Permian plants and paleosols of Beaver Lake, Antarctica: is effective peat accumulation possible in the high-latitude periglacial landscapes?

Preliminary characteristics are outlined for paleofloristic assemblage dominated by equisetophytes Paracalamites australis Rigby, 1966 and the underground roots of glossopterid gymnosperms ( Vertebraria indica (Unger) Feistmantel, 1877), preserved in growth position within the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) deposits of the Upper Bainmedart Coal Measures of Beaver Lake, Antarctica. Some other plant remains including microfossils and macrofossils of glossopterid gymnosperms, such as dispersed cuticles, tracheids and scales of Squamella -type from this locality were also studied. The paper deals with the paleoecological peculiarities of the parent vegetation and the processes of peat accumulation in high latitude cool-to-cold periglacial landscapes of this region in the Middle Permian. • A preliminary characteristics of paleofloristic assemblage with the dominant equisetophytes Paracalamites australis Rigby, 1966 and underground stems and roots of Vertebraria indica (Unger) Feistmantel, 1877, preserved in growth position, found in the Middle Permian deposits of the Upper Bainmedart Formation of Beaver Lake, Antarctica, is given. • Some other plant remains including macrofossils of glossopterid gymnosperms, such as dispersed cuticles, tracheids and scales of Squamella -type found in the locality studied as well. • The paper also deals with paleoecologic peculiarities of parent vegetation and the processes of peat accumulation in high latitude in cool- to cold periglacial landscapes of this region in the Middle Permian time. • The main reason of peat-accumulating at least during the forming of upper part of Bainmedart Formation in Antarctica, was not moderate or even seasonally cool climate, but extremely high local moisture. Due to humid although moderate or even cool climate, the active peat accumulation was possible even on relatively high latitude in Gondwana.