PALYNOLOGICAL ASSEMBLAGES FROM LATE CRETACEOUS TO TERTIARY DEPOSITS OF KACHI-I WELL, BLOCK II, YELLOW SEA BASIN, KOREA

Thirty one samples from Late Cretaceous and Tertiary interval sections (468-783m) of the Kachi-I Well in Block II, Yellow Sea Basin, have been analysed for their terrestrially derived palynofloras. The systematic study of the palynomorphs recovered has yielded one hundred and fifty-five taxa; forty-three species of spores belonging to twenty-eight genera, seventy-seven pollen assignable to forty-three genera, and twenty-seven species assignable to fifteen genera and eight fungal remains. The results of both qualitative and quantitative analysis propose a succession of eight terrestrial palynomorph associations. Seven associations are erected in Late Maastrichtian and one in Early to Middle Miocene. Age determinations are on the basis of palynomorph taxa alone for the all associations. The Late Cretaceous/Tertiary unconformity is recognised at between 603 and 613m, based on the palynological data. The sedimentary basin during the Late Cretaceous seem to be lowland shallow marginal lacustrine with stagnant, mesotrophic conditions. On the other hand, the basin during the Early-Middle Miocene is considered to have been characterised by lowland swamp areas. The palaeoclimatic conditions during the Late Cretaceous are considered to be humid tropical to subtropical, while during the Early to Middle Miocene they are considered to be warm temperate with humid conditions. A comparison of palynomorph assemblages between the present study and the previous studies of Late Cretaceous in Circum-Pacific Northern Hemisphere is made, These assemblages reveal that lower sections (612-783m) of the Kachi-I well belong to the Late Cretaceous Aquilapollenites province of Herngreen and Chlonova (1981) and Srivastava (1981, 1994).