Acervulinid macroid and rhodolith facies in the Eocene Nummulitic Limestone of the Dauphinois Domain (Maritime Alps,Liguria, Italy)

The Eocene Nummulitic Limestone of the Dauphinois domain in the Argentina Valley (Maritime Alps, Liguria, Italy) is characterized by the local presence of carbonate ramp facies rich in acervulinid macroids, rhodoliths and larger foraminifera. The development of these particular facies is mainly controlled by palaeomorphology of the substratum, tectonics, type and amount of terrigenous supply and global sea level changes.

The Upper Cretaceous to Eocene succession outcropping in the Argentina Valley shows differences in facies and age if compared to the typical succession of the Maritime Alps:

• the Cretaceous substratum is younger (early Maastrichtian) and is followed by an unconformity that is interpreted as a submarine discontinuity surface;
• the first Eocene carbonate deposits are older (late Lutetian);
• the Nummulitic Limestone is characterized by the development of carbonate facies deposited in a deep infralittoral-circalittoral setting of a carbonate ramp, sheltered from terrigenous input; in these facies encrusting foraminifera (Solenomeris) replace calcareous red algae in nodules similar to rhodoliths (acervulinid macroids);
• the Nummulitic Limestone is thicker than usual, reaching 110–160 m of thickness.

The Eocene tectonostratigraphic evolution can be summarized as follow: (1) synsedimentary tectonic activity that causes the development of a carbonate ramp with an adjacent structural trough where ramp-derived bioclastic material is deposited (late Lutetian); (2) interruption of the tectonic activity and uniform deposition of deep circalittoral sediments, characterized by deepening upward trend (late Lutetian?); (3) regression indicated by an abrupt shallowing of the depositional setting (Bartonian); and (4) deepening of the depositional setting, ending with the drowning of the carbonate ramp (late Bartonian).The evolution of the Eocene Argentina Valley succession is strongly influenced by tectonics related to the Alpine foreland basin development, but locally, and during definite time intervals, the global sea level changes could be recorded by the sediments during periods of stasis in tectonic activity. The regressive events recognized in the studied succession could be related to the sea level fall reported in the global sea level curve during the Bartonian.     

An insight into the Eocene tide-dominated estuarine system: implications for palaeoenvironmental and sequence stratigraphic interpretations

This article describes a complete sedimentary succession of an ancient macrotidal tide-dominated estuarine system based on the detailed outcrop study. The Eocene siliciclastic sedimentary facies of Ameki Group in the south-eastern Nigeria provides a record of the sedimentary response to an initial regression, followed by marine incursion (transgression) into the Niger Delta Basin. These sedimentary successions are analogues to the subsurface petrolific Niger Delta lithostratigraphic units. Seven facies associations (FA 1 to FA 7) are documented in the study area and the sediments are interpreted as fluvial channel, tidally influenced fluvial channel, tidal channel, tidal flats, supratidal, tidal sand bar and estuarine embayment (open estuarine) deposits. The occurrence of low diversity ichnofaunal assemblages and/or localised high-density monospecific ichnofossil assemblages indicates brackish-water condition typical of estuarine settings. The suites of assemblages include Scoyenia, Skolithos, Cruziana, mixed Skolithos-Cruziana, Glossifungites, Psilonichnus and Teredolites ichnofacies. A complete depositional sequence is encountered in the Eocene Ameki Group which consists of the lowstand, transgressive, highstand and falling stage systems tracts. This depositional succession was most probably controlled by relative sea level changes, sediment supply, accommodation and regional tectonics which affected the development of Niger Delta Basin.     

The age of the Nodular Limestone Formation (Late Cretaceous), Narmada Basin,central India

The age of the marine Nodular Limestone Formation of the Bagh Group is refined at Substage level through ammonoid and inoceramid index taxa. The study is based on the fresh collections from three well-defined successive intervals (Lower Karondia, Upper Karondia and Chirakhan members) of this formation having excellent exposures in different localities of the Narmada Basin, central India. The first record of the widely distributed Turonian ammonoid genera Spathites Kummel and Decker and Collignoniceras Breistroffer from the Nodular Limestone Formation constrained its age exclusively to Turonian. The Early Turonian species Spathites (Jeanrogericeras) aff. revelieranus (Courtiller) and Mytiloides labiatus (Sclotheim) occur in the lower part, while the Middle Turonian marker Collignoniceras cf. carolinum (d’Obrbigny) and Inoceramus hobetsensis (Nagao and Matsumoto) occurs in the upper part of the Karondia Member. The record of the index species Inoceramus teshioensis (Nagao and Matsumoto) in association with Placenticeras mintoi Vredenburg from Chirakhan Member allows a definite Late Turonian age. The present contribution is an attempt to resolve the controversies in the age of the Nodular Limestone Formation and also demarcation of the three divisions (Early, Middle and Late) of the Turonian Stage in the Narmada Basin, central India.     

