Integration of data from the palynological analysis of acritarchs and chitinozoa, together with conodont data, provides biostratigraphic results in all environments from wide carbonate platform, inner and outer shelf, basin margin, to deep basin sediments.

This integrated data is of great value in Paleozoic exploration biostratigraphy, in particular where miospore and calcareous microfossil data are inadequate. The acritarch data are of prime importance as the numerous, diverse assemblages provide a refined biostratigraphy of shelf and basin margin sediments worldwide; the chitinozoa are of particular value in deep basin areas, whereas the conodonts are of value in carbonate platform areas.

Identification of basin margins and basin subsidence can be gained by the preservation and known environmental distribution of selected acritarchs and chitinozoa. Sediment source areas can be identified using recycled palynomorphs. Thermal maturation based on vitrinite reflectance cannot be applied to pre-Silurian rocks; in the Paleozoic visual kerogen analysis including acritarch and chitinozoa colors, together with conodont coloration and organic pyrolysis provides the data on organic thermal maturation and source rock oil and gas potential.

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