Research

     Current large research projects of Hermann Pfefferkorn analyze and reconstruct two late Paleozoic fossil floras and landscapes of different age on two continents. One is an earliest Permian (≈ 298 Ma) flora preserved in a volcanic tuff in northwest China and the other an Early Carboniferous (Mississippian, ≈ 330 Ma) flora preserved in shales and sandstones from southern Peru.

     Both floras indicate climatic conditions at their locality during their time of growth. The Peruvian flora indicates a warm interval between icehouse conditions while the Chinese flora existed in a warm and wet tropical setting. The following keywords characterize the research and results at the two sites.

     Peru: Paracas locality, Province of Ica, Mississippian, late Visean, warm temperate climate, Paraca Floral Belt, lycopsids, sphenopsids, pteridosperms, fluvial environments, coastal plain.

     China: Wuda Coal Field, Wuhai City, Province of Inner Mongolia, Permian, basal Asselian, tropical wet climate, peat forming forest, lycopsid, sphenopsids, ferns, Noeggerathiales, Cordaites, cycads, alluvial and coastal plain.

CHINAEarly Permian flora preserved as a vegetational Pompeii
on the North China Block. ≈298 Ma
PERUMid-Mississippian (late Visean) flora from Paracas, Peru
as an indicator of a warm climate interval before the
onset of the next icehouse climate. ≈330 Ma