The fossil spores and pollen from the Lower Cretaceous Arida Formation in western Kii Peninsula, southwestern Japan

Abstract

The fossil spores and pollen were newly collected from the Lower Cretaceous Arida Formation of the Chichibu Composite Belt in western Kii Peninsula, southwestern Japan. The obtained fossils are Taxodiaceaepollenites spp., Cicatricosisporites cf. australiensis, Cicatricosisporites sp., Cicatricosisporites? sp., Baltisphaeridium, etc. These fossils indicate Cretaceous age. This age doesn't contradict the current views of Barremian age for the Arida Formation.