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A new fossil resin with biological inclusions in Lower Cretaceous deposits from Álava (northern Spain, Basque-Cantabrian Basin)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2015

Jesus Alonso ,
Antonio Arillo ,
Eduardo Barrón ,
J. Carmelo Corral ,
Joan Grimalt ,
Jordi F. López ,
Rafael López ,
Xavier Martínez-Delclòs ,
Vicente Ortuño  and
Enrique Peñalver
...Show all authors
Jesus Alonso
Affiliation:
Museo de Ciencias Naturales de álava—Arabako Natur Zientzien Museoa, Siervas de Jesús 24, E-01001 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain,
Antonio Arillo
Affiliation:
Dpto. de Biología Animal 1 (Entomología), Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain,
Eduardo Barrón
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geociências. Universidade de Aveiro. 3810 Aveiro, Portugal, ,
J. Carmelo Corral
Affiliation:
Museo de Ciencias Naturales de álava—Arabako Natur Zientzien Museoa, Siervas de Jesús 24, E-01001 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain,
Joan Grimalt
Affiliation:
Centre d'Investigació i Desenvolupament, C.S.I.C. Jordi Girona, 18-26. E-08034 Barcelona, Spain,
Jordi F. López
Affiliation:
Centre d'Investigació i Desenvolupament, C.S.I.C. Jordi Girona, 18-26. E-08034 Barcelona, Spain,
Rafael López
Affiliation:
Museo de Ciencias Naturales de álava—Arabako Natur Zientzien Museoa, Siervas de Jesús 24, E-01001 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain,
Xavier Martínez-Delclòs
Affiliation:
Departament d'Estratigrafia i Paleontologia. Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Zona Universitaria de Pedralbes, E-08071 Barcelona, Spain,
Vicente Ortuño
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología animal, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain,
Enrique Peñalver
Affiliation:
Departament de Geología, Facultat de Biologia, Universidat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot, València, Spain,
Paulo R. Trincão
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geociências. Universidade de Aveiro. 3810 Aveiro, Portugal, ,
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Abstract

The occurrence of amber in Sierra de Cantabria (álava, Basque Country) has been known for more than two decades but biological inclusions have only recently been found. The existence of crustaceans (amphipods and isopods), chelicerates (acari and arachnids), 12 orders of insects, and several bird feathers are reported in this preliminary study. In addition, there are leaf remains, molluscs, and a fair number of inorganic inclusions.

Pollen analysis of the clastic series indicates an age between upper Aptian—middle Albian, which allows an assignment of this stratigraphic unit to the Nograro Formation. Chemical analysis indicates that the amber has high maturity, which reflects its Cretaceous age. Chemical composition analysis also indicates an araucariacean origin, which is corroborated by pollen found within the amber deposit.

This new fossil site provides information for the reconstruction of paleocommunities of arthropods and sedimentary environments in the extreme south of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin during the Lower Cretaceous, characterized by coniferous forests with an understory of vascular cryptograms. Some of the identified arthropods add to the fossil record for various groups that are poorly known or unknown for this time period. This Lagerstätte constitutes one of the most important deposits of Mesozoic amber in the world.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 74 , Issue 1 , January 2000 , pp. 158 - 178
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 2000

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