Aspects of middle and late triassic palynology. 2. Preliminary palynological data from the hornos—siles formation of the prebetic zone,NE province of Jaen (Southeastern Spain)

The present paper provides preliminary palynostratigraphical data from the Hornos section, one of the characteristic sections of the Hornos—Siles Formation (Triassic of the Prebetic Zone), NE province of Jaén, Spain.Some remarks are made on the lithostratigraphical development of this formation and its tectonic complications. The palynological assemblages recognized are attributed to the scheme of successive phases in compositional development of palynological assemblages established for the late Middle—Late Triassic; the assemblages indicate a Ladinian—Karnian age for the formation.     

Age determination of the Arcillas de Morella Formation (Maestrazgo Basin,Spain)

New palynological analysis of the Arcillas de Morella Formation provides data for determinations of age of the Lower Cretaceous strata in the Ermita Sant Antoni de la Vespa section located in the district of Els Ports in the Morella sub-basin of Castellón province, north-eastern Spain. Controversy still exists over the age of this formation, which is imprecisely dated as either Barremian or Aptian in age. Detailed reconnaissance of palynological content (dinocyst, pollen and spore assemblages) together with ammonoid data permits a more accurate biostratigraphic assessment of this deposit. The presence of Subtilisphaera terrula, Florentinia mantelli and Oligosphaeridium abaculum indicates a Barremian age at the base of the formation. The presence of Stellatopollis at the top of this formation possibly indicates that the deposit may be as old as latest Barremian. Furthermore, a recent study of ammonoids situated the Barremian-Aptian boundary within the overlying Cap de Vinyet Member of the Forcall Formation in the Morella sub-basin. This study together with the palynological assemblage from the Arcillas de Morella Formation indicates a Barremian age for this deposit.     

The Middle Stone Age archaeology of the Lower Omo Valley Kibish Formation: excavations, lithic assemblages, and inferred patterns of early Homo sapiens behavior

This paper describes the excavation, stratigraphy, and lithic assemblages of Middle Stone Age sites from the Omo Kibish Formation (Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia). Three sites were excavated, two in Kibish Member I (KHS and AHS) and one at the base of Member III (BNS). The assemblages are dominated by relatively high-quality raw materials procured as pebbles from local gravels. The principal modes of core preparation are radial/centripetal Levallois and discoidal. Retouched tools are rare. Foliate bifaces are present, as are larger tools, such as handaxes, picks, and lanceolates, but these are more common among surface finds than among excavated assemblages. Middle Stone Age assemblages shed light on the adaptations of the earliest-known Homo sapiens populations in Africa.     

Middle Jurassic Spore- pollen Assemblages from Turpan- Shanshan Area,Xinjiang

The Middle Jurassic palynoflora from the two wells of PUl and CN1 of Turpan-Shanshan area in Xinjiang consists of 97 species of fossil spores and pollen grains referred to 45 genera, of which 2 species are newly described. Three palynological assemblages including: 1) Cyathidites-Cycadopites-Quadraeculina (CCQ), 2) Cyathidites-Classopollis-Picites (CCP) and 3 ) Granu-latisporites-Classopollis-Podocarpidites (GCP) assemblages are established in the Xishanyao, Sanjianfang and Qiketai Formations, respectively. Comparisons have been made between these assemblages with those of the adjacent regions in Xinjiang and other domestic areas and at abroad. The geological age of the CCQ assemblage is suggested to be at early Middle Jurassic (corresponding to Aalenian to Bajocian age); while the CCP and GCP assemblages are considered to be at late Middle Jurassic (corresponding to early to late Bathonian age, respectively).     

