US-Czech Research on Plant Taphonomic Character of Intermontane Carboniferous Floras

INT 9513189 Gastaldo这个由奥本大学的Robert Gastaldo和捷克地质调查局的Zbynek Simunek合作的美国-捷克古植物学研究项目将研究波希米亚地块的石炭纪植物，如捷克共和国三个山间盆地的地质沉积所代表的那样。其目的是将这些沉积环境的特征与美国参与者所熟知的阿巴拉契亚山脉密西西比-彭斯利瓦尼亚层型剖面中发现的泥炭沼泽低地海岸植物群和碎屑底质植物组合进行比较。这项比较工作将大量利用捷克地质调查局过去几十年从钻孔中提取的大量植物化石。其目的是在配置环境中解释这些数据集。这一合作研究的结果将有助于我们对美国山间盆地石炭纪植物群的开挖条件的了解。这一点意义重大，因为大多数欧美地层都受到海平面大范围波动的影响。相比之下，来自波西米亚地块的样品提供了在山间盆地内持续部署的例子。对这些盆地的沉积学和植物群方面的比较了解有望在横跨纳穆尔纪(密西西比晚期)到奥图尼亚(宾夕法尼亚晚期-早二叠世)的地区产生关于古气候变化和植被反应的有价值的新信息。这将提供一个机会，在不受海岸影响的背景下，评估该地质区间内石炭纪植被的变化。此外，这些研究结果还可以对煤层中硫和灰分的来源以及山间盆地的煤层气潜力提供实际的认识。这一古植物学和古环境研究项目通过使美国和东欧的顶尖专家能够在共同感兴趣和能力的领域结合互补的人才和汇集研究资源，实现了促进基础科学知识的计划目标。?？

INT 9513189 Gastaldo This U.S.-Czech paleobotanical research project between Robert Gastaldo of Auburn University and Zbynek Simunek of the Czech Geological Survey will examine Carboniferous plants of the Bohemian Massif as represented in geologic deposits of three intermontane basins of the Czech Republic. The intent is to compare the characteristics of these deposition environments with lowland coastal floras of peat swamps and clastic substrate plant assemblages found in the Mississippian-Pennslyvanian stratotype section of the Appalachians which are well known to the U.S. participants. The comparative work will draw heavily upon a large fossil plant collection extracted from boreholes over past decades by the Czech Geological Survey. The intent is to interpret these data sets within dispositional context. Results of this cooperative study should contribute to our knowledge of the taphonomic conditions of Carboniferous floras in the intermontane basins of the United States. This is significant because most Euramerican strata were subjected to wide-scale fluctuations in eustatic sea level. In contrast, samples from the Bohemian Massif offer examples of continuous disposition within intermontane basins. A comparative understanding of the sedimentological and floras aspects in these basins is expected to yield valuable new information on paleoclimate change and vegetational responses during an area spanning the Namurian (Late Mississippian) into the Autunian (Late Pennsylvanian-Early Permian). This will provide an opportunity to assess Carboniferous vegetation change over this geological interval in a setting outside coastal influences. Additionally, results may provide practical insights concerning the origin of sulfur and ash in coal beds as well as coal bed methane potential in intermontane basins, in general. This project in paleobotany and paleoenvironmental research fulfills the program objective of advancing basic scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of mutual interest and competence. ??