Palynology of Paleozoic coals of the State of São Paulo, Brasil. 1-The Buri coal

Abstract

Numerous stratigraphic problems persist regarding the ltararé Subgroup, the principal unit representative of Late Paleozoic glaciation in the Paraná Basin, as the result of the great lithologic and faciologic variety and the relative rarity of fossils in this sequence. Thus, because of their potential biostratigraphic significance, special attention is due to the classic coal occurrences at Buri, Monte Mor and Cerquilho in the State of São Paulo. Palynological work presented here reveals that the Buri coal is the oldest of these three levels. Thirty-four taxa have been identified in the assemblage, with an absolute predominance of zonate spores. Various species allow correlation with Carboniferous sediments of the Paganzo Basin, Argentina (Malanzán Formation - Estratos Carbonosos Member), of probable Westphalian age, deposited in a deltaic environrnent.