四川盆地自流井组东岳庙段植物化石及下-中侏罗统的界线

对采自四川盆地云阳一带自流井组东岳庙段14属18种植物化石进行了研究,其中描述1个新种Stachypteris? anomala Meng(sp．nov.)和1个首见于区内的种Klukia exilis(Phillips)。东岳庙段植物组合的重要分子是从下伏珍珠冲段延续而来的,这表明此组合基本承袭了珍珠冲段的组合面貌。依据Dictyophyllum nilssoni,D．nathorsti,Otozamites hsiangchiensis等尚未见于中侏罗世和自流井组明显分为两大沉积旋回,指出东岳庙段的时代属早侏罗世托尔期(Toarcian)和四川盆地下-中侏罗统的界线以划在自流井组东岳庙段与马鞍山段之间为宜。     

新疆吐鲁番—鄯善地区中侏罗世孢粉组合

研究新疆吐鲁番鄯善地区葡１井和草南１井中侏罗世孢子花粉化石４５属９７种,包括２个新种。建立西山窑组、三间房组和七克台组共３个孢粉组合,其地质时代相当于中侏罗世早期和晚期。     

湖北秭归盆地中侏罗世陈家湾组孢粉组合的发现及其意义

本文首次报道了湖北秭归盆地陈家湾组孢粉组合,该组合可归入Cyathidites minor-Classopollis Callialasporites为代表的组合,时代属中侏罗世。陈家湾组孢粉组合的特征反映了秭归盆地中侏罗世泄滩组、陈家湾组和沙溪庙组三个组的孢粉组合的面貌基本一致,仅早期组合与中、晚期组合略有差别。建议以Gyathidites minor-classopollis-callialasportes组合代表湖北西部——重庆地区中侏罗世孢粉组合,早期为Lunzisporites pallidus亚组合,中晚期为Converrrcosisporites venitus亚组合。根据孢粉植物群在本区侏罗纪垂直分布情况,提出早侏罗世时期属亚热带一热带炎热潮湿气候环境,植物生长茂盛;早侏罗世之后,潮湿的气候仍占主导地位,但出现了干旱的先兆;中侏罗世早期进入了半干旱阶段,随后即为炎热干旱的气候所笼罩;至晚侏罗世达到非常干旱的程度,植物种类十份单调,唯有掌鳞杉科植物占据着统治地位。     

The palynological assemblages from the J–K boundary beds of the Bureya Basin,Russian Far East

Palynological assemblages were studied from the coal-bearing Upper Jurassic (Talanja Formation) to the Lower Cretaceous (Dublikan Formation) deposits of the Bureya Basin, Russia. The palynological assemblages from the upper part of the Talanja Formation are dominated by gymnosperms, mainly Ginkgocycadophytus (up to 40%) and conifers related to Pinaceae (up to 70%). The contribution of non-seed plants is not great, but their diversity is considerable. The miospore assemblages of the Talanja sequence are characterized by the last appearance of the spore taxa Staplinisporites pocockii, Camptotriletes cerebriformis, Camptotriletes nitida, and Cingulatisporites sanguinolentus. The palynological assemblage from the Dublikan Formation is dominated by ferns (up to 84%), represented mainly by Cyathidites and Duplexisporites. Among gymnosperms the role of Classopollis increases (making up about 20%). Another feature is the first appearance of the spore taxa Stereisporites bujargiensis, Neoraistrickia rotundiformis, Contignisporites dorsostriatus, Appendicisporites tricostatus, and Concavissimisporites asper.     

内蒙古宁城道虎沟地区中侏罗世非海相双壳类Ferganoconcha

Ferganoconcha是广泛分布于我国北部、中亚、西伯利亚和乌拉尔地区下、中侏罗统的一类非海相双壳类。Ferganoconchasibirica的产出表明道虎沟地区道虎沟层与辽西地区的海房沟组和冀北地区的九龙山组层位相当,时代介于早侏罗世晚期至中侏罗世之间。结合昆虫和叶肢介化石反映的时代,认为道虎沟层的时代可能为中侏罗世早中期。综合近年来在Ferganoconchidae的分类方面取得的进展,对F.sibirica进行了重新厘定。     

海南岛昌江地区石炭纪牙形刺化石

海南岛昌江地区前人所称南好组第四段及第三段分别发现的牙形刺Siphonodella isosticha-S.cooperi组合及Mesogondolella clarki组合,表明该组包括了早石炭早期及晚石炭世早中期,而不是传统的认为的属早石炭世并可能包括中－晚泥盆世,同时还证实原南好组第三段层位远远高于第四段,而不是位于其下,从而纠正了前人长期沿用的该地区石炭系层序的错误,并指出昌江地区石炭纪牙形刺属华南古生物地理系。     

Angiosperm pollen grains of San Just site (Escucha Formation) from the Albian of the Iberian Range (north-eastern Spain)

