Nuevas aportaciones a la palinología y paleoclimatología de la Formación Escucha (Albiense inferior-medio) en las Cubetas de Utrillas y Oliete. Cordillera Ibérica Oriental.

Abstract

The Escucha Fm., situated in the eastern branch of the Iberian Range, constitutes the only terrigenous lithostratigraphic unit in the carbonate sedimentation at the end of the Early Cretaceous. This unit was formed in a delta-estuary system, which evolved vertically to a fluvial dominated delta system. From the palynological view point, the lower delta plain is characterized by the abundance of C assopollis and a small quantity of Dinoflagellate cysts. In the upper delta plain the spores predominate, the Ciassopollis baving decreased in number and the Dinoflagellate cyst having practically disappeared. The predominance of the Pteridopbytae spores and abundanee of Schizaeaceae suggest a humid climate, warm to subtropical, with small areas that are more arid where thc Cheirolepidiaceae developed. The palynological analysis of the 11 samples produced 113 taxons with the notable presence of tricolpate Angiospermae. Comparison with other arcas of the Maestrat Basin, studied previously, and the low number of tricolpate Angiospermae confirm a lower-middle Albian age for the Escueba Fm.