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  • New palynostratigraphic data of the Irati (Assistencia Member) and the Corumbatai formations, Parana Basin, Brazil, and correlation with other south American basins
    Publication . Rocha, H., V; Mendes, M.; Pereira, Z.; Rodrigues, C.; Manuel Carvalho Fernandes, Paulo; Lopes, Gilda; Sant'Anna, L. G.; Tassinari, C. C. G.; Lemos de Sousa, M. J.
    This research presents the palynostratigraphy of organic-rich shales from the Irati and the Corumbatai formations, Parana Basin (PB), Southeastern Brazil, as part of an unconventional hydrocarbon source rock and CO2 reservoir assessment study. Thirty-four samples from the Corumbatai Formation and the Assistencia Member of the Irati Formation were collected in the states of Goias (northern border of the PB), Sao Paulo and Parana (eastern and southern border of the PB, respectively). The acquired data allowed to establish a comprehensive palynostratigraphic study across the basin where a total of 18 pollen genera (34 pollen species), seven spore genera, four microplankton genera (1 species), and Chlorophyceae algae species where identified. The palynostratigraphic analysis also reveals a clear dominance of bisaccate pollen grains such as Corisaccites alutas, Lueckisporites virkkiae, and Weylandites lucifer. The Lueckisporites virkkiae zone was identified in the upper part of the Irati Formation (Assistencia Member) and the lowermost part of the Corumbatai Formation, indicating a Kungurian to Roadian age for this part of the succession. Differences in the Guttulapollenites hannonicus and Tornopollenites toreutos biostratigraphic ranges, recovered in the Corumbatai Formation, suggest an earlier development of these species in the Parana Basin during the middle Permian. Therefore, to evaluate the differences in the first occurrences of key species within the Parana Basin, a close palynostratigraphic correlation between the main Guadalupian-Lopingian South American Gondwana basins is tentatively established.
  • A new approach to palynostratigraphy of the middle–late Famennian Gafo Formation, southern sector of the Pulo do Lobo Domain, SW Iberia (Portugal and Spain)
    Publication . Mendes, Márcia; Pereira, Zélia; Vaz, Nuno; Díez-Montes, Alejandro; Matos, João X.; Albardeiro, Luis; Manuel Carvalho Fernandes, Paulo; Jorge, Raul; Chew, David
    New palynological results from the Gafo Formation (southern sector of the Pulo do Lobo Domain, South Portuguese Zone) are integrated with recently studied sections and drillholes from the Portuguese and Spanish sectors. A total of 44 samples were studied, 27 of which were positive for palynomorph taxonomy. This research revealed well preserved palynological assemblages, including 73 spore species allocated to 28 genera, four acritarch genera, three prasinophyte algae genera plus common chitinozoan remains. Some additional forms were retained under open nomenclature. From this, the first complete age determination for the Gafo Formation in Portugal and Spain was achieved, indicating a middle Famennian (Grandispora gracilis–Grandispora famenensis, GF Biozone) to a late Famennian (Grandispora echinata, VH Biozone) age. A greywacke sample from the same Gafo Formation was dated by U–Pb zircon geochronology and a maximum depositional age of 369 ± 2.5 Ma was obtained. A correlation between these palynological and U–Pb zircon data and the palynoflora assemblages of previous authors was made, as well as with the ages of felsic volcanic rocks found intercalated in the Gafo Formation, confirming the complex stratigraphy of Pulo do Lobo Domain. The results are consistent with stratigraphic mapping and structural interpretations, allowing a middle–late Famennian age (GF and VH Biozone) to be assigned to the Gafo Formation sedimentary rocks. This work has also contributed to a reinterpretation of Gafo Formation depositional facies correlatives (e.g. the Santa Barbara Group in Spain) as being the same lithological unit.
  • First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N'Condedzi sub-basin, Moatize-Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique
    Publication . Galasso, Francesca; Pereira, Zelia; Manuel Carvalho Fernandes, Paulo; Spina, Amalia; Marques, Joao
    Permian-Triassic ages have been identified for the first time in the Karoo Supergroup of the N'Condedzi sub-basin, Moatize-Minjova Coal Basin, Mozambique. This transition was identified in a coal exploration borehole that penetrated the Matinde and Cadzi formations. The top of the Matinde Formation is dated latest Permian (Lopingian), and the Cadzi Formation is attributed to Triassic based on palynostratigraphy. The Lopingian age is established by the identification of three palyno-assemblages: Assemblage L1 based on the first occurrence (FO) of Guttulapollenites pollen, Assemblage L2 is marked by the FO of Thymospora pseudothiessenii, and Assemblage L3 is defined by the FO of Osmundacidites senectus. Triassic palynomorphs were identified for the first time in Mozambique (Karoo basins). The data allowed the identification of three assemblages: Assemblage T1 defined by the FO of Densoisporites nejburgii of Induan age, Assemblage T2 is marked by the FO of Platysaccus queenslandi and assigned to the Olenekian age, and Assemblage T3 is defined by the FO of Samaropollenites speciosus and Enzonalasporites vigens, indicating a Carnian age. No Middle Triassic rocks were identified, and the early Triassic sediments are overlain by sedimentary rocks of Carnian age, a hiatus that may correspond to an important tectonic event with uplift and erosion. This tectonic event is also suggested by the occurrence of common reworked Permian palynomorphs in the Carnian sedimentary rocks. These new data constrain the age of the Karoo Supergroup formations of Mozambique and contribute to improve the palaeoecological, palaeoclimatic evolution, and the palaeogeographic position of the Karoo Mozambique basins within the Gondwana supercontinent. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.