The most complete angiospermous palynological assemblage for the middle-earliest late Albian of north-eastern Spain is reported from the Middle Member of the Escucha Formation at the San Just site. Nine palynological samples yielded mainly monosulcates (Clavatipollenites, Dichastopollenites, Hammenia, Jusinghipollis, Liliacidites, Pennipollis including proposed new species P. escuchensis, Retimonocolpites, and Transitoripollis) and a few tricolpates (Phimopollenites, Rousea, Striatopollis, and Tricolpites). These assemblages, mainly composed of angiosperm pollen grains, suggest that significantly diversified flowering plants flourished both in brackish and freshwater swamp plain environments represented by the Escucha Formation in Albian times, although they were less diverse than angiosperms in the Late Cretaceous. The palynological assemblages share greatest similarities with those of other southern Laurasian localities, although there are some taxa more typical of palynofloras of northern Gondwana.     

Palynological investigation in the lower jurassic of the vicentinian alps (Northeastern Italy)

The present paper emphasizes the applicability of palynological data as an aid to the solution of the problems related to the correlation of non-ammonitiferous Liassic strata in the Southern Alps with the ammonoid-based standard stages as recognized in the outer-Alpine part of Europe.In the Noriglio Grey Limestone Formation of the Vicentinian Alps, northeastern Italy, rich and well-preserved Liassic palynological assemblages can be abundantly found in the marly intercalations of its upper part; in the lower part palynological assemblages have appeared to be very rare. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the assemblages has indicated the presence of a single palynological assemblage zone. Minor compositional differences do not warrant a zonal subdivision.The overall composition of the assemblages is characterized by the general dominance of Circulina and smooth trilete spores in combination with a large amount of relatively rarely occurring forms of spores, pollen grains and other acid-resistant microfossils.Because of the presence of rich and well-preserved material, it has been possible to detect a relatively wide range of variability within species of Tigrisporites, Foveosporites, Porcellispora and Crassosphaera.Among the forms which could not be matched with previously described taxa the new formgenus Skarbysporites is formally erected together with the new species Skarbysporites elsendoornii, Skarbysporites puntii, Foveosporites visscheri and Tigrisporites jonkeri. Moreover, an emended diagnosis of Circulina is proposed, implicating the assignment to this formgenus of most forms generally included in Classo pollis. Also the generic diagnosis of Tigrisporites is emended.An evaluation of the Liassic palynological assemblages from the outer-Alpine part of Europe with special reference to their potential in characterizing the ammonoid-based chronostratigraphical subdivisions may indicate that two temporal subdivisions of the Liassic Series on the basis of palynological characteristics are now slowly becoming discernable: an assemblage zone characterizing the Hettangian, Sinemurian and Lower Pliensbachian, and an assemblage zone characterizing the Upper Pliensbachian and Toarcian.Because of the possibility of a correlation with the latter zone, the assemblages from the Noriglio Grey Limestone Formation can be reasonably regarded to be indicative of a Late Pliensbachian—Toarchian age of the source-strata.When considering the ammonoid evidence from the overlying “Cape San Vigilio Oolite” it may be concluded that the upper part of the lower subdivision of the Noriglio Grey Limestone Formation and the Rotzo Member represent the Upper Pliensbachian—Lower Toarcian.Because of its potential in correlating non-ammonitiferous strata from the Southern Alps with the successions in northwestern Europe, it is believed that palynology may earn a prominent place in regional Liassic chronostratigraphy.     

Palynofacies and TOC analysis of marine and non-marine sediments across the Middle–Upper Jurassic boundary in the central-northern Lusitanian Basin (Portugal)

