Abstract

BREA, Mariana; MATHEOS, Sergio; ZAMUNER, Alba  and  GANUZA, Daniel. Growth rings analysis of the Víctor Szlápelis fossil forest , lower Tertiary of Chubut , Argentina. Ameghiniana [online]. 2005, vol.42, n.2, pp.407-418. ISSN 1851-8044.

Growth rings are described in gymnosperm woods of the Victor Szlápelis Forest, Salamanca Formation, Lower Paleocene of the Chubut province, Argentina. This forest is composed by a large number of petrified trunks of parautocthonous provenance. The presence of trees with more than 1 m in diameter suggests an exuberant growth and good environmental conditions for tree development. Associated sediments suggests that fossil trees were developed in a stable environment related with fluvial to deltaic characteristics. Tree-ring methods are used to study the growth characteristics of these gymnosperms. Wood anatomy and characters associated to the growth records indicate that climate was warm-temperate and humid, with a dry summer and a wet spring.

Keywords : Argentina; Chubut; Salamanca Formation; Lower Paleocene; Gymnosperms; Wood. Growth rings; Paleoclimatology.