Andrés Pardo-Trujillo

The palynology of the Cerrejón formation (Upper Paleocene) of northern Colombia

Abstract A palynological study of the Cerrejon Formation was conducted in order to date the formation and understand the floristic composition and diversity of a Paleocene tropical site. The Cerrejon Formation outcrops in the Cerrejon Coal Mine, the largest open cast coal mine in the world. Two cores (725 m) were provided by Carbones del Cerrejon LLC for study. Two hundred samples were prepared for palynology, and at least 150 palynomorphs were counted per sample where possible. Several statistical techniques including rarefaction, species accumulation curves, detrended correspondence analysis, and Anosim were used to analyze the floristic composition and diversity of the palynofloras. Palynomorph assemblages indicate that the age of the Cerrejon Formation and the overlying Tabaco Formation is Middle to Late Paleocene (ca. 60–58 Ma). Major structural repetitions were not found in the Cerrejon Formation in the Cerrejon coal mine, and there is little floral variation throughout. The floral composition, diversity, and lithofacies do not change significantly. Lithofacies associations and floral composition indicate deposition fluctuating from an estuarine-influenced coastal plain at the base to a fluvial-influenced coastal plain at the top. There are, however, significant differences in the composition and diversity of coal and siliciclastic samples. Coal palynofloras have fewer morphospecies, and a distinct and more homogeneous floral assemblage compared to assemblages from the intervening sisliciclastic strata, suggesting that tropical swampy environments supported fewer plant species and had a distinct vegetation adapted to permanently wet environments.

Paleogene palynostratigraphy of the eastern middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia

Abstract This work presents a detailed study of the pollen and spore distribution in the Paleocene‐Eocene Lisama and La Paz Formations on the eastern border of the Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia. One hundred and forty‐seven samples obtained from cores and outcrops were prepared for palynological research, fifty‐nine of which were rich in pollen and spores. Three hundred spore and pollen taxa were identified. The studied stratigraphic interval is a 2000 m thick coastal and fluvial deposit formed in a variable subsiding tectonic setting. The Lisama Formation is characterized by the dominance of the Proxapertites group. Some typical Paleocene forms start to disappear toward the upper part of the Lisama Formation (e .g. Bombacacidites annae, Ephedripites vanegensis, Retidiporites magdalenensis), and are followed by a barren interval probably linked to intense oxidation during paleosol development (the uppermost 266 m of the Lisama Formation). In the La Paz Formation there is a progressive appearance of ear...

Late-Holocene pollen-based paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the El Triunfo wetland, Los Nevados National Park (Central Cordillera of Colombia):

We present a palynologic study of El Triunfo wetland (4°58′54.5″N and 75°19′55.8″W), located at 3834 m a.s.l. in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Pollen and spores record, which spans for the past ~1930 yr BP, shows that Páramo vegetation has been dominated by Poaceae, Asteraceae, Lycopodiaceae, and Ericaceae. The sub-Andean forest is characterized by Urticaceae and Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae), while the Andean forest by Quercus (Fagaceae), Hedyosmum (Chloranthaceae), and Weinmannia (Cunoniaceae). We observed that aquatic vegetation pollen such as Cyperaceae were abundant, indicating marsh conditions in most of the record. Cold and warm periods, inferred from Páramo and Andean forest elements, respectively, reveal that the warmest periods were registered at ~1000 cal. yr BP (~AD 1016) (‘Medieval Climatic Optimum’) and in the last century, whereas the coldest ones around 1200 cal. yr BP (AD 831) and 650–150 cal. yr BP (AD 1368–1750) (‘Little Ice Age’). The pollen signal suggests that warm periods were dry and cold periods were wet. A comparison of these results with some localities of northwestern Colombia, the Caribbean, and South America was made, displaying variations that reflect regional and/or global climatic phenomena such as Intertropical Convergence Zone and the El Niño Southern Oscillation. In the past 50 years, the decrease in Quercus, Weinmannia and Clusia recovery and the increase in Rumex, Plantago, and Gunnera may reflect human impact derived from livestock, agriculture, and/or firewood. Volcanic events of variable magnitude have been identified with an apparent minimal effect on vegetation, reaching a maximum variation of about 10–15% between the beginning and the end of a volcanic event.