Abstract We present the first analysis of vegetational change in far western equatorial Pangaea (New Mexico, USA) during the Middle–Late Pennsylvanian transition (determined by conodonts and fusulinids) of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age. The study is based on the largest database assembled from this region: 28 of 44 quantitatively analysed floras from 14 of 26 stratigraphic levels. Most sampled floras are ‘mixed’, both below and above the boundary, including both hygromorphic and mesomorphic/xeromorphic taxa. The taxonomic data were recalibrated morphometrically focusing on foliar traits of lamina width and venation. All data were examined using stratigraphic credible intervals, capture–mark–recapture analyses, and resampling analyses. Results indicate no substantive taxonomic turnover across the boundary. This stands in marked contrast to patterns in mid-Pangaean coal basins where there is a large wetland vegetational turnover. However, plant and physical geological data indicate that immediately following the boundary in New Mexico, and for approximately half of the Missourian Stage, floras previously dominated by hygromorphs become overwhelmingly dominated by mesomorphic/xeromorphic taxa. Although expressed differently, the western Pangaean physical and palaeobotanical patterns parallel those from mid-Pangaean coal basins and suggest a widespread environmental change.

ABSTRACT The Mogollon-Datil volcanic field is a 40–24 Ma cluster of calderas that formed during ignimbrite flare-up eruptions in southern New Mexico associated with sub-duction, and possible delamination, of the Farallon plate beneath the North American plate. This study uses magmatic zircon sampled from four ignimbrites from a nested caldera system and an additional ignimbrite located outside of the nested system to compare the processes and timing of magma accumulation in southern New Mexico. These ignimbrites include: the Whitewater Tuff, the Cooney Canyon Tuff, the Davis Canyon Tuff, and the Shelley Peak Tuff from the Mogollon Mountains and the Bell Top 4 Tuff from the Uvas volcanic field. The ignimbrites range from crystal-poor, high-silica rhyolite to crystal-rich, low-silica rhyolite. We compare previous 40 Ar/ 39 Ar sanidine eruption ages to new U-Pb crystallization ages and trace-element compositions of zircon. Weighted mean zircon ages define two magmatic groups. Group one includes the Bell Top Tuff (34.5 ± 0.5 Ma), the Cooney Canyon Tuff (34.8 ± 0.8 Ma), and the Whitewater Creek Tuff (36.2 ± 0.4 Ma). The second group includes the Davis Canyon Tuff (28.7 ± 0.5 Ma) and the Shelley Peak Tuff (29.6 ± 0.5 Ma). Weighted mean zircon ages are within published 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages, with the exception of the Shelley Peak Tuff, which is ~1 m.y. older. Hafnium contents and Th/U and Yb/Gd ratios suggest the dominant mechanism that produced eruptible melt was rejuvenation or remobilization of a crystal mush accompanied by minimal partial melting of the continental crust.