Review of Fossil Floras and Nonmarine Deposits of West Greenland

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 1964 Review of Fossil Floras and Nonmarine Deposits of West Greenland B. ESKE KOCH B. ESKE KOCH Dept. Geology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information B. ESKE KOCH Dept. Geology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 14 Jun 1963 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1964, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1964) 75 (6): 535–548. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[535:ROFFAN]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 14 Jun 1963 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation B. ESKE KOCH; Review of Fossil Floras and Nonmarine Deposits of West Greenland. GSA Bulletin 1964;; 75 (6): 535–548. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[535:ROFFAN]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The sedimentary area of central West Greenland comprises, besides marine sediments, a number of plant-bearing, nonmarine, and transitional-facies formations. Mainly because of insufficient field studies and conclusions based on scanty geological information, the generally accepted ideas about these formations and their floras have been affected by severe misunderstandings. However, recent geological investigations under the auspices of The Geological Survey of Greenland have provided a sounder basis for the stratigraphic interpretations and exposed a number of mistakes, e.g.: in the Lower Cretaceous Kome formation the often-cited "oldest" angiosperms are dubious, and those of the Upernivik Nses formation may be younger than assumed by Seward; the Atane flora, ordinarily cited as Cenomanian, consists of fossils from localities the beds of which are not exactly of the same age—one collection (Alianaitsúnguaq) belongs to the Coniacian (marine evidence), whereas another (Pautût: Lower Pautût flora) is at the Santonian-Campanian boundary (marine evidence) and comes from exactly the same level as the Pautût flora sensu stricto. Furthermore, the Atane formation (ordinarily accepted as Cenomanian, although this has never been convincingly proven) and the Pautût formation (Senonian) may be exposures of a continuous Senonian sequence along the south coast of the Nûgssuaq Peninsula. The Kingigtoq constituent of the Pautût flora is a mixture of Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils, which were collected from a landslide.Recent paleontologic and stratigraphic studies are attempts to solve the remaining problems. In Tertiary stratigraphy, such positive results as defining the age of the classic Upper Atanikerdluk floras as early Paleocene have been achieved. Study of the Cretaceous formations has been advanced, especially through the investigation of spores and pollen. These studies have been facilitated by discoveries of marine zones and new faunal localities.This paper attempts to clarify present knowledge of the formations mentioned and to correct the misinterpretations and possible mistakes that have been widely accepted. It is not intended to give a complete survey of the formations in question. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.