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A new discovery of early Cretaceous (Wealden) amber from the Isle of Wight

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Christopher J. Nicholas ,
Alison A. Henwood  and
Martin Simpson
Christopher J. Nicholas
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, U.K.
Alison A. Henwood
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, U.K.
Martin Simpson
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, U.K.
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Abstract

A new discovery of in situ amber is reported from the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight. The productive site is located within the Wealden Marls (Wessex Formation), generally regarded to be of earliest Barremian (early Cretaceous) age; also making this amber amongst some of the oldest known occurrences in the world. Amber globules can be found within two thin, black lignite horizons which form a channel-lag deposit exposed in the cliffssoutheast of Chilton Chine. Examination of plant material above and below this site by other workers, combined with infrared spectra of the amber in this study, implies a coniferous (possibly taxodiaceous) origin for this resin. Palaeoenviron-mental interpretation of the Chilton Chine site suggests that the amber was exuded locally, and in some cases the globules have beenpartly replaced by iron pyrite.

Type
Rapid Communications
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 130 , Issue 6 , November 1993 , pp. 847 - 850
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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