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Research paper

First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi

sub-basin, Moatize-Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup,
Mozambique
Francesca Galasso a,b,1 , Zélia Pereira c,∗ , Paulo Fernandes b , Amalia Spina a , João Marques d
a
Department of Physics and Geology, University of Perugia, Via Pascoli, 06123 Perugia, Italy
b
Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMA), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
c
Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG), Rua da Amieira, Apartado 1089, 4466-901 S. Mamede Infesta, Portugal
d
Gondwana Empreendimentos e Consultorias, Limitada, Rua B, no. 233, Bairro da COOP, Caixa Postal 832, Maputo, Mozambique

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Keywords: Permian-Triassic ages have been identified for the first time in the Karoo Supergroup of the N’Condédzi
Spores sub-basin, Moatize-Minjova Coal Basin, Mozambique. This transition was identified in a coal exploration
Pollen borehole that penetrated the Matinde and Cádzi formations. The top of the Matinde Formation is dated
Lopingian
latest Permian (Lopingian), and the Cádzi Formation is attributed to Triassic based on palynostratigra-
Induan-Olenekian
phy. The Lopingian age is established by the identification of three palyno-assemblages: Assemblage
Carnian
Karoo Palaeogeography L1 based on the first occurrence (FO) of Guttulapollenites pollen, Assemblage L2 is marked by the FO of
Thymospora pseudothiessenii, and Assemblage L3 is defined by the FO of Osmundacidites senectus. Trias-
sic palynomorphs were identified for the first time in Mozambique (Karoo basins). The data allowed the
identification of three assemblages: Assemblage T1 defined by the FO of Densoisporites nejburgii of Induan
age, Assemblage T2 is marked by the FO of Platysaccus queenslandi and assigned to the Olenekian age, and
Assemblage T3 is defined by the FO of Samaropollenites speciosus and Enzonalasporites vigens, indicating
a Carnian age. No Middle Triassic rocks were identified, and the early Triassic sediments are overlain
by sedimentary rocks of Carnian age, a hiatus that may correspond to an important tectonic event with
uplift and erosion. This tectonic event is also suggested by the occurrence of common reworked Per-
mian palynomorphs in the Carnian sedimentary rocks. These new data constrain the age of the Karoo
Supergroup formations of Mozambique and contribute to improve the palaeoecological, palaeoclimatic
evolution, and the palaeogeographic position of the Karoo Mozambique basins within the Gondwana
supercontinent.
© 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction Karoo sequences, new lithostratigraphic units were proposed (GTK

Consortium, 2006; Paulino et al., 2010). However, these new strati-
In the last decade, the increase in the exploration and exploita- graphic studies were not complemented, from the beginning, with
tion of coal in the Mozambique Karoo basins is documented scientific works directed to exploration decisions and associated to
especially in the region surrounding Tete city, in the Province of reduce risks related to this activity. For example, until the present,
Tete (Fig. 1). This growth was due, in part, to an effort initiated sev- very few paleontological, palynological, and palaeoecological stud-
eral years earlier by the Mozambican Geological Survey (Direcção ies that ascertain the age and the depositional conditions of the
Nacional de Geologia) that in partnership with other countries geo- coal-bearing basins have been published. Specifically, regarding
logical surveys revised the geology of the entire country, leading to coal exploration, this significant mapping effort led to the defini-
the publication of a new series of geological maps (GTK Consortium, tion and concession of new areas for exploration that were followed
2006; Norconsult Consortium, 2007). Regarding the geology of the by intensive drilling campaigns. Thus, boreholes made recently
available by several exploration companies are supporting the com-
pletion of numerous studies in the Moatize-Minjova Coal Basin
(MMCB) (Fig. 1) including palynostratigraphy (Pereira et al., 2014;
∗ Corresponding author.
Lopes et al., 2014; Pereira et al., 2016; Götz et al., 2018), thermal his-
E-mail address: [email protected] (Z. Pereira).
1 tory (Fernandes et al., 2015; Galasso et al., 2019), Permian climatic
Currently at University of Zurich.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
0035-1598/© 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Fig. 1. Simplified geology of the Tete Province, Mozambique, with the location of Karoo basins of the Zambezi River valley and the N’Condédzi, Moatize and Muarádzi
sub-basins.
Adapted from Geological Map of Mozambique, Direcção Nacional de Geologia, Maputo (2006).

changes (Götz et al., 2017), the tectonostratigraphy (Bicca et al., The stratigraphic succession of the MMCB consists of four clas-
2017) and sediment provenance (Bicca et al., 2018). The present tic formations, which are from base to top, Vúzi, Moatize, Matinde,
work deals with the palynostratigraphy of the formations posi- and Cádzi formations. From these lithostratigraphic units, the Moa-
tioned at the top of the Karoo Supergroup stratigraphic succession tize Formation in its type area (around Moatize town) has six main
of Mozambique, aiming to date these formations, and to contribute coal seams interbedded with sandstones and mudstones. Parts
to a better understanding and characterise the palaeoecological and of these stratigraphic units were recognized in the N’Condèdzi
palaeoclimatic features recorded in these deposits. With this study, sub-basin (Lakshminarayana, 2015), whose general geology is
we will aim to improve the knowledge on the palaeogeographic described below; however, a detailed description of the geology
position of these basins within the Gondwana supercontinent and and lithostratigraphy of the MMCB can be found in publications
ultimately contribute to coal seam identification and correlation such as Lächelt (2004), GTK Consortium (2006), Vasconcelos (2013),
required in future coal exploration programmes. Fernandes et al. (2015) and Pereira et al. (2016).
A comprehensive work on the N’Condédzi sub-basin was pub-
2. Geological setting of the N’Condédzi sub-basin lished by Lakshminarayana (2015). Although this work is mainly
focused on several aspects of coal geology and exploration, it also
The N’Condédzi sub-basin is one of the several sub-basins that provides new information about the stratigraphic succession in
form the main MMCB. In turn, the MMCB is one of the three main this area. The N’Condédzi sub-basin is located ca. 50 km to NE of
basins located along the Zambezi river valley in the province of the Tete city (Fig. 1). Its northern boundary corresponds to the
Tete (Lächelt, 2004; GTK Consortium, 2006) (Fig. 1). The MMCB is Mwanza Fault (Fig. 2), a brittle structure formed by the reactiva-
the best studied of all the Karoo basins in Mozambique, mainly due tion of the Sanângoè Shear Zone (SSZ) during the early(?) Permian,
to the presence of abundant coal seams, which are currently being and related to the initial tectonic phases of this sub-basin devel-
exploited in two mines (Vale Moatize and ICLV Benga mines). The opment. The Mwanza Fault is a prominent geomorphologic feature
development of Karoo basins in the province of Tete is related to at the northern boundary of this sub-basin, separating the gran-
the brittle reactivation of high strain shear zone (e.g., the Sanângoé ites and gneisses of the Mesoproterozoic Furancungo Suite and the
and Mzarabani shear zones) of the Zambezi Belt, formed during the flat region of the hanging wall fault block that corresponds to the
Pan-African Orogeny (620–530 Ma) (Carvalho, 1977; Afonso, 1984; Karoo sedimentary rocks (Fig. 2). According to Lakshminarayana
Pinna et al., 1993; Jamal, 2005; GTK Consortium, 2006; Norconsult (2015), the throw of the Mwanza Fault is more than 700 m towards
Consortium, 2007; Grantham et al., 2008; Viola et al., 2008). the south, but Galasso et al. (2019) estimates that the throw of

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Fig. 2. a: detailed geological map of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, showing the location of the boreholes studied; b: interpretative geological cross-section of the N’Condédzi
sub-basin with the location of the boreholes studied, showing also the age of the stratigraphic successions penetrated by the three boreholes. The wavy line in the cross-section
corresponds to the hiatus between the lower and upper Triassic rocks. Geological cross-section not at scale.
Adapted from Geological Map of Mozambique, Sheet No. 1533/1534, Cazula/Zóbuè, Geological Series 1/250,000, Direcção Nacional de Geologia, Maputo (2006).

