New occurrence of Triassic gymnosperm wood at the Ricker Hills, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract

During the 2016 Antarctic summer season, the fourth Korea Antarctic Geological Expedition (KAGEX IV) investigated the Ricker Hills in southern Victoria Land, Antarctica and collected 33 specimens of fossil wood from an outcrop of Triassic Beacon sandstone in a small basin, Ricker Hills area. Based on anatomical features, four specimens can be identified as belonging to the seed-fern wood Kykloxylon sp. (Corystospermales). A specimen is identified as Agathoxylon sp. and it is the first report of the genus from the Triassic deposits in Victoria Land, Antarctica. We are able to reconfirm that corystosperm trees were a dominant component of the Triassic forest vegetation in Antarctica, with minor occurrences of Agathoxylon trees of yet uncertain affinities from those results. In addition, the new occurrence of Agathoxylon at the Ricker Hills also shows us that there is still a shortage of fossil wood studies in Victoria Land. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.