown on Figure 4. The lithology en-
in 9 i s 1 A e was
cessed each point shown with the symbol "8
11
or lip II 118
11
indi a
sample barren of pollen. IIpll indicates a sample containing abundant pollen.
Note that each liP" sample has a horizontal line extended across the diagram.
Two hundred pollen grains were counted from each sample and relative fre-
quencies of each pollen type are indicated for each significant sample
(horizontal line). The zones resulting from this analysis are shown to
the right of the diagram as Zones A, 8, and C, each approximately 10 feet
thick.
a. Zone A (Spruce/Pine). This zone is dominated by tree and shrub
pollen types: Pinus (pine), Carya (hickory), Ostrya-Carpinus (hophornbeam-
hornbeam), Quercus (oak), and Taxaceae, Cupressaceae, and Taxodiacege (TCT).
Picea (spruce) is present throughout this zone in low frequency. Picea
is an important cold weather indicator not found in the region today. It
is possible, but improbable, that these Picea pollen were transported by
winds over long distances considering the fact that they occur in such
low numbers.
b. Zone B (Spruce/Herbaceous). This zone is distinctive because of
an increase in the occurrence of herbaceous and cooler weather arboreal
pollen and a decrease in the relative frequency of pine pollen. These
trends are most pronounced at the top of the zone where'Picea becomes the
dominant a r b o r ~ a l pollen taxon comprising up to 15% of the pollen sum
Also present at this time are (tamarack) s ( der) which
33
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Figure 4.
p. Pollen Present
B= Pollen Barren
o : '1L...L.'.L..L...J.'--'Cfi %
---- = 9 , , 1 %
Percentage of pollen taxa from boring A-9, Rayburn's dome.
All Relative Frequencies Based on 200 Grain Count
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HERBACEOUS AND AQUATIC TYPES ------,..
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Figure 4.
POLLEN
ZONE
c
POLLEN
ZONE
B
POLLEN
ZONE
A
35
indicate a cooler climate than at the present. This assemblage of arboreal
taxa is more akin to the Appalachians than the oak-pine forest of north-
central Louisiana today. These cooler weather arboreal taxa are accompanied
by pn increase in
nounced increase in high spine
Helianthus as well as a
c pollen
pollen
11 1
is a
include
i
to the event at the top of this zone Also found only in the upper portion
of this zone is Onagraceae pollen (not shown on diagram). Other herbaceous
types which increase in this zone comprise the grasses (Gramineae) and the
low spine Compositae types (including Ambrosia and Artemisia).
c. Zone C (Pine/Oak Forest). The oak-pine pollen assemblage is
characteristic of the region today and is found consistently throughout
this zone. Pinus (pine) pollen represent over 50% of the pollen sums
in this zone. Quercus (oak) and Carya' (hickory) are also important arboreal
taxa. Ambrosia, a low spine Compositae type, dominates the herbaceous pollen
types.
d. Chronology. It is obvious from the above discussion that Zone B ~
contains cold weather species characteristic of Pleistocene glacial times.
Three carbonaceous samples from this zone verify this conclusion. A 'sample
from X-14 at 10-10.5 ft was dated radiometrically at 14,340500years., from
X-21 .at 6.U-6.4 ft at 19,2001200 years; and from a pit made near Boring A-9
at 12 ft, at 13,520140 years (see discussion which follows). These dates
indicate deposition shortly before or after the Late Wisconsinan sea level
minimum i.e., 17,000 years BP.
The age of Zone A is uncertain. At.present, we have no radiocarbon
dates from this zone It definitely represents a warmer period than Zone
B but probably was colder than present-day C. It may mark a
II"
of deposition during waning sea 1 with this material trapped in a sub-
iding basin a dome
i B
covered from Zone C in the core from A-g. A core taken nearby contains
evidence for an oak-hickory pollen assemblage lacking both Picea and Pinus.
The oak-hickory assemblage came from slightly above the spruce/herbaceous zone.
No pol-len was found above this assemblage except at the surface. A tran-
sition from Zone B to Zone C is missing in sediments examined so far.
Zone C was deposited after the rise of the southern evergreen forest.
Watts (1970) and Delcourt (1978) agree that this did not occur until
late in the Holocene times:circa 5000 years.B.P.
