Palynological studies of the boundary marls unit (Albian-Cenomanian) from northeastern Spain. Paleophytogeographical implications

Abstract

ABSTRACT Detailed records of spore-pollen assemblages from four sites located in the Aliaga and Oliete Sub-basins provide new insights into the palaeoclimatic and palaeogeographic settings during the Albian-Cenomanian transition in the Maestrazgo Basin (northeastern Spain). Palynological taxa such as Afropollis jardinus Doyle, Jardine & Doerenkamp, 1982, Elaterosporites klaszii (Jardine & Magloire) Jardine, 1967, Equisetosporites ambiguus (Hedlund 1966) Singh, 1983, Gabonisporis pseudoreticulatus Boltenhagen, 1967, Senectotetradites varireticulatus Dettmann, 1973, Stellatopollis barghoornii Doyle, 1975, and the dinoflagellate cyst Cyclonephelium chabaca Below, 1981 indicate a latest Albian age for this unit. Abundance of Gondwanan elements such as Afropollis Doyle, Jardine & Doerenkamp, 1982, Elaterosporites Jardine, 1967 and Stellatopollis Doyle, 1975 indicates a northward extension of the paleogeographic distributions of those taxa during this time. Comparison between the studied microflora of the Iberi...