A Danian subtropical lacustrine palynobiota from South America (Bororó Formation, San Jorge Basin, Patagonia - Argentina)

New results on a lacustrine Danian palynological association in extra-andean northern Patagonia (lower member of the Cerro Bororó Formation, San Jorge Basin, Chubut province, Argentina) are presented. This is a contribution to the largely unexplored field of Paleogene freshwater environments. The palynobiota includes representatives of the kingdoms Protoctista and Plantae. Twelve of the aquatic species are Protoctista. From the nine Chlorophyta form-species, four correspond to Botryococcaceae, one to Coelastraceae and four to Zygnemataceae (Gelasinicysta, Schizosporis, Ovoidites, and Pseudoschizaea). The remaining forms are dinoflagellate cysts (Peridinium and dinocyst indet.) and prasinophyceans (Leiosphaeridia). Plants are represented by spores and pollen of Bryophytes (Sphagnaceae and Ricciaceae), Pteridophytes (Salviniaceae), and Angiosperms (Arecaceae, Araceae and Sparganiaceae/Typhaceae, the latter representing macrophytes living in or near the swampy areas). Other palynomorph groups closely related with biotopes of permanent moisture are dominated by spores of the families Selaginellaceae, Lycopodiaceae, Cyatheaceae, Schizaeaceae, Polypodiaceae and Psilotaceae. The palynological assemblage reflects a freshwater lacustrine environment that developed in a marine coastal zone nearby brackish coastal swamps. Based on the composition of the palynoflora including palm pollen and other thermophilous taxa, humid, warm climatic conditions are inferred for the area of deposition

A Danian subtropical lacustrine palynobiota from South America (Bororó Formation, San Jorge Basin, Patagonia - Argentina)

New results on a lacustrine Danian palynological association in extra-andean northern Patagonia (lower member of the Cerro Bororó Formation, San Jorge Basin, Chubut province, Argentina) are presented. This is a contribution to the largely unexplored field of Paleogene freshwater environments. The palynobiota includes representatives of the kingdoms Protoctista and Plantae. Twelve of the aquatic species are Protoctista. From the nine Chlorophyta form-species, four correspond to Botryococcaceae, one to Coelastraceae and four to Zygnemataceae (Gelasinicysta, Schizosporis, Ovoidites, and Pseudoschizaea). The remaining forms are dinoflagellate cysts (Peridinium and dinocyst indet.) and prasinophyceans (Leiosphaeridia). Plants are represented by spores and pollen of Bryophytes (Sphagnaceae and Ricciaceae), Pteridophytes (Salviniaceae), and Angiosperms (Arecaceae, Araceae and Sparganiaceae/Typhaceae, the latter representing macrophytes living in or near the swampy areas). Other palynomorph groups closely related with biotopes of permanent moisture are dominated by spores of the families Selaginellaceae, Lycopodiaceae, Cyatheaceae, Schizaeaceae, Polypodiaceae and Psilotaceae. The palynological assemblage reflects a freshwater lacustrine environment that developed in a marine coastal zone nearby brackish coastal swamps. Based on the composition of the palynoflora including palm pollen and other thermophilous taxa, humid, warm climatic conditions are inferred for the area of deposition

eEdad 40Ar/39Ar para la biota de plantas, anuros e insectos del Eoceno Temprano de Pampa de Jones (Formación Huitrera, provincia del Neuquén, Argentina)

The Pampa de Jones fossil site, a stratigraphically isolated roadcut near the northeastern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake in Neuquén Province, Argentina, holds a rich fossil biota including a macroflora, a microflora, insects, and most famously, an ontogenetic series of pipid frogs. The site exposes tuffaceous mudstone and sandstone beds of probable lacustrine origin, considered to belong to the volcanic Huitrera Formation. However, there have been no reliable age constraints for the fossil assemblage. We undertook laser fusion analyses of sanidine and biotite crystals occurring in a tuff layer found 4.4 m above the main fossil horizon. Twentyeight sanidine crystals yielded an 40ArZ39Ar age of 54.24 ± 0.45 Ma that is preferred over our biotite age of 53.64 ± 0.35 Ma. Pampa de Jones is thus the oldest well-dated Eocene fossil site in Patagonia, predating two other recently 40Ar/39Ar-dated sites: Laguna del Hunco (51.91 ± 0.22 Ma) and Rio Pichileufu (47.46 ± 0.05 Ma). The improved age control makes possible a finer scale of evolutionary hypothesis testing and turnover analysis in the region. The age is concordant with the site's placement in the Huitrera Formation and a depositional origin related to Early Paleogene arc volcanism, and it correlates to an interval of significant climate fluctuations following the Paleocene-Eocene boundary. ©Asociación Paleontológica Argentina.La localidad de Pampa de Jones es un afloramiento estratigráficamente aislado, cercano a la costa noreste del Lago Nahuel Huapi en la Provincia del Neuquén, Argentina. Contiene una rica biota fósil que incluye macroflora, microflora, insectos y una reconocida serie ontogenética de pípidos. La secuencia estratigráfica consiste de fangolitas y areniscas tufáceas de probable origen lacustre, asignada a la Formación Huitrera. La ausencia de datos geocronológicos directos ha impedido la estimación de edades confiables para esta paleobiota. En este trabajo se analizan por fusión láser los cristales de sanidina y biotita presentes en un nivel de toba ubicado a 4.4 m por encima del principal horizonte fosilífero. Veintiocho cristales de sanidina arrojaron una edad 40Ar/39Ar de 54.24 ± 0.45 Ma, la cual se prefiere a la edad de 53.64 ± 0.35 Ma estimada a partir de la biotita. La biota de Pampa de Jones es la más antigua del Eoceno de Patagonia datada radiométricamente, y precede a las dos localidades Eocenas datadas en la región: Laguna del Hunco (51.91 ± 0.22 Ma) y Río Pichileufú (47.46 ± 0.05 Ma). El control cronológico ajustado permitirá evaluar hipótesis evolutivas y analizar recambios en la región con una mayor resolución temporal. La edad obtenida concuerda con la ubicación de la secuencia dentro de la Formación Huitrera y con el origen de los depósitos asociados al volcanismo de arco del Paleógeno temprano, y se correlaciona con un lapso de significativas fluctuaciones climáticas ocurridas con posterioridad al pasaje Paleoceno-Eoceno.Fil: Wilf, Peter. State University of Pennsylvania; Estados UnidosFil: Singer, Brad S.. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Zamaloa, María del Carmen. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Johnson, Kirk R.. Denver Museum of Nature & Science; Estados UnidosFil: Cúneo, Néstor Rubén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentin

Angiosperm association from the Río Turbio Formation (Eocene–?Oligocene) Santa Cruz, Argentina: revision of Hünicken’s (1955) fossil leaves collection

The Río Turbio Formation (Eocene–?Oligocene) is of particular paleobotanical interest owing to its combination of high fossil plant diversity associated with the coexistence of warm-temperate and cool-temperate components. As the first suite of fossils related to a documented stratigraphic section, Hünicken’s fossil plant collection is one of the most important from the Paleogene of South America. A total of 34 angiosperm species from the collection were reviewed and taxonomically updated, with Nothofagus as the dominant genus. The taxa identified indicate a warm and humid climate with the development of some elements of a cool-temperate climate marked by a transitional climate change to cooler conditions. The comparison of angiosperms from different paleofloras from the southernmost of South America confirms that the assemblage of Río Turbio Formation was similar to that of the Río Pichileufú area, both from Patagonia, Argentina.Fil: Vento, Barbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Pramparo, Mercedes Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentin