Análisis palinológico de la Formación Los Molles, Grupo Cuyo, Jurásico Medio de la cuenca Neuquina, Argentina

MARTÍNEZ, MARCELO ADRIÁN; MIRTA QUATTROCCHIO,; MERCEDES PRÁMPARO

AMEGHINIANA

ASOCIACION PALEONTOLOGICA ARGENTINA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2005 vol. 42 p. 67 - 92

0002-7014

Palynological analysis of the Los Molles Formation, Cuyo Group, Middle Jurassic of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Sporomorphs and paleomicroplankton identified from the Middle Jurassic, Los Molles Formation, Cuyo Group, are described and illustrated in this contribution. The palynomorphs were recovered from five surface sections (Lohan Mahuida, Puente Picún Leufú, Puesto Policia, Los Molles and Cerro Lotena) located near Zapala city, Neuquén Basin, Argentina. The studied microfloras include 50 species of sporomorphs (20 spores and 30 pollen grains) and 31 species of paleomicroplankton (9 green algae, two dinoflagellate cyst and 20 acritarchs). Specimens belonging to the genera Divisisporites, Callialasporites, Monosulcites and one spore gen. et sp. indet are described. Systematics include prasinophyte of the genera Cymatiosphaera, Pleurozonaria and Tasmanites. Also included are acritarchs of the genera Baltisphaeridium, Filisphaeridium, Micrhystridium, Leiosphaeridia, Polygonium and Veryhachium. The new combination Cymatiosphaera volkheimerii Quattrocchio is proposed. The occurrence of the acritarchs Filisphaeridium balmei (Sarjeant) Sarjeant and Stancliffe, F. castaninum (Valensi) Sarjeant and Stancliffe, F. densispinum (Valensi) Sarjeant and Stancliffe and Veryhachium valens (Valensi) Downie and Sarjeant is mentioned for the first time, in the Neuquén Basin. The studied palynofloras are correlated with the Biozone of Callialasporites "complex" (Sub-biozone of the Callialasporites trilobatus (Balme) Dev, Antulsporites saevus (Balme) Archangelsky and Gamerro and Klukisporites labiatus (Volkheimer) Baldoni and Archangelsky) previously proposed for this area of the Neuquén Basin. A Late Aalenian - Early Bajocian age is suggested for the studied sections.