this fault is more than 1000 m towards the same direction, due to deposited in periglacial environments. The thickness of this forma-
the presence of a combined Lopingian to Middle Triassic succes- tion varies from 60 to 140 m. The Vúzi Formation passes upward
sion with a thickness of ca. 1500 m. In the southern margin of this to the ‘Transitional Assemblage’, a new informal lithostratigraphic
sub-basin, Karoo sedimentary rocks rest either unconformably over unit defined by Lakshminarayana (2015). The latter unit consists
the Mesoproterozoic gabbros-anorthosites of the Tete Suite or are of conglomerates, sandstones, mudstones, and cm-thick coal beds
faulted against the later lithologies (Fig. 2). Different ages of the organized vertically into several fining-upward cycles, each cycle
Karoo sedimentary rocks positioned immediately above the crys- with a thickness of 3 to 5 m, in an overall thickness of ca. 70 m.
talline basement rocks, located in different positions of this basin This informal unit was deposited in the proximal areas of a major
(Galasso et al., 2019 and in present work), suggest that the Karoo alluvial fan, characterise by plain-coal swamps in the distal parts of
sediments progressively overstepped the gentle tilted basement the fan. Above this unit, lays conformably the Moatize Formation,
rocks towards South-Southwest (today’s coordinates). which is divided into two different lithofacies groups: a domi-
According to Lakshminarayana (2015), the stratigraphic suc- nant sandstone lithofacies, consisting of sandstones interbedded
cession of the N’Condédzi sub-basin starts, at the base, by the with siltstones and mudstones, and the coal-carbonaceous mud-
Vúzi Formation, which consists of clast to matrix-supported con- stones lithofacies (Lakshminarayana, 2015). The latter consists of
glomerates and sandstones arranged into fining-upward cycles cyclic coal beds interbedded with carbonaceous mudstones and

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Fig. 3. Lithological logs of boreholes A1TM-058, CIMT-014 and A1TM-039 with the position of the studied palynological samples.

siltstones, comprising the so-called barcode coal seams, consti- (Benga) sub-basin, are recognized in the N’Condédzi sub-basin
tuting almost two-thirds of the overall thickness of the Moatize (Lakshminarayana, 2015). There are, however, some differences
Formation. The thickness of Moatize Formation is more than 400 m between the stratigraphy of the two sub-basins: in the N’Condédzi
in this sub-basin. The main Coal Seams or ‘Carbonaceous Complexes’ sub-basin, the Sousa Pinto Coal Seam occurs within the ‘Transitional
of the Moatize Formation, defined in the type area of the Moatize Assemblage’, and not at the base of the Moatize Formation; the

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Fig. 4. Main palynological events and key species recovered in the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-Minjova Basin, Mozambique.

Grande Falésia and André Coal Seams are better developed in the (Lakshminarayana, 2015). The stratigraphic succession terminates
N’Condédzi sub-basin, especially the Grande Falésia whose thick- with the Cádzi Formation that consists of conglomerates, red
ness varies between 110 and 250 m, in clear contrast with the 12 m coarse-to-medium-grained sandstones, interbedded with red to
thickness recognized for this coal seam in the Moatize sub-basin green mudstones. Dolerite sills related to the Lower Jurassic Karoo-
(Lächelt, 2004). Ferrar Large Igneous Province (Duncan et al., 1997) are found
The Matinde Formation conformably overlays the Moatize intruded, especially in the Moatize Formation.
Formation and comprises conglomerates and thick beds of coarse- Due to the absence of any biostratigraphic information,
to-medium-grained sandstones, with rare interbedded mudstones. Lakshminarayana (2015) correlated the Vúzi Formation with the
The thickness of the Matinde Formation in this sub-basin is late Pennsylvanian–early Cisuralian Dwyka Group of the Main
unknown. Palaeocurrents measured in cross-bedded sandstones Karoo Basin of South Africa and the Moatize and Matinde forma-
of the Matinde Formation show a predominant ESE direction tions with the Cisuralian–early Lopingian Ecca Group.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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3. Material and methods centimetric thick grey mudstones beds. From ca. 463 m to 350 m
depth, there is a second prominent sandstone-dominated interval
Ninety-nine core samples were collected for a palynostrati- consisting of red to purple conglomerates, coarse- to medium-
graphic study from three coal exploration boreholes (A1TM-058, grained sandstones interbedded with rare red-brown mudstones
CIMT-014 and A1TM-039) drilled in the N’Condédzi sub-basin and siltstones. The succession between 350 m and 260 m depth
(Figs. 2 and 3). Thirty-one samples proved productive containing consists of fine-grained lithologies, red mudstones and siltstones
moderately preserved and diversified palynomorphs. A minimum with few medium-grained sandstone beds. A prominent coarse-
of 200 palynomorphs were counted per slide (Tables 1–3). The to medium-grained sandstone section with rare grey mudstone
following adjectives were used to describe the different paly- lenses characterises the following 50 m interval, which ends at
nomorphs identified: Abundant (> 50%), Common (10–50%), and 210 m depth. Lastly, from 210 m depth to the top of the borehole,
Rare (< 10%). the succession is dominated by red-brown mudstones interbedded
The palynological samples were treated with standard paly- with thin beds of brown siltstones, medium-grained red-yellow
nological laboratory procedures to extract and concentrate the sandstones and rare lenses of grey mudstones.
organic matter. The organic residues were oxidized using fuming
nitric acid for approximately 1 minute (Wood et al., 1996; Riding
and Warny, 2008). The slides were examined under transmitted 4.3. Borehole A1TM-039
light, with a BX40 Olympus microscope equipped with an Olympus
C5050 digital camera and Qualitative spore fluorescence colours As borehole CIMT-014, this borehole penetrated approximately
was undertaken in the University of the Algarve using an Olympus 600 m of mainly red clastic sedimentary beds (Fig. 3). However,
BX51 microscope equipped with a metal halide lamp fluorescence borehole A1TM-039 is richer in coarse-grained clastic sedimentary
unit (XCite Series 120Q) and with a violet and Blue +12 filter block rocks than borehole CIMT-014. From total depth to ca. 564 m depth,
that generates a wavelength band of 390–490 nm. This system was the succession consists of grey-black mudstones interbedded with
allowed to stabilize for 5 minutes before any observation of the flu- yellow buff medium-grained sandstones. From 564 m to 470 m
orescence of palynomorphs was attempted. All samples, residues depth, the succession consists of red-brown siltstones interbedded
and slides are held both in the University of the Algarve, Portugal, with red mudstone beds and few red sandstones levels. Following
and in the Collection of the Geological Survey of Portugal, LNEG, upwards, the interval from 470 m to 350 m depth is dominated by
S. Mamede de Infesta. Selected palynomorphs are illustrated in thick coarse- to medium-grained red-pink sandstone beds. Finally,
Plates 1–5. from 350 m to the top of the borehole, the succession comprises
thick conglomerate beds and coarse- to medium-grained sand-
stones that are intercalated with less common red-brown siltstones
4. Borehole lithostratigraphic description
and mudstones beds.

