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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1989; v. 47; p. 227-240;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1989.047.01.17
© 1989 Geological Society of London

Late Cretaceous-early Tertiary floras of King George Island, West Antarctica: their stratigraphic distribution and palaeoclimatic significance

K. Birkenmajer1 & E. Zastawniak2

1 Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Senacka 3, 31-002 Kraków, Poland
2 W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków, Poland

Stratigraphic positions of Late Cretaceous and Tertiary floras have been established on King George Island, West Antarctica, based on K-Ar dating of associated volcanics. The oldest dated floras, of Late Cretaceous and Paleocene ages, provide evidence for a warm climate phase preceding the early Eocene glacial event termed the Kraków Glaciation. Late Eocene through early Oligocene floras indicate another warm period termed the Arctowski Interglacial, which post-dates the Kraków Glaciation. The youngest floras, of Oligocene-Miocene boundary age, indicate a temperate (or cool-temperate) climate, corresponding to the Wawel Interglacial which separated late Oligocene glacial and interglacial epochs (Polonez Glaciation, Wesele Interglacial and Legru Glaciation) from early Miocene glaciation (Melville Glaciation).