Late Mississippian to Early Pennsylvanian conodont biofacies in central Montana

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Abstract
Later Mississippian (upper Chesterian) to Early Pennsylvanian (lower Morrowan) conodont faunas were recovered from limestones and calcareous mudstones of the Alaska Bench Formation in central Montana. These faunas define 4 biofacies, each recognized by the dominance of a particular single element genus for which the biofacies is named. The Adetognathus biofacies represents lagoonal, tidal flat and barrier sediments. The Declinognathodus/Idiognathoides biofacies represents a deposition in shallow, open marine, offshore conditions. The Rhachistognathus biofacies represents a transitional environment between restricted, intertidal environments and normal marine, offshore environments. The Neognathodus biofacies represents shallow-water bay or lagoonal deposition, where environmental controls have effectively excluded other conodont faunas. The investigation of conodont biofacies provide improved biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental uses of conodont.