Facies analysis of Pleistocene limestones from Neil West Coast Formation,Neil Island,Ritchie’s archipelago of South Andaman,India

Petrographic thin section analysis of the samples collected from the type section of Neil West Coast Formation, situated in the west coast of Neil Island yielded moderately preserved coralline red algae, benthic and planktic foraminifers, coral fragments, echinoid spines and gastropod shells. The coralline red algae are represented by both non-geniculate and geniculate forms. The non-geniculate forms belong to melobesids, lithophylloids and mastophoroides. The geniculate forms are represented by species of Amphiroa, Corallina, and Jania. However, the diversity and abundance of coralline algal forms are less in comparison to the benthic foraminifers those are represented by Amphistegina, Neorotalia, Ammonia, Elphidium, Operculina, Assilina, Amphisorus and texularids. Planktic foraminifers like Globigerinoides and other biogenic components viz., gastropod shells, echinoid spines and coral fragments are also common. A foraminiferal-algal grainstone facies has been recognized as observed in the field as well as in thin section analysis. The overall assemblage of the biogenic components and facies analysis indicate intertidal to near shore environment of deposition with high energy condition and increased hydrodynamic activity.     

Morphological features of Cretaceous dinocysts of genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vesperopsis</Emphasis>, Bint, 1986, their facies confinement,and stratigraphic significance

A comparative morphological analysis is performed for 13 valid dinocyst species of genus Vesperopsis. Their distribution over Eurasia and North America in the Hauterivian–Cenomanian is traced and the characteristics of these deposits are given. Three species of the most stratigraphically significant dinocysts are distinguished: V. fragilis for the Upper Hauterivian of Western Siberia and V. mayi and V. longicornis for the Aptian of East Greenland. Analysis of facies confinement of the dinocysts Vesperopsis made it possible to group species of the considered genus over conditionally preferable paleosettings. Continental facies (freshwater, brackish-water) are characterized by species V. yanjiensis, V. glabra, V. sanjiensis, and V. jixianensis, while V. zhaodongensiis, V. didaoensis, and V. dolabella are typical of the coastal–marine facies, and V. digitatа, V. nebulosa, and V. mayi are typical of marine facies.     

Microfacies analysis of larger benthic foraminifera-dominated Middle Eocene carbonates: a palaeoenvironmental case study from Meghalaya,N-E India (Eastern Tethys)

Larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) show significant abundance and diversity in the Palaeogene carbonate sediments of Meghalaya, N-E India, but have previously received less attention from the palaeoenvironmental perspective. LBF are important contributors to recent as well as fossil shallow marine, tropical carbonate settings. They find wide application in biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The larger foraminiferal turnover (LFT) during the Palaeocene-Eocene transition is very important with respect to their evolution in several parts of the world including the Eastern Tethys. The present microfacies analysis documents the status of LBF in the Middle Eocene sediments from the Prang Formation of the Sylhet Limestone Group in Meghalaya, N-E India. Five major facies types (MFTs)—miliolid grainstone-packstones, alveolinid-rotaliid grainstone-packstones, nummulitid-alveolinid grainstone-packstones, coralline algal-nummulitid packstone-wackestones and coralline algal wackestones have been recorded in the current study. Evaluation of the palaeoenvironmental parameters aids in understanding the seascape of this Eastern Tethyan domain. It is suggested that an oligotrophic nutrient regime supported the rapid evolution and dominance of the LBF. Most notable is the prolific augmentation in Alveolina and Nummulites populations. High surface water temperatures during the Late Palaeocene-Early Eocene global warming episode possibly persisted to a certain level during the Middle Eocene and continued to favour the larger foraminifera as the major carbonate producers instead of the vulnerable corals.     

Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotopic excursion from the shallow-marine-carbonate sequence of northeast India: Implications on the CIE magnitude and geometry

The exact magnitude of the carbon isotopic excursion (CIE) for the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is essential for our understanding of the carbon cycle perturbation. Global compilation of the PETM CIE magnitudes indicates that the shallow-marine inorganic carbonate could be a potential candidate to decipher the actual CIE magnitude. The present study, therefore, made an attempt to explore the thick Palaeogene shallow-marine carbonate sequence of the Sylhet Limestone exposed in the Jaintia Hills of northeast (NE) India, in terms of the preservation and magnitude of the PETM CIE. Exploratory sampling carried out across the Sylhet Limestone suggests that this sequence was deposited during the Late Palaeocene and Early Eocene, as evident from the age-diagnostic foraminifera. The observed \({\sim }3.4\permille \) CIE at the top of the Lakadong Limestone, resting above the Miscellanea miscella and Ranikothalia nuttalli foraminifera-bearing horizon, can, therefore, be correlated with the PETM CIE. Although the magnitude of the CIE from our limited data set agrees well with the global compilation, the absence of a stepped profile questions the preservation of the CIE reported elsewhere from the Tethyan sequence. Further work is needed for a better understanding of the PETM interval in NE India.     

