New palaeobotanical data from Carboniferous Culm deposits constrain the age of the Variscan deformation in the eastern Pyrenees

Authors

  • C. MARTÍN-CLOSAS Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l’Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona Martí i Franquès s/n, Barcelona, 08028, Spain. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4349-738X
  • S. TRIAS Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l’Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona Martí i Franquès s/n, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
  • J.M. CASAS Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l’Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona Martí i Franquès s/n, Barcelona, 08028, Spain. Institut de recerca GEOMODEls, Universitat de Barcelona Martí i Franquès s/n, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/GeologicaActa2018.16.2.1

Keywords:

Biostratigraphy, Sphenophyta, Turbidites, Lower Carboniferous, Variscan Orogeny

Abstract

The pre-Variscan rocks of the Pyrenees exhibit a polyphase deformation linked to the Variscan crustal shortening and a low-pressure–high-temperature metamorphism. However, there is scarce chronostratigraphic evidence of this Variscan deformation. In the Pyrenean low-grade metamorphic domains, maximum ages have been provided by the synorogenic Carboniferous Culm deposits. In medium- to high-grade metamorphic areas, the Variscan regional metamorphism or intrusive magmatic bodies constrain the age of the main Variscan deformation structures. However, these data usually provide a minimum age. Here, we present new palaeobotanical records that assign a Namurian age to the base of the Culm deposits of la Cerdanya in the eastern Pyrenees. This dating is based on the co-occurrence of the sphenopsids Archaeocalamites radiatus, Mesocalamites cistiiformis and the seed of Cardiocarpus sp. The plant remains were found in sandstone facies produced by high-density turbidity flows of a deep-sea fan system. The new biostratigraphic information constrains the age of the Carboniferous Culm succession in the eastern Pyrenees.

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2018-06-21

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