First Kimmeridgian/Tithonian flora from thelithographic limestone of the Causse Méjean(Lozère, southern France)

2016

National audience; Fossiliferous lithographic limestone yielding Kimmeridgian/Tithonian floras has been reported from few localities, mainlylocated in western Europe (e.g., Plattenkalk of Bavaria in Germany,or Canjuers and Cerin in France). They were studied intensivelyduring the twentieth century, when the fossil plants weremainly ascribed to bennettitaleans, conifers, cycads, ginkgophytesand pteridosperms. Here, we report the first flora from the Kimmeridgian/Tithonian lithographic limestone in the northern partof the Causses Basin. These fossils were discovered in the depositsof a small quarry in the Causse Méjean, which is no longeraccessible, as it has been completely filled in. The se…