GeoResources - Distribution and Preservation of Palynomorphs, Lower Carboniferous, Central and Western Europe


	Distribution and Preservation of Palynomorphs across the Lower Carboniferous Shelf of Central and Western Europe
	Abstract





	Scientists Hartmut Jäger, GeoResources and University of Heidelberg Duncan McLean, MB Stratigraphy Ltd.

	Abstract Late Visean strata are studied in wells from the southern North Sea, (from the Firth of Forth, Scotland to NW-Germany) and Rügen Island (NE-Germany, southern Baltic Sea) and field sections in the northern Rhenish Slate Mts. (Velbert syncline), representing different depositional settings from proximal near-shore clastic facies (Firth of Forth, NW-Germany) via proximal to distal carbonate platform facies (Rügen Island) to platform slope facies (Velbert syncline). Variations of the miospore assemblages from the coeval (NM and VF Miospore Biozones) parts of these sections were analyzed with respect to palynofacies, spore abundance, morphological composition, diversity and palaeobotanical / palaeoecological affinities. While assemblages from similar down-depositional dip facies settings remain similar (even over long distances of >750 km), all of the above attributes show significant variations from proximal to distal depositional settings, even on relatively short distances. These down-depositional dip changes appear to be continuous, but major changes are observed from deltaic and non-deltaic near-shore facies, between near-shore coastal clastic and carbonate platform facies; and between carbonate platform and slope facies. Miospore abundances, assemblage diversities and the number of coincident genera between the sections are reduced towards distal depositional settings. This reduction mostly effects rounded triangular and triangular miospores, while the proportion of rounded miospores increases significantly, leading to clear changes in the palaeobotanical / palaeoecological interpretation of the spore assemblages also. These changes appear to be largely controlled by taphonomic processes such as distribution and sorting during transportation and deposition, so that a facies-related pattern is apparent. Variations in late Viséan miospore assemblages across the studied area appear to be most closely related to the different facies realms suggesting that previously identified differences in miospore assemblages from Germany and the UK reflect differences in depositional facies rather than regional variations in parent vegetation or climate. Facies dependence of spore assemblages is an important factor for stratigraphical use of spores and for establishing vegetational and climatic trends.

	Publications Jäger, H. & McLean, D., 2008, Palynofacies and spore assemblage variations of upper Viséan (Mississippian) strata across the southern North Sea: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 148, 136-153. Jäger, H., 2004, Facies dependence of spore assemblages and new data on sedimentary influence of spore taphonomy: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 130, 121-140.

	Presentations 73. Annual Meeting Paläontologische Gesellschaft, Mainz, 2003 15. International Conference of Carboniferous and Permian, Utrecht, 2003 Geo2002, Annual Meeting of the German geological Society, Würzburg, 2002 CIMP General Meeting, Lille, 2002

	Funding Organizations German Research Fund (DFG)

GeoResources - Distribution and Preservation of Palynomorphs, Lower Carboniferous, Central and Western Europe

Distribution and Preservation of Palynomorphs across the Lower Carboniferous Shelf of Central and Western Europe