Sedimentary aspects and palynology of Agua Colorada Formation (Upper Paleozoic) in El Arbolito creek, Tinogasta Department, Catamarca. Argentina

Abstract

?Sedimentary aspects and palynology of Agua Colorada Formation (Upper Paleozoic) in El Arbolito creek, Tinogasta Department, Catamarca. Argentina?. A stratigraphic sequence of the Agua Colorada Formation in El Arbolito creek, at south of Tinogasta, Catamarca, is analyzed. The paleoenvironment is interpreted us fluvial deposits. The presence of a palynological assemblage recovered from the upper part of the sequence is documented. Monosaccate pollen grains are the more common components (Cannanoropollis janakii. C. densus, Plicatipollenites gondwanensis, P. malabarensis, Potonieisporites spp. Circumplicatipollis plicatus, Caheniasaccites ovatus). The spores are less frecuent (Punctatisporites gretensis, P. glaber, Calamospora hartungiana, C. smileyana, Apiculiretusispora variornata, Apiculatasporites caperatus, Apiculatisporis rallus, Horriditriletes uruguaiensis and Cristatisporites inconstans), whereas bisaccate and bisaccate striate pollen grains are also represented although in scarce amount, e.g. Alisporites sp., Limitisporites rectus, Protohaploxypinus bharadwajii and P. amplus. Palynological and stratigraphic data suggest a Late Carboniferous age (Upper Westphalian-Stephanian).