Abstract
Eleven taxa of fossil woods — two gymnosperms and nine dicotyledons — were identified from 59 specimens collected from the Lower Coal-bearing Formation of the Janggi Group at Shinjeong-ri in Donghae-myeon, Pohang City, Gyeongsangbukdo, Korea. One new taxon, Fraxinus oligocenica, was discovered and identified for the first time in the Korean Peninsula. Along with the previous study, 25 Miocene wood taxa, in total, have been described from the Lower and Upper Coal-bearing formations of the Janggi Group. A considerable number of specimens of Wataria were collected in this study. Wataria is an extinct genus of the Sterculiaceae, and the determination of its true identity is an interesting paleobotanical subject. There may be a possibility that the quantity and diversity of Wataria spp. was greater in the Korean Peninsula than in the Japanese Archipelago. Thus, we suggested that the Miocene deposits in Pohang City would be better places for elucidating the real identity of Wataria than in Japan. Coalbearing formations in which fossil woods occur intervene between the Geumgwangdong Formation and the Duho Formation in which abundant fossil leaves occur. In the combined fossil-wood and fossil-leaf data from these formations, we found a transitiontype flora situated between the well-known Aniai-type and Daijimatype floras in Japan.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bass, P., 1986, Ecological patterns of xylem anatomy. In: Givnish, T.J. (ed.), On the economy of plant form and function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 327–352.
Bass, P., Ewers, F.W., Davis, S.D. and Wheeler, E.A., 2004, Evolution of xylem physiology. In: Poole, I. and Hemsley, A.R. (eds.), The Evolution of Plant Physiology: From Whole Plants to Ecosystems (Linnean Society Symposium Series 21). Academic Press, London. p. 273–296.
Bloom, A.L., 1998, Geomorphology: A Systematic Analysis of Late Cenozoic Landforms. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 482 p.
Brett, D.W., 1956, Fossil wood of Cercidiphyllum Sieb. & Zucc. from the London Clay. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 9, 657–665.
Carlquist, S., 1988, Comparative wood anatomy. Systematic, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of dicotyledon wood. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 418 p.
Chang, T.W., Jeong, J.H. and Chang, C.J., 2007, Tectonics of the Tertiary Eoil and Waeup basins in the southeastern part of Korea. The Journal of Engineering Geology, 17, 27–40. (in Korean with English abstract)
Chun, H.Y., 1982, Plant fossils from the Tertiary Pohang sedimentary basin, Korea. Korea Institute of Energy and Resources, Report of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, 14, 7–24. (in Korean with English abstract)
Conwentz, H., 1882, Fossile Hölzer aus des Sammlung der Königlichen geologischen Landesanstalt zu Berlin. Jahrbüch für Königlich Geologie Landesanst, 1881, 144–171. (in Germany)
Ee, I.H., 1982, A study on the Neogene Tertiary Yeonil plant fossils from Pohang formation, Korea. M.S. thesis, Kyungbuk National University, Daegu, Korea, 53 p. (in Korean with English abstract)
Endo, S., 1938a, Cenozoic Plants from Tyosen (Korea) I. Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 45, 85–90. (in Japanese with English abstract)
Endo, S., 1938b, Cenozoic Plants from Tyosen (Korea) II, Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 45, 326–328. (in Japanese with English abstract)
Endo, S., 1939, Some new and interesting Miocene plants from Tyosen (Korea). The Jubilee Publication in the Commemoration of Prof. Yabe’s 60th Birthday, 1, 339–349, Pl. 23.
Endo, S., 1943, On the fossil Cedrela from the Kyusin coal mine, Kankyo-hokudo, Tyosen (Korea). Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 50, 225–256. (in Japanese with English abstract)
Endo, S., 1950a, On the fossil Acer from Japan, Korea and South Manchuria, I. Short Paper, IGPS, 1, 11–17, Pl. 3.
Endo, S., 1950b, On the fossil Carpinus from Japan and Korea. Short Paper, IGPS, 2, 51–57, Pl. 6.
Endo, S., 1951, On the fossil Acer from Japan, Korea and South Manchuria, II. Short Paper, IGPS, 3, 52–58.
Huh, M. and Zelenitsky, D.K., 2002, Rich Dinosaur nesting site from the Cretaceous of Bosung County, Chullanam-do Province, South Korea. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 22, 716–718.
