A preliminary report of early Cretaceous dinocyst floras from Site 765, Argo Abyssal Plain, northwest Australia

Abstract

Results of a preliminary study of early Cretaceous dinocyst assemblages from Site 765 are presented. The palynological sequence is interpreted in terms of Australian zones and is, in descending order, the late Aptian Diconodinium davidii Zone, the middle to early Aptian Odontochitina operculata Zone, the Barremian Muderongia australis Zone, and the Berriasian lower Batioladinium reticulatum Zone. The dating of the sequence as late Aptian to Berriasian on the basis of dinocysts is supported, in part, by data concerning associated foraminiferal, radiolarian, and calcareous nannofossil suites. -from Authors