Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, Round Bay, Maryland

Abstract

The Monmouth and Brightseat Formations contain a rich and diverse dinoflagellate assemblage. Thirty-five genera and sixty-six species, of which two genera and eight species are new, are described in this study. The stratigraphic distribution of the taxa is summarized in Figure 4. The content of the assemblage changes suddenly at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary with thirteen species making the~r first appearance at or just above the boundary. Nineteen species cross the boundary and thirty-five species are restricted to the Cretaceous. The rather sudden change in the nature of the dinoflagellate assemblage at the boundary is interpreted by the author to indicate a paraconformable relationship between the Cretaceous and Paleocene sediments. The term paraconformity is used since there is little field evidence (a few pebbles, some lignite, and evidence of boring) indicating any extensive period of erosion at the boundary.