The Middle–Upper Jurassic transition is a geodynamic benchmark in the evolutionary history of several peri-Atlantic basins. Contrary to the vast Tethyan and peri-Tethyan areas, in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal), this interval corresponds to a major basin-wide disconformity preceded by a complex forced regression that induced sharp facies variations across the depositional systems. The Middle Jurassic units below are fully marine, whereas the Upper Jurassic sediments (Lower?-Middle Oxfordian), correspond to freshwater/brackish lacustrine, grading into punctuated brackish-restricted lagoonal and shallow-marine paleoenvironments. This study presents total organic carbon and palynofacies data of 34 samples (total analyzed thickness about 85 m) collected from three key sections encompassing the Middle–Upper Jurassic transition in the central-northern sector of the Lusitanian Basin. The palynofacies of the analyzed part of Middle Jurassic units (Cabo Mondego Formation) are characteristic of marine environments at their base, evidencing upwards a regressive trend of the depositional systems. Total organic carbon content is generally low, reaching up to 1.94 wt%. The Upper Jurassic Cabaços Formation presents kerogen assemblages mostly of continental origin, although punctuated by minor intervals of marine influence. Total organic carbon content is more variable, reaching up to 30.56 wt%. Intraclasts of re-deposited fragments of microbial mats were found incorporated in the kerogen assemblages, which point to highly dynamic erosional and depositional processes. Diversity of Botryococcus sp. occurrences was confirmed as an indicator of the degree of paleoenvironmental stability. The vertical distribution and comparison of the kerogen assemblages of the different sections indicate major changes of these parameters among relatively close settings and along narrow vertical intervals, attesting to the high sedimentary dynamics observed in the Lusitanian Basin.     

黔东早—中寒武世凯里组疑源类组合及其界线意义

通过对台江八郎和丹寨两条剖面凯里组中疑源类化石的分析,研究,台江剖面产疑源类化石有17属35各（12未定种）,其中以Leiosphaeridia,Synsphareidium,Cymatiosphaera,Pterospermella最为丰富,可划分为3个组合,即Cymatiosphaera cf.cristata-Fimbriaglomerella memebrancea组合,Cristallinium-Micrhystridium-Pterospermella组合和Dictyotidium-Granomarginata组合,丹寨平寨剖面凯里组所产疑源类化石有：13属21种（5未定种）,同样划分为3个组合,即Leiosphaeridia-Tasmanites组合,Retisphaeridium-Micrhystridium tentatium组合和Baltisphaeridium-Bubomorpha hunjiangensis组合,本文对两条剖面中的凝源类化石的组成,相对含量做了详细的统计,发现在八郎剖面9－2层和平寨剖面3层疑源类的丰度,分异度开始发生明显的变化,表现由早寒武世向中寒武世疑源类组合面貌的转变,这一疑源类转变层位正好是与三叶虫划分的中,下寒武统界线的层位位置相一致,这充分表明疑源类化石可作为划分中,下寒武统的极有价值的微体生物化石证据。     

Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Opalinuston Formation (Middle Jurassic) in the Aalenian type area in southwest Germany and north Switzerland

Feist‐Burkhardt, S. & Pross, J. 2010: Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Opalinuston Formation (Middle Jurassic) in the Aalenian type area in southwest Germany and north Switzerland. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 10–31. In order to provide a detailed dinoflagellate cyst stratigraphy of the Lower Aalenian Opalinuston Formation from the Aalenian type area, 68 samples from four boreholes and one outcrop section were analysed. The sample localities are Hausen an der Fils and Wittnau in southwest Germany, Weiach in north Switzerland and Mont Russelin in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages were recovered from the Late Toarcian Aalensis Zone to the Late Aalenian Murchisonae Zone. The samples yielded rich, well‐preserved and diverse assemblages with 51 dinoflagellate cyst taxa identified in total. The dinoflagellate cyst distribution data obtained from this study allow a high‐resolution biostratigraphical subdivision of the lowermost Middle Jurassic Opalinuston Formation into four palynostratigraphical units. First and last occurrences, acmes and consistent presence of the species Batiacasphaera sp. A, Evansia cf. granochagrinata, Kallosphaeridium praussii, Nannoceratopsis triangulata, Phallocysta? frommernensis and Wallodinium laganum were selected as the criteria for defining these units. The obtained high‐resolution palynostratigraphical scheme provides a basis for establishing and further refining early Middle Jurassic biostratigraphy in the Boreal and Tethyan realms. □Aalenian, biostratigraphy, dinoflagellate cysts, Germany, Jurassic, Switzerland, Toarcian.     

