Preliminary report on triassic spores and pollen of the Dockum group, Texas panhandle

Abstract

A clay deposit in the Tecovas formation, an Upper Triassic unit in the Texas panhandle, has yielded abundant pollen of gymnospermous affinity. Most abundant is the bisaccate form Vitreisporites (Caytonipollenites). The remainder of the assemblage is comprised mostly of other bisaccate genera. In contrast to most other Triassic assemblages, striate grains have not been found. Another anomaly exists in that spores and asaccate grains constitute a relatively minor percentage of the microflora. Such an assemblage is most indicative of an offshore environment of deposition. The probably allocthonous nature of some lignite associated with the clay, as well as the presence of fresh water pelecypod remains throughout the formation, tend to corroborate this conclusion.