Taxonomic survey of Lower Permian algae from the southern Tatum Basin, southeastern New Mexico, USA.

Abstract

Lower Permian (Wolfcamp-Assel) rocks of the subsurface southern Tatum Basin of southeastern New Mexico are characterized by shoaling-upward carbonate cycles in which algae are an important biotic constituent. The phylloid alga Eugonophyllum is the most common and important algal component and commonly forms low-relief biostromal and biohermal buildups that are major hydrocarbon resevoirs in the study area. Endolithic algae are very common and appear to have bored a variety of grains, forming micrite envelopes on various skeletal fragments. Nonendolithic blue-green algae encrust phylloid algae and other skeletal fragments and occasionally form oncolites, with both intraclasts and shell fragments as nucleii. Tubiphytes commonly constructs local boundstone patches in phylloid algal mounds and also encrusts mound organisms. It is also found in grainstones associated with the mounds. Epimastopora is a minor constituent of both non-mound and mound rocks. The tubiform dasycladacean (?) Dvinella occurs in a thin grainstone in the Baum Field. This represents only the second reported Permian occurrence of this genus in North America. The algal (?) spore (?) Diplosphaerina occurs sporadically in the area. -from Author