Huh, M., Hwang, K.G., Paik, I.S., Chung, C.H., and Kim, B.S., 2003, Dinosaur tracks from the Cretaceous of South Korea: distribution, occurrence and paleobiological significance. The Island Arc, 12, 132–144.
Huzioka, K., 1943a, Notes on some Tertiary plants from Tyosen, I. Journal of the Faculty Science, Hokkaido Imperial University, Series 4, 7, 117–141.
Huzioka, K., 1943b, On some fossil involucre of Ostrya and Carpinus from the Miocene deposits of Hokkaido and Tyosen. Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 50, 317–325. (in Japanese with English abstract)
Huzioka, K., 1951, Notes on some Tertiary plants from Tyosen, II. Transactions and Proceedings from the Palaeontological Society of Japan, 3, 67–74.
Huzioka, K., 1954, Notes on some Tertiary plants from Tyosen, III. Transactions and Proceedings from the Palaeontological Society of Japan, 13, 117–123.
Huzioka, K., 1955, Notes on some Tertiary plants from Tyosen, IV. Transactions and Proceedings from the Palaeontological Society of Japan, 15, 195–200.
Huzioka, K., 1972, The Tertiary flora of Korea. Journal of Mining College of Akita University Series A, 5, 1–83, pls. 1–14.
Jeong, E.K., Kim, K., Kim, J.H., and Suzuki, M., 2003, Comparison of Korean and Japanese Tertiary fossil wood floras with special references to the genus Wataria. Geosciences Journal, 7, 157–161.
Jeong, E.K., Kim, K., Kim, J.H., and Suzuki, M., 2004, Fossil woods from Janggi Group (Early Miocene) in Pohang Basin, Korea. Journal of Plant Research, 117, 183–189.
Jeong, E.K., Kim, K., Suzuki, M., and Kim, J.W., 2009, Fossil woods from the Lower Coal-bearing Formation of the Janggi Group (Early Miocene) in the Pohang Basin, Korea. Review of Paleobotany and Palynology, 153, 124–138.
Jin, M.S., Kim, S.Y., Seo, H.H., and Kim, S.J., 1989, K-Ar whole rock ages of the Rhyolitic rocks at Punggog in the Jangseong sheet, Taebaegsan area. Journal of Korean Institute of Mining and Geology, 22, 17–20.
Kim, B.K., 1970, A study on the Neogene Tertiary deposits in Korea. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 6, 77–96. (in Korean with English abstract)
Kim, B.K., Cheong, C.H., and Kim, S.J., 1975, Stratigraphic Studies on the Lignite-bearing Strata Distributed in the Yeongil District, North Gyeongsang-Do, Korea. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 11, 187–214.
Kim, I.S., 1992a, Origin and Tectonic Evolution of the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and the Yangsan fault system: A new synthetic interpretation. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 28, 84–109. (in Korean with English abstract)
Kim, I.S. and Kang, H.C., 1989, Palaeomagnetism of Tertiary Rocks in the Eoil Basin and its Vicinities, Southeast Korea. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 25, 273–293.
Kim, I.S. and Kang, H.C., 1996, Palaeomagnetism of Tertiary Basin in Southern Korea: 1. Changgi Basin. Economic and Environmental Geology, 29, 357–367. (in Korean with English abstract)
Kim, J.H., 2005, Fossil Albizia Legume (Mimosacceae) from the Miocene Duho Formation of the Yeonil Group in the Pohang Area, Korea. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 26, 166–171.
Kim, J.H., 2008, A new species of Acer samaras from the Miocene Yeonil Group in the Pohang Basin, Korea. Geosciences Journal, 12, 331–336.
Kim, J.H. and Choi, S.I., 2008, Discussion on the Metasequoia fossils from the Keumkwandong Formation of the Janggi Group, Korea. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 29, 319–327. (in Korean with English abstract)
Kim, J.W., 1992b, Vegetation of Northeast Asia, on the syntaxonomy and syngeography of the oak and beech forests. Ph.D. thesis, Vienna University, Vienna, 314 p.
