Woods of a miocene petrified forest near Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

The taxonomic composition of a recently discovered silicified fossil forest, preserved by volcanic activity 18.2-16.9 million years ago in Çamli{dotless}dere near Ankara (Turkey), is investigated. Many samples collected were divided into 2 groups as CAM1 and CAM2. Thin sections from transversal, radial, and tangential directions were cut to identify the woods. Wood identifications were performed using standard techniques and fossil wood features. The preserved wood indicates that the forest was composed almost exclusively of Taxodium (CAM1) and Sequoia (CAM2). These genera were extinct from Anatolia and Europe during late Miocene. © TÜBİTAK.