Association of macro- and microfossils in the Vendian (Ediacaran) postglacial successions in Western Mongolia

The Vendian (Ediacaran) beds of the Zavkhan Basin, in the upper part of the Tsagaanolom Formation (<632 ± 14 Ma), yielded a new “Zavkhan” association of algae, microfossils, and problematic organisms, which is established in the series of alternating chert-carbonate shale with phosphorite interbeds. This association is distinct in the predomination of large (250 μm and over) sphaeromorphic microfossils of the genera Tasmanites, Archaeooides, and Leiosphaeridia, whereas acanthomorph acritarchs are represented by rarely found Cavaspina sp. and Tanarium sp. Multicellular algae included fragments of encrusting or foliate thalli with pseudoparenchymatous structure of polygonal cells characteristic of Rhodophyta algae (Thallophycoides sp.), and cordlike thalli of Vendotaenid algae Tyrasotaenia podolica. These layers of siltstone contain imprints of the problematic Vendian macrofossil Beltanelliformis brunsae. In their stratigraphic position, chemostratigraphic data, and fossil assemblage, the “Zavkhan” association can be assigned to the Upper Vendian.     

The fish fauna of the Late Jurassic Solothurn Turtle Limestone (NW Switzerland)

The surroundings of Solothurn (NW Switzerland) have been known for their fossil marine turtles since the beginning of the nineteenth century. In more recent history, access to the fossil bearing layers i.e. the Rätschenbank (Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic) has not been possible until 1986 when one of the old quarries in the area re-opened. A series of excavations from 1986 to 1989 provided new material and a unique opportunity to re-investigate the fish fauna of the Solothurn Turtle Limestone that has not been dealt with since Agassiz (1833–1844). Examination and classification of the Solothurn specimens, mainly jaw fragments and teeth, furnished 11 species in 6 major groups: chimaeras (Ischyodus), selachians (Hybodus, Paracestracion, Asteracanthus), semionotids (Lepidotes), pycnodontids (Gyrodus, Proscinetes), caturids and oligopleurids (Caturus, Callopterus, Ionoscopus), and aspidorhynchids (Belonostomus).     

Palaeoecological implications of corallinacean red algae and halimedacean green algae from the prang formation of south shillong plateau, meghalaya

The southwestern part of south Shillong plateau (Meghalaya, N-E India), designated as Sylhet Limestone Group is sub-divided into three lithounits i.e., Lakadong, Umlatdoh and Prang formations in ascending order. The Prang Formation is the youngest lithostratigraphic unit of the Sylhet Limestone Group and has been dated as Middle to early Upper Eocene based on the benthic foraminifera studies. Thin section analysis of carbonate rocks from Prang Formation, exposed in the Bholaganj limestone quarry yielded a rich assemblage of calcareous algae. The coralline algal assemblage comprises both non-geniculate and geniculate forms. The green algae are represented by species of Halimeda belonging to the family Halimedaceae. Palaeoecological interpretation based on diversity, growth-form analysis and taphonomic aspects of the algal assemblage indicate that in all probabilities the deposition of Prang Formation occurred in shallow, warm, shelf environment of normal salinity within the transgressive phase.     

Permian Calcareous algae from the Khachik Formation at the Ali Bashi Mountains,NW of Iran

Micropaleontological investigations on Permian successions in the NW of Iran based on algae led to the determination of taxa belonging to some families such as Ungdarellaceae (Ungdarella uralica), Gymnocodiaceae (Gymnocodium bellerophontis and Permocalculus sp.), Dasycladales (Mizzia cf. M. yabei), and some microproblematics (Vermiporella nipponica and Pseudovermiporella sodalica). These investigations are mainly focused on the Khachik Formation at the Ali Bashi Mountains. According to the algal community, a lagoon environment is offered for the studied successions.     