Kim, J.W., 2006, Vegetation Ecology. World Science, Seoul, 340 p. (in Korean)
Kim, J.Y., 1982, Sedimentary petrology of the Tertiary sandstones in the Janggi area, Southern part of the Pohang Basin, Gyeongbuk, Korea. Ph.D. thesis, Seoul National University, Seoul, 80 p. (in Korean)
Kim, K., Jeong, E.K., Sun, B.Y., and Lee, J.D., 2008, New record of fossil woods from the Janggi Group in Pohang, Korea. Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea, 24, 135–147. (in Korean with English abstract)
Kim, K., Jeong, E.K., Suzuki, M., Huh, M., and Paik, I.S., 2002, Some coniferous fossil woods from the Cretaceous of Korea. Geosciences Journal, 6, 131–140.
Kim, K., Jeong, E.K., Kim, J.H., Paek, S.D., Suzuki, M., and Philippe, M., 2005, Coniferous fossil woods from Jogyeri Formation (Upper Triassic) of the Nampo Group, Korea. IAWA Journal, 26, 253–265.
Kryshtofovich, A.N., 1920, A new fossil palm and some other plants of the Tertiary flora of Japan. Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 27, 120, pls. 13–15.
Maekawa, F., 1974, Origin and characteristics of Japan’s flora. In: Numata, M. (ed.), The Flora and Vegetation of Japan. Kodansha, Tokyo, p. 33–85.
Nathorst, A.G., 1883, Contribution à la flore fossile du Japon. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar, 20, 3–92, pls. 1–16. (in French)
Nathorst, A.G., 1888, Zur fossilen Flora Japan’s. Palaontologische Abhandlungen, 4, 197–250, pls. 17–30. (in Swedish)
Ogura, Y., Kobayashi, T., and Maeda, S., 1951, Discovery of erect stumps of Xenoxylon latiporosum in the Jurassic Tetori Series in Japan. Transactions and Proceedings from the Palaeontological Society of Japan, New Series, 4, 113–119.
Oishi, S., 1931, A note on Pecopteris orientalis (Schenk) from the Gigantopteris-Bed of Chikando, Korea. Science reports of the Tohoku Imperial University, Series 2 (Geology), 14, 97–101, pls. 29–32.
Oishi, S., 1935, A note on Engelhardia genus and its occurrence in the Palaeogene of Korea. Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 43, 56–59.
Paik, I.S., 2000, Bone chip-filled burrows associated with bored dinosaur bone in floodplain paleosols of the Cretaceous Hasandong Formation, Korea. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 157, 213–225.
Paik, I.S., Kim, H.J., and Lee, Y.I., 2001, Dinosaur track deposits from the Cretaceous Jindong Formation, Korea: occurrence, paleoenvironments and preservation. Cretaceous Research, 22, 79–92.
Pearson, H.L., 1987, Megafossil plants from Suffolk: a review of the pre-Pleistocene records. Transaction of the Suffolk Naturalist’s Society, 23, 56–63.
Prakash, U. and Barghoorn, E.S., 1961, Miocene fossil woods from the Columbia basalts of central Washington. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 42, 165–195.
Prakash, U., Brezinova, D., and Buzek, C., 1971, Fossil woods from the Doupovske Hory and Ceske Stredohori Mountains in northern Bohemia. Palaeontographica, 133B, 103–128.
Scott, R.A. and Wheeler, E.A., 1982, Fossil woods from the Eocene Clarno Formation of Oregon. IAWA Bulletin, 3, 135–154.
Shimakura, M., 1936, Studies on fossil woods from Japan and adjacent lands, I. Some Jurassic woods from Japan and Manchoukuo. Science Reports of the Tohoku Imperial University, Series 2 (Geology), 18, 267–298.
Shimakura, M., 1937, Studies on fossil woods from Japan and adjacent lands, II. The Cretaceous woods from Japan, Saghalien, and Manchoukuo. Science Reports of the Tohoku Imperial University, Series 2 (Geology), 19, 1–73.
Son, M., Seo, H.J., and Kim, I.S., 2000, Geological Structures and Evolution of the Miocene Eoil Basin, Southeastern Korea. Geosciences Journal, 4, 73–88.
Son, M., Kim, J.S., Chong, H.Y., Lee, Y.H., and Kim, I.S., 2007, Characteristics of the Cenozoic crustal deformation in SE Korea and their tectonic implications. Korean Journal of Petrological Geology, 13, 1–16.
Suzuki, M., 1976, Some fossil woods from the Palaeogene of northern Kyushu. Botanical Magazine, 89, 59–71.
