Biofacies analysis of Upper Cretaceous deposits in the Ust-Yenisei region: Implications of palynomorphs

The results of palynomorph biofacies analysis in the Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Ust-Yenisei region are presented. The established facies confinement and indicative features of separate palynomorph groups are used, along with identified dinocyst morphotypes and taxa, in paleogeographic reconstructions. Seven palynomorph associations characterizing continental, coastal-marine, shallow-and deep-water facies are distinguished based on quantitative proportions between morphological groupings and individual taxa. As boundaries between distinguishable biostratigraphic and facies subdivisions do not coincide, dinocysts were likely insignificantly dependent in distribution on facies in the West Siberian epicontinental basin at least. On the other hand, distribution trends of particular dinocyst morphotypes and other microphytofossils are correlative with transgressive-regressive cycles and can be used for reconstruction of paleoenvironments.     

Microfossils from the Arymas and Debengda formations, the Riphean of the Olenek Uplift: Age and presumable nature

Studied assemblages of diverse organic-walled microfossils separated from the Arymas and Debengda formations of the Olenek Uplift include several paleobiological groups of microorganisms. Sufficiently large morphotypes of the first group are identified with remains of cyanobacteria. Morphotypes of variable spiral structure, which dwelt in association or in symbiosis with cyanobionts, are attributed to the same bacterial community. The other group includes a series of different acritarch genera whose characters suggest their affinity with green algae of the order Desmidiales. It is very likely that this group coexisted on siliciclastic shoals with large ancestral forms of the present-day brown algae. Several microfossil taxa have been known before from the Neoproterozoic deposits only. With due regard for the relatively gradual accumulation of sedimentary succession lacking large hiatuses and for the regular series of K-Ar dates characterizing three Riphean formations of the Olenek Uplift, it is possible to suggest that there was the Arymas-Debengda-Khaipakh cycle of long-lasted, almost uninterrupted sedimentation within the time span of 1250–900 Ma. It is also admissible that age ranges of some Late Precambrian microfossils are much larger than their distribution intervals postulated formerly.     

Organic-walled Microfossils from the Early Middle Cambrian sediments of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland: Possible Implications for Sedimentary Environment in the SE Margin of the Baltica

An association of organic-walled microfossils consisting of filamentous cyanobacteria, algal coenobia and acanthomorphic acritarch have been documented from non-calcareous claystones and mudstones of the Pepper Mountains Shale Formation(PMSF), located in its stratotype area in the Pepper Mountains, which are part of the Holy Cross Mountains in Poland. These sediments represent the oldest strata of the ?ysogóry Unit, deposited on the edge of the East European Craton(Baltica). Non-branched, ribbon-like and thread-like cyanobacteria trichomes exhibit morphological similarities to families Nostocaceae and Oscillatoriaceae. Cells assembled in rounded to irregular clusters of monospecific agglomerations represent multicellular algal coenobia, attributed to the family Scenedesmaceae. The co-occurrence of acritarchs belonging to species as Eliasum llaniscum, Cristallinium ovillense and Estiastra minima indicates that the studied material corresponds to the lower Middle Cambrian. Deposition of the PMSF took place in shallow marine environment, influenced by periodical freshwater inputs. The varying degree of coloration of organic-walled microfossils is interpreted in this study as factor indication of possible different source of their derivation. Dark brown walls of cells assembled in algal coenobia might have sustained previous humification in humid, terrestrial environments, which preceded their river transport into the sea together with nutrients, causing occasional blooms of cyanobacteria in the coastal environment and the final deposition of both groups of organisms in marine deposits.     

Floral biodiversity and geology of the Talcher Basin,Orissa, India during the Permian–Triassic interval

The review paper provides an updated account of the previous and recently published records concerning the palaeobiology and the geology of the Talcher Basin of Orissa State, India. We conclude that fossil floral species in this basin originated in the earliest Permian Talchir Formation and evolved and diversified through the Karharbari Fm., Barakar Fm., Barren Measures Fm. and the uppermost Kamthi Fm. (Late Permian–Triassic). The megaflora and the palynology of the different formations of the basin are also discussed briefly. The geological setting of the basin along with the status of different formations (especially the Kamthi Formation) has been redefined. The post‐Barakar Fm. rocks, earlier retained in the Raniganj/Kamthi, Panchet and Mahadeva formations in this basin, have been critically assessed and redefined as the Lower and Upper Kamthi formations of Late Permian and Triassic ages, respectively. Accordingly, the geological map of the basin has been modified. Permian deposits (particularly the Barakar and the lower Kamthi formations) not only have the best preserved flora but also possess the highest diversity, whereas the upper Kamthi Triassic sediments have a meagre number of taxa. The plant diversity of the basin has been discussed in detail to interpret the development of the flora, evolutionary trends and palaeoenvironments of the basin. The patchy Gangamopteris vegetation of the Talchir glacial phase has ultimately evolved and diversified through time (Karharbari Fm. to Lower Kamthi Fm.) and gave rise to the thick dense swampy forests consisting of large Glossopteris trees and other shade‐loving under‐storied pteridophytes. Several groups of plants including spores and pollen have disappeared in a ladder pattern during the Permian–Triassic interval (Lower Kamthi–Upper Kamthi Fm.) and, similarly, in steps, many new fore‐runners appeared in the Upper Kamthi Formation. Records of marine acritarchs and ichnofossils in this basin at various Permian–Triassic levels demonstrate that there were marine influences. These features suggest a paralic (coastal marine to deltaic) mode of origin of the coal beds and associated sediments in the basin. The present study also advocates the continued survival of plants, rather than a mass extinction near the vicinity of the Permian–Triassic (P–T) boundary in this basin. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