Microbiostratigraphy of the Upper Paleocene to Middle Eocene Jahrum Formation in the Folded Zagros Zone,SW Iran

The Jahrum Formation (Upper Paleocene to Middle Eocene) is composed of carbonate and dolomitic carbonate rocks in the Zagros Basin. The Zagros is located at the boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian lithosphere plates and represent the orogenic response to a collision between Eurasia and advancing Arabia during the Cenozoic. The study area is located in the northern part of Kuh-E-Tudej, ~175 km southeast of Shiraz in the Folded Zagros Zone. The Jahrum Formation at Kuh-E-Tudej, with a thickness of 190 m, consists of medium to massive bedded limestone. The following foraminiferal index species are identified in the studied section: Fallotella alavensis, Kathina sp., Miscellanea sp., Lockhartia sp.,Orbitolites shirazeinsis, Nummulites sp., Opertorbitolites sp., Dictyoconus cf. egyptiensis, Orbitolites cf. complanatus, Dictyoconus sp., Coskinolina sp., Somalina stefaninii, Discocyclina sp., Praerhapydionina sp., Coskinolina cf. liburnica, Nummulites cf. globulus, Nummulites cf. aturicus, and Alveolina sp. The age of the studied sediments ranges from Upper Paleocene to Middle Eocene. The microbiostratigraphic studies revealed four biozones based on the foraminifers identified in the studied section.     

Early Eocene planktonic and benthic foraminifera from the Khangiran formation (northeast of Iran)

The Kopet-Dagh sedimentary basin is located in northeast of Iran and southeast of Turkmenistan in the Middle East. The Khangiran formation represents the last marine deposition in the Kopet-Dagh sedimentary basin. The early Eocene planktonic and benthic foraminifera from the Khangiran formation which belongs to the lower 376 m thickness of this formation are identified and biostratigraphically evaluated. Due to rarity of Morozovella species, planktonic foraminiferal zonation was difficult to determine in this formation. The determination of upper part of the late Paleocene for the lower 124 m of this formation is according to the lowest occurrence of Acarinina sibaiyaensis species. From E₅ to near middle of E₇ biozone, increasing trend of Acarinina frequency and a peak in Morozovella species and decreasing trend of frequency of Subbotina and Pseudohastigerina species indicate the warm and oligotrophic condition of the seawater during sedimentation of the studied interval. Toward the Ypresian-Lutetian boundary, the increasing trend of Pseudohastigerina and Subbotina species and decreasing in frequency of Acarinina species suggest the low-oxygen level, eutrophic and intermediate condition of the seawater. In this formation, the high abundance of the epifaunal taxa such as Anomalinoides spp., Cibicidoides spp., Gyroidinoides spp., and Lenticulina spp. from the base (late Paleocene sediments) up to E₆ biozone reflects oligotrophic and oxic shallow water conditions. The occurrence of several peaks in abundance of Bulimina and Uvigerina species at the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary suggests eutrophic condition. These paleoecological conditions could be correlated with fluctuations in the numbers of the planktonic foraminifera.     

Organic geochemical study of Ypresian sediments at Jebel Ousselat,Tunisia

This new study was carried out in order to accurately characterize the geochemical pattern of Ousselat organic-rich facies from the Ypresian basin in central-northern Tunisia. It has been found that the organic matter is located towards the end of diagenesis/beginning of catagenesis. This assumption is supported by the relative low T _max values (429–439°C) and by steranes maturity parameters such as C₂₉ αα 20S/(20S + 20R), and C₂₉ ββ/(ββ + αα). High HI values and the abundance of saturates (1–83%) compared to aromatics (2–27%) are unequivocal evidence of type-II organic matter as indicated by a high abundance of cholestane and the predominance of short-chain n-alkanes centred at n-C₁₈ and at n-C₂₀. Total organic carbon (TOC) content and petroleum potential values suggest that the Ypresian period corresponds to an anoxic event which led to the accumulation and preservation of large quantities of organic matter with high primary production. Due to their geochemical characteristics, the Lower Eocene facies represent a new potential source rocks in central-northern Tunisia.     

Refinement of stratigraphy according to the first finds of planktonic species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbulina</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Praeorbulina</Emphasis> from the Guri Limestone of the Mishan Formation in northwest of Bandar Abbas,South Iran

The Zagros Basin is one of the most universal oil and gas basins that is located in the west to south of Iran and in north of the Arabian Plate. The Guri Member at the bottom of the Mishan Formation, in some areas such as Bandar Abbas hinterland, contains a significant amount of gas. The Bandar Abbas hinterland is located in the southeast of Zagros. The Guri Limestone is the youngest hydrocarbon reservoirs of the Zagros Sedimentary Basin. In this study, a total of 178 samples from the Guri Limestone in the Handun section are investigated for foraminiferal biostratigraphy. The study of foraminifers led to a recognition of 43 genera and 57 species of benthic and planktonic foraminifera. For the first time, planktonic foraminiferal species including Praeorbulina glomerosa, Praeorbulina transitoria, Orbulina suturalis, and Orbulina universa are reported, and based on the identified benthic and planktonic foraminifera taxa, the age of the Guri Member at Handun section is estimated as late Burdigalian to Langhian.     

