Dr. Mohamed K Zobaa :: Publications:

The Gray Fossil Site preserves a paleolake sequence that contains a well preserved faunal and floral biota. It occurs as Miocene? aged fill which occupies a karst feature developed within Cambro-Ordovician carbonates. The palynofacies analysis of twenty eight subsurface core samples has revealed the presence of diverse and well preserved particulate organic matter. Phytoclasts and opaques are the most abundant organic constituents and have diluted both the palynomorph population and amorphous organic matter. This suggests an oxidizing depositional paleoenvironment or a localized high flux of charcoal following wildfires and subsequent increased runoff. The information provided by vitrinite reflectance, total organic carbon, pollen coloration and visual petrographic kerogen analysis was used to define source rock potential as well as organic thermal maturation level. Kerogen type III to IV indicative of gas prone source rock is proposed for the studied section. However, these rocks are thermally immature and not suitable for natural gas generation. Palynofacies analysis indicates that wildfire may have been an important and periodic element during deposition of the Gray Fossil Site sediments.