;1
e. Exploratory Pit. In July of 1980, the T. L. James Company dug a
shallow ptt close- to--Boring- A-9 to,o-explore thepossi ble --uti l i t y ~ a s a source
. of aggregate of the shallow anhydrite caprock or the calcite boulder zone
-
; which lies above it. A report on strata exposed in the pit by Kolb
et al. was included in the LSU-IES Quarterly Report for July-September, 1980.'
A large backhoe was used to dig the pit to a depth of 25 to 30 feet, .where
some boul in boul zone were The water
e in this area is within a of the surface and at no time could
the pumps used for the work lower water levels in the pit to more than 18
, thus, the stratification shown in Figure 5 is conjectural below about
5
b o reports As
can determined their Un; C and 0 corres 1
Uni B 11 en B_ and their Unit A with Pollen
i should noted is Pollen A not incl
of the boulder zone. No samples were examined from the boulder zones pene-
trated by Boring A-9.
38
"'.
~
Figure 5
'. '.' .,: '. '0' .,.. : 0 ,. ' .:....... t :: .' :'. '. '. .... ' , : '. : : ' ,
.. '" ............... ,'1 ... to ,. -.0.-"
..... " ",," ." ' .. eo' 0 .' ,', ',: ... d' . 'de .. d- ...... til - -- "
: .. :.:.::,': .. ':.: .', ' .. : . .. :..:.OXI IZe .5 " :.: .... ',., ....... ' .... ;.:
e. '" .... (I flI ,.," CII III to. .'" ... .'. .,' . .
'.:0' ,0 00: :': eo e , <J : 0 ... : ' ": ,', '0.': ., eo -:,-: '0 ',:. :. 0 .. ,!.t:.: : : '" 'd, :. .:" e,', :,
- '. 0 A .' : t '. (J 't:a.: ",!. d v: . .0" .' a'. .... ... ., .... o. . r# ... ',.",
",." 110: : It ".tI!:). ',t. ,t. '.f . : fI'. : : : '.. ' ... t' '. (I '. 51 '.: (I. .." o. ,0: d"
. :.: .:: 0. '. ':. t. :?:: ':.6. . : :' .. , ..... 0. ',' :'0' '.':: ....
'11 .. , .' ... '" "0' . 'd oj .c ... 1'" 0 ". . ,
:.::'::-:: : : ;,.: ::,;,:: 1'1 5 .. Q'n grave' . e.',: " : ,',0,,.0 '
-a-. :.0 ........ ".' ... .' . .. . : .: . ':.' . . . G" :. '0'
" ' .. -II' ' #. .,0'. .,' It. " ... "",,' .. ' ... . 'I'
. ..
, .. '
It' '." It
... , .. . ..
-' .". ". : .... 0: :
." ..... :: ..
.-, ," .. .,
.'. '0
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o "0
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:" e
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.:.0 . .0-
: . .;,:....::' .. :'.'" , .
"t:)' ,'. 'CII' .. Ifj '0' '0" e. , ." .' b' t::) UN I T A
:)::: .. .. ........ :::.:: ... : .... ., . ....
: .. : .. 0.: ..... .: ',:0: .' .G'
.. ,A' :.: "'k:5
::: ::0" .. : .. : i:. '. ' .. : .. \.....)".;..... ..... "., :
.... q .. '0": .f'..:. ",. " ,<:::). ....0. . '0. '. "0 . .
.' ...... ." '9'"""-1 7J" .. A .. ... '.< ), ... ' .......... - ''\..J. ,: .
gr'QVei,
" .::
0 (Ja 0'- .:,. : .0,
. . .. . . . "0 .,,---, 'L-J .. '-" 0 "'-' r-<.. '
: :. . ' .... ',' .. ,' ;-.... "I::::;J;, ., ':.-:0.' :{ '\: ...
Generalized stratigraphy of T. L. James pit Rayburn's
dome Units A and B correspond to poll'en zones A and B.
Units C and 0 correspond to pollen zone C.
, 39
f. Pollen Zones and their Relevance. Each of the 57 pollen-bearing
samples in the known Quaternary were classified on the basis of its pollen
ingly. The resul of this zonation are shown on
ons A-AI and X-X of Figure 3. It was reasoned in previous publi-
cations (Kolb in Martinez et al., 1978; 1979) that dissolution of the under-
lying salt and subsidence were the cause for the unusually deep Quaternary
deposits over the northern, western, and eastern portions of the Quaternary
basin above the dome. Further, it was assumed that a stratigraphic zonation
of the Quaternary, based on lithologic, grain-size, pollen, or other appro-
priate parameters, would be useful in tracing the history and possibly the
rate of such dissolution.
