Fossil woods from the Late Cretaceous Aachen Formation

Area of Science:

• Paleobotany
• Stratigraphy
• Paleoclimatology

Background:

• The Aachen Formation in Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany preserves Late Cretaceous (Santonian) fossil woods.
• Understanding the paleoflora and paleoclimate of this region provides insights into Cretaceous ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the composition and paleoecological significance of silicified fossil woods from the Aachen Formation.
• To reconstruct the paleoclimate based on the identified flora.

Main Methods:

• Systematic identification of silicified fossil wood specimens.
• Anatomical analysis of wood structure.
• Paleobotanical and paleoecological interpretation.

Main Results:

• The assemblage is dominated by gymnosperms, including Taxodiaceae (Taxodioxylon), Araucariaceae (Dammaroxylon), Pinaceae (Pinuxylon), and Cycad or Cycadeoid (Scalaroxylon).
• Angiosperms are present but less abundant, identified as Nyssoxylon, Mastixioxylon, Plataninium, and Paraphyllanthoxylon.
• The identified flora and wood anatomy suggest a warm, humid, and seasonal climate, likely warm-temperate to subtropical.

Conclusions:

• The Late Cretaceous Aachen Formation flora is predominantly gymnospermous.
• The fossil woods provide evidence for a warm, humid, and seasonal climate during the Santonian in this region.
• This study contributes to the understanding of Late Cretaceous paleoflora and paleoclimates in Western Europe.