Carboniferous pycnoxylic woods from the Dwyka Group of southern Namibia
Date
2001
Authors
Bangert, Berthold
Bamford, Marion K
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research
Abstract
Glacial deposits of the Dwyka Group between Keetmanshoop and Mariental in southern Namibia have been reinvestigated for palaeontological remains and associated tuff horizons in an attempt to accurately date the deposits. SHRIMP-based dating of juvenile zircons from these tuff horizons provide ages which cumulate in the latest Carboniferous (Gzelian). The pycnoxylic woods Megaporoxylon scherziKrausel and Megaporoxylon kaokense Krausel are described in detail for the first time and are compared with similar permineralised woods from Gondwana. Based on previous fossil wood studies covering the rocks of the main Karoo Basin, these species occur only in the Dwyka and lower Ecca Groups in southern Africa and do not extend to the upper Ecca Group.
Description
Keywords
Dwyka, fossil wood, Megaporoxylon, Namibia