The subsurface sections on Figure 3 provide valuable insights con-
cerning the possible rates of dissolution of the underlying salt as re-
flected in the thickening of Pollen Zones Band C. As previously mentioned,
Zone B has been radiometrically dated as ranging from 13,500 to 19,200
years in age. The thickness of Zones Band C in Fouse Creek which drained
the Quaternary basin to the south during the last glacial maximum averages
about 10 feet. The mean sea level elevation of the bottom of this outlet
as shown on Section X-X' ~ was at 185 feet (Boring X-21) Note that the
base of Zone B at Boring X-14 is at 180 feet ms1, and the base of Zone B
in Boring A-l (Section A-AI) is at 170 feet ms1. Thus, allowing for a
reasonable gradient for flow in the basin and through the entrenched creek
during the last glacial maximum, subsidence of this zone of about 15 to
20 is a reasonable estimate Using an averaae aae of 15 000
B, ,a of dissolution of the salt and
consequent subsidence of the zone would be about 1 foot per 1000 years,
or about 200 to 250 feet during the next 250,000 years
40
Boulder Zone
a. Discussion. The origin and age of the boulder zone above Rayburn's
caprock are still conjectural. It was reasoned that if rounding of the
1 fragmen within the boulder zone was due to subaerial erosion
pollen should have been incorporated within the matrix at the time of ex-
ix es baul zone Only 14
contained pollen in moderate amounts however the boulder zone does contain
poll en and was thus subaeri ally wea thered. Four of these were obta i ned by
calyx sampling. Analyses of these samples suggested that they were con-
taminated and results are not used in the conclusions reached in this study.
Of the remaining ten, only two contained more than 200 pollen grains; the. rest
averaged less than 50 grains. A problem associated with the interpretation
of these samples was the presence of an insoluble "oily" substance which
tended to obscure what small amount of pollen was present. An additional,
but largely unsuccessful, step in the pollen processing procedure was added
in an attempt to clear this residue (see Section II, "Procedure Used for
Processing Samples").
b. Results. Results of analyses of the ten cored samples containing
pollen are summarized as follows. Sample contained a frequency
too low for a significant interpretation to be made. Sample X-13(19
1
), on
the other hand, contained a significant assemblage of pollen. This assem-
blage contained elements of the Tertiary and Quaternary geofloras of the
Rayburn's dome area. However, the sample was taken from the contact of
the boulder zone and the overlying Quaternary and could have contained a
mixture of pollen from both strata. Due to findings in other samples,
reported it now seems more likely that this is an in situ pollen
41
Sample 2E(119
1
) i len i 1 i
in 1 i
I )
comes from within boul zone, i e., low
the contact. There are pollen taxa in this sample (X-2E[119'J) which are
unlike any of those found in either the Quaternary or Tertiary samples
thus far processed from the Rayburn's dome area. The presence of these
taxa suggests that these assemblages have not been mixed. The presence
of large (BO-to lOO-micron) whole pollen grains also excludes post-
depositional movement of pollen within the sediments. If such movement had
occurred, large pollen grains such as these would probably have been broken.
The taxa present in this X-2E sample contain both Tertiary and Quaternary
pollen types. Of the Tertiary pollen present, the most diagnostic taxa
is Engelhardtia, taxa which are documented to have persisted in the Gulf
Coast into Oligocene and possibly Miocene time (Ebtehaj). At least three
species of Engelhardtia are present in the X-2E sample. Of the post-
Eocene pollen present, the most important are Compositae, pollen which
are a world-wide marker for the late Oligocene or early Miocene according
Leopold (1969). Approximately 5% of the pollen count from X-2E(119')
is of Compositae. Other types present are not as stratigraphically signi
icant since they are found both in the Tertiary and the Quaternary. These
include: Quercus, Pinus, Ulmus, Castanea, Onagraceae, Celtis, and Ilex.
taxa indi that the deciduous forests of eastern North America
were established by the time of deposition of this pollen suite within
the boulder zone. Samples X-6E(541), X-6E{ '), and X-6E{64
i
) were not
as diagnostic because of low pollen counts. However, they did contain
Engelhardtia and other pollen peculiar to the boulder zone.
