Paleogene flora of the Sloggett Formation, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

CAROLINA PANTI, SERGIO A. MARENSSI AND EDUARDO B. OLIVERO

AMEGHINIANA

Asociación Paleontológica Argentina

Lugar: Ciudad de Buenos Aires; Año: 2008 vol. 45 p. 677 - 692

0002-7014

In the southeastern corner of the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego, southernmost Argentina, smalloutcrops representing Late Eocene-Early Oligocene sedimentation in fluvial environments, are referred tothe Sloggett Formation. This unit crops out along the shores of Bahía Sloggett, where it is represented bycarbonaceous mudstones, sandstones and conglomerates. A new paleofloristic collection of this site, originallyreported by Andersson at the beginning of the 20th, was collected and analyzed, revealing the presenceof gymnosperm and angiosperm leaves. Conifers are represented by probable Podocarpaceae andthe presence of Araucariaceae is confirmed by leaves with preserved anatomy. Angiosperms, althoughfragmentary, have been grouped in morphotypes, which are referred to the Nothofagaceae, Myrtaceaeand Lauraceae. The Sloggett paleoflora is similar in composition to other contemporary floras, describedfrom southern South America and that originated in temperate to cold-temperate and humid forest.