Tubular fossils in the bauxites and the underlying sediments of Surinam and Guyana

Abstract

This paper presents a description of the possible plant fossils and burrows in the bauxite belt which extends through Surinam and Guyana. The possible plant fossils are defined as roots, treetrunks, and branches forming horizontal layers of roots in the underlying sediments and the basal part of the bauxites. The plant fossils show external textures, and internal structures which may be taken to be cuticulae. Within the bauxites burrows of various diameters may be seen. Internally, they either show the typical "Stopfgefüge" or lack structure entirely. The presence of plant roots and burrows proves that a large proportion of the bauxite in the bauxite belts of Surinam and Guyana originates from sediments formed in either a mangrove environment, a fresh-water marsh environment, or a brackish swamp environment.