4.1. Borehole A1TM-058

5. Palynological results
This borehole attained a total depth of 1000 m and penetrated,
at its base, a 4 m sequence of basement rocks (gabbro-anorthosites)
The quantitative and qualitative distribution of the paly-
belonging to the Mesoproterozoic Tete Suite (Fig. 3). The base-
nomorph assemblages presented is based on the relatively
ment rocks are unconformably overlain by an 8 m thick sequence
abundance of the taxa and on the FO of particular taxa. Three assem-
consisting of red siltstones interbedded with red mudstones that
blages of Lopingian age (L1 to L3), also identified in the stratigraphic
pass upwards to black carbonaceous mudstones beds. The 980 m
succession of the Muarádzi sub-basin of the MMCB (Pereira et al.,
to 930 m depth interval consists of two sections of clast to matrix-
2019), and three assemblages assigned to the Triassic (T1 to T3) are
supported conglomerates interbedded with black mudstones and
described in this work (Tables 1–3).
black carbonaceous mudstones. The latter interval is followed
In stratigraphic order, the palynomorph assemblages are as fol-
by a succession of approximately 180 m thick of cyclic sand-
lows.
stones/siltstones beds interbedded with black mudstones. Most
of the succession above 750 m, and to 190 m depth, comprises
black carbonaceous mudstones, black mudstones, siltstones and 5.1. Assemblage L1
coal beds, with the coarser lithologies (sandstones) concentrated
between 610 m to 490 m depth. This thick interval is also charac- This assemblage is characterised by a clear dominance of gym-
terised by the occurrence of several intrusive dolerite sills. From nosperms taeniate bisaccate pollen (Protohaploxypinus spp. and
190 m depth to the top of the borehole, the succession consists Striatopodocarpites spp.) and non-taeniate pollen (Alisporites spp.).
of coarse- to medium-grained sandstones intercalated with silt- Typical taxa are Alisporites spp. (A. plicatus, A. potoniei, A. ovatus),
stones, carbonaceous mudstones and thin coal beds. Protohaploxypinus spp. (e.g., P. amplus, P. diagonalis, P. goraiensis,
P. hartii and P. limpidus) and Striatopodocarpites spp., as well as rare
4.2. Borehole CIMT-014 to common Cycadopites cymbatus, Lueckisporites virkkiae, Platysac-
cus sp. and Vittatina spp. Common to abundant Guttulapollenites
The borehole succession consists mainly of red clastic litholo- hannonicus and Weylandites lucifer, as well as rare to common
gies, which are in clear contrast with the succession of the previous monossacate pollen assigned to the taxa Cannanoropollis sp. are also
borehole, denoting a marked change in the depositional and present. Spores are rare to common and include Apiculatisporis sp.,
palaeoenvironmental settings. This borehole has a total depth of Baculatisporites sp., Brevitriletes cornutus, Brevitriletes sp., Calam-
500 m (Fig. 3), and the succession from total depth to ca. 489 m ospora spp., Cyclogranisporites sp., Fabasporites sp., Horriditriletes
is dominated by intercalations of black carbonaceous mudstones, spp., Laevigatisporites spp., Leiotriletes sp. and rare Microbaculispora
siltstones, and fine-grained sandstones beds. The interval from sp., Procoronaspora spinosa, Verrucosisporites sp. and Verrucosis-
484.5 m to 463 m depth consists of grey siltstones interbedded with porites andersonii (Table 1).
fine-grained grey sandstones that are followed upwards by a 4.5 m Occurrence: Borehole A1TM-058, sample interval MQ102 to
thick bed of clast-supported conglomerates interbedded with two MQ85.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Plate 1. Selected palynomorph specimens from the N’Condédzi sub-basin, MMCB, Mozambique. Plate captions give the taxonomic name of the figured specimen, followed
by borehole reference, sample number, slide number and microscope coordinates (MC). Scale bars: 50 ␮m. 1. Anapiculatisporites spiniger (Leschik) Reinhardt/Carnisporites
anteriscus Morbey, 1975, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ111, Slide 1a-16, MC1410-38, EF X42/3; 2. Anapiculatisporites spiniger (Leschik) Reinhardt/Carnisporites anteriscus
Morbey, 1975, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4-19, MC1338-135, EF N34/4; 3. Baculatisporites bharadwaji Hart, 1963, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 148, Slide
1b-9, MC1375-75, EF T38; 4. Aratrisporites sp., Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 233, Slide 2-47, MC 1440-55, EF V45; 5. Aratrisporites sp., Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 233,
Slide 2-146, MC 1405-105, EF Q41/4; 6. Baculatisporites sp. Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 147, Slide 1b-18, MC 1285-50, EF W29; 7. Cyclogranisporites sp., Reworked, Borehole
CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2a-126, MC1375-65, EF U38/4; 8. Densoisporites complicatus Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4-55, MC 1120-78, EF
S12/3; 9. Densoisporites playfordii (Balme, 1963) Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 5-120, MC 1245-255, EF A25/2; 10. Densoisporites nejburgii (Schulz,
1964) Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 147, Slide 1a-79, MC 1430-195, EFG44; 11. Densoisporites playfordii (Balme, 1963) Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014,
Sample MQ 147, Slide 5-149, MC 1270-75, EFT27; 12. Densoisporites playfordii (Balme, 1963) Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4-42, MC 1125-75, EF
T12/2; 13. cf. Dictyophyllidites sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4-2, MC 1245-95, EF R25; 14. Lophotriletes novicus Singh, 1964, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ
147, Slide 5-3, MC 1510-65, EF R25/4; 15. Kraeuselisporites sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2b-34, MC 1310-140, EF M31/4.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Plate 2. Selected palynomorph specimens from the N’Condédzi sub-basin, MMCB, Mozambique. Plate captions give the taxonomic name of the figured specimen, followed by
borehole reference, sample number, slide number and microscope coordinates (MC). Scale bars: 50 ␮m. 1. Lundbladispora brevicula Balme, 1963, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample
MQ 111, Slide 4a-15, MC 1325-110, EF P34; 2. Lundbladispora brevicula Balme, 1963, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4a-29, MC1350-125, EF P33/4; 3. Lundbladispora
sp. Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3-125, MC 1235-105, EF Q24; 4. Lundbladispora sp. Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4a-45, MC 1125-75, EF S13/4;
5. Lundbladispora tetrad, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3-119, MC 1132-160, EF K13/4; 6. Osmundacidites senectus Balme, 1970, Reworked, Borehole CIMT-014,
Sample MQ 111, Slide 2a-73, MC1385-95, EF R39/4; 7. Osmundacidites senectus Balme, 1970, Reworked, Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 233; Slide 2-137, MC1300-60, EF
V30/2; 8. Nevesisporites fossulatus Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3-122, MC1055-110, EF P5/4; 9. Limatulasporites limatulus (Playford, 1965) Helby
and Foster, 1979, Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 232, Slide 2b-148, MC 1405-105, EF Q41/2; 10. Limatulasporites limatulus (Playford, 1965) Helby and Foster, 1979, Borehole
CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3-124, MC1235-105, EF P24/4; 11. Microbaculatisporites sp., Reworked, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4-48, MC1125-75, EF
S13; 12. Playfordiaspora cancellosa (Playford and Dettmann) Maheshwari and Banerji, 1975, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3-105, MC 1120-115, EF P12/2; 13.
Polypodiisporites sp. sensu Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 148, Slide 1a-92, MC1445-100, EF R25/2; 14. Polypodiisporites sp. sensu Balme, 1970, Reworked,
Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 232, Slide 2b-83, MC 1450-172, EF J46/4; 15. Thymospora pseudothiessenii (Kosanke) Wilson and Venkatachala, 1963, Borehole CIMT-014,
Sample MQ 148, Slide 1a-5, MC 1380-135, EF 39/3; 16. Thymospora pseudothiessenii (Kosanke) Wilson and Venkatachala, 1963, Reworked, Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ
231, Slide 3b-29, MC 1135-190, EF H14/1.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Plate 3. Selected palynomorph specimens from the N’Condédzi sub-basin, MMCB, Mozambique. Plate captions give the taxonomic name of the figured specimen, followed
by borehole reference, sample number, slide number and microscope coordinates (MC). Scale bars: 50 ␮m. 1. Striatella seebergensis Madler, 1964, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample
MQ 111, Slide 2a-36, MC1445-90, EF S46; 2. Striatella sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2a-129, MC1350-100, EF 36/1; 3. Striatella seebergensis Madler, 1964,
Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 4a-11, MC1235-85, EF S24/4; 4. Retusotriletes sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 1a-9, MC1422-80, EF T43/2; 5.
Stereisporites sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3a-98, MC1085-70, EF U8; 6. Taurocusporites sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 1a-152, MC1405-195,
EF F42/3; 7. Taurocusporites sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2a-165, MC1325-175, EF T33; 8. Taurocusporites sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide
4-61, MC1170-190, EF 17/4; 9. Leptolepidites sp., Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 233, Slide 2-36, MC1440-65, EF V45/1; 10. Leptolepidites sp., Borehole A1TM-039, Sample
MQ 233, Slide 2-84, MC1398-155, EF L40/4; 11. Verrucosisporites andersonii Backhouse, 1988, Reworked, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 1a-68, MC1415-150, EF
L42/4; 12. Verrucosisporites narmianus Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2a-172, MC1305-75, EF T31.