西准噶尔晚志留世、早泥盆世孢子和疑源类

新疆西准噶尔沙尔布尔提山晚志留世、早泥盆世孢子和疑源类包括孢子21属31种和变种,其中新种1个(Amicosporites xinjiangensis);疑源类11属14种。此外还有几丁虫3属3种。根据孢子在地层中分布规律和演化特征,自下而上可划出4个孢子带:1.Synorisporites dittonensis—Api-culiretusispora spicula(DS)带;2.Emphanisporites micrornatus—Streelispora newportensis(MN)带;3.Chelinospora cassicula—Perotriletes subitus(CS)带;4.Grandispora sp.—Apiculatasporites micro-conus(CM)带;上述孢子组合基本上可与中国华南、西南、西秦岭及有关国家、地区相同时代孢子带对比。根据孢子和疑源类材料,对西准噶尔志留—泥盆系界线、古地理和古生态进行了讨论。     

华南上扬子区早-中奥陶世疑源类古环境意义

对上扬子区 7个剖面早—中奥陶世疑源类研究表明 ,这些疑源类组合在分异度及属种组成上呈现有规律的变化 ,这种变化是上扬子区古环境变化的反映。在上扬子区西部 ,近岸碎屑岩相沉积的滇东红石崖组所产疑源类组合分异度低 ,为个体较小、壳饰较简单的分子 ;上扬子区中部 ,以黔北湄潭组为代表的浅海相碎屑岩和灰岩沉积中 ,疑源类分异度较高 ,并出现许多个体较大、壳饰较复杂的分子 ;而在上扬子区东部鄂西宜昌大湾组陆棚相灰岩与泥岩中 ,疑源类分异度继续增高 ,其中个体大、具粗大、长而复杂突起的分子占优势。     

浙江江山奥陶系宁国组疑源类化石的发现及其地质意义

报道了发现于浙江江奥陶系宁国组的凝源类化石，计16属，以Baltiphoeridium,Leiosphaeridia,Multiplicis phaeridium,Peteriosphaeridum,Rhopaliophora最常见。结合其它地层古生物资料，简要讨论这些微体化石的地层及环境意义。     

New Riphean microbiotas of the Billyakh Group,the north Anabar region (Fomich River basin): To Riphean biostratigraphy of the Siberian platform

Excellently preserved organic-walled and silicified microfossils are first found in the Lower Riphean Ust-Il’ya and Kotuikan formations of the Billyakh Group in the northern slope of the Anabar Uplift (the Fomich River basin). Similar assemblages were previously known only from sections located southward in the Kotuikan River basin, and taxonomic composition of organic-walled microbiotas from the Ust-Il’ya and Kotuikan formations became a corner stone in competitive microphytological models that are based on different approaches. In their composition and general appearance, microbiotas from the Kotuikan and Ust-Il’ya formations in the Fomich River basin are similar to microbiotas reported from the Kotuikan River basin, although northern sections of the above formations characterize deeper sedimentation settings than in localities known before. The Ust-Il’ya and Kotuikan assemblages of organic-walled microfossils include sphaeromorphic Chuaria circularis and Leiosphaeridia, two-layer vesicles the genus Simia, filamentous Plicatidium and Taenitrichoides, and some others. The silicified microbiota from the lower Kotuikan Subformation is largely composed of akinetes of Anabaena-like cyanobacteria Archaeoellipsoides, spherical Myxococcoides grandis, and short trichomes Filiconstrictosus and Orculiphycus representing initial germination stages of Anabaena-like cyanobacterial spores. Acanthomorphic acritarchs known from lithology-similar Lower and Middle Riphean (Mesoproterozoic) formations of Australia and China have not been observed in the Ust-Il’ya and Kotuikan microbiotas, which are probably of older age. The found microbiotas outline substantially wider distribution area of organic-walled and silicified microfossils, supplement microphytological characteristics of Riphean sediments in the Anabar Uplift, provide information on taxonomic composition of microbiotas from a wider spectrum of facies, and specify relationships between Early and Middle Riphean assemblages of microorganisms from different continents.     

Late Silurian (Ludlow–Přídolí) microfossils and sedimentation in the Welsh Basin near Clun,Shropshire

The base of the Clun Forest Formation at Clun, Shropshire, has previously been taken to correlate with the base of the Downton Castle Sandstone Formation (Přídolí Series, upper Silurian) on the basis of brachiopod, bivalve, gastropod and ostracod faunas. The detailed distribution of microfossils (acritarchs, chitinozoans, conodonts and ostracods) is documented at Nantyrhynau Quarry, Clun, Shropshire, to test this correlation. Three new species of chitinozoans, Eisenackitina clunensis, Eisenackitina kerria and Angochitina paucispinosa, are described from the quarry. Macrofossil and ostracod distributions suggest that the correlation is correct. However, a typical Ludlow acritarch flora is present throughout the section and suggests that the basal part of the Clun Forest Formation is Ludlow in age. The mixture of characteristic Ludlow and Přídolí microfossils at Nantyrhynau Quarry may be the result of differing environmental conditions between the Ludlow (shelf) and Clun (basinal) areas at this time. Alternatively, the strata exposed at Nantyrhynau Quarry may represent a period towards the end of the Ludlow Series when there are no strata represented in corresponding shelf sections due to non-deposition or erosion. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.