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Paleobotanical Section

Pfefferkorn, Hermann [1], Wang, Jun [2].

Four Early Permian Sequential Floras From Inner Mongolia, China.

Four different compression/impression floras are preserved in only 4.32m of geologic section in the Early Permian strata (Shanxi Formation) of the Wuda District of Inner Mongolia, northwestern China. These floras represent four different plant communities and landscapes that followed each other in time closely. The lowest flora was rooted in sandy clay and initiated peat formation that lead to the formation of the lower coal seam. This seam is 230cm thick and overlain by a 66cm thick volcanic tuff that preserves a second distinct flora that grew on the peat at the time of the ash fall. Standing stems and large plant parts are present. The upper part of the tuff is rooted by a single species of lycopsid (the third flora), again initiating peat formation. On top of the second seam of 120cm thickness rests a roof shale deposited as mud in a shallow lake, the formation of which was responsible for the cessation of peat deposition. This fourth flora represents the plants growing around the lake on clastic substrate. Four different environments followed each other in this locality over a geologically short time span and each time conditions prevailed to preserve plant macrofossils. Three of these floras represent peat-forming plant communities of the same time interval. This demonstrates the great variability of vegetation and landscapes in the tropical Cathaysian realm of the Late Paleozoic.


1 - University of Pennsylvania, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
2 - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Nanjing, 210008, P.R. CHINA

Keywords:
paleoecology
Permian
Peat
Cathaysian Flora.

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 5-6
Location: Maybird (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2004
Time: 9:45 AM
Abstract ID:735


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