Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147

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Journal of South American Earth Sciences

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Palynology of carcinolites and limestones from the Baunilha Grande

state,
Ecofacies of the Pirabas Formation (Miocene of Para
northeastern Brazil)
Luzia Antonioli a, *, Vladimir de Araújo Ta

vora b, Rodolfo Dino a, c
a ~o, Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro,
Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology -Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua Sa
RJ, Brazil
b
Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Para
, Bel

em, PA, Brazil
c
Petrobras/Cenpes/PDEDS, Cidade Universita
ria, Quadra 7, Ilha do Funda~o, 21941-598, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The Pirabas Formation records important transgressive/regressive marine events in northern Brazil
Received 8 December 2014 during the Miocene. Here, we present the results of a palynological analysis of four samples from finely
Received in revised form stratified gray limestone and associated carbonate concretions bearing decapod crustacean remains.
16 May 2015
These sampled strata are representatives of the Baunilha Grande Ecofacies, and our analysis enhances the
Accepted 21 May 2015
Available online 28 May 2015
knowledge of local biostratigraphy and paleoecology.
The palynoflora is dominated by taxa typical of Neogene tropical areas, such as Zonocostites ramonae
(the most common species), together with Retitricolpites and Retitricolporites genera. Commonly repre-
Keywords:
Brazil
sented are the smooth and apiculate trilete/monolete spores (Polypodiisporites, Verrucosisporites, Mag-
Carcinolites nastriatites, and Deltoidospora), in conjunction with some freshwater algae (Ovoidites and Botryococcus).
Miocene Gymnosperm pollen grains were absent. Marine microplankton (dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs and
Palynology foraminiferal test linings) are scarce, although present in all samples.
Pirabas Formation The presence of the index species, Malvacipolloides maristellae and Pachydermites diederixii, co-
occurring with Zonocostites ramonae and Lanagiopollis crassa, suggests that these sediments and con-
cretions belong to the “T-13 Malvacipolloides maristellae” palynozone (Jaramillo et al., 2011), considered
as late-Early Miocene in age. Palynological and sedimentological evidence further points to a predom-
inantly continental depositional environment with a weak marine influence, as indicated by the
persistent presence of sparse dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs and foraminiferal test linings, typical of a
mangrove environment.
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The Pirabas Formation, defined by Maury (1925), represents one
of the most important manifestations of a marine transgressive
event in northern Brazil during the Miocene. This formation is
~700 m in thickness and extends for approximately 160 km inland
from the Bragantina Coast (Fig. 1). It mainly consists of richly
fossiliferous limestones indicative of a warm, shallow marine
depositional environment (Ferreira and Cunha, 1957; Petri, 1957;
Ferreira, 1966, 1980, 1982; Ferreira and Francisco, 1988). The
* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: luziaa@uerj.br (L. Antonioli), vtavora@orm.com.br (V. de
Araújo T

avora), dino@petrobras.com.br (R. Dino).
abundant and diversified fossil content has served as the basis for
the definition of three ecological facies in the Pirabas Formation, as
follows: Castelo Ecofacies (indicative of storm wave activity on
continental and carbonate platforms), Capanema Ecofacies
(lagoon), and Baunilha Grande Ecofacies (open marine, lagoon, and
mangrove) (Ferreira, 1966, 1980, 1982; Ferreira and Cassab, 1985;
Ferreira and Francisco, 1988) (Fig. 2A). Go
es et al. (1990) investi-
gated depositional and paleontological aspects of the Pirabas For-
mation; they concluded that the formation accumulated on a
carbonate platform, as well as in lagoons and intertidal zones with
mangroves, thus corroborating previous interpretations. In the
Baunilha Grande Ecofacies, which is investigated here, the most
conspicuous and abundant components are carcinolites. These are
centimeter-thick carbonate concretions that contain decapod

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2015.05.005
0895-9811/© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147
crustacean remains. The genesis of the carcinolites includes pro-
cesses initiated with the death of crustaceans. In the adipocere
(decomposition of carcasses initiated by chemical reactions), the
gas expelled by the organic matter and the dissolved salts in the
environment induce CaCO3 precipitation and form the concretion
around the carcass (NH3 þ Ca2þ þ HCO3/ CaCO3 þ H2O). The
thickness of concretions depends on the rate of decay because
microbial action can accelerate the decomposition process and
CaCO3 precipitation. The diagenetic features suggest that the car-
cinolites nucleated in sequential stages, which included the disso-
lution processes of the original carapace, and the recrystallization
of the carbonate of the carapaces in thin layers with prismatic
grains. Macroscopically, they are characterized by the black color of
the carcasses, phosphatization, silicification (occurring locally), and
compression of the carapaces (Ta
vora and Viana, 2003; Ta
vora and
Miranda, 2004).
In Brazil, carcinolites have only been recorded in the Baunilha
stream, Quatipuru county, northeastern Para
state. They form
distinctive components of the Baunilha Grande Ecofacies of the
Pirabas Formation, which is characterized by finely stratified gray
limestones and black mudstones, both bearing carcinolites (Fig. 2B).
Previous palynological investigations of the Baunilha Grande
Ecofacies were confined to the black mudstones that outcrop in
some localities of the Para
state littoral zone (Leite et al., 1997a, b;
Leite, 2004; Rossetti and Goes, 2004; Aguilera et al., 2013). The
present paper is the first palynological study of the carcinolites and
the associated sedimentary rocks (i.e., carcinolites related with
the finely stratified gray limestones and black mudstones). The
present study aims to characterize the Pirabas sequence
Fig. 1. Map showing the coverage of the Pirabas Formation.
135
biostratigraphically e more specifically, palynostratigraphically e
and to correlate the strata within and beyond the Par
a-Maranha ~o
Basin. We aim to elucidate the depositional environment of the
Baunilha Grande Ecofacies and to confirm whether the carcinolites
are genuinely in situ concretions, contemporaneous with
sedimentation.
2. Material and methods
Prior to initiating this study, a comprehensive review of all of the
outcrops of the Pirabas Formation's Baunilha Grande Ecofacies
throughout the Para
-Maranha ~o Basin was performed by one of the
authors (Tavora, V.A). During three fieldtrips in 1998, he collected
122 carcinolites and 11 associated gray limestone samples from the
Baunilha stream locality. The carcinolites were used for detailed
study of the decapod crustaceans conducted by Ta
vora and Silva
(2002) and Ta
vora and Viana (2003).
For the present palynological analysis, 11 gray limestone and 4
carbonate concretions, all representative of the Baunilha Grande
Ecofacies were processed. However, from the sampled sequence
(Fig. 2B), only four samples proved productive palynologically,
containing abundant and fairly well-preserved palynoflora. Two of
these are carcinolites (samples MG-3017 and MG-3020), and the
other two are gray limestones (MG-3018 and MG-3028). Paly-
nomorphs in the studied material are illustrated by the light pho-
tomicrographs in Plates 1e3.
Samples were subjected to conventional physico-chemical
techniques (e.g., Uesugui, 1979; Phipps and Playford, 1984; Wood
136 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147