Four samples from Boring A-la at 67.4', 69.0', 70.6', and 98.5' from
42
deep within the boulder zone but at the extreme eastern edge of the Quater-
nary basin contained yet a different assemblage of pollen. These samples
contained spores, dinoflagelates (a marine type of and
primitive angiosperm pollen of a pre-Eocene age This assemblage closely
resembles that reported by Nelson (1967) from the upper Cretaceous of Texas
It is sible that this assemblage could have been incorporated into the
fringe of the boulder zone by erosion of nearby Cretaceous deposits. It
is also possible that the sequence encountered in Boring A-la has been
misinterpreted and has encountered in situ Cretaceous deposits.
It is concluded, therefore, that the boulder zone is pos Eocene in
age and probably pre-Quaternary. That it may be pre-Quaternary di
with the radiocarbon dates, i.e., 19,265 and 21,100 years B.P., from the
boulder zone as shown on Figure 3. However, until additional data are
analyzed, these dates are considered tentative.
An important result of the Rayburn's palynological study is that
pollen are indeed present, as attested above, in the boulder zone. This
is incontrovertible proof that the zone originated through subaerial weathering
weathering and is probably a remnant of a once more or less continuous
calcite caprock.
43
VI. Summary and Conclusions
This report documents the pollen studies made at Rayburn's and
Vacherie domes. Documentation of the data developed and of the methods
used and analyzing the data involve palynological and stratigraphic jargon
that tends to detract from the purpose and the conclusions reached in the
1 how many
and their tiny
brethren does it take to surfeit the average reader? For this reason
at the risk of repeating what has been covered elsewhere in the text, this
section summarizes the studies, their purpose, and the conclusions reached.
Summary
Objectives of the studies of Quaternary deposits above and in the
vicinity of Vacherie and Rayburn's dome include: (a) a determination of
the tectonic stability of the domes during Quaternary time, that is, whether
the Quaternary deposits have been lifted out of place by upward movement
of the salt during Quaternary time and (b) a determination of the hydro-
logic stability of the upper portions of the domes as evidenced by dis-
solution and subsidence and/or collapse during Quaternary time. Pollen
studies have been useful in accomplishing the latter of objective, i.e.,
providing data concerning the hydrologic stability of the upper portions
of the domes.
A problem associated with the interpretation of the Quaternary de-
posits over the two domes is that, in each instance, known
Quaternary sediments are underlain by sediments whose age is uncertain--
sediments of possible Quaternary age. In the case of Vacherie dome,
these sediments are identified as lIanomalous" sands in our reports and
have been variously interpreted as ng y
45
The amount and rate of. subsidence over the western end of Vacherie
di sol ion t would if
lIanomalousli ly
relegation of the sand to any of the three categories above would help in
understanding the history of salt movement and dissolution. The "anomalous"
sand is generally barren of pollen, but in the three samples that contained
significant amounts of pollen, the occurrence of types dates the
sand as being Miocene or younger. A Quaternary age for the sand is improb-
able, but not impossible.
The stratigraphic situation at Rayburn's dome is somewhat similar to
that at Vacherie in that known Quaternary deposits lie above a boulder zone
consisting of calcite boulders and cobbles in a matrix of clayey sand. The
boulder zone is probably a remnant of a once more-or-less continuous calcite
caprock cover that was subaerially exposed leaving behind water-worn frag-
ments of calcite overlying anhydrite caprock. When this occurred is un-
certain. Fragmentation and rounding of the calcite fragments by subsurface
waters without the caprock ever having been submitted to subaerial erosion
are also possibili es llen studies boulder zone Rayburn1s
have had two obj ves: (a) a ision as to whether or not there was pollen
incorporated within this zone which would prove that it had been subaerially
exposed and (b) possible determination of the age of the boulder zone.
