Paleobotany, Micropaleontology & Mineralogy

The department of paleobotany, micropaleontology and mineralogy oversees the: 1) Collection of Micropaleontology and Paleobotany, containing over 45,000 macrofossils most identifiable to genus or species and over 50,000 palynological slides and residues; 2) Coal Ball Collection, containing over 18,500 coal ball peels (free and mounted on microscope slides) and over 5,000 kg of cut and uncut coal balls; 3) Ostracod Collection, containing over 5,000 ostracods in micromounts; 4) and the museum’s 3,400 specimen collection of minerals, rocks and meteorites, including the Keyes Meteorite. As the state’s natural history museum, we maintain exceptionally large holdings of specimens from Oklahoma. For example, one collection extensively documents the palynology of 11 of the 17 major coal seams in Oklahoma, many of which are no longer available due to abandonment, flooding and reclamation. Nevertheless, we also have specimens from all 50 states and more than 50 countries. Overall, the collections contain more than 250 type and figured specimens. Overall, our collections document the paleobotany, palynology and micropaleontology of sediments from the Proterozoic to the Pleistocene, and represents a significant research source for comparative paleobotanical and/or paleoecological studies and for new, innovative investigations into the world’s geologic past.