5.2. Assemblage L2 Weylandites lucifer. Other rare to common pollen taxa occurring in
this assemblage are Cycadopites sp., Lueckisporites virkkiae and Gne-
The assemblage contains abundant Alisporites spp. (including taceaepollenites sinuosus, in addition to common Guttulapollenites
A. plicatus, A. potoniei and A. ovatus), Protohaploxypinus spp. (e.g., hannonicus and Platysaccus sp.
Protohaploxypinus amplus, P. goraiensis and P. limpidus) and Stri- The spores increase in abundance: taxa such as Brevitriletes
atopodocarpites spp., together with rare to common Vittatina sp. and sp. Baculatisporites bharadwaji, Baculatisporites sp., Calamospora

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Plate 4. Selected palynomorph specimens from the N’Condédzi sub-basin, MMCB, Mozambique. Plate captions give the taxonomic name of the figured specimen, followed
by borehole reference, sample number, slide number and microscope coordinates (MC). Scale bars: 50 ␮m. 1. Alisporites parvus de Jersey, 1962, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample
MQ 111, Slide 1a-30, MC1415-55, EF 2V4; 2. Enzonalasporites vigens Leschik, 1955, Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 232, Slide 1-1, MC1225-55, EF V26; 3. Alisporites parvus
de Jersey 1962, Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 232, Slide 2b-23, MC1225-42, EF X23; 4. Guttulapollenites hannonicus Goubin, 1965, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 156,
Slide 1b-34, MC 1320-245, EF A33/3; 5. Platysaccus queenslandi de Jersey, 1962, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2b-58, MC1295-185, EF H30/2; 6. Guttulapollenites
hannonicus Goubin, 1965, Sondagem Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 232, Slide 2b-4, MC1315-125, EF O32; 7. Densipollenites? sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111,
Slide 3a-31, MC1425-55, EF V43/4; 8. Gnetaceaepollenites sinuosus (Balme and Hennelly) Bharadwaj and Srivastava, 1969, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 147, Slide 1a-140,
MC1373-41, EF W38/3.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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F. Galasso et al. / Revue de micropaléontologie xxx (2019) xxx–xxx 11

Plate 5. Selected palynomorph specimens from the N’Condédzi sub-basin, MMCB, Mozambique. Plate captions give the taxonomic name of the figured specimen, followed by
borehole reference, sample number, slide number and microscope coordinates (MC). Scale bars: 50 ␮m. 1. Falcisporites stabilis Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ
111, Slide 2a-108, MC1375-95, EF R38; 2. Klausipollenites schaubergeri (Potonié and Klaus) Jansonius, 1962, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 147, Slide 1a-108, MC1410-70, EF
U42; 3. Falcisporites stabilis Balme, 1970, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3-121, MC1055-110, EF P6/4; 4. Lunatisporites pellucidus (Goubin) Helby, 1972, Borehole
CIMT-014, Sample MQ 156, Slide 2a (56), MC1315-50, EF W32/2; 5. Samaropollenites speciosus Goubin, 1965, Borehole A1TM-039, Sample MQ 232, Slide 2-136, MC1310-110,
EF P32/3; 6. Protohaploxypinus microcorpus (Schaarschmidt) Clarke, 1965, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 156, Slide 2a (62), MC1205-40, EF X21; 7. Striatoabieites multistriatus
(Balme and Hennelly, 1955) Hart, 1964, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 3a-103, MC1130-125, EF O13/1; 8. Striatopodocarpidites cancellatus (Balme and Hennelly)
Hart, 1964, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 148, Slide 1b-53, MC 1350-100, EF R36/2; 9. Triadispora sp., Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 2b-61, MC 1300-195, EF
31/1; 10. Triadispora crassa Klaus, 1964, Borehole CIMT-014, Sample MQ 111, Slide 1a-165, MC 1305-138, EF O31; 11. Triadispora crassa Klaus, 1964, Borehole CIMT-014,
Sample MQ 111, Slide 4-93, MC 1170-200, EF F17/3.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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spp., Cyclogranisporites sp., Horriditriletes spp., Laevigatosporites 5.5. Assemblage T2

spp., Leiotriletes sp., Microbaculispora trisina, Microbaculispora sp.,
Microgranulatisporites sp., Punctatisporites sp., Retusotriletes sp. and The assemblage is characterised by the increase in abundance
Verrucosisporites andersonii become more frequent within this of the following pollen taxa Alisporites spp. (A. landianus, A. parvus
interval. Common to abundant monolete spores include Polypodi- and A. tenuicorpus) and Falcisporites spp. (F. stabilis and Falcisporites
isporites sp. and Thymospora pseudothiessenii, the latter occurring sp.), complemented by the occurrence of Cycadopites sp., Densipol-
for the first time in this assemblage (Tables 2 and 3). lenites sp., Hamiapollenites sp. and Platysaccus queenslandi. Rare
Occurrence: Borehole A1TM-058, sample interval MQ85 to Gnetaceaepollenites sinuosus, Protohaploxypinus microcorpus, Lueck-
MQ69 (barren sample below MQ68). isporites virkkiae and Corisaccites sp. also extend their range into
this assemblage. Rare to common Lunatisporites pellucidus, L. novi-
aulensis, Klausipollenites schaubergeri and Hamiapollenites spp. are
also present in the assemblage (Table 3).
5.3. Assemblage L3
Common species from the preceding assemblages, as for
instance, Protohaploxypinus limpidus, Striatopodocarpites cancella-
This assemblage is characterised by a dominance of spores, in
tus, Guttullapollenites hannonicus and Weylandites lucifer, have their
general presenting a better preservation than the pollen grains.
last occurrence in this assemblage.
The most common taxa include Apiculatisporis sp., Baculatisporites
The spores are common to abundant, particularly Aratrisporites
bharadwaji, Baculatisporites sp, Calamospora sp., Cyclogranisporites
sp., Calamospora landiana, Cyclogranisporites sp., Densoisporites
sp., Horriditriletes spp. (common H. tereteangulatus and rare
complicatus, D. nejburgii, D. playfordii, Densoisporites sp., Leiotriletes
H. ramosus), Leiotriletes sp., Microbaculispora sp., Microgranu-
adnatus, Lophotriletes novicus, Lundbladispora spp., Osmundacidites
latisporites sp. and Verrucosisporites andersonii and the monolete
senectus, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Punctatisporites spp. and Verru-
taxa Laevigatosporites spp. (L. colliensis, and L. vulgaris), Thymospora
cosisporites narmianus.
pseudothiessenii and Polypodiisporites sp. Common Lophotriletes sp.,
The presence of common to rare Convolutispora sp., Leiotriletes
Osmundacidites senectus, Osmundacidites sp. and Kraeuselisporites
directus and Microbaculatisporites sp., as well as common to abun-
sp. occur here for the first time.
dant Polypodiisporites sp. and Thymospora sp. are interpreted as
The assemblage is complemented with common to abundant
reworked. Spore UV fluorescence analysis on non-oxidized palyno-
non-taeniate and taeniate bisaccate pollen grains such as Protohap-
logical residues confirms this feature. The reworked spores show
loxypinus spp., Striatopodocarpites spp. (starting to decline within
dark orange fluorescence colours or have no fluorescence, whereas
this assemblage) and Alisporites spp., together with rare to com-
the indigenous palynomorph population shows intense yellow flu-
mon Guttulapollenites hannonicus, Corisaccites sp. and Lueckisporites
orescence colour, indicating lower organic maturation levels than
virkkiae. More scarcely, Limitisporites sp. and Platysaccus sp. are also
the reworked population (Galasso et al., 2019).
present in the assemblage. The more common colpate pollen taxa
Occurrence: Borehole CIMT-014, sample MQ 127 to MQ 115.
are Gnetaceaepollenites sinuosus, Tiwarisporites sp., Vittatina spp.,
Weylandites lucifer and Weylandites magmus. Rare monosaccate
5.6. Assemblage T3
pollen grains are also present (e.g., Cannanoropollis sp.).
Osmundacidites senectus and rare Protohaploxypinus microcorpus
This assemblage is characterised by the common presence of
commonly occur together throughout assemblage L3 for the first
pollen grains such as Alisporites spp. (A. landianus, A. parvus and
time (Table 1). The upper part of assemblage L3 is marked by the
A. tenuicorpus), Falcisporites spp. (F. stabilis and Falcisporites sp.) and
first appearance of Klausipollenites schaubergeri.
very rare Protohaploxypinus microcorpus. Rare Densipollenites spp.,
Occurrence: Borehole A1TM-058, sample interval MQ68 to
Hamiapollenites insolitus and Samaropollenites speciosus, as well as
MQ45; Borehole CIMT-014, sample interval MQ 156 to MQ 148.
common Hamiapollenites sp., Platysaccus queenslandi, Vittatina spp.
and Weylandites magnus are also present in this assemblage.
Rare monosacate pollen grains were also observed (Stri-
5.4. Assemblage T1 atomonosaccites ovatus Cannanoropolis sp., Triadispora crassa and
Triadispora sp.). The samples of borehole A1TM-039 also contain
This assemblage is characterised by an increased abundance rare Enzonalasporites vigens (Table 3).
of the following spore taxa: Cyclogranisporites areosus, Gran- The spores assemblage is marked by the income of new
ulatisporites sp., Horriditriletes tereteangulatus, Leiotriletes sp., species such as Anapiculatisporites spiniger (= Carnisporites anter-
Lophotriletes novicus, Osmundacidites senectus, Thymospora pseu- iscus), Anapiculatisporites sp., Cingutriletes sp., cf. Dictyophyllidites
dothiesseni and Verrucatisporites sp. For the first time, the sp., Leiotriletes adnatus, Leptolepidites sp., Limatulasporites limatu-
occurrence of rare to common Aratrisporites sp., Densoisporites lus, Lundbladispora obsoleta, Nevesisporites fossulatus, Stereisporites
nejburgii, D. playfordii, Densoisporites sp., Lundbladispora sp., Play- sp., Striatella seebergensis, Striatella sp. and Taurocusporites sp.
fordiaspora cancellosa and Verrucosisporites narmianus is also a Rare Aratrisporites sp., Calamospora landiana, Cyclogranisporites sp.,
characteristic feature in this assemblage. The assemblage is com- Lophotriletes novicus, Densoisporites spp., Lundbladispora brevicula,
plemented with common non-taeniate and taeniate bisaccate Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Verrucosisporites narmianus and Verru-
pollen grains such as Alisporites spp. and very rare Protohap- catisporites sp. are observed in the assemblage.
loxypinus spp. (including rare Protohaploxypinus microcorpus). Cyclogranisporites sp., Leiotriletes sp., Pyramidosporites sp.,
Cycadopytes sp., Corisaccites sp., Gnetaceaepollenites sinuosus, Microbaculispora sp. and Verrucosisporites sp., Verrucosisporites
Guttullapollenites hannonicus, Hamiapollenites sp., Lueckisporites andersonii are rare, and Osmundacidites senectus, Polypodiisporites
virkkiae, Lunatisporites pellucidus, L. noviaulensis, Lunatisporites sp., sp. and Thymospora spp., commonly present, are all interpreted as
Klausipollenites schaubergeri and Weylandites lucifer also occur in reworked. Similar to what was observed in the previous assem-
the assemblage. Specimens of the genera Striatopodocarpites spp. blage (T2), in non-oxidized palynological residues, the reworked
and Protohaploxypinus spp. disappear within this assemblage and palynomorph population shows dark orange fluorescence colours
is associated to the last occurrence of the coal beds just below or no fluorescence. Again, this feature is in clear contrast with the
assemblage T1. bright yellow fluorescence colours of the indigenous palynomorph
Occurrence: Borehole CIMT-014, sample MQ147 to MQ141. population (Galasso et al., 2019).