state. (B) Lithologic

Fig. 2. (A) Schematic model representing the relationship between the Pirabas ecofacies and its relationship with Barreiras deposits, in the northeast of the Para
column of the Baunilha Grande Ecofacies (Pirabas Formation) in the carcinolite-bearing area, showing the sample stratigraphic positions.

et al., 1996) at the University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ)
laboratories.
In summary, the laboratory procedure was as follows. Approx-
imately 30e40 g of each sample was broken into pea-sized frag-
ments, which were immersed for approximately 2 h in hydrochloric
acid (32%) and then in hydrofluoric acid (approx. 40%) for 24 h for
the removal of carbonates and silicates, respectively. The resultant
residue was then oxidized for 10 min with concentrated nitric acid.
The still-remaining mineral matter was removed by means of
heavy-liquid separation (zinc chloride, S.G. 1.95e2.00), and a few

Fig. 3. Statistical diagram illustrating the relative abundance of the different systematic groups identified.
 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147
drops of the resulting residue were mounted on glass slides as
permanent strew mounts in a polyester resin (“Entellan”). Optical
microscopy was performed by means of Nikon and Zeiss Axioplan
microscopes; the latter was utilized for photomicrography (with
Kodak T-Max 100 35-mm film).
The permanent repository of the specimens is the Department
of Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Faculty of Geology of UERJ
(UERJ/FGEL/DEPA), where the samples remain, and the residues
and slides are stored and cataloged under the numbers MG-3015 to
MG-3029 (see Fig. 2).
Pollen counts were performed by tallying all palynomorphs of
each morphotype from the prepared slides, and a sum above 300
palynomorphs was reached for each sample (Appendix 1).
3. Geology
3.1. Pirabas Formation
The sedimentary evolution in western Amazonia in the Miocene
was mostly influenced by NWeSE normal faults dipping north-
easterly and also an NEeSW strike-slip and transfer faults. This
evolution is considered a manifestation of the final extensional
deformation phase related to the breakup of Gondwana, which
effectively separated the South American and African continents

es, 2004).
(Costa et al., 1993; Rossetti and Go
The Pirabas Formation (Maury, 1925), which outcrops inter-
mittently in the northern Brazilian states of Par
a, Maranha ~o, and
Piauí, provides some of the best marine Cenozoic paleontological
occurrences in Brazil. The formation's type locality is the Pirabas
River estuary, east of Salinas county in Par
a state. According to
Rossetti and Go
es (2004), its occurrence on the continental
portion of Para
composes the geotectonic unit called the Bra-
gantina platform. Since its formalization, its inclusion in the Para
-
Maranh~ ao Basin has been controversial. The Bragantina shelf has a
Fig. 4. Correspondence table of the main palynostratigraphic schemes related to northern South America.
137
thickness lower than 60 m directly supporting the Precambrian
basement.
Characterized by marine limestones of varied structure, chem-
ical composition and color and with fine interbedding of greenish
to dark gray claystone and calcareous sandstone, this Miocene
formation attains its major thickness in the Barreirinhas Basin;
however, it also occurs beyond the limits of this basin. Herein, we
informally include the Pirabas Formation in the Par
a-Maranha ~o
Basin because we consider that the upper part of the Ilha de San-
tana Formation defined in this basin corresponds to the Pirabas
Formation, as identified in the Barreirinhas Basin (see Trosdtorf
et al., 2007; Soares et al., 2007).
The abundant and varied fossil content of the Pirabas Formation,
including representatives of the principal animal phyla, enables
recognition of the three ecological facies mentioned previously. The
Miocene age ascribed to the Pirabas Formation is based on the
presence of guide fossils; e.g., the gastropod Orthaulax pugnax
(Heilprin, 1887; Dall, 1915) and several species of the foraminiferal
genus Globigerinoides (Maury, 1925; Ferreira, 1967; Fernandes,
1988; Fernandes and Ta
vora, 1990; T

