New Spore and Pollen Data from the Upper Eocene Deposits of the Sambian Peninsula, Kaliningrad Oblast

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of continental palynomorphs from the amber-bearing Upper E-ocene deposits in the Primorsky quarry (Kaliningrad Oblast, southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea). Three spore and pollen assemblages were identified and calibrated with the dinoflagellate cyst Rhombodinium perforatum and Thalassiphora reticulata zones. The “Blue Earth” Member of the Prussian Formation of the early Priabonian age is characterized by the Tricolporopollenites exactus–T. retiformis–Quercoidites microhenrici assemblage. The upper Priabonian “Upper Quicksand” and “White Wall” members of the Prussian Formation and the Palvé Formation are characterized by the Platanipollis ipelensis–Castaneoideaepollis oviformis–Tricolpopollenites foraminatus assemblage. The Inaperturopollenites–Sciadopityspollenites–Sequoiapollenites assemblage was recognized in the uppermost Palvé and lowermost Kurshskaya formations of the terminal Priabonian age. During the late Eocene the climatic conditions on the territory of the modern southern Baltic area were quite warm and humid, close to subtropical ones. Mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests grew along the shores of the marine paleostrait, while the open spaces were occupied by heat-loving evergreen and moderately heat-loving deciduous shrubs and low-lying land areas were swamped. At the end of the Priabonian, a gradual regression of the sea basin began, which led to an increase in swampy areas on land, while the climate was still quite warm and humid.