Palynology (fungi and fern spores, gimnosperm pollen grains, algae cysts and scolecodont) from the Solimões and Içá formations (Neogene and Pleistocene, Solimões Basin), Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

The palynological knowledge from Cenozoic units of the Solimões Basin has been substantially improved in last decades, based on subsurface and outcropping sampling. This work presents the taxonomic results from the study of 93 samples from 12 outcrops of Solimões and Içá formations, in the region of Coari (5 outcrops), and Alto Solimões (7 outcrops), state of Amazonas, Brazil, which revealed diversified, abundant and well preserved palynological assemblages. Here 53 species of palynomorphs recorded, comprising 11 fungi spores species, 31 fern spores, two pollen grains of gymnosperms, eight algae (seven chlorophyceae, one dinophyceae) and one scolecodont are listed and illustrated, as well as described when needed. The composition of both palynofloras is distinct: the Alto Solimões associations include Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni, Foveotriletes ornatus, Magnastriatites grandiosus and Multimarginites vanderhammenii, as well a dinoflagellate cyst. In the region of Coari it was recorded predominance of sporomorphs, with great diversity and abundance of fungi and ferns spores.