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Occurrence: Borehole CIMT-014, sample MQ 111; Borehole et al., 2015; Galasso et al., 2019). The identification of palynomorphs
A1TM-039, sample interval MQ233 to MQ 231. reworking is critical (Lindström and McLoughlin, 2007; di Pasquo
All assemblages present rare specimens of algae and incertae et al., 2017) in particular in the stratigraphic sequences related
sedis, including Peltacystia venosa and Peltacystia sp. (Zygne- to mass-extinctions events, as for instance the Permian-Triassic
mataceae algae), as well as Cymatiosphaera gondwanensis, Boundary (PTB). Osmundacidites senectus appears not to have been
Mehlisphaeridium sp. and Leiosphaeridia sp. (Prasinophyceae algae; greatly affected by the PTB extinction-event as it is corroborated
Riboulleau et al., 2018; Spina et al., 2018a), and rare Reduvias- by different studies in other localities, e.g., Antarctica (Lindström
poronites chalastus (incertae sedis organic microfossil, Spina et al., and McLoughlin, 2007) and Madagascar (Msaky and Srivastava,
2015, 2018b). Several fungal remains (hyphae) and root hairs are 1997), it is common in the late Permian of Gondwana, present-
also observed. ing a great decline in the early Triassic. Other species such as
Lophotriletes sp. and Leiotriletes directus are also present through-
out PTB time interval (Lindström and McLoughlin, 2007) but not
6. Palynostratigraphic age interpretations present in Upper Triassic. In the MMCB, the common presence of
these taxa in the Upper Triassic sedimentary rocks is interpreted
The N’Condedzi sub-basin palynomorph assemblages identified as reworked inferred from UV spore fluorescence colours (Galasso
in the present research are assigned to the Lopingian (late Per- et al., 2019), being an independent tool to estimate the degree of
mian), Lower Triassic, and reach the basal Upper Triassic (Carnian). reworking at these ages.
The present study not only confirms the three assemblages pro-
posed by Pereira et al. (2019) for the Lopingian sediments of the
Muarádzi sub-basin but also allowed the characterization of three 7. Sratigraphical significance of the palynoflora and
new assemblages of Triassic age. Assemblage L1 is characterised correlations across Gondwana
by the prominence of taeniate bisaccate Protohaploxypinus spp.
and Striatopodocarpites spp., as well as the non-taeniate Alisporites The palynostratigraphic characterisation of the PTB across the
spp., which are long ranging taxa. The abundant occurrence of Gondwana Supercontinent has been a matter of debate for a long
Guttulapollenites and Weylandites is a defining feature in this assem- time. The typical microflora of dominant gymnosperms pollen veg-
blage. To this assemblage, a possible early Lopingian age is assigned etation, at the end of the Permian period, change to the abundant
(Fig. 4). lycophyte spore producing vegetation, in the early Triassic, has
Assemblage L2 is marked by the FO of Thymospora pseudoth- been discussed by several authors (Steiner et al., 2003; Lindström
iessenii and includes as other characteristic taxa Indotriradites sp., and McLoughlin, 2007; Pereira et al., 2016). The latest Permian
Kraeuselisporites spp. and Polypodiisporites spp. (Fig. 4). These taxa palynostratigraphic correlation synthesis across Gondwana is pre-
occur for the first time in this assemblage. A mid Lopingian age sented in Pereira et al. (2019). Thus, the present paper will discuss
could be assigned to this assemblage. the correlations of the PT boundary (also described in Pereira
Assemblage L3 is defined by the FO of Osmundacidites senectus, et al., 2016), as well as of the Lower and Upper Triassic. The
Klausipollenites schaubergeri and rare Protohaploxypinus microcor- palynofloral record from MMCB shows a discrete floral change at
pus (Fig. 4), completes the assemblage the taxa described for the the PT boundary. The spore and pollen diversity presents some
two preceding assemblages. This assemblage could be assigned to decrease during the lowermost Triassic and the assemblages show
late Lopingian. a mixed Permian-Triassic feature, composed of common gym-
Assemblage T1 is defined by the FO of Densoisporites nejburgii nosperms pollen and lycophyte spore with the income of new spore
(Fig. 4). The assemblage includes Aratrisporites sp., D. playfordii, taxa. This fact is observed in other central Gondwana PT bound-
Densoisporites sp., Lundbladispora spp., Playfordiaspora cancellosa ary sections as for instance Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa,
and Verrucosisporites narmianus, the latter has its FO in the assem- Madagascar, Pakistan, and Antarctica (Lindström and McLoughlin,
blage. To this assemblage is assigned an Induan age (early Triassic). 2007; Hochuli et al., 2010; Hermann et al., 2012; Hermann and
Assemblage T2 presents a change in the palynomorph group Bucher, 2015) and also in other palaeogeographic areas (e.g., Italy,
abundances. The non-taeniate bisaccate gymnosperm pollens such Southern Alps, Cirilli et al., 1998; Spina et al., 2015).
as Alisporites parvus, Falcisporites stabilis and Falcisporites sp. are Although independent age constrains are missing in this study,
abundant and occur for the first time in the present assemblage the assemblages described are tentatively correlated with the
(Fig. 4). The FO of Platysaccus queenslandi and Densipollenites sp. stratigraphic records of different Karoo basins already studied
is also observed (Fig. 4). This assemblage could be assigned to in Mozambique (Pereira et al., 2016, 2019). The Lopingian main
Olenekian (Lower Triassic). The assemblage is also characterised assemblages (L1, L2 and L3) recognized in the N’Condédzi sub-
by the disappearance of important species such as Alisporites basin perfectly correlate with the assemblages established for the
plicatus, Cannanoropollis sp., Guttullapollenites hannonicus, Proto- Muarádzi sub-basin (Pereira et al., 2019). This characteristic indi-
haploxypinus limpidus, Striatopodocarpites cancellatus, Vittatina sp. cates that the palynostratigraphy of the sub-basins can be easily
and Weylandites lucifer. correlated across the MMCB.
In assemblage T3, Anapiculatisporites spiniger (= Carnisporites According to Foster et al. (1998) and Lindström and McLoughlin
anteriscus), cf. Dictyophyllidites sp., Leiotriletes adnatus, Leptole- (2007), the late Lopingian key-taxa of the PT boundary in Gond-
pidites sp., Limatulasporites limatulus, Lundbladispora obsoleta, wana are Lunatisporites pellucidus and Aratrisporites spp. However,
Nevesisporites fossulatus, Stereisporites sp., Striatella seebergensis, Aratrisporites spp. can be considered facies dependent (Retallack,
Striatella sp. and Taurocusporites sp., as well as rare Samaropollenites 1977).
speciosus and Enzonalasporites vigens occur for the first time (Fig. 4). In Mozambique, L. pellucidus occurs infrequently in the latest
This assemblage is assigned to Carnian. Permian, becoming more abundant in the early Triassic assem-
Assemblages T2 and T3 present common reworked spores of blages. The early Induan is marked by the FO of Densoisporites
Lopingian age or older (Cyclogranisporites sp., Osmundacidites senec- nejburgii and Aratrisporites sp. Neither of these key-taxa is very
tus, Polypodiisporites sp. and Thymospora sp.). This feature was abundant in the studied sections, but both occur for the first
confirmed by the UV fluorescence colour of the non-oxidized time in the lowermost Triassic successions (Borehole CIMT-014
spores, and permitted to identify and confirm an erosive episode and Fig. 4). The following Olenekian interpreted age assem-
that occurred in the MMCB during the Middle Triassic (Fernandes blage (Assemblage T2) is marked by the income of new pollen

