Geology and Palynology of the Hilly Area Southeast of Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Stratigraphical and palynological studies on the Cenozoic deposits of the hilly area southeast of Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, were undertaken to determine the biostratigraphy based upon the pollen grains, the geological ages of the stratal units based upon the fossil pollen, the conditions under which the sedimentary basin was developed, and the relationship between transportation and deposition of the pollen. The stratigraphical sequence of the vertically and laterally variable lithofacies was determined, the geological structure of the sedimentary basin analysed, and the relationship between lithofacies and pollen-content interpreted from the viewpoint of aqueous and wind transportation. The paleoclimatic conditions during the ages of the different formation was worked out, and consideration was given to the features of the hinterland during deposition of the respective formations. Concerning the palynological study, the procedure, descriptions and interpretations are given in detail. A total of 9 species of pollen distributed among 34 genera were determined from the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene sediments of the area. Among them 4 species are considered new form-species or species