Cretaceous palynomorphs from the Springhill Formation at Estancia El Salitral, southern Patagonia.

The Springhill Formation at Estancia Fl Salitral, Santa Cruz province, yiel ds a distinctive palynological assemblage of miospores and subordinate dino flagellates. The occurrence of Muderongia staurota Sarjeant emend. Monteil together with several species such as Circulodinium? distinctum Deflandre a nd Cookson, Muderongia crucis Neale and Sarjeant emend. Monteil, Oligosphae ridium complex (White) Davey and Williams, and Systematophora rosenfeldii V olkheimer and Sarjeant, previously quoted from equivalent horizons at the A grio Formation, Neuquen Basin, suggest a probable late early Hauterivian/ea rly Barremian age A comparative analysis of dinoflagellates and ammonite oc currences points to the existence of a marine link between the Austral and Neuquen basins.