Conodont paleontology of the Alum Cave Limestone Member of the Dugger Formation (Pennsylvanian, Desmoinesian) in the eastern part of the Illinois Basin

Abstract

The major purpose of this study of the conodonts of the Alum Cave Limestone Member of the Dugger Formation in Indiana is to enhance understanding of Desmoinesian (Pennsylvanian) biostratigraphy and paleoenvironments in the Illinois Basin. We collected samples from 25 localities in Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Posey, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, and War-rick Counties in southwestern Indiana. A thin unnamed dark gray to black shale generally, but not uniformly, separates the Alum Cave stratigraphically from the underlying Springfield Coal Member of the Petersburg Formation. Idiognathodus, primarily juveniles, domi-nates the conodont fauna. Hindeodus and Neognathodus are uncommon. Adetognathodus and Idioprioniodus are rare. Notably absent are Diplognathodus, Ubinates, and Gondolella.