Paleoenvironment of the Cerro Negro Formation (Aptian, Early Cretaceous) of Snow Island, Antarctic Peninsula

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
• Main Authors: ALESSANDRA SANTOS, ENELISE KATIA PIOVESAN, JULIANA GUZMÁN, CRISTIAN D. USMA, LUIZ CARLOS WEINSCHÜTZ, RADARANY JASMINE M. DOS SANTOS, GUSTAVO R. OLIVEIRA, RODRIGO G. FIGUEIREDO, JOÃO HENRIQUE Z. RICETTI, EVERTON WILNER, JULIANA M. SAYÃO, ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2022
• Subjects: Antarctica; Cretaceous; palynology; sedimentology; geochemistry; Science; Q; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Cerro Negro; Snow Island; President Head; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202220201944; https://doaj.org/article/31f3932ebae24a2d833c59e7cd583f23

Abstract A study of macro and microfacies, palynoflora and palynofacies of the non-marine Cerro Negro Formation at President Head Peninsula, Snow Island, northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula, was developed. Two assemblages were recognized: Palynofacies assemblage 1 (P1) at the base of the section with a dominance of fern spores and conifer pollen grains, and facies association consisting of a clastic layer, with the predominance of mudstones; and Palynofacies assemblage 2 (P2) at the top of the section, with remarkable abundance of AOM/Pseudoamorphous particles, associated with facies that includes tuffs. The complete section shows in some levels the presence of freshwater algae and translucent phytoclasts. The integrated data characterizes a fluvial-lacustrine environment, what is reinforced by the occurrence of freshwater algae (Botryococcus) in some levels of P1 and P2. We could verify an increase in volcanic activity towards the top of the section that apparently has played an important role in the collapse of the palynoflora. The occurrence of the spore species Muricingulisporis annulatus, Sotasporites elegans, S. triangularis, Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis, and F. asymmetricus in the Cerro Negro Formation allows the correlation with sections in South America and Australia, suggesting an Aptian age for these deposits.