Palaeontologia africana

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Permo-Triassic palynology and palaeobotany of Zambia: a review
(2016-03) Barbolini, Natasha; Bamford, Marion K.; Tolan, Stephen
Permian and Triassic deposits in Zambia have been sporadically researched since the beginning of the 20th century, but there have not been many detailed works on the palaeobotany and palynology of these Karoo-aged rocks. Studies that have been published, suffered from a lack of inter-basinal correlation, which was also hampered by differing stratigraphic subdivisions. We review previous records of palynomorphs, megafloral remains and fossil wood in Zambian Permo-Triassic deposits, present a synthesis of micro- and macrofossil occurrences throughout the country, and propose a standardised subdivision for the Luangwa Valley. This will aid in future correlations between different Karoo basins and act as a framework for future palaeobotanical research in both Zambia and Gondwana.
Recognition of neotype specimens for species described from the Arnot Pipe, Banke, Namaqualand, South Africa
(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1999) de Villiers, S E
Important palynological studies were completed by Scholtz (1985) on material from the Arnot Pipe on the farm Banke in Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province. The results comprised a rare record of early Tertiary vegetation in southern Africa. The body of Scholtz’s research consisted of systematic, descriptive palynology including the description of one new genus and fifteen new species. Ongoing research into South Africa’s Tertiary palynology requires that the type specimens from Arnot be used for comparative purposes. However, the microscope slides on which they were founded were not available for examination. Another set of slides, representing two of the seven samples taken at Arnot, was used to search for neotype specimens to replace the missing holotypes. Specimens representing all fifteen new species were found, but were often badly preserved, obscured by debris or trapped between air bubbles as the condition of the decade-old microscope slides had deteriorated. Only specimens in good condition were selected as neotypes, and comprehensively illustrated. Four of Scholtz’s new species were transferred to alternative, more applicable, genera.
Palyno-stratigraphy of the lower Karroo sequence in the central Sebungwe District, Mid-Zambezi Basin, Rhodesia
(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1975) Falcon, Rosemary S
Hart (1962) was the first to discuss seriously the subject "palynology-key to stratigraphy" with regard to Southern Africa. Since then a number of publications have appeared on African Karroo palynology. However, to date only one large scale microfloral zonation scheme has been proposed -that of Hart (1967). In this, four major palynofloristic zones were outlined for Lower Karroo (Permian) sequences, drawn from surface and sub-surface material in South and Central Africa. Another scheme, dividing the Permian into eight zones in S. Africa (Great Karroo Basin) , is as yet unpublished (Anderson, in press). In an attempt to apply palynology to the problems of geological correlation and relative age determinations, specifically in the field of coal exploration in Rhodesia, a standard section in the form of one borehole, the Matabola Flats borehole, well-sited, deep and with apparently continuous deposition was chosen for palynological biostratigraphic analysis. Fifty-five miospore genera and ninety-eight species have been recognised in this study. Their systematic descriptions and statistical analyses are published elsewhere, Falcon 1975 a, b. Detailed analysis of the forty-eight productive samples show large scale micro-floral changes up the stratigraphic column. Four major assemblage zones and eight assemblage sub-zones are herein proposed, thereby expanding by four the palynofloristic zones of Hart.
Permian palynomorphs from the number 5 seam, Ecca Group, Witbank/Highveld coalfields, South Africa
(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1994) Aitken, G A
A palynological study of the number 5 seam in the Ecca group has yielded a wide variety of miospores, with a lateral and vertical consistency in their relative abundance, diversity and composition. Striate bisaccate pollen genera predominate, particularly Protohaploxypinus Samoilovich emend. Morbey 1975, Striatopodocarpites Zoricheva & Sedova ex Sedova emend. Hart 1964 and Weylandites Bharadwaj & Srivastava 1969. On a regional scale the number 5 seam palynomorphs correlate both quantitatively and qualitatively with Biozone F of MacRae (1988) from the Waterberg and Pafuri coal-bearing basins, and Hammanskraal plant locality. Broad palaeoenvironmental inferences drawn from both the palynology and sedimentology of this seam, support a flood plain setting, comprising shallow wide open pans and peat swamps interspersed with wide water-logged mud flats . The surrounding highlands would have been forested mostly by plants adapted to wind dispersal with colonisation of the levees and margins of smaIl ponds by spore producers. The age of the number 5 seam is tentatively suggested as Guadalupian, which in turn is equated with the Tatarian (European Standard usage); Midian to Dzhulfian (Tethys usage).

Palaeontologia africana

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