PALYNOLOGY OF THE PERMIAN SUCCESSION OF SPITSBERGEN, SVALBARD

Palynological investigations of 16 sections from Spitsbergen, Svalbard , covering the uppermost Carboniferous, Permian and lowermost Triassic succession have been carried out. Because of general poor preservatio n and barrenness of the majority of the samples, it was not possible t o establish a formal zonation for the Permian succession. The study re sulted, however, in the recognition of three Permian palynological ass emblages, restricted downwards by a Carboniferous assemblage and upwar ds by an earliest Triassic (Griesbachian) assemblage. The dating of th ese assemblages is based on palynological correlation with similar pal ynofloras elsewhere in the present Arctic region as well as dating by marine faunas, which in general give better stratigraphic resolution. The Permian assemblages recognised include (1) the Vittatina assemblag e of late Gzhelian to early Asselian age recorded in the lower parts o f the Tyrrellfjellet Member (Nordenskioldbreen Formation), (2) the Ham iapollenites tractiferinus assemblage of late Asselian to Artinskian a ge recorded in the upper parts of the Tyrrellfjellet Member and in the Gipshuken Formation and (3) the youngest Permian Kraeuselisporites as semblage of late Artinskian to ?earliest Tatarian age recorded in the Kapp Starostin Formation.