Paleomegaflora de la Formación Navidad, Miembro Navidad (Mioceno), en el área de Matanzas, Chile Central occidental

Abstract

Systematical account of fossil leaves from two fossiliferous beds belonging to the Navidad Member (Navidad Formation), in the neighbouring of Matanzas town (VI Region, Chile), is given in this paper. The aforementioned formation has been assigned to terminal Early Miocene-initial Late Miocene. Sixty-three organ-species have been identified and described. The characterization of each fossil assemblage is discussed and its significance is interpreted as representing mixed palaeofloras and a floristical change consisting in the reduction in Nothofagus's species diversity. This information is compared against the data provided by planktonic foraminiferal associations.