avora and Fernandes, 1999).
The stratigraphic relationship between the Miocene-
Pleistocene Barreiras Group and the Pirabas Formation is under
dispute. Francisco et al. (1971) considered that the Barreiras
Group unconformably succeeds the Pirabas Formation, and
geological observations of the Pirabas Formation, in both the
surface and subsurface, suggest that the Baunilha Grande Ecofa-
cies lies below the Castelo and above the Capanema Ecofacies
(Ferreira, 1980, 1982). However, Ferreira and Francisco (1988)
regarded these units as mutually interlayered. Go
es et al. (1990)
noted that the Pirabas Formation mainly accumulated on a
shallow carbonate shelf and also in lagoonal and intertidal zones
supporting mangrove vegetation. This suggestion is corroborated
by facies analysis and hummocky cross stratification indicative of
storm wave activity during the carbonate sedimentation. The
transgressive sequence of the Pirabas Formation is followed by
Plate 1. Fig. 1 Deltoidospora delicata Sah, 1967. 9905058, R57-1. 2. Deltoidospora adriennis (Potonie
and Gelletich, 1933) Frederiksen, 1983. 9905058, D27-3. 3. Polypodiaceoisporites
sp. 9905057, H47. 4. Verrucosisporites sp. 9905058, W47. 5. Magnastriatites grandiosus (Kedves and Sole
de Porta, 1963) Duen ~ as, 1980. 9905057, V51. 6. Magnastriatites grandiosus
(Kedves and Sole
de Porta, 1963) Duen ~ as, 1980. 9905068, Q19-2. 7. Tricolpites clarensis (Gonzalez, 1967) Jaramillo and Dilcher, 2001. 9905057, N47-1. 8. Polypodiisporites usmensis
(Van der Hammen, 1956) Germeraad et al., 1968. 9905059, E61. 9. Reticulate spore undifferentiated. 9905057, S43-3. 10. Retitricolpites sp. 9905060, X41-4. 11. Retitricolpites wijningae
Hoorn, 1994. 9905060, 043-3. 12. Striatopollis sp. 9905060, L40. 13. Foveotricolpites sp. 1. 9905060, D47. 14. Foveotricolpites sp. 2. 9905058, S37-4. 15, 16. Psilatricolpites sp. 9905060,
O45. 17. Arecipites sp. 9905062, F56-4. 18. Psilatriporites sarmientoi Hoorn, 1993. 9905059, Q52. 19. Mauritiidites franciscoi (Van der Hammen, 1956) Van Hoeken-Klinkenberg, 1964.
9905057, Q44. 20. Mauritiidites franciscoi (Van der Hammen, 1956) Van Hoeken-Klinkenberg, 1964. 9905062, E37-3.
L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147 139
140 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147

the regressive Barreiras siliciclastics. The presence of structures
indicating the influence of tidal currents and palynomorphs of
Middle Miocene age in the lower Barreiras sediments suggest that
the transgressive-regressive event occurred gradationally and
contemporaneously and can therefore be included in the same
depositional model. Go
es et al. (1990) also noted an interbedding
pattern with the Pirabas Formation and Barreiras Group. The
cyclical sedimentation also attests to significant sea level fluctu-
ations and a highly irregular coastline.
In their study of the development of Cenozoic deposits in the
Salinopolis region of northeastern Para
, Costa et al. (1993) related
the deposits to a transgressive-regressive cycle. They concluded
that the sediments were initially deposited on a carbonate platform
in a warm shallow sea (Pirabas Formation). This was followed by a
regressive unit of siliciclastic sediments (Barreiras Group), indi-
cating distinct basin uplift that interrupted limestone deposition of
the tidal flat and other near shore environments.
According to Rossetti and Santos (2004), incised valley estuarine
successions (Pirabas/Barreiras sequence) characterized by the great
influence of the tidal processes in channelized environments
including the inner shelf, coastal, tidal channel, restricted shelf/
lagoon, mangrove/tidal flat and with the influence of brackish
water were established in the area. The upper and inner limits of
the Pirabas/Barreiras sequence are well marked by regional and
local discontinuous surfaces. These deposits grade laterally and
upwards due to the coastal morphology, interactions of the marine
and fluvial processes, sea level and subsidence fluctuations, and
variable gradients of sedimentary supply.
These environments are internally organized in three units.
Units 1 and 2 are the portions with the greatest marine influence
of the estuarine system, and during marine transgression events,
shallow carbonate shelves were developed, with flooding in
protected lagoons formed behind barrier areas. In unit 3, the
fluvial element of the estuarine sequence is dominant, revealing
stacking strata with a progressively more continental trend
where the marine erosion is prominent (Rossetti and Go
es,
2004).

