Article

A new fossil wood from a lignite quarry in the Amo basin was examined for its terpene contenI. It was characterised by the lack of smell on comparison with two previous samplcs. Analysis has shown several components of diterpenes (abietanc, abietatriene, a-phyllocladanc and simonellite) and only traces of sesquiterpenes in common with thc previous samples. Comparison of ali analysed samples with others from thc fossil forest of Dunarobba shows the occurrence of many shared components especially diterpenes. It is conc!udcd that Taxodioxylon gypsaceum, the first species described from Dunarobba's forest, is probably the species which has given rise to the lignite of the Arno basino