Cenozoic terrestrial palynomorphs from the late Oligocene to early Miocene section of sediment core CRP-2/2A (Table 1)

• Main Authors: Askin, R A, Raine, J Ian
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2000
• Subjects: 14.2 km at 096° true from Cape Roberts; Assamiapollenites incognitus; Cape Roberts Project; Cibotiidites sp.; Coptospora spp.; Core wireline system; Counting; palynology; CRP; CRP-2; CRP-2A; CWS; Cyathidites minor; Cyperaceaepollis sp.; Dacrycarpites sp.; Depth; bottom/max; top/min; Liliacidites variegatus; Marchantiaceae; Microalatidites paleogenicus; Microalatidites sp.; Microcachrydites antarcticus; Microthyriaceae (Fungi); Nothofagidites asperus; Nothofagidites cf. flemingii; Nothofagidites flemingii; Nothofagidites lachlaniae; Nothofagidites matauraensis; Nothofagidites spp.; off Cape Roberts; Ross Sea; Antarctica; Osmundacidites wellmanii; Phormium sp.; Phyllocladidites mawsonii; Podocarpidites cf. exiguus; Podocarpidites cf. torquatus; Podocarpidites ellipticus; Podocarpidites sp.; Podocarpidites spp.; Podosporites erugatus; Pollen; angiosperm indeterminata; Ranunculaceae; Ricciaesporites sp.; Sampling/drilling from ice; Spores; pteridophyte indeterminata; Victoria Land; Transantarctic Mountains; Cape Roberts; Sirius; Antarc*; antarcticus; Tundra
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.143860; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.143860

Sparse terrestrial palynomorphs (spores and pollen) were recovered from glacigene Lower Miocene and Oligocene core samples from the Cape Roberts Project (CRP) drillhole CRP-2/2A, Victoria Land Basin, Antarctica. Rarity of palynomorphs probably results from the spares periglacial vegetation in the surrounding landscape at the time of deposition, as well as dilution from rapid sediment accumulation. The Miocene and Late Oligocene vegetation is interpreted as including herb-moss tundra with low-growing woody plants (including Nothofagus and podocarp conifers) in more protected areas, similar to that encountered in the Miocene of CRP-1. Species richness and numbers of specimens increase downhole, a trend that begins very gradually below ~307 mbsf, and increases below ~443 mbsf through the Early Oligocene. These lower assemblages reflect low diversity woody vegetation dominated by several species of Nofhofagus and podocarps, growing in somewhat milder conditions, though still cold temperate to periglacial in the Early Oligocene. The CRP-2/2A core provides new biostratigraphical information, such as the First Appearance Datums (FADS) of Tricolpites sp. a near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary, and Marchantiaceae in the Early/Late Oligocene transition: these are taxa that along with N. lachlaniae, Coptospora spp. and Podocarpidites sp.b characterize assemblages recovered from outcrops of the Pliocene Sirius Group in the Transantarctic Mountains. Some elements of the extremely hardy periglacial tundra vegetation that survived in Antarctica into the Pliocene had their origin in the Oligocene during a time of deteriorating (colder, drier) climatic conditions. The CRP results highlight the long persistence of this tundra vegetation, through approximately 30 million years of dynamically changing climatic conditions. Rare Jurassic and more common Permian-Triassic spores and pollen occur sporadically throughout the core. These are derived from Jurassic Ferrar Group sediments, and from the Permian-Triassic Victoria Group, upper ...