es (2004) presented a comprehensive analysis of
Rossetti and Go
the geological evolution of the Late Cenozoic in northeastern Para
,
detailing the main stratigraphic relationships.
The depositional units and unconformities from the Pirabas/
Barreiras sequence are correlated with major South American tec-
tonic events and eustatic fluctuations. The prevailing high sea event
recorded coincides with a period of marine transgressions
throughout South America, suggesting that it was an event of
continental scale, recognized also in northwestern Amazonia,
Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Argentina and correlated with the
eustatically caused worldwide high sea level in the Miocene
(Rossetti, 2001).
3.2. Baunilha Grande Ecofacies
The mangrove sediments of the Pirabas/Barreiras sequence are
exposed very irregularly in the total area of the Pirabas Formation
in the Salgado and Bragantina physiographic regions of
northeastern Para
and are composed of massive or laminated black
shales, with plant remains and pyrite. Laminated greenish shales
with lenses or layers of sandstone are also found in the sequence. In
unit 1 (Rossetti and Go
es, 2004), the rocks that outcrop in the
Baunilha stream in the Quatipuru bay surroundings located on the
Para
coastline constitute the one and great occurrence of the
mangrove ecofacies of the Pirabas Formation. Here, the outcrop
consists of black mudstones, finely stratified gray limestones and
black mudstones that incorporate carcinolites and pyritized plant
fragments. This mangrove environment constitutes the Baunilha
Grande ecofacies, defined by Petri (1957) and confirmed by Ferreira
(1980).
The crustaceans included in concretionary material at this lo-
cality were first observed by Brito (1971, 1972), thus defining the
taxonomic and paleoecological characteristics of the ecofacies.
At the Atalaia beach exposure, Arai et al. (1994) ascribed the
black mudstones that surround the carcinolites to the Barreiras
Group, and from the palynological data, they suggested a marine
influence for this stratigraphic unit. However, the presence of a few
specimens of bryozoans (genus Lunulites Lamarck, 1816), typical of
the Pirabas Formation (Fernandes et al., 1994), signifies correlation
with the latter rather than with the Barreiras Group.
The fossiliferous content includes both benthic and planktic
foraminifera, decapod crustaceans, bryozoans, diatoms, ostracods,
calcareous algae, polychaete annelids, echinoid spines, plant frag-
ments, fecal pellets and bioturbation structures (i.e., microtubes
and evidence of fungal and bacterial activity). The rocks outcrop-
ping in the Baunilha stream were combined with those of the
Capanema Ecofacies by Petri (1957) based on the similarity be-
tween their foraminiferal faunas.
The brachyurid Uca maracoani (Latreille, 1802), currently living
in the mangroves of the Brazilian coast, occurs in the carcinolites
and represents the most characteristic fossil of the Baunilha Grande
Ecofacies. This occurrence and the fact that most of the carcinolites
were found on the Baunilha stream floor and not in situ in the strata
aroused some doubts on whether carcinolites were synsedi-
mentary and whether they were part of the Pirabas Formation or
were recent concretions. However, the absence of transport fea-
tures and the good preservation of delicate parts of the brachyurids,
in addition to the palynological data (from the present study), point
toward the synsedimentation of these fossil carcinolites inside this
formation.
4. Main characteristics of the palynoflora
The carcinolites and adjacent sediments of the Baunilha Grande
Ecofacies of the Pirabas Formation hold a relatively abundant and
fairly well-preserved palynoflora. Palynomorphs of continental
origin dominate in all samples, and the assemblage is composed of
abundant angiosperm pollen grains (>90%), mainly of retitricolpate
and tricolporate forms (Fig. 3). Smooth and apiculate trilete/mon-
olete spores are present in lesser amounts (<7%), as well as the
freshwater algae elements belonging to the genera Ovoidites and
Botryococcus. Marine microplankton represented by foraminiferal
test linings, acritarchs and dinoflagellate cysts (genus

Plate 2. Fig. 1. Crototricolpites annemariae Leidelmeyer, 1966. 9905060, T48-2. 2. Pachydermites diederixii Germeraad et al., 1968. 9905057, Q58-1. 3. Pachydermites diederixii
Germeraad et al., 1968. 9905060, O55-2. 4. Ilexpollenites sp. 9905060, E44-2. 5. Retitricolporites sp. 1. 9905060, U59-1. 6. Retitricolporites sp. 2. 9905060, V60-1. 7. Retitricolporites sp.
3. 9905060, S40-2. 8. Lanagiopollis crassa (Van Der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964) Frederiksen, 1988. 9905057, L48. 9. Bombacacidites sp. cf. B. bellus Frederiksen, 1983. 9905057, M40-
2. 10. Bombacacidites sp. 1. 9905060, K35-1. 11, 12. Zonocostites ramonae Germeraad et al., 1968. 9905057, C51. 13. Bombacacidites sp. 2. 9905057, F52. 14. Striatopollis catatumbus
Gonz
alez Guzma
n, 1967. 9905057, S41-1. 15. Monoporopollenites annulatus (Van der Hammen, 1954a, b) Jaramillo and Dilcher, 2001. 9905060, O41. 16. Psilatricolporites fissilis
Leidelmeyer, 1966. 9905057, C51. 17. Psilatricolporites maculosus Regali et al., 1974a. 9905060, L37-1. 18. Psilatricolporites maculosus Regali et al. (1974a, b). 9905060, Y55-2. 19, 20.
Cupanieidites sp. 9905058, E40-1. 21. Jandufouria seamrogiformis Germeraad et al., 1968. 9905057, P32-2.
L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147 141
142 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147