Suzuki, M., 1982, Some fossil woods from the Palaeogene of Northern Kyushu, II. Botanical Magazine, 95, 281–294.
Suzuki, M. and Hiraya, C., 1989, Fossil wood flora from the pumice tuff of Yanagida Formation (Lower Miocene) at Mawaki, Noto Peninsula. The Annals of Science, Kanazawa University, 26, 47–75. (in Japanese with English abstract)
Suzuki, M. and Terada, K., 1996, Fossil wood flora in the Lower Miocene Yanagida Formation of Noto Peninsula, Central Japan. IAWA Journal, 17, 365–392.
Suzuki, M. and Watari, S., 1994, Fossil wood flora of the Early Miocene Nawamata Formation of Monzen, Noto Peninsula, Central Japan. Journal of Plant Research, 107, 63–76.
Takahashi, A. and Suzuki, M., 1988, Two new fossil woods of Acer and a new combination of Prunus from the Tertiary of Japan. Botanical Magazine, 101, 473–481.
Takahashi, K. and Suzuki, M., 2003, Dicotyledonous fossil wood flora and early evolution of wood characters in the Cretaceous of Hokkaido, Japan. IAWA Journal, 24, 269–309.
Tanai, T., 1952, Notes a propos de queleques plantes fossiles dans le groupe d’Ennichi (Yongil) de coréé meridionale 1. Transactions and Proceedings from the Palaeontological Society of Japan, New Series, 8, 231–236.
Tanai, T. 1953, Notes on some plant fossils from Ennichi (Yongil) Group in southern Korea. Transactions and Proceedings from the Palaeontological Society of Japan, New Series, 9, 1–7.
Tanai, T., 1961, Neogene floral change in Japan. Journal of the Faculty Science, Hokkaido University, Series IV, 11, 119–398, pls. 1–32.
Tateiwa, I., 1924, Geological Atlas of Chosen. No. 2, Ennichi, Kuryuho and Choyo sheets. Geological Survey of Chosen (in Japanese).
Terada, K., 1998, Fossil wood floras of Early to Middle Miocene in Japan. Ph.D. thesis, Tohoku University, Sendai, 313 p. (in Japanese)
Terada, K. and Suzuki, M., 1998, Revision of the so-called “Reevesia” fossil woods from the Tertiary in Japan A proposal of new genus Wataria (Sterculiaceae). Review of Paleobotany and Palynology, 103, 235–251.
Watari, S., 1941, Studies on the fossil woods from the Tertiary of Japan, II. Fossil woods from the River Nesori, Namiuti Village, and the River Hiranuka, Kozuya Village, Ninohe District, Iwate Prefecture. Japanese Journal of Botany, 11, 417–438.
Watari, S., 1948a, On a new species of Glyptostroboxylon. Botanical Magazine, 61, 11–14.
Watari, S., 1948b, Studies on the fossil woods from the Tertiary of Japan, V. Fossil woods from the Lower Miocene of Hanenishi, Simane Prefecture. Japanese Journal of Botany, 13, 503–518.
Watari, S., 1952, Dicotyledonous woods from the Miocene along the Japan-Sea side of Honshu. Journal of Faculty of Science University of Tokyo, Section III (Botany), 6, 97–134.
Wheeler, E.A. and Manchester, S.R., 2002, Woods of the Eocene Nut Beds Flora, Clarno Formation, Oregon, USA. IAWA Journal, Supple. 3, 11–88.
Woodcock, D.W. and Ignas, C.M., 1994, Prevalence of wood characters in eastern North America: What characters are most promising for interpreting climates from fossil wood? American Journal of Botany, 81, 1243–1251.
Yun, C.S. and Yang, S.Y., 1997, Dinosaur eggshells from Hasandong Formation, Gyeongsang Supergroup, Koea. Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea, 13, 21–36. (in Korean with English abstract)
Yoon, S., 1992, Geology of the Tertiary Yangnam and Pohang basins, Korea. Bulletin of Mizunami Fossil Museum, 19, 13–31.
Yun, H., Yi, S., and Byun, H., 1997, Tertiary system of Korea. The Paleontological Society of Korea, Special Publication, 3, 1–30.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lim, JD., Jeong, EK., Kim, K. et al. Miocene woods of the Janggi Basin in Korea: Implications for paleofloral changes. Geosci J 14, 11–22 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-010-0002-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-010-0002-8