Early Middle Jurassic vertebrate microremains from the Three Gorges area,southern China

Vertebrate microremains were collected from the Middle Jurassic freshwater deposits of the Lower Member of the Xietan Formation in the Three Gorges area, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. They include remains of hybodont sharks (Hybodus aff. “H.” parvidens, Hybodus sp., cf. Parvodus sp., Polyacrodus sp. and Hubeiodus ziguiensis gen. et sp. nov.), an actinopterygian fish, and a crocodyliform. The diversity of hybodont sharks in the Xietan Formation and the appearance of a peculiar pattern of tooth morphology in Hubeiodus ziguiensis suggest the adaptive radiation of these sharks in freshwater systems in China during the Middle Jurassic. This diversification led to the rich endemic hybodont faunas of the Lower Cretaceous in Asia.     

Record of the Carnian Pluvial Episode in the Polish microflora

The dry climate that prevailed during the Triassic period in the eastern part of the Central European Basin was interrupted by several humid episodes of varying durations. One of them was the Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE), which took place in the late Julian (early Carnian age) and is confined to Camerosporites secatus and Aulisporites astigmosus palynological zones. CPE is marked by a significant change in the qualitative and quantitative composition of spore-pollen assemblages from mostly xerophytic species preserved in the upper part of the Grabfeld Formation (“Lower Gipskeuper”) to hygrophytic forms, which dominate in the Stuttgart Formation (“Schilfsandstein”). Changes in climate towards more humid conditions have been documented palynologically and sedimentologically, and analyzed utilizing quantitative spore-pollen analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of miospores occurring in core material from Poland. In all the studied boreholes, a shift from dry to wet climate is observed at the boundary between the Grabfeld Formation and the Stuttgart Formation, which matches the data from other European regions.     

Parahorologinella gen.nov.--松辽盆地早白垩世孢形体一新属

Parahorologinella gen．nov．是一类多细胞、单层的定形群体化石,亲缘上可能与绿藻植物门有关。属下仅一种：P．ciconica gen．etsp．nov．,产于松辽盆地东南部登楼库组第三段。据同层孢粉化石的研究,时代为早白垩世阿尔必期,代表微咸一淡水的沉积环境。     

塔里木盆地中央隆起区下志留统柯坪塔格组划分对比及分布规律

本文总结了塔里木盆地西北缘露头剖面和典型钻井(草1井与托甫2井)剖面柯坪塔格组岩电及生物特征,并在此基础上对中央隆起区32口主要钻井的柯坪塔格组进行连井地层划分对比及地震剖面标定追踪。结合对等T0图分析,探讨了研究区柯坪塔格组三段分布规律。研究表明,柯坪塔格组上段分布最广,除麻扎塔格-塘参1-顺南地区以南没有发育外,其余地区均有发育,地层厚度一般在100—300m不等,在顺托果勒地区及方1井区以北分布厚度最大,超过了300m。柯坪塔格组上段总体分布表现出南薄北厚、东西分布不均的特点。柯坪塔格组中段与柯坪塔格组下段分布局限,仅在和4-顺西1-顺南3-塔中32井以北地区有发育。柯坪塔格组中段厚度一般只有40—60m,柯坪塔格组下段厚度一般为200—300m,两者厚度均表现出南薄北厚的分布特点。     

Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous palynology of the CSDP-2 Borehole in the southern Yellow Sea,China

Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous spores recovered from the depths of 2140 m to 2031.3 m in the CSDP-2 Borehole in the southern Yellow Sea are systematically documented to characterize palynological associations for the stratigraphic correlation. The taxonomic study identifies 96 species belonging to 48 genera, including a re-examination of 33 previously described and indeterminate species. Three palynological associations are established for the Wutong Formation in the CSDP-2 Borehole. In ascending order, these are the late Famennian Aneurospora asthenolabrata–Geminospora lemurata (AL) Association from the proposed Guanshan Member, the latest Famennian Cymbosporites circinatus–Asperispora acuta (CA) Association from the lower part of the proposed Leigutai Member, and the Tournaisian Auroraspora macra–Lophozonotriletes involutus (MI) Association of the upper part of the latter member. The AL and CA associations are correlated with the palynological assemblages in the Guanshan Member, and those in the lower to middle parts of the Leigutai Member of the Wutong Formation that outcrops in the suburbs of Nanjing and southern Jiangsu. The MI Association is similar to those derived from the uppermost beds of the subsurface Wutong Formation and is dated as early Tournaisian.