Palynology 3(2-1) (PGP 3101)
Course Level:
2
Course Credit:
3 CU
Description:
This course deals with pollen and spores of modern plants that are used as references for the
identification of the fossilized ones using the shape and structures of pollen grains and spores.
The course covers taxonomy, application of fossil pollen in dating sediments, assessment of
maturity and quality of source rocks and the use of pollen/spores in tracing the origin of
oil/petroleum is emphasized.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to:
1. Use of fossil pollen in dating rock strata.
2. Describe the structures, textures, shapes of pollen grains and spores.
3. Identify using an optical microscope the different pollen grains/spores of modern and
ancient plants.
4. Describe the types of rock strata and the environment of deposition necessary for pollen
preservation.
5. Explain how fossil pollen provides a record of past environment and ecology.
6. Explain how fossil pollen provides knowledge to the provenance of migrating petroleum/
crude oil.
Course Outline
Content
Hours
Pollen: Definition, uses and conditions of fossilization, post-depositional 7
changes. Taxanomy
Pollen use in dating: Appearance and evolution of plants. The importance 8
of fossil pollen in dating.
Pollen use in source rock maturity and oil/gas provenance assessment
15
Pollen morphology: Characteristics, shapes, textures and structures of 30
pollen grains. The role of pollen in petroleum exploration.
Mode of delivery
The course will be taught by using lectures assignments and practicals.
Assessment
Assignment, practicals and tests
Final examination
Reading List:
40%
60%
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GRIMM, E. C. (1987): CONISS: A Fortran 77 program for stratigraphically constrained
cluster analysis by the method of incremental sum of squares. Computer and Geosciences
13, 13-35.
FAEGRI K. and IVERSEN J. (1975): Textbook of Pollen analysis. Copenhagen:
Munksgaard.
BONNEFILLE, R. and RIOLLET G. (1980): Pollens des savanes d’Afrique orientale.
Paris: Centre National de la Researche Scientifique (CNRS) Editions
READING, H.G., (1978). Sedimentary Environments: Processes, Facies and
Stratigraphy. Blackwell Science.
TYSON, R.V. (1995). Sedimentary Organic Matter, Organic and Palynofacies. Chapman
and Hall.
PEMBERTON S. GEORGE (1992), Applications of Ichnology to Petroleum
Exploration: A Core Workshop (S E P M Core Workshop) (Paperback), Sepm Society for
Sedimentary.
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AGASHE, S.N. (2008): Pollen and Spores: Applications With Special Emphasis on
Aerobiology and Allergy, Science Pub Inc
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TRAVERSE, A. (2007): Paleopalynology. Kluwer Academic Pub
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WALKER, M. (2005): Entomology And Palynology: Evidence from the Natural World