First record of megafloras and palynology in the Tarija Formation (Pennsylvanian), Aguas Blancas creek, Salta Province, Argentina. Description of two new species.

Abstract

Fossil plant remains found in the Tarija Formation cropping out at the Aguas Blancas creek, Aguaragüe range, Salta Province, Argentina, are analy sed and illustrated for the first time. Two new species, Malanzania starckii (Lycophyte) and Grumosisporites delpapae (trilete spore) are described. Molds and impressions of platispermic seeds (Samaropsis nunezii García emend. A. Archangelsky, Cordaicarpus cesariae Gutiérrez, Ganuza, Morel and Arrondo emend. A. Archangelsky), impressions of articulated stems (Paracalamites australis Rigby emend. Zampirolli and Bernardes de Oliveira) and compressions/impressions of fragmented leaves {Cordaites riojanus Archangelsky and Leguizamón, Ginkgophyllum sp. cf G. diazii Archangelsky and Arrondo) were recorded. This assemblage is attributed to the Pennsylvanian s.l. based on stratigraphic ranges of platispermic seeds. The palynological assemblage is made up of 101 species of which 53 are authocthonous and 48 are reworked. The former group is composed of 34 trilete spore species, 11 monosaccate pollen grains, one bisaccate pollen grain and seven algal species. The reworked group comprises 27 trilete spores and cryptospores, 20 species of acritarchs, prasinophytes and other algae and one chitinozoan. The whole assemblage is attributed to the late Bashkirian-Moscovian based on the recognition of exclusive species of the D. bireticulatus-C. chacoparanensis (BC) Zone (e.g., Dictyotriletes bireticulatus (Ibrahim) Potonié and Kremp emend. Smith and Butterworth, Crucisaccites latisulcatus Lele and Maithy, Verrucosisporites morulatus (Knox) Potonié and Kremp emend. Smith and Butterworth). The vegetation, mainly composed of Lycophytes, Sphenophytes, Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms, would have developed in different continental palaeoenvironments like lakes and rivers fed by mountain glaciers.