A contribution to the knowledge of Cretaceous to Neogene Palynology in the Colombian Caribbean

• Published in: Review of palaeobotany and palynology Vol. 325; p. 105098
• Main Authors: Plata-Torres, Angelo, Pardo-Trujillo, Andrés, Flores, José Abel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-06-2024
• Subjects: Colombian Caribbean; Maastrichtian; Neogene; Paleogene; Palynology; Maastrichtian; Paleogene; Neogene; Colombian Caribbean; Palynology
• ISSN: 0034-6667; 1879-0615
• DOI: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2024.105098

The palynological study of a composite section of 14 cores drilled from the Sinu-San Jacinto Basin in the Colombian Caribbean (NW South America) provides for the first time a Cenozoic palynostratigraphic zonation scheme for this region. In addition, the study of calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera allowed an independent calibration of the palynomorph assemblages to the international chronostratigraphic chart. The palynological results were compared with other studies for the northern part of South America and Colombia. Twelve Late Paleocene-Pliocene palynological zones are proposed for the Caribbean, some of which differ from those proposed for the Llanos and Llanos Foothills basins. A Paleocene palynological assemblage is reported for this part of the basin. Variations in the biostratigraphic ranges of some palynomorphs and new species with stratigraphic value are described. High diversity and abundance of dinoflagellate cysts in some stratigraphic intervals require more detailed study. Evidence of reworking in some stratigraphic intervals (e.g., Cretaceous and Oligocene in Miocene sediments), makes it necessary to be careful about the last appearance record of microfossils in exploration and geologic mapping.
•Palynological zonation scheme for the Colombian Caribbean (NW South America).•Twelve palynozones proposed for the Cenozoic (Late Paleocene to Pliocene) in the Colombian Caribbean.•Palynomorph age ranges calibrated using calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera.•First record of late Paleocene palynomorph assemblage to the Caribbean (Sinú-San Jacinto basin).•An improvement of the applicability of zonation schemes proposed for the north of South America.