Albian Palynostratigraphy of ODP Leg 207 (Holes 1257A, 1258C and 1260B), Demerara Rise,Equatorial Atlantic

Palynological analyses were carried out in 96 core samples with the objective of determining the relative age of calcareous clays, in holes 1257A, 1258C and 1260B of ODP Leg 207, drilled on the Demerara Rise, northern coast of Suriname, Equatorial Atlantic. The palynological assemblages recovered consisted of spores, pollen grains, dinoflagellate cysts, palynoforaminifers and prasinophytes and appeared reasonably well preserved. The miospores showed little diversification, where the most significant genera were Crybelosporites and Elaterosporites. The dinocysts showed greater diversity and abundance, predominating over the miospores in the three holes. In the three holes analyzed, eight genera and three species of spores, eight genera and eleven species of pollen grains, and 24 genera and 44 species of dinoflagellates were identified. The middle to late Albian age was determined on the basis of bioevents of recognized species with chronostratigraphic value. The species diagnosed mostly included the miospores Elaterosporites protensus, Elaterosporites verrucatus, Inaperturopollenites simplex and the dinocysts Cribroperidinium muderongense, Dinopterygium cladoides, Litosphaeridium arundum, Litosphaeridium conispinum, Oligosphaeridium complex and Stiphrosphaeridium anthophorum.