Permian-Triassic Palynological and Paleobotanical Record from the Karoo-Equivalent Strata in the Tanga Basin, Coastal Tanzania

• Published in: Stratigraphy and geological correlation Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 222 - 241
• Main Authors: Magohe, Stephen Peter, Mtelela, Cassy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-06-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Archaeology; Boreholes; Chronology; Composition; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Equivalence; Ferns; Geophysics/Geodesy; Gondwana; Historical Geology; Intervals; Palynology; Permian; Pollen; Sedimentology; Spores; Strata; Structural Geology; Terrestrial environments; Triassic; Karoo; Tanzania; palynomorphs; Tanga Basin; Permian–Triassic; Tanga Beds; Biostratigraphy
• ISSN: 0869-5938; 1555-6263
• DOI: 10.1134/S0869593824030055

The palynological composition of the Karoo-equivalent strata in the Tanga Basin, coastal Tanzania, is presented. Two boreholes (Kakindu-1 and Vunde-1) through the basin were palynostratigraphically studied. According to the findings, gymnosperm pollen and a few fern spores dominate the palynological assemblages. The absence of marine palynomorphs in the studied strata of the Tanga Basin attests to deposition in terrestrial environments, which is consistent with the common geologic reconstruction of the Karoo Supergroup across Africa. Two palynological intervals, the
Klausipollenites schaubergeri
and
Jugasporites vellicoites
, are recognized in the Kakindu-1 borehole; and two others, the
Klausipollenites schaubergeri
–
Scheuringipollenites circularis
and
Alisporites minutosaccus
–
Faunipollenites gopadensis
intervals, are identified in the Vunde-1 borehole. The present palynological data suggest the Permian to Triassic age for the Karoo strata in the Tanga Basin. The composition of the reported assemblage implies a single phytogeographic province across the Gondwana Supercontinent during the Permian to Triassic. Based on depositional ages determined herein, the Karoo strata in the Tanga Basin are correlated with second–fourth depositional sequences in the inland Karoo type-section of the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania, as well as to Ecca and Beaufort groups of the original Karoo type-section in South Africa.