Operculodinium) are minor constituents and do not exceed 2% of the Subturma Triptyches Naumova, 1939
total. Gymnosperm pollen grains are notably absent. In general
terms, this assemblage is very similar to those described by Leite Crototricolpites annemariae Leidelmeyer, 1966
et al. (1997a, b) from other outcropping localities of the Pirabas Foveotricolpites sp. 1
Formation. The unique remarkable difference is that the percentage Foveotricolpites sp. 2
of Zonocostites ramonae does not exceed 38%, whereas in the Psilatricolpites sp.
assemblage described in Leite et al. (1997a, b), this percentage Retitricolpites wijningae Hoorn, 1994a
reaches 80%. Retitricolpites sp.
The most conspicuous components of the palynoflora are Striatopollis catatumbus Gonzalez-Guzman, 1967
Malvacipolloides maristellae, Crototricolpites annemariae, Magnas- Striatopollis sp.
triatites grandiosus, Polypodiisporites usmensis, Zonocostites ramo- Tricolpites clarensis (Gonzalez-Guzman, 1967) Jaramillo and
nae, Mauritiidites franciscoi, Tricolpites clarensis, Retitricolpites Dilcher, 2001.
wijningae, Striatopollis catatumbus, Lanagiopollis crassa, Psila-
tricolporites maculosus, Psilatricolporites triangularis, Pachydermites Subturma Monoporines Naumova, 1939
diederixii, Psilatriporites sarmientoi, Jandufouria seamrogiformis, and
Multiporopollenites pauciporatus. Monoporopollenites annulatus (Van der Hammen 1954a, b)
Among the pollen grains, Zonocostites ramonae is the most Jaramillo and Dilcher 2001.
common, occurring in all samples in high percentages (29e38%),
accompanied by Mauritiidites (4e11%). Pteridophyte spores are
, 1960
Subturma Triporines Potonie
represented in minor frequencies by a few genera, the most
consistently occurring being Polypodiisporites (monolete spores), Psilatriporites sarmientoi Hoorn, 1994a
and trilete spores belonging to Verrucosisporites, Magnastriatites, Psilatriporites sp.
and Deltoidospora.
Given below is an inventory of all taxa identified in the study
, 1960
Subturma Polyporines Potonie
material, most of which are illustrated in Plates 1e3. Suprageneric
classification of the spore-pollen palynomorphs follows the scheme Echiperiporites akanthos Van Der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964
introduced by Potonie
and Kremp (1954) and modified by several Echiperiporites stelae Germeraad et al., 1968
subsequent authors (see summary in Playford and Dettmann, 1996, Echiperiporites sp.
pp. 244e247). Appendix 1 provides geological and curatorial in- Malvacipolloides maristellae Jaramillo and Dilcher, 2001
formation pertinent to each figured specimen. Multiporopollenites pauciporatus Jaramillo and Dilcher, 2001
List of taxa. Pachydermites diederixii Germeraad et al., 1968
Spores Persicarioipollis sp.
Anteturma Proximegerminantes R. Potonie
, 1970 Scabraperiporites sp. cf. S. Nativensis Regali et al., 1974a
Turma Triletes Reinsch emend. Dettmann, 1963
Subturma Ptychotriporines Naumova, 1939
Deltoidospora adriennis (Potonie
and Gelletich, 1933) Freder-
iksen, 1983 Bombacacidites sp. cf. B. bellus Frederiksen, 1983
Deltoidospora delicata Sad, 1967 Bombacacidites sp. 1
Magnastriatites grandiosus (Kedves and Sole
de Porta, 1963) Bombacacidites sp. 2
Duen~ as, 1980 Cupanieidites sp.
Polypodiaceoisporites sp. Fenestrites sp.
Verrucosisporites sp. Ilexpollenites sp.
L. crassa (Van Der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964) Frederiksen,
Turma Monoletes Ibrahim, 1933 1988
Psilatricolporites fissilis Leidelmeyer, 1966
Polypodiisporites usmensis (Van der Hammen, 1956a) Germeraad Psilatricolporites maculosus Regali et al., 1974a
et al., 1968. Retitricolporites sp. 1
Retitricolporites sp. 2
Pollen Grains Retitricolporites sp. 3

, 1970
Anteturma Variegerminantes R. Potonie Zonocostites ramonae Germeraad et al., 1968
Subturma Monocolpates Iversen and Troels-Smith, 1950
Subturma Ptychopolyporines Naumova, 1939
Arecipites sp.
Mauritiidites franciscoi (Van der Hammen, 1956) Van Hoeken- Jandufouria seamrogiformis Germeraad et al., 1968
Klinkenberg, 1964
Mauritiidites sp. Dinoflagellate Cysts
Division Pyrrophyta Pascher, 1914