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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species (Alisporites parvus, Falcisporites stabilis, Falcisporites spp. and the assemblages described from Mozambique (suggested in this
Platysaccus queenslandi) (Fig. 4), as well as common spores such as study and in Pereira et al., 2019). Even so, the Kraeuselisporites-
Densoisporites complicatus, Leiotriletes adnatus and Lundbladispora Lunatisporites zone enables a comprehensive correlation with the
obsoleta. early Triassic Assemblage T1, based on the presence of Lundbladis-
In the Lower Triassic of central Gondwana, other significant pora spp., and Lunatisporites spp.; however, key species recorded
species defining the lowermost boundary are Playfordiaspora can- in the N’Condédzi sub-basin are missing in South Africa, such as
cellosa and Triplexisporites playfordi (Wright and Askin, 1987; Densoisporites nejburgii and Aratrisporites spp.
Hankel, 1993; Foster et al., 1994; Lindström and McLoughlin, 2007). The upper Triassic successions of Madagascar (Gobin, 1965;
Playfordiaspora cancellosa is rare to common in the early Triassic in Wright and Askin, 1987; Hankel, 1993) comprise common to abun-
Mozambique, and Triplexisporites playfordii was never recovered in dant Lunatisporites pellucidus (occurring for the first time in latest
this study, as well as in other MMCB palynological studies (Pereira Permian) and an increase in the abundance of Striatopodocarpites
et al., 2016). pantii. Common Protohaploxypinus spp. and lycopsids spores such
as Densoisporites spp., Lundbladispora sp., Kraeuselisporites spp.
7.1. The late Permian and the early Triassic (mostly in the lower part), as well as Ephedripites sp, Limatu-
lasporites fossulatus, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Striomonosaccites
The latest Permian-Triassic palynomorph assemblages in Cen- morondavensis, and Triplexisporites playfordii and rare Guttulapol-
tral Gondwana, studied in Kenya (Hankel, 1992), presents an lenites hannonicus and Weylandites spp. are also part of the
assemblages dominated by taeniate bisaccate pollen. The low- assemblage. This assemblage can be correlated with the Assem-
ermost Triassic succession is missing, but the early Triassic blage T1 described in the N’Condédzi sub-basin, except for the
characteristic taxa present are Densoisporites sp., Lunatisporites presence of Triplexisporites playfordii, which was never recorded
pellucidus, Lundbladispora willmottii, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Pro- in the MMCB successions.
tohaploxypinus microcorpus and Triplexisporites playfordii. In Kenya, In Pakistan (Balme, 1970; Hermann et al., 2012; Hermann and
T. playfordii and P. cancellosa are not recorded in the early Trias- Bucher, 2015), the Permian-Triassic succession at Amb, Salt Range,
sic assemblages, but they occur in a younger assemblage (Hankel, is characterised by the occurrence of Acanthotriletes tereteangula-
1991, 1992). The Induan assemblage in Kenya is very similar to the tus, Dictyophyllidites harrisii, Falcisporites australis, Kraeuselisporites
Assemblage T1 described in this study for the N’Condedzi sub-basin spp., Guttulapollenites hannonicus, Protohaploxypinus spp. (includ-
succession. ing P. microcorpus), Triquitrites proratus and Sulcatisporites ovatus.
In Tanzania (Hankel, 1987; Msaky and Srivastava, 1997), the PT The early Triassic assemblage contains several typical Permian
boundary is present in the Hatambulo Formation and is marked taxa, as well as new Triassic taxa such as Protohaploxypinus varius,
by the occurrences of common Lueckisporites sp., Guttulapollen- Cycadopites spp., Densoisporites spp. and Lunatisporites spp., Lund-
ites hannonicus, Striatopodocarpites spp. and Protohaploxypinus bladispora spp., that could be direct correlated with the Assemblage
spp. (late Permian), as well as Alisporites sp., Apiculatisporites T1 described in the N’Condédzi sub-basin. Triplexisporites playfordii
sp., Densipollenites sp., Playfordiaspora cancellosa and Platysaccus was not recorded in the early Triassic assemblages of Pakistan but
sp. This association is also very similar to the Assemblage T1 occurs higher in the stratigraphic section (Balme, 1970; Hermann
described for the N’Condédzi sub-basin succession, whereas Play- et al., 2012; Hermann and Bucher, 2015). Playfordiaspora cancellosa
fordiaspora cancellosa is recorded in the late Middle Triassic of is observed also in the early Triassic (Balme, 1970) and is compa-
Tanzania. rable to the N’Condédzi sub-basins record.
In southern Zambia (Mid-Zambezi Valley section), the late In India, several studies (e.g., Srivastava and Jha, 1990; Jha
Permian assemblages include Guttulapollenites hannonicus, Thy- and Srivastava, 1996; Jha, 2006; Jha et al., 2018) describe in the
mospora pseudothiessenii and Weylandites lucifer, that can be early Triassic the palynoassemblage X, which is characterised
correlated with Assemblage L2 of late Wuchiapingian age, in the by the increase in the Lunatisporites species, and the decline in
Muarádzi and the N’Condédzi sub-basins (Pereira et al., submt; the percentage of striate bisaccate pollen grains (such as Stri-
and in this study). The early Triassic is missing in this region, but atopodocarpites spp. and Faunipollenites spp.). The assemblage
then the late Lower Triassic (Olenekian) is marked by the pres- also contains Crescentipollenites, Densipollenites, Klausipollenites,
ence of Alisporites spp., Aratrisporites ficheri, Falcisporites stabilis, Alisporites and Lundbladispora. Palynoassemblage XI (Olenekian
Lunatisporites pellucidus, Platysaccus queenslandii, Playfordiaspora age) is characterised by the dominance of Lundbladispora spp.
cancellosa, Sulcatisporites sp., Uvaesporites sp. and Verrucosisporites and Densoisporites spp., along with the occurrence of Stri-
sp. (Nyambe and Utting, 1997). The assemblage closely resembles atopodocarpites spp., Faunipollenites spp. and Crescentipollenites
the Assemblage T2 described in this study for the N’Condédzi sub- spp. The stratigraphically significant taxa of this palynoassemblage
basin. are Araucariacites sp., Brachysaccus ovalis, Chordasporites sp., Fal-
To the latest Permian sequence in Zimbabwe (Mid-Zambezi cisporites nuthallensis, Klausipollenites schaubergeri, Playfordiaspora
Basin) Zone IV, Subzones H and H1 (Protohaploxypinus sub- cancellosa, Ringosporites fossulatus and Staurosaccites marginalis.
assemblage) are assigned. The early Triassic succession is Tentatively, the assemblage correlation with Assemblage T1 is
characterised by the transitional Protohaploxypinus-Alisporites spp. based on common presence of Lundbladispora spp. and Densois-
assemblage (Falcon, 1975, Falcon et al., 1984). The correlation with porites spp.
the Muarádzi and the N’Condédzi sub-basins remains difficult. In the Prince Charles Mountain succession, in Antarctica (Foster
In South Africa, according to Steiner et al. (2003), the et al., 1994; Lindström and McLoughlin, 2007), the early Triassic
late Permian-early Triassic zonation includes two biozones: the succession is marked by the occurrence of Lunatisporites spp., Pro-
Klausipollenites schaubergeri Zone, which is characterised by Fal- tohaploxypinus microcorpus, P. samoilovichii, Falcisporites spp. and
cisporites spp., Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Protohaploxypinus sp. and Alisporites spp., with common Brevitriletes spp., Leiotriletes direc-
Triplexisporites playfordii (these two last species are common in tus, Osmundacidites spp. and Dictyophyllidites spp. A high diversity
the late Permian, but are not recorded in the early Triassic in this and abundance of lycopsid spores, mainly Densoisporites spp. (Den-
region), and the Kraeuselisporites-Lunatisporites Zone, dominated soisporites nejburgii), Lundbladispora spp., Kraeuselisporites ssp. and
by lycopsid species such as Kraeuselisporites spp., Lundbladispora Uvaesporites spp. was also registered. This latter assemblage can be
spp. and Lunatisporites spp. (including L. pellucidus and L. noviaulen- correlated with Assemblage T1 described for the N’Condédzi sub-
sis). The Klausipollenites schaubergeri zone is clearly different from basin. T. playfordii and P. cancellosa are not observed in these late

