Pollen and spore assemblages from the Falla Formation (Upper Triassic), Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica

Abstract

Palynofloral assemblages consisting of forty-four pollen and spore species assignable to thirty-six form genera were recovered from shales and coals of the lower part of the Falla Formation (Upper Triassic) from Mount Falla in the Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. The assemblages are of the Ipswich type that has been reported from the higher paleolatitudes of Gondwana. Correlation with southern Victoria Land, southern Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland supports a Late Triassic (Carnian/Norian) age for this assemblage. These samples contain diagnostic taxa from subzone C and one species from subzone D of the informal Alisporites zone of Kyle. Our samples also correlate with the lower part of De Jersey's Polycingulatisporites crenulatus Assemblage Zone from Queensland. Systematic comments are provided for all species, including four new combinations. Seven species are reported from the Upper Triassic of Antarctica for the first time.