Palynostratigraphy of the “Muschelkalk Sedimentary Cycle” in the NW Iberian Range, Central Spain
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Geological Context
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results
4.1. Assemblage 1 (Section RS4, CCSS Fm., Sample RS4-2)
4.2. Assemblage 2 (Section RS8, TD Fm., Sample RS8-1)
4.3. Assemblage 3 (Section RS8, CCSS Fm., Sample RS8-2)
4.4. Assemblage 4 (Section RS9, CCSS Fm., Sample RS9-2)
4.5. Assemblage 5 (Section RS3, TD Fm., Sample RS3-2)
4.6. Assemblage 6 (Section RS3, CCSS Fm., Samples RS3-3 to RS3-6 and RS3-8)
4.7. Assemblage 7 (Section RS3, RDML Fm., Sample RS3-10)
4.8. Assemblage 8 (Section RS1, TD Fm., Samples RS1-1 to RS1-3)
4.9. Assemblage 9 (Section RS1, CCSS Fm., Samples RS1-5 to RS1-9)
4.10. Assemblage 10 (Section RS2, TD Fm., Sample RS2-1)
4.11. Assemblage 11 (Section RS2, CCSS Fm., Samples RS2-2, 4, 6 to 8, 10, and 12)
4.12. Assemblage 12 (Section RS2, RDML Fm., Sample RS2-11)
4.13. Assemblage 13 (Section SS2, TD Fm., Sample SS2-1)
4.14. Assemblage 14 (Section SS2, CCSS Fm., Sample SS2-3)
4.15. Assemblage 15 (Section SS2, RDML Fm., Samples SS2-2, SS2-5 and SS2-6)
4.16. Assemblage 16 (Section TH, RDML Fm., Samples TH-1 and TH-2)
4.17. Assemblage 17 (Section BU, RDML Fm., Samples BU-1 to BU-3)
4.18. Assemblage 18 (Section FC, RDML Fm., Sample FC-1)
5. Discussion
5.1. Reinterpretation of Previous Data
5.2. Interpretation of the New Data
5.3. Paleoecological and Paleoclimatic Interpretation and Taphonomic Bias
6. Conclusions
- –
- From the upper levels of the TD Fm. (inclusive) to the highest studied levels, the age of those levels can be placed within the Longobardian sensu lato, and possibly extending to the base of the Julian (Lower Carnian).
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- The contemporaneous age of CCSS, TD, and RDML formations supports the hypothesis that the termination of the two carbonate formations that constitute the upper Muschelkalk unit in the region (i.e., TD Fm. and RDML Fm.) is resolved by a lateral facies change to the terrigenous CCSS Fm.
- –
- The palynological assemblage indicates a warm and predominantly dry climate, dominated by xerophytic conifers adapted to arid conditions. However, the presence of hygrophytic spores and algae suggests the existence of localized wet areas, possibly associated with coastal or palustrine environments.
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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García-Ávila, M.; García-Gil, S.; Diez, J.B. Palynostratigraphy of the “Muschelkalk Sedimentary Cycle” in the NW Iberian Range, Central Spain. Geosciences 2025, 15, 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080299
García-Ávila M, García-Gil S, Diez JB. Palynostratigraphy of the “Muschelkalk Sedimentary Cycle” in the NW Iberian Range, Central Spain. Geosciences. 2025; 15(8):299. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080299
Chicago/Turabian StyleGarcía-Ávila, Manuel, Soledad García-Gil, and José B. Diez. 2025. "Palynostratigraphy of the “Muschelkalk Sedimentary Cycle” in the NW Iberian Range, Central Spain" Geosciences 15, no. 8: 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080299
APA StyleGarcía-Ávila, M., García-Gil, S., & Diez, J. B. (2025). Palynostratigraphy of the “Muschelkalk Sedimentary Cycle” in the NW Iberian Range, Central Spain. Geosciences, 15(8), 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080299