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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Permian successions; however, their first appearance occur in early age is attributed to this formation based only on lateral litho-
Triassic rocks. logical correlations (GTK Consortium, 2006; Paulino et al., 2010;
Lakshminarayana, 2015). However, the presence of red clastic
lithologies between the basement rocks and the conglomerates
7.2. The Upper Triassic
(A1TM-058), suggests deposition under more temperate climatic
conditions in an oxidizing sub-aerial environment rather than
The Carnian palynoflora of Gondwana is constrained by lat-
glacial to periglacial environments. Moreover, the conglomerate
itudinal and climatic factors, showing a distinct provincialism
beds identified in the Muarádzi sub-basin ranging in age from the
(Artabe et al., 2003; Dolby and Balme, 1976; Foster et al., 1994;
Cisuralian–Guadalupian boundary (Lopes et al., 2014; Pereira et al.,
Buratti and Cirilli, 2007; Cirilli, 2010), with two major palynofloral
2014) to Lopingian in borehole A1TM-058 and others boreholes
provinces recognized in the southern hemisphere: the Onslow and
(Pereira et al., 2019) indicate that there are several conglomerate
the Ipswich microflora.
beds of different ages intercalated in the stratigraphic successions
The Onslow microflora is recognized in Northwestern Aus-
of the Moatize and Matinde formations. Therefore, not all conglom-
tralia, Timor, extending through the western Tethys coasts (e.g.,
erate beds positioned immediately above the basement are the
present coordinates north and eastern Africa, Sicily, Tunisia, Libya,
product of glacial processes. If all conglomerate beds found in the
Israel, India and Madagascar) and Western Europe, representing
last stratigraphic position are considered glacial deposits, glacial
a warm temperate climate that established along these continen-
environments persisted in this region until the Lopingian, which
tal margins (Foster et al., 1994; Dolby and Balme, 1976; Buratti
is unlikely and not documented in any of the other Gondwana
and Cirilli, 2007; Cirilli, 2010; Césari and Colombi, 2013, 2016;
basins of Southeast Africa (Wopfner, 1999; Catuneanu et al., 2005).
Cirilli et al., 2015, 2018). This microflora is characterised by the
The palynological age of the conglomerate beds located immedi-
presence of mixed taxa typical of Northern Europe and South Gond-
ately above crystalline basement rocks (Lopes et al., 2014; Pereira
wana, comprising the following taxa: Aulisporites, Camerosporites,
et al., 2014, 2016, 2019) indicates that not all of these sedimentary
Enzonalasporites, Duplexisporites, Infernopollenites, Minutosaccus,
rocks should be considered as part of the Vúzi Formation. There-
Ovalipollis, Samaropollenites and Weylandites, species typical of
fore, we consider that the conglomerates at the base of borehole
warm temperate climates. All of these species are absent in the
A1TM-058 could correspond to syntectonic sediments of Lopin-
Ipswich Microflora, which is characterised by the presence of taxa
gian age, which probably marks the main phase of faulting within
typical of cool temperate climate. Ipswich Microflora is depicted by
tectono-structural development of the basin. Accordingly, these
the abundance of bisaccate pollen, monosulcate pollen and trilete
conglomerates could represent coarse clastic sedimentary rocks
spores. The Ipswich Microflora extends from southern and eastern
deposited in alluvial fans that formed at the toe of the normal
Australia, Antarctica, South Africa and the Western margin of South
faults delimiting this Karoo Mozambique basin. This assumption
America (Argentina and Chile).
also implies that conglomerate beds cannot be used as marker beds
The key species for the Carnian Onslow Microflora are
used for separating the different lithostratigraphic formations as
Samarisporites speciosus and Enzonalasporites vigens (Dolby
they occurs interbedded both in the successions of the Moatize
and Balme, 1976; Cirilli, 2010). In East India (Tripathi and
and Matinde formations. Thus, a better, clearer and formal defi-
Raychowdhuri, 2005), it has been correlated with the Rimaes-
nition for the stratigraphic boundary between these two units is
porites potoniei/Samaropollenites speciosus Assemblage Zone of
needed. For example, if the conglomerate beds present at the base
the Godavari Basin (Prasad, 1997). Hankel (1987) recognized the
of borehole A1TM-058 (Fig. 3) were considered the base of the
Staurosaccites quadrifidus Microflora, Samaropollenites speciosus
Matinde Formation, the minimum thickness for the latter forma-
and Minutosaccus crenulatus Microflora of Carnian-early Norian
tion is, therefore, ca. 1000 m, which is the measured succession of
age in Tanzania (Luwegu Basin). These palynofloras could be
the borehole and coal deposition persisted in this sub-basin until
correlated with Samaropollenites speciosus defined by Dolby and
the end-Permian. However, if the conglomerate beds of the same
Balme (1976) in Western Australia.
borehole were considered the Vúzi Formation, the ca. 1000 m of
In Mozambique, a Carnian assemblage was identified for the first
coal-bearing sedimentary rocks above belong to the Moatize For-
time in two boreholes (boreholes CIMT-014 and A1TM-039) (Fig. 3)
mation. Because there are no major lithological changes in this ca.
and presents several similarities with the Onslow Microflora. The
1000 m thick succession, it is impossible to identify and place the
significant species present are Samarisporites speciosus and Enzon-
boundary between the Moatize and Matinde formations within this
alasporites vigens, assorted with distinctive cosmopolitan species
succession.
(Anapiculatisporites spiniger/Carnisporites anteriscus, cf. Dictyophyl-
The change from coal depositional environments to red beds
lidites sp., Limatulasporites limatulus, Nevesisporites fossulatus,
successions, observed at the bottom of borehole CIMT-014 (Fig. 3),
Stereisporites sp., Striatella seebergensis, Striatella sp. and Taurocus-
marks an important change in the depositional environments and
porites sp.). All these taxa are recorded for the first time in the
palaeoclimatic conditions, which coincides approximately, with
upper Triassic successions in Mozambique, allowing the recogni-
the Permo-Triassic boundary. According to the palynological stud-
tion of a mixed signature microflora. These results are preliminary,
ies done in the MMCB (Lopes et al., 2014; Pereira et al., 2014, 2016,
and ongoing studies have to confirm and better characterise this
2019), this PT boundary also establishes the limit between the
feature.
Matinde and the Cádzi formations. Therefore, most of the succes-
sion of borehole CIMT-014, as well as all the succession of borehole
8. Stratigraphic record and its implication to interbasinal A1TM-039, belong to the Cádzi Formation. Within the Cádzi For-
correlation mation, after the red bed deposition in the early Triassic, a phase of
erosion occurred, marked by a Middle Triassic hiatus, followed by
Conglomerates positioned immediately above the basement the deposition of upper Triassic red beds dated by palynomorphs,
rocks in the Mozambican Karoo basins are frequently attributed together with reworked Permian palynomorphs, probably sourced
to the Vúzi Formation (GTK Consortium, 2006) and are inter- from the nearest Karroo basins (Galasso et al., 2019). The Cádzi
preted as tillites or fluvio-glacial deposits resulting from the end Formation red beds succession of Triassic age yielded some rich
Carboniferous-early Permian Gondwana glaciation. The Vúzi For- spore levels, which could be associated to the increase of seasonal
mation is correlated to the top of the Dwyka Group of the Main rainfall episodes or to possible changes in the river systems (from
Karoo Basin, and therefore, a late Carboniferous to early Permian meandering to braided) (Ward et al., 2000).

