Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4726156 | Earth-Science Reviews | 2011 | 12 Pages |
The Carboniferous and Permian fossiliferous sequences of the central-western Argentina contain abundant plant remains, palynomorphs and invertebrates. They include a continuous record of large distribution in the Paganzo, Rio Blanco, Calingasta-Uspallata and San Rafael Basins. The most recent biostratigraphic schemes recognize a floristic succession represented by the biozones: Archaeosigillaria–Frenguellia (AF Biozone), Frenguellia eximia–Nothorhacopteris kellaybelenensis–Cordaicarpus cesarii (FNC Biozone), Nothorhacopteris–Botrychiopsis–Ginkgophyllum (NBG Biozone), Interval Biozone and Gangamopteris Biozone. The associated palynological record is represented by the biozones: Reticulatisporites magnidictyus–Verrucosisporites quasigobbetti (MQ Biozone), Raistrickia densa–Convolutispora muriornata (DM Biozone), Pakhapites fusus–Vittatina subsaccata (FS Biozone), and Lueckisporites–Weylandites (LW Biozone). The precise age of the Upper Paleozoic western Gondwanan biozones has been under discussion and remains controversial to date in some regions. The main issue hampering an integrated comparison of the Gondwanan biozones was its imprecise chronostratigraphic framework. However, new studies in some Argentinian stratigraphic sections bearing floras and faunas have yielded several radiometric ages. From these 206Pb/238U zircon datings it is possible to determine the chronostratigraphic range of many fossiliferous assemblages in this sector of Gondwana. In this way, the AF and MQ Biozones are restricted to the Late Mississippian and they would be not younger than 335 Ma according to radiometric ages. 206Pb/238U ages suggest that the NBG, DMa and DMb Biozones characterize the Late Serpukhovian glacial deposits and persisted up to the Late Bashkirian. Beds containing the Interval and DMc Biozones have yielded 206Pb/238U ages of 312.82 ± 0.11 Ma and 310.71 ± 0.1 Ma which would indicate that both zones characterize the Moscovian. The remains of Gangamopteris Biozone found in the Paganzo Basin overlie basalt levels ranging between 308 ± 6 and 293 ± 6 Ma. Therefore, the incoming of the first glossopterids was closely associated to the Carboniferous–Permian boundary in this part of Gondwana. The data presented in this paper are used for establishing comparisons with other Gondwanan biozones, constrained by absolute ages.