New fossiliferous sites with Barremian Charophyta in the "Grès du Liban" auct. (Lebanon), with a critical perspective regarding the nature of Munieria Deecke, 1883

Abstract

The "Grès du Liban" auct. is the thick basal unit of the Lower Cretaceous series in Lebanon. There are two key levels in this dominantly siliciclastic unit: the "Banc de Mréjatt" and the "Calcaire à pisolithes", the latter of which includes limestones and marls with Charophyta. The rich charophyte assemblage described by Grambast and Lorch (1968) from a site near Jezzine is Barremian (possibly Early Barremian) in age, not Bedoulian as previously stated. Besides gyrogonites and utricles, charophyte thalli are rather common; they are ascribed to two organ genera, Munieria Deecke, 1883, and Charaxis Harris, 1939. Based on topotypic material (from the Pia Collection), Munieria baconica Deecke, 1883, the type-species of the genus, is reassessed. In addition, the species Clypeina parvula Carozzi, 1946, is transferred to the revised genus Munieria, and a new species of Charaxis is described.