Palynology of the Valanginian-Barremian in Hole 638B, Barremian- Albian in Hole 641C, and Turonian in Hole 641A, Ocean Drilling Program Leg 103

Abstract

The palynology of Holes 638B, 641A, and 641C, drilled along the seaward edge of the Galicia margin during ODP Leg 103, is reported. Palynological study of intervals in Hole 638B indicates that Cores 103-638B-39R through 103-638B-33R are of Valanginian age, Cores 103-638B-32R to 103-638B-24R are Hauterivian, and Cores 103-638B-23R to 103-638B-21R are Barremian. In Hole 641C, Core 103-641C-16R to Sample 103-641C-12R-6, 121-123 cm, is Barremian in age, and Sample 103-641C-12R-2, 138-140 cm, to Core 103-641C-8R is Aptian. Dinoflagellate evidence indicates that magnetic Chron M0, identified in Core 103-641C-10R, is of Aptian age. The interval represented by Cores 103-641C-6R to 103-641C-1R is Albian. The Lower Cretaceous sequence of Holes 638B and 641C is characterized by the abundance of terrigenous organic particles of the tracheal facies, and it reflects the oceanward transition from the exinitic facies reported previously from DSDP Site 398, south of Vigo Seamount on the Galicia margin. The marine carbon-rich xenomorphic facies of Core 103-641A-6X is Turonian, possibly close to the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary. -Authors