A Jurassic amber deposit in Southern Thailand

A Jurassic amber deposit in Southern Thailand Article

Philippe, M, Cuny, G, Suteethorn, V et al. (2005). A Jurassic amber deposit in Southern Thailand . 17(1-4), 1-6. 10.1080/08912960500284729

Philippe, M; Cuny, G; Suteethorn, V; Teerarungsigul, N; Barale, G; Thévenard, F; Le Loeuff, J; Buffetaut, E; Gaona, T; Košir, A; Tong, H

Published reports of amber predating the Aptian are rare and mention only amber pieces the size of millimetric marbles. Mid Cretaceous amber records, however, show a dramatic increase in number as well as in the size of the pieces, a phenomenon which is still poorly understood. The discovery of the first Jurassic deposit with comparatively large centimetric sized pieces of amber, in southern Thailand, is significant. Taphonomy and palaeobotany indicate a dense forest surrounding a coastal lake dominated by the resin-producing Agathoxylon tree. Since the palaeoecology of other amber-producing Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits is very similar a new hypothesis needs to be sought to explain the mid Cretaceous amber boom. It is suggested here that it was the result of a geological or taphonomic bias because coastal lacustrine environments are much better preserved after the Aptian on a worldwide scale. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.