Studies in Neotropical Paleobotany. III. The Tertiary Communities of Panama-Geology of the Pollen-Bearing Deposits

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Abstract
Samples containing fossil pollen and spores were collected from six sites representing five Tertiary formations in Panama. The Gatuncillo Formation is middle(?) to late Eocene, based on foraminifera and mollusk fossils. The formation is exposed around Madden Basin and samples were collected in the vicinity of Alcalde Diaz (Penoncito). Material from the early Miocene Culebra Formation was obtained from a well drilled in the Contractor''s Hill locality at the base of Gold Hill. The Cucaracha Formation overlies the Culebra and is also early Miocene in age. The Cucaracha material was collected from exposures along the Gaillard Cut section of the Canal. The early Miocene La Boca Formation outcrops in the same area. Although these three formations are similar in age (early Miocene), field evidence demonstrates that they are sequential from the Culebra (oldest), through the Cucaracha, to the La Boca (youngest). The Gatun Formation is late Miocene and early Pliocene in age and core samples were taken from a series of wells drilled in Gatun Lake. The location, stratigraphy, lithology, and depositional environments are summarized for these five formations. In subsequent publications the paleocommunities, paleoenvironments, and biogeographical implications will be considered for each of the microfloras.

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