Primeros resultados palinologicos en la Formacion Zorritas, Devonico-Carbonifero de Sierra de Almeida, Region de Antofagasta, Chile

Abstract

RESUMEN. En una muestra proveniente del Miembro Medio de la Formacion Zorritas se identifico una abundante asociacion palinologica constituida por mas de 50 especies de esporas y escasos acritarcos. No obstante su pobre preservacion, la microflora permite precisar el limite Devonico-Carbonifero (Struniano-Tournaisiano) en esta formacion, sobre la base de una correlacion mundial. De acuerdo a la zonacion de miosporas utilizada en Europa, la asociacion corresponderia a la Zona de Vallatisporites verrucosus-Retusotriletes incohatus (VI). Se trata de la primera asociacion microfloristica citada en el Paleozoico de Chile. ABSTRACT. First palynological results from the Zorritas Formation, Devonian-Carboniferous of Sierra de Almeida, Antofagasta Region, Chile. A single palynological sample from the Middle member of Formacion Zorritas was examined. A rich, but poorly preserved palynological association was identified in this sample. It is formed by more than 50 species of spores and a few acritarchs. A great accuracy was obtained in the determination of the systemic boundary between Devonian and Carboniferous (Strunian-Tournaisian), on the basis of a worldwide correlation. According to the European miospores zonation, this assemblage could correspond to the Vallatisporites verrucosus-Retusotriletes incohatus (VI) Zone. This palynological association is the first cited for the Paleozoic of Chile.