Pollen and Spores from the Lower Cretaceous of Central Mongolia and Their Paleoclimatic Significance

Abstract

The present study focuses on the Lower Cretaceous Khukhteeg Formation (Central Mongolia), which yields palynological assemblage that is used to understand the paleoclimate. Palynology samples from the Khovil opencast mine Choir-Nyalga Basin in the Central Mongolia have been analyzed for palynomorphs with SEM. The assemblage is dominated by pollen to conifers, such as Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae and Taxodiaceae, indicating the vegetation of conifer forests. The assemblage contains abundant spores Schizaeaceae, Cyatheaceae, which are generally associated with wet habitats. According to the detailed analyses, the plant community indicates that warm and humid subtropical paleoclimate controlled the study area during the Early Cretaceous.