Pollen s ies were so 1 in i known
deposi above the boulder zone. In general, these Quaternary deposits
11 1y rcul ic low over tne central Dortlon or KaVburn'S
dome. Previous studies had identi deep (more than 100 ) deposi
known Quaternary overlying the northern, western, and eastern sides of the
dome. Under normal erosional/depositional circumstances, the stream depositing
46
alluvium at this depth would have had to exit the basin in a valley en-
trenched to depths somewhat more than 100 feet deep_ Such a stream would
have been backfilled with alluvium during subsequent interglacial stages
and an attempt was made to fi entrenched vall 11 with
alluvium. A es closely ngs made in the low
hills surrounding the dome fou no such it y
for the anomalously deep Quaternary, therefore, was through dissolution
of the underlying salt and subsidence of the Quaternary deposits above
the dome. The thickness of the known Quaternary thus becomes a measure
of the amount of dissolution and subsidence that has occurred during Qua-
ternary time. Further, it was hoped that pollen studies would permit
zonation of the uppermost and the youngest Quaternary deposits, permitting
determination of possible subsidence within a finite period of time measur-
able by radiocarbon dating. As outlined in the text and in the conclusions
below, the pollen studies were successful in this regard.
A final point that should be made is that the shift from dominantly
tropical pollen types in the Early Eocene to dominantly temperate pollen
types in the Quaternary was abundantly and clearly illustrated in our study
at Vacherie and Rayburn's domes. Thus, it is possible to distinguish among
various formations within the Tertiary based on pollen frequencies of tropical
versus temperate types .. For example, although microfauna are generally
lacking in the Sparta and the Wilcox formations, it is possible to distin-
guish them based on their contained pollen microflora.
Conclusions
1. The age of the "anomalous" sands at Vacherie could have ranged
from early Tertiary (million ) to Quaternary On the
is this llen it is
47
Miocene (20 million years). The age of these sands may be as
young as Quaternary.
2. Pollen assemblages can be reliably used to subdivide the Quater-
nary above Rayburnfis dome into glacial and interglacial zones.
3. These zones appear to have been warped downward near the edges
sin dome
Quaternary deposits
are deepest, suggesting dissolution and subsidence on the order
of 1 foot per 1000 years during the last 15,000 years.
4. The boulder zone over Rayburn's anhydrite caprock was sub-
aerially exposed in the geologic past allowing deposition of
pollen within this stratum.
5. Palynological evidence suggests that this pollen and, by inference,
the boulder zone, is from Oligocene to late Pliocene in age.
6. Pollen suites, particularly pollen frequencies, can be important
tools in distinguishing among Tertiary formations in north
Louisiana and between the Tertiary and the Quaternary.
48
VII. References
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E W , 1 u.
o Survey, Prof.
, 1930, Revision of the Lower Eocene Wilcox flora of the

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--=-----:::-
, 1968, Palynology of a Paleocene Rockdale lignite, Milam County,
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Englehardt, D. W., 1964, Plant microfossils from the Eocene Cockfield
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VB
len
p.
49
in the
o
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Newchurch, E. J., Wilcox, R. E., Manning, T. A. Jr., Romberg, M.,
Lewis, A. J and Rovik J ElAn Inves on the Utility
of Gulf Coast Salt Domes for the Storage or Disposal of Radioactive
, Report ORNL-Sub-411 ,I Envi es.
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Martinez, J. D., Thoms, R. L., Smith, C. G., Jr., Kolb, C. R., Newchurch,
E. J., and Wilcox, R. E., 1977, An Investigation of the Utility of Gulf
Coast Salt Domes for the Storage or Disposal of Raidoactive Wastes,
Report Y/OWI/Sub-4112/37, Institute for Environmental Studies: Baton Rouge,
Louisiana State University, 475 p.
Martinez, J. D., Thoms, R. L., Kolb, C. R., Kumar, M. B., Wilcox, R. E.,
and Newchurch, E. J., 1978, An Investigation of the Utility of Gulf Coast
Salt Domes for the Storage or Disposal of Radioactive Wastes, Report
EW-78-C-05-5941/53, Institute for Environmental Studies: Baton Rouge,
Louisiana State University, v. 1,390 p., v. 2,310 p.
Nichols, D. J., 1970, Palynology in relation to depositional environments
of lignite in the Wilcox Group (Early Tertiary) in Texas (Ph.D. disser-
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Watts, W. A., (1970). The full-glacial vegetation of north-western Georgia:
Ecology 51,17-33.
, 1980, Late-Quaternary vegetation history of White Pond on the
- - ~ - - - - - -
inner coastal plain of South Carolina: Quaternary Research, 13:187-99.
50