Paleobiological and Geological Framework of the Denver Basin: Floral Evaluation and Ecology of an Evolving Synorogenic Lanscape

丹佛盆地的古生物学和地质框架：演化的同生景观的花卉评估和生态学

• 批准号: 9805474
• 负责人: Kirk Johnson
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-09-01 至 2002-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9805474&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Paleobiological; Geological; Framework; Denver; Basin

9805474JohnsonThe Denver Museum of Natural History (DMNH) proposes to develop an integrated paleobiological and geological framework for the Upper Cretaceous and lower Tertiary rocks in the Denver Basin using a multi-disciplinary approach of paleontology (plant megafossils and palynomorphs), magnetostratigraphy, and lithostratigraphy. The study will be based on a multitude of surface observations and fossil sites tied to a new cored well to be drilled by this project in cooperation with local, state, and government agencies. The well will be located in the center of the Denver Basin at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa. Magnetostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, and palynostratigraphy of the 610m well supported by this proposal will be used to erect a reference geochronology and biostratigraphy for the Denver Basin. This master section will be used to correlate basin-wide surface fossil sites and observations.The resulting data framework will be used to test three major hypotheses.- The first hypothesis is the Denver Basin contains two distinct unconformity-bounded sequences of synorogenic strata.- The second hypothesis is that the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary impact event at Chicxulub in Mexico caused greater biotic damage proximal to the impact site than distal to it.- The third hypothesis is that the evolution and infilling of the Laramide Denver Basin was driven by sediment supply and subsidence rather than by climate change.The intrinsic benefits of this research will be seen in the fields of sequence stratigraphy, basin tectonics, paleobotany, magnetostratigraphy, paleoclimatology, biostratigraphy, and extinction studies. The project will also have direct and immediate extrinsic benefits and will provide superb educational opportunities. The 620m sequence to be studied contains the majority of the aquifers that provide water for the rapidly growing populations in the central Denver Basin. The location of the reference will is such that it will provide much needed data on water quality and aquifer characteristics. The local, state, and government agencies that will cost share to help fund the drilling of the reference will benefit not only from the science funded by this proposal but will also undertake their own hydrological research on the well core. The USGS Division of Water Resources will coordinate this aspect of the research. The well itself has the potential to be developed as a water resource for the town of Kiowa and for Elbert County.As the umbrella organization for the project, DMNH will coordinate the basic research and educational endeavors resulting from this research. Educational opportunities of this project are immense since they will link popular science, such as dinosaur extinction and fossil rainforests, with local resource utilization issues in one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country. Educational products focusing on the topics of paleontology, geology, hydrology, and resource utilization could include such diverse products as teacher training workshops, adult education symposia, temporary exhibits, and outreach exhibits.

9805474Johnson丹佛自然历史博物馆 (DMNH) 提议利用古生物学（植物巨型化石和孢粉形态）、磁性地层学和岩石地层学等多学科方法，为丹佛盆地的上白垩纪和下第三纪岩石开发一个综合的古生物学和地质框架。 该研究将基于大量的地表观测和化石遗址，这些化石遗址与该项目与地方、州和政府机构合作钻探的新取心井相关。 该井将位于丹佛盆地中心基奥瓦埃尔伯特县展览会场。 本提案充分支持的 610m 的磁性地层学、岩石地层学和孢粉地层学将用于为丹佛盆地建立参考地质年代学和生物地层学。 该主部分将用于关联盆地范围内的地表化石地点和观测结果。由此产生的数据框架将用于检验三个主要假设。-第一个假设是丹佛盆地包含两个不同的不整合面边界的同生地层序列。-第二个假设是墨西哥希克苏鲁伯的白垩纪-第三纪（K-T）边界撞击事件对近端造成了更大的生物损害 第三个假设是，拉拉米德丹佛盆地的演化和填充是由沉积物供应和沉降驱动的，而不是由气候变化驱动的。这项研究的内在好处将体现在层序地层学、盆地构造学、古植物学、磁性地层学、古气候学、生物地层学和灭绝研究领域。 该项目还将带来直接的外部效益，并将提供极好的教育机会。 待研究的 620m 序列包含大部分含水层，为丹佛盆地中部快速增长的人口提供水源。 参考地点的位置将提供急需的水质和含水层特征数据。 地方、州和政府机构将分担费用来帮助资助参考钻探，不仅将受益于该提案资助的科学，而且还将对井芯进行自己的水文研究。 美国地质调查局水资源部将协调这方面的研究。 该井本身有潜力被开发为基奥瓦镇和埃尔伯特县的水资源。作为该项目的伞式组织，DMNH 将协调这项研究产生的基础研究和教育工作。 该项目的教育机会是巨大的，因为它们将恐龙灭绝和化石雨林等科普知识与该国发展最快的城市地区之一的当地资源利用问题联系起来。 以古生物学、地质学、水文学和资源利用为主题的教育产品可以包括教师培训研讨会、成人教育研讨会、临时展览和外展展览等多种产品。