Wildfire during deposition of the “Illinger Flözzone” (Heusweiler-Formation, “Stephanian B”, Kasimovian–Ghzelian) in the Saar-Nahe Basin (SW-Germany)

Abstract

Wildfires occurred more or less regularly in many Pennsylvanian ecosystems, not only in seasonally dry regions but also in the ever wet tropics. One of the reasons for this was probably the relatively high atmospheric oxygen conditions prevailing during this period. The present study reports evidence for the occurrence of wildfires during deposition of the Upper Pennsylvanian Heusweiler Formation (“Stephanian B”, Kasimovian–Gzhelian) in the intramontane Saar-Nahe (or Saar-Lorraine) Basin in SW-Germany. Based on anatomical features of the charcoal, as well as the co-occurring adpression flora, it seems possible that some of the fires occurred in an ecosystem inhabited by Cordaites. Some of the charcoal fragments exhibit traces of pre-charring decay by fungi, indicating either the consumption of litter by ground or surface fires, or of still standing (partly) dead trees by crown fires.