Plate 3. Fig. 1. Malvacipolloides maristellae (Muller et al., 1987) Silva-Caminha et al., 2010. 9905068, R38-3. 2. Malvacipolloides maristellae (Muller et al., 1987) Silva-Caminha et al.,
2010. 990557, S34-4. 3. Malvacipolloides maristellae (Muller et al., 1987) Silva-Caminha et al., 2010. 9905060, O19-2. 4. Echiperiporites akanthos Van Der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964.
9905057, E15. 5. Echiperiporites akanthos Van Der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964. 9905068, M27-1. 6. Scabraperiporites sp. cf. S. nativensis, Regali et al. (1974a, b). 9905060, R49-1. 7.
Multiporopollenites pauciporatus Jaramillo and Dilcher, 2001. 9905060, N39. 8. Fenestrites sp. 9905057, K65-3. 9. Echiperiporites stelae Germeraad et al., 1968. 9905068, L46-2. 10.
Echiperiporites sp. 9905057, S37-1. 11. Persicarioipollis sp. 9905060, J53-1. 12. Botryococcus braunii Kutzing, 1849. 9905068, U58-3. 13. Acritarch undifferentiated. 9905057, W47-1. 14,
15. Operculodinium sp. 990557, V44-3. 16. Microforaminiferal test lining (Scytinascia). 9905060, L19-2. 17. Ovoidites sp. 9905068, D17-4.
 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147
Class Dinophyceae Fritsch, 1929
Order Peridiniales Fritsch, 1929
Operculodinium sp.
Freshwater Algae
Division: Chlorophyta Pascher, 1914
Class: Chlorophyceae Kützing, 1843
Family: Botryococcaceae Wille, 1909
Botryococcus braunii Kützing, 1849
Class: Charophyceae G.M. Smith, 1938
Order: Zygnematales Borge in Pascher, 1913
Family: Zygnemataceae (Meneghini) Kützing, 1898
Ovoidites sp.
Order Foraminiferida Eichwald, 1830
Microforaminiferal linings (Scytinascia)
5. Correlation and age of the palynoflora
A biostratigraphical framework encompassing the Neogene
strata of all sedimentary basins of northern South America has
been constructed by several authors who proposed significant
palynozonations for the entire region (Germeraad et al., 1968;
Regali et al., 1974a, b; Lorente, 1986; Muller et al., 1987; Hoorn,
1993; Jaramillo et al., 2011). Many of the palynomorphs in the
present assemblage were utilized in these palynozonations due to
their useful biostratigraphical application, and all of the most
important ones have already been documented as existing in
northern South America Miocene strata. These include Malvaci-
polloides maristellae, Crototricolpites annemariae, Pachydermites
diederixii, L. crassa, Zonocostites ramonae and Psilatricolporites tri-
angularis, which have been previously documented in Miocene-
age strata in Brazil (principally from the northern region: Regali
et al., 1974a, b; Hoorn, 1993, 1994a, b), Venezuela and Colombia
(Van der Hammen, 1956a, b; Gonzalez-Guzman, 1967; Muller
et al., 1987; Hoorn, 1993, 1994a; Lorente, 1986; Jaramillo and
Dilcher, 2001; Jaramillo et al., 2009, 2011), Guiana (Leidelmeyer,
1966), tropical areas (Germeraad et al., 1968) and South America
(Garcia et al., 2007a, b). Hence, the Baunilha Grande Ecofacies
assemblage exhibits a close resemblance to those Miocene palyno-
assemblages from the above-mentioned regions, particularly those
described in Germeraad et al. (1968), Regali et al. (1974b), Lorente
(1986), Müller et al. (1987), Hoorn (1993), and Jaramillo et al.
(2011), as discussed below. Fig. 4 shows the correlation among
the most significant palynozonations, focusing on Miocene-aged
strata in northern South America.
Based on the Brazilian palynostratigraphic scheme elaborated
by Regali et al. (1974b), the occurrence of Pachydermites die-
derixii, allied with the frequent incidence of L. crassa and Zono-
costites ramonae, indicates that the Pirabas assemblage fits
within the Psilatricolpites triangularis to Grimsdalea magnaclavata
biozonal interval, which is considered to range from middle-
Early to Late Miocene in age. Additionally, anchored by the
presence of the guide-species Malvacipolloides maristellae and
Crototricolpites annemarie and the absence of Crassoretitriletes
vanraadshoovenii, the Pirabas Formation can fit in the concurrent
range zone of Psiladiporites-Crototricolpites defined by Hoorn
(1993), aged as Early to Middle Miocene. Additionally, the
absence of noticeable species that are common in Brazilian
143
sediments, such as Grimsdalea magnaclavata, Fenestrites spinosus,
Echitricolporites spinosus, and Crassoretitriletes vanraadshovenii,
assures an age no younger than late-Early Miocene for these
deposits.
Moreover, Jaramillo et al. (2011) created a palynozonation
scheme from the whole Cenozoic strata of the Llanos and Llanos
Foothills area in Colombia. This biostratigraphic zonation is
composed of 18 palynozones and is intimately correlated with the
long-established zonal framework applied for northern South
America. Additionally, it has a more accurate chronostratigraphic
control, as data from foraminifera, carbon isotopes and magneto-
stratigraphy were used for independent calibrations. After exam-
ining the Jaramillo et al. (2011) zonation, we observed, based on the
presence of Malvacipolloides maristellae, that the Pirabas Formation
assemblage fits in the Zone T-13 Malvacipolloides maristellae, which
has a base defined by the FAD of Malvacipolloides maristellae and a
top defined by the FAD of Grimsdalea magnaclavata. The indepen-
dent ages for the determined palynozones restrict the age of Zone
T-13 Malvacipolloides maristellae (Jaramillo et al., 2011) to the late-
Early Miocene.
6. Paleoenvironmental implications
Palynological, macrofaunal and sedimentological evidence
suggests the prevalence of warm and humid climatic conditions
during deposition of the Baunilha Grande Ecofacies of the Pirabas
Formation in Para
. The palynological assemblage indicates a
predominant continental contribution, i.e., spore-pollen grains
and woody remains of terrestrial plants. However, the persis-
tence, albeit in low frequencies, of dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs,
and foraminiferal test linings provides evidence of marine in-
fluence during deposition. Of particular significance in deter-
mining the depositional setting is the remarkable presence of
pollen grains attributed to mangrove environments, specifically
of the genera Zonocostites and Psilatricolporites. The species
Zonocostites ramonae belongs to the Rhizophoraceae (Van Der
Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964; Germeraad et al., 1968; Hoorn,
1993). Rhizophora is an important member of mangrove com-
munities (plants well adapted to coastal, marine to brackish
water in tropical environments) in South America (Graham,
1995; Germeraad et al., 1968; Graham and Jarzen, 1969) and in
the Gulf of Guinea (Germeraad et al., 1968; Poumot, 1989).
L. crassa is known to be produced by the mangrove plant Pelli-
ceria (Graham, 1995; Rull, 2001) and is another significant
component of the extensive mangrove communities in tropical
South America (Van Der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1964; Graham,
1977; Hoorn, 1993, 1994a, b; Rull, 2001) and Africa (Germeraad
et al., 1968).
In macrofaunal terms, decapods (U. maracoani, Uca leptodactyla
and Ucides cordatus) are known to occupy the tidal zone, mostly in
mangrove areas that support abundant vegetation (Barnes, 1990).
According to Walsh (1974), these decapods prefer relatively high
tropical temperatures, fine sediments, moderate tidal energy, saline
conditions and high tidal amplitude. The sedimentological data, as
noted in Ta
vora and Silva (2002) and Rossetti and Go
es (2004),
which define carbonatic microfacies characterized as floatstones-
mudstones, indicate a restricted marine environment with low
energy, corroborating the macrofaunal and palynological data.
Accordingly, the interpreted depositional environment of the
Baunilha Grande Ecofacies is a coastal environment with strong
terrestrial influx and slight marine influence, as is typical of a
mangrove environment.
144 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147
7. Discussion
The carbonate to carbonate-siliciclastic strata in the Pirabas
Formation demonstrate a large-scale Miocene marine trans-
gression in northern Brazil (Maury, 1925; Petri, 1954, 1957; Ferreira,
1966; Arai et al., 1984; Go
es et al., 1990; Leite et al., 1997a, b; Tavora
and Fernandes, 1999; Ta
vora, 2000; Rossetti, 2000, 2004; Rossetti
and Go
es, 2004; Rossetti et al., 2013).
Given the importance of global sea level elevations in the
Neogene, and based on the extensive occurrence of the Pirabas
Formation in the basins of the Brazilian equatorial margin and its
richness in fossils, several geological and paleontological studies
were developed to characterize its strata. However, some issues are
still incomplete/misinterpreted in the literature. This discussion
aims to minimize these knowledge gaps about the Pirabas Forma-
tion regarding a) age, b) its scope in the basins of the Brazilian
equatorial margin, and c) the stratigraphic relationships between
its ecofacies with the Barreiras Formation.
a) Regarding the age, several authors (e.g., Ferreira, 1967; Ferreira
and Cassab, 1985; Rossetti et al., 2013) still consider that the
Pirabas Formation was first deposited in the Late Oligocene and
that the transgressions are as old as the Upper Oligocene-Lower
Miocene. The Oligo-Miocene age information was gathered from
the work of Ferreira (1967) based on the Orthaulax genus gas-
tropods presence, which is not restricted to the Upper Miocene-
Lower Oligocene interval. Moreover, following the work of
Fernandes (1984), studies about different fossil groups, such as
foraminifera (Fernandes, 1988; Fernandes and Ta
vora, 1990;

