Palynofloras from the Permian, Triassic and Jurassic of New Caledonia

Abstract

Palynofloral assemblages are recorded from 33 productive samples from sediments o~P~ O?julfian), Early Triassic (Griesbachian), Late TrIaSSIC (Nonan), and Early and Middle Jorassic age. All are from marine sequences dated by associated invertebrate faunas. The assemblages are dominated by miospores, in conformity wi.th their nearshore origin. They are similar to palynofloras of equivalent age from New Zealand and eastern Australia In relation to provincialism which has been documented for Australian Triassic palynofloras, the New Caledonia material can be assigned to the cool temperate Ipswich Microflora, rather than to the warm temperate Onslow Microflora.

Late Triassic‐Early Jurassic palynofloral assemblages from Murihiku strata of New Zealand, and comparisons with China

“…As stated above, Classopolhs chateaunovi ranges through strata of Early Jurassic and younger age In New Zealand and Australia, its abundance is one of the characteristics of Early Jurassic sporo-pollen assemblages (Reiser & Williams 1969, de Jersey 1971a, 1973a, 1973b, McKellar 1974, Helby et al 1987, de Jersey & Raine 1990 fig 26) Antulspontes vaiigranulatus was described from the Infraliassic of France (Levet Carette 1964) It appears in the Lower Jurassic or later in Argentina and Australia, and was reported from the Aratauran Stage of New Zealand (Filatoff 1975, de Jersey & Raine 1990 A clavus occurs in the Late Jurassic of Australia and Canada (Balme 1957, Pocock 1970, Filatoff 1975, and there are small numbers in Assemblage IV Although Vitreisporites signatus ranges from Early Permian to Early Tertiary in age, it reached a maximum in Early Jurassic sporo-pollen assemblages of Australasia (Reiser & Williams 1969, de Jersey 1971c, de Jersey & Grant-Mackie 1989 Representative elements from underlying strata, Toripustulatisporites hokonuiensis, Kyrtomispons elsendoornu, and K minor, are rare or absent here The ancient elements Camarozonospontes rudis, Zebrasporites laevigatus, and Z interstnptus have disappeared In short, this assemblage indicates a younger age than Assemblage III, and reflects a microflora typical of the Early Jurassic Assemblage IV is comparable with that of the Aratauran Stage in the Kawhia Regional Syncline mentioned above Both are characterised by an abundance of Classopolhs chateaunovi and bear the following common elements Alispontes spp , Anapiculatispoi itespnstidentatus, Cycadopites spp , Deltoidospora directa, Dictyophylhdites harnsu, Lycopodiumspontes (Retitnletes) austroclavatidites, Rugaletes awakinoensis, Stereispontes antiquaspontes, Vitreisporites signatus, etc…”

“…2). Nevertheless, correlations are now well enough established to have potential for providing additional tests, and precision in the correlation of contemporary Australian non-marine sequences now that Murihiku palynofloras are also becoming better known (e.g., de Jersey & Grant-Mackie 1989;de Jersey & Raine 1990). The latter study in particular was quite comprehensive, but more palynological work is required.…”