Late Cretaceous palynofloras (sporomorphs and dinocysts) from the Kerguelen Plateau, southern Indian Ocean (Sites 748 and 750)

Abstract

Pollen, spore, and dinoflagellate cyst floras of Late Cretaceous age were found at Sites 748 and 750 of Ocean Drilling Program Leg 120 to the Kerguelen Plateau area. The ranges of dinocyst and sporomorph species indicate ages between the Cenomanian and Coniacian (to possibly the early Santonian). The ratio of marine/terrestrial flora elements is extremely variable, showing a trend from highly terrestrial (up to ~70%) in the late Cenomanian to highly marine (up to 90%) in the Coniacian/early Santonian. Low sedimentation rates of about 3-5 cm/1000 yr were calculated for the glauconitic sediments of Turonian and Coniacian age at Site 748 (lithologic Subunit IIIB). -Authors