vora and Fernandes, 1999), palynomorphs (Leite, 1997, 2004;
Ta
Leite et al., 1997a, b), ostracods (Macedo, 1983, 1985, 1988;

vora, 1992; Echevarría and Tavora, 1992), crustaceans
Ta
(T

avora et al., 2000), nannofossils (Quadros and Fernandes,
1982; Concheyro and Tavora, 1992; Shimabukuro and Ferreira,
1996; Shimabukuro and Arai, 1999), and ichthyoliths (Costa,
2011), restricted the age of the Pirabas Formation to the Lower
Miocene, consistent with the palynological data obtained in this
study. Thus, the so-called transgressions of the Late Oligocene-
Lower Miocene mentioned by several authors are, in fact,
restricted to the Miocene.
b) Regarding the area coverage of the Pirabas Formation, most of
the studies indicate its occurrence in continental areas,
mentioning intermittent continental shelf deposits in the
coastal regions of the states of Para
, Maranha~o and Piauí.
However, its coverage is much wider and it is possible to
correlate the Formation (i.e., in lithologic, biostratigraphic and
age terms) with transgressive events, well-marked in the Foz do
Amazonas (Figueiredo et al., 2007), Para
-Maranh~ ao (Soares
et al., 2007), Barreirinhas (Trosdtorf et al., 2007), Bragança-
Viseu, and Sa ~o Luis e Ilha Nova (Zala
n, 2007) basins. Thus, as
previously mentioned in Shimabukuro et al. (2003), the Early
Miocene transgression not only filled the marginal basins of the
Brazilian equatorial region but also invaded vast continental
areas that were partially eroded in the Late Miocene.
c) The stratigraphic relationships between the Pirabas and Bar-
reiras formations were always controversial because of the poor
fossil content of the Barreiras Formation and the deficiency of
sedimentological and stratigraphic detail of both formations.
Initially, they were considered as genetically independent units
by their distinct lithologies, depositional environments and
fossil content. The Pirabas Formation consists primarily of car-
bonates with interbedded shales and sandstones, has marine
influence, is richly fossiliferous and is of Oligocene/Miocene age
(Petri, 1954, 1957; Ferreira, 1966). The Barreiras Formation,
which is dominantly variegated colored and siliciclastic,
overlaid the Pirabas Formation and is considered to be of Plio-
cene age by correlation with similar formations that occur in
northeastern Brazil (Sa
, 1969; Mussa, 1958; Amador, 1982). It
was only after the studies of Go
es et al. (1990) and Rossetti and

es (2004) that these stratigraphic relationships were properly
Go
established.
Thus, the carbonate and carbonate-siliciclastic facies of the
Pirabas Formation and the siliciclastic facies of the Barreiras For-
mation are organized into three sedimentary sequences strati-
graphically separated by regional discontinuities and were
deposited in an estuarine system (Rossetti and Go
es, 2004). The
completion of this estuary in incised valleys was probably due to
the high frequency change in sea level resulting in a complex
succession, with lateral and vertical facies gradations (a few meters
thick). Therefore, it is impossible to establish a stratigraphic
framework for specific facies because they interdigitate and are
repeated throughout the area of the depositional site. This occurs in
the geometry between the Pirabas and Barreiras deposits, where
the latter is restricted to the upper portions of this sequence, which
is associated with a backward tract system.
8. Conclusions
The following conclusions can be drawn from the palynological
and macrofaunal study of the samples from the sediments and
concretions of the Pirabas Formation's Baunilha Grande Ecofacies.
1. The Baunilha Grande Ecofacies yielded an abundant, moderately
well-preserved and diversified palynoflora, containing diverse
morphological groups, namely pteridophyte/bryophyte spores,
angiosperm pollen grains, dinoflagellate cysts, foraminiferal test
linings, freshwater algae and acritarchs;
2. The palynoflora is attributed to the Malvacipolloides maristellae
(T-13) Zone of the Colombian palynostratigraphic scheme,
which can be correlated with other zonal schemes based else-
where in tropical South America, particularly with the Brazilian
Crassoretitriletes vanraadshoovenii interval zone.
3. The occurrence of such stratigraphically important species as
Malvacipolloides maristellae, Crototricolpites annemariae, Zono-
costites ramonae, Pachydermites diederixii and L. crassa implies a
late-Early Miocene age for the Pirabas Formation - Baunilha
Grande Ecofacies;
4. A weak marine influence during accumulation of the ecofacies is
demonstrated by the presence of scarce dinoflagellate cysts,
acritarchs, and foraminiferal test linings in association with
abundant terrestrial palynomorphs and plant debris;
5. A warm, humid climate in a mangrove environment is indicated
by the characteristic lithologies in conjunction with rhizophor-
acean pollen grains and crustacean fossils (U. maracoani,
U. leptodactyla, and Ucides cordatus), particularly U. maracoani
included in the studied carcinolites.
6. The palynological data assure that the carcinolites are genuinely
in situ concretions, which are contemporaneous with
sedimentation.
Acknowledgments
The permission of the management of Petrobras to publish this
work is gratefully acknowledged. We also express our gratitude to
the reviewers for carefully and critically reviewing the manuscript
and for their valuable suggestions, leading to improvement of our
final paper.
 L. Antonioli et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 62 (2015) 134e147 145

