The recent discovery of fossils in the Wilhite Formation, Walden Creek Group, Ocoee Supergroup in the Blue Ridge province of southern Appalachians provided evidence of Silurian or younger age for the Walden Creek Group. This result indicates that post- Tatonic successor basins extended in the Blue Ridge province from Alabama to east-central Tennessee, and makes necessary revision of current models of geodynamic evolution of the southern Appalachians. At present only the older age limit for the Walden CReek Group is established, and the younger age limit remains undetermined. The objective of the proposed research is to obtain more fossil material that would allow a precise determination of the age of the Walden Creek Group rocks. To this end field sampling and mapping, fossil and microfossil extraction in the laboratory, taxonomic determinations and establishment of stratigraphic biozones will be undertaken. The significance of the proposed research lies in providing time constraints on formation of post-Taconic successor basins for new models of geodynamic evolution of the southern Appalachians.