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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16 F. Galasso et al. / Revue de micropaléontologie xxx (2019) xxx–xxx

Tectonics and palaeoclimates were the main factors respon- Disclosure of interest
sible for the different lithofacies recorded in the Permo-Triassic
Karoo basins (Catuneanu et al., 2005). The high sedimentation rates The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
observed in the Mozambique Karoo basins lead to the accumula-
tion of more than 2000 m thick sediments, in coal-bearing swamps
Acknowledgments
environments associated with fluvio-deltaic depositional systems
in Late Permian times. The change to hot and arid climate conditions
The research was supported by the project PALEOCLIMOZ
with fluctuating precipitation, related to red bed environments,
(PTDC/CTA-GEO/30082/2017). The authors would like to thank
occurred during the early Triassic in Mozambique. The Middle
the Managers of Coal India Africana, Limitada and Gondwana
Triassic hiatus event, identified in Mozambique (Fernandes et al.,
Empreendimentos e Consultorias, Limitada, for borehole access and
2015), can be correlated across the Karoo rift basins of East Africa
complementary information. Francesca Galasso acknowledges the
(Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar), represent-
University of Perugia for the opportunity to participate in the pro-
ing an important tectonic event in the development of these Karoo
gram Erasmus + Traineeship, funded by the European Commission.
basins. This tectonic event observed in the East African/Madagascan
LNEG’s technician Irene Sousa is acknowledged for laboratory sup-
region is characterized by a general uplift and erosion of the Karoo
port and sample preparation. Editor and the reviewers A. Gotz and
basins, and was followed by another major rifting event in the Late
M. di Pasquo are gratefully acknowledge for valuable comments
Triassic. This unique tectonic event set it apart from all other Karoo-
that improved the manuscript.
age basins of Africa, in particular from the Main Karoo Basin of South
Africa, which depositional history is related to the development of a
foreland basin formed by the tectonic load of the Cape Fold Belt. The Appendix A. Appendix A
differences in the tectonic style between the Main Karoo Basin and
the East Africa rift basins should be emphasized and could have List of Taxa
affected the FOs of the key-taxa hampering the establishment of List of spore-pollen species identified in the studied sections of
robust correlation schemes across central Gondwana. the N’Condédzi sub-basin.
Anapiculatisporites sp.
Anapiculatisporites spiniger (Leschik) Reinhardt/Carnisporites
9. Conclusions
anteriscus Morbey, 1975
Aratrisporites sp.
The main results from this study are summarized below:
Baculatisporites bharadwaji Hart, 1963
Baculatisporites sp.
• in N’Condédzi sub-basin of MMCB, the Matinde Formation suc- Brevitriletes cornutus (Balme and Hennelly) Backhouse, 1991
cession is dated late Permian (Lopingian) and the Cádzi Formation Brevitriletes sp.
is dated Lower Triassic to Upper Triassic. No Middle Triassic rocks Calamospora landiana Balme, 1970
were recognized; therefore, the contact between the Lower and Calamospora rugosa (Ibrahim) Schopf, Wilson and Bentall, 1944
the Upper Triassic sedimentary rocks could correspond to a major Calamospora sp.
hiatus; cf. Dictyophyllidites sp.
• the Lopingian age is defined in detail based on three main Convolutispora sp.
palyno-assemblages (Assemblage L1 based in FO of Guttulapol- Cyclogranisporites sp.
lenites pollen; Assemblage L2 is marked by the FO of Thymospora Densoisporites complicatus Balme, 1970
pseudothiessenii and Assemblage L3 is defined by the FO of Densoisporites nejburgii (Schulz) Balme, 1970
Osmundacidites senectus); Densoisporites playfordii (Balme) Balme, 1970
• Lopingian palyno-assemblages recovered in N’Condédzi sub- Densoisporites spp.
basin correlate fully with the palyno-assemblages recovered in Fabasporites sp.
the Muarádzi sub-basin of the MMCB; Granulatisporites sp.
• palynomorphs of Triassic age were identified for the first time in Horriditriletes ramosus (Balme and Hennelly) Bharadwaj and
the Mozambican Karoo basins. This study allowed the identifica- Salujha, 1964
tion of three new Triassic assemblages: Assemblage T1 is defined Horriditriletes tereteangulatus (Balme and Hennelly) Backhouse,
by the FO of Densoisporites nejburgii of Induan age, Assemblage 1991
T2 is marked by the FO of Platysaccus queenslandi and could be Horriditriletes sp.
assigned to the Olenekian age, and Assemblage T3 is defined by Kraeuselisporites sp.
the FO of Samaropollenites speciosus and Enzonalasporites vigens, Laevigatosporites colliensis (Bharadwaj and Hennelly) Venkat-
indicating a Carnian age; achala and Kar, 1968
• the recent biostratigraphic data obtained constrains the age of the Laevigatosporites vulgaris (Ibrahim) Ibrahim, 1933
Karoo Supergroup formations of Mozambique, and it is a major Laevigatosporites spp.
contribute to a better understanding of the palaeoecological and Leiotriletes adnatus (Kosanke, 1950) Potonié and Kremp, 1955
palaeoclimatic evolution of the basin; Leiotriletes directus Balme and Hennelly, 1955
• the absence of Middle Triassic sedimentary rocks, identified by Leiotriletes sp.
the study of the palynological record, correlates well with a Mid- Leptolepidites sp.
dle Triassic episode of uplift and erosion described by Fernandes Limatulasporites limatulus (Playford) Helby and Foster, 1979
et al. (2015) for the MMCB in the Muarádzi sub-basin. Moreover, Lophotriletes novicus Singh, 1964
the presence of Permian reworked palynomorphs in upper Tri- Lophotriletes sp.
assic sedimentary rocks supports this Middle Triassic tectonic Lundbladispora brevicula Balme, 1963
event; Lundbladispora sp.
• this study increases the knowledge of the palaeogeographic Microbaculatisporites sp.
position of the Mozambique basins within the Gondwana super- Microbaculispora trisina (Balme and Hennelly) Anderson, 1977
continent. Microbaculispora sp.

Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001
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F. Galasso et al. / Revue de micropaléontologie xxx (2019) xxx–xxx 17

Microgranulatisporites sp. Striatopodocarpites fusus (Balme and Hennelly) Potonié, 1956

Nevesisporites fossulatus Balme, 1970 Striatopodocarpites gondwanensis (Lakhanpal, Sah and Dube)
Osmundacidites senectus Balme, 1970 Hart, 1964
Osmundacidites sp. Striatopodocarpites sp.
Playfordiaspora cancellosa (Playford and Dettmann) Maheshwari Tiwarisporites sp.
and Banerji, 1975 Triadispora crassa Klaus, 1964
Polypodiisporites sp. sensu Balme, 1970 Triadispora sp.
Polypodiisporites mutabilis Balme, 1970 Vittatina costabilis Wilson, 1962
Procoronaspora spinosa (Anderson) Backhouse, 1991 Vittatina fasciolata (Balme and Hennelly) Bharadwaj, 1962
Punctatisporites spp. Vittatina scutata (Balme and Hennelly) Bharadwaj, 1962
Pyramidosporites sp. Vittatina sp.
Retusotriletes sp. Weylandites lucifer (Bharadwaj and Salujha) Foster, 1975
Stereisporites sp. Weylandites magmus (Bose and Kar) Backhouse, 1991
Striatella seebergensis Madler, 1964
Striatella sp.
Algae and incertae sedis
Taurocusporites sp.
Brazilea sp. A in Backhouse, 1991
Thymospora pseudothiessenii (Kosanke) Wilson and Venkat-
Chlorophycean algae incertae sedis (sphaeromorph clusters)
achala, 1963
Cymatiosphaera gondwanensis (Tiwari) Backhouse, 1991
Thymospora sp.
Mehlisphaeridium sp.
Verrucatisporites sp.
Peltacystia venosa Balme and Segroves, 1966
Verrucosisporites andersonii Backhouse, 1988
Reduviasporonites chalastus (Foster) Elsik, 1999
Verrucosisporites narmianus Balme, 1970
Verrucosisporites sp.
Appendix B. Supplementary data

Pollen grains Supplementary data associated with this article can be

Alisporites landianus Balme, 1970 found, in the online version, at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.
Alisporites ovatus (Balme and Hennelly) Jansonius, 1962 2019.05.001.
Alisporites parvus de Jersey, 1962
Alisporites plicatus Jizba, 1962
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Please cite this article in press as: Galasso, F., et al., First record of Permo-Triassic palynomorphs of the N’Condédzi sub-basin, Moatize-
Minjova Coal Basin, Karoo Supergroup, Mozambique. Revue de micropaléontologie (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2019.05.001