Appendix 1. Relative frequency of palynomorphs recovered from the Pirabas Formation samples. Percentages are based on a total
count of approximately 300 individuals per sample (counts are given as total number/relative percent of total).

Taxon/Sample MG-3017 MG-3018 MG-3020 MG-3028

Count % Count % Count % Count %

Deltoidospora adriennis 4 1.2 4 1.2 4 1.2 1 <1.0

Deltoidospora delicata 6 1.8
Magnastriatites grandiosus 2 <1.0
Polypodiaceoisporites sp. 2 <1.0
Verrucosisporites sp. 2 <1.0
Trilete reticulate spore undifferent. 2 <1.0
Polypodiisporites usmensis 8 2.5
Arecipites sp. 2 <1.0
Mauritiidites franciscoi 9 2.8
Mauritiidites sp. 10 3.1
Crototricolpites annemariae 2 <1.0
Foveotricolpites sp1 5 1.5
Foveotricolpites sp2 3 1.0
Psilatricolpites sp. 8 2.5
Retitricolpites wijningae 8 2.5
Retitricolpites sp. 21 6.5
Tricolpites clarensis 2 <1.0
Striatopollis catatumbus 4 1.2
Striatopollis sp. 8 2.5
Monoporopollenites annulatus 6 1.8
Psilatriporites sarmientoi 4 1.2
Psilatriporites sp. 8 2.5
Echiperiporites akanthos 5 1.5
Echiperiporites stelae 7 2.1
Echiperiporites sp. 2 <1.0
Malvacipolloides maristellae 3 1.0
Multiporopollenites pauciporatus 5 1.5
Pachydermites diederixii 5 1.5
Persicarioipollis sp. 2 <1.0
Scabraperiporites sp. cf. S. nativensis 2 <1.0
Bombacacidites cf. B. bellus 6 1.8
Bombacacidites sp. 1 5 1.6
Bombacacidites sp. 2 1 <1.0
Cupanieidites sp. 2 <1.0
Fenestrites sp. 6 1.8
Ilexpollenites sp. 5 1.6
Lanagiopollis crassa 6 1.8
Psilatricolporites fissilis 3 1.0
Psilatricolporites maculosus 2 <1.0
Retitricolporites sp. 1 5 1.5
Retitricolporites sp. 2 2 <1.0
Retitricolporites sp. 3 4 1.2
Zonocostites ramonae 93 28.6
Jandufouria seamrogiformis 4 1.2
Operculodinium sp. 3 1.0
Dinoflagellate undifferentiated 4 1.2
Acritarch undifferentiated 1 <1.0
Ovoidites sp. 4 1.2
Botryococcus braunii 6 1.8
Microforaminiferal linings 6 1.8
Total count/percent of total 325 100
3 <1.0
1 <1.0
3 <1.0
4 1.2
2 <1.0
10 3.1
5 1.6
8 2.5
6 1.9
3 <1.0
4 1.2
5 1.6
10 3.1
9 2.8
18 5.7
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
4 1.2
4 1.2
5 1.6
7 2.2
3 <1.0
4 1.2
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
3 <1.0
3 <1.0
1 <1.0
2 <1.0
2 <1.0
8 2.5
4 1.2
2 <1.0
4 1.2
4 1.2
4 1.2
5 1.6
4 1.2
7 2.2
2 <1.0
2 <1.0
106 33.3
6 1.9
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
2 <1.0
2 <1.0
4 1.3
4 1.3
318 100
e e
e e
4 1.2
1 <1.0
e e
5 1.6
e e
15 4.5
18 5.4
3 <1.0
4 1.2
2 <1.0
9 2.7
5 1.6
20 6.0
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
9 2.7
6 1.8
4 1.2
10 3.0
7 2.1
8 2.4
5 1.5
1 <1.0
3 <1.0
3 <1.0
2 <1.0
2 <1.0
4 1.2
5 1.5
3 <1.0
e e
e e
7 2.1
4 1.2
2 <1.0
1 <1.0
4 1.2
3 <1.0
6 1.8
120 36.0
4 1.2
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
1 <1.0
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
5 1.5
334 100
4 1.3
1 <1.0
1 <1.0
4 1.3
1 <1.0
10 3.2
3 <1.0
10 3.2
8 2.6
3 <1.0
3 <1.0
2 <1.0
13 4.2
7 2.2
25 8.0
3 <1.0
2 <1.0
12 3.8
8 2.6
5 1.6
7 2.2
4 1.3
3 <1.0
2 <1.0
1 <1.0
2 <1.0
2 <1.0
e e
2 <1.0
2 <1.0
6 1.9
1 <1.0
e e
e e
3 <1.0
5 1.6
2 <1.0
1 <1.0
5 1.6
1 <1.0
2 <1.0
117 37.5
4 1.3
1 <1.0
3 <1.0
1 <1.0
6 1.9
2 <1.0
3 <1.0
314 100

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