Pdf: http://www.sbpbrasil.org/revista/edicoes/10_1/Oliveira.pdf

The Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary (Lower Jurassic) is well represented in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal), mainly in Peniche area, where more than 450 m of marls and limestones are exposed. These deposits were chosen as a candidate for the Toarcian Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP). Calcareous nannofossil and palynomorph assemblages are described herein, with the aim to contribute to the GSSP definition. Marly samples were collected 3 m below and 15 m above this boundary and analyzed for calcareous nannofossils and palynomorphs. The main nannofossils observed were: Biscutum finchii, B. grande, Calcivascularis jansae, Crepidolithus crassus, C. granulatus, C. impontus, Lotharingius hauffii, L. sigillatus, L. velatus, Schizosphaerella spp. and Tubirhabdus patulus. This assemblage indicates that the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary in Peniche lies in the upper part of the NJ5b Subzone. Schizosphaerella and Lotharingius dominate the assemblage. The abundant occurrence of C. jansae and the common occurrence of B. grande indicate a strong Tethyan influence. The palynomorphs were, in general, fairly well-preserved with low diversity and common small forms. The residue is dominated by slightly carbonized woody organic material. Corollina (rimulates) dominates all samples and trilete spores form a significant component of the assemblage. Dinoflagellate cysts are common in the lower part of the section sampled. The relatively high percentage of rimulates indicates a hot climate. The abundance of organic residue in woody material indicates that a strong influx of continental debris invaded the carbonate platform during the Toarcian.