DasT-P-Feld der Diagenese und niedrigtemperierten Metamorphose aufgrund von Mineralreaktionen

It is attempted to determineT, P values for the lowgrade metamorphic facies. From geologic-petrographic observations and from experiments mineralreactions are outlined which characterize the zeolitic-, the glaucophane- and the greenschistfacies, respectively. Only such reactions are considered which are univariant if P_f=P_s; thus aP-T grid can be arrived at. Experimental data on the equilibria of the relevant reactions is taken from the literature and from own experiments. Experimental results are always checked against known field-observations. Contrary to current opinium, we arrive at rather higher temperatures for the beginning of the lowgrade metamorphic facies: Diagenesis. From sedimentation up to slightly below 300° C. Zeolitic facies. From slightly below 300° C up to about 400° C. Greenschistfacies. From about 400° C up to about 550° C. Glaucophaneschistfacies. Under pressures of at least 6–7 kb this facies begins somewhat above 300° C, probably at about 330° C, grading into high-pressure greenschistfacies.     

New record of coralline algae from the Holocene sediments of Agatti Island,Lakshadweep, India

The present paper examines the coralline algal assemblage recovered from the Holocene sediments of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India. The assemblage comprises nine species of coralline algae which include Amphiroa fragilisma, Lithophyllum nitorum, Lithophyllum incrustans, Lithoporella melobesioids, Spongites sp., Porolithon craspedium, Aethesolithon problematicum, Clathromorphum parcum, Melobesoideae gen. et spec. indet. Clathromorphum parcumis an endophytic coralline alga reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. Out of these, seven species belong to the family Corallinaceae and the two represent the family Hapalidiaceae of the class Rhodophyceae. Coralline algal association of this area is dominated by Lithophylloideae, Melobesioideae and Mastophoroideae which include encrusting to fragmented growth forms. The associated branching corals are well developed and adapted to shallow, warm water, low turbid, protected lagoonal environment.     

Microfacies analysis and cyclostratigraphy of the upper cretaceous- lower paleogene succession of Bir Dakhl section,north eastern desert,Egypt

The Bir Dakhl section which is located in the southern Galala plateau, north eastern desert was sampled for microfacies analysis of the upper Cretaceous–lower Paleogene succession. Microfacies analysis led to the recognition of eight mixed clastic-carbonate facies types (black shale lithofacies MF-1, pure shale lithofacies MF-2, sandy shale lithofacies MF-3, marly shale lithofacies MF-4, mudstone microfacies MF-5, foraminiferal wackestone microfacies MF-6, bioclastic wackestone microfacies MF-7, and bioclastic packstone microfacies MF-8) of the studied interval. These microfacies can be grouped into three depositional environments: inner, middle and outer ramp. The interpreted depositional environments have been suggested to range from neritic to middle bathyal (~ 700 m). Based on cyclostratigraphy, five deepening upward cycles and three shallowing upward cycles have been differentiated in Bir Dakhl section.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopalmoxylon nypoides</Emphasis> – a new palm root from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Sagar,Madhya Pradesh,India

A new species of fossil palm rhizome having root-mat under the organ genus Rhizopalamoxylon (Rhizopalmoxylon nypoides sp. nov.) is reported. The specimen shows the closest resemblance with the modern monotypic genus Nypa Wurmb of the Arecaceae. The specimen was collected from the late Maastrichtian–early Danian sediments of Deccan Intertrappean beds, Mothi, Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Nypa is a mangrove palm naturally found in estuaries and swamps of the tropical region and represents one of the oldest records of the genus from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of central India. The abundance of palms, including Nypa and previously recorded coastal and mangrove elements such as Acrostichum, Barringtonia, Cocos, Sonneratia and marine algae (Distichoplax and Peyssonellia) from the Deccan Intertrappean beds indicate marine influence and existence of tropical rainforest ecosystem in the vicinity of fossil locality in contrast to the deciduous forests occurring there at present.     

Miocene echinoids from the Sadat area,south Gebel Ataqa,NW Gulf of Suez,Egypt: systematics,palaeobiogeography

The echinoid fauna from the Miocene sedimentary succession cropping out south Wadi Tweirig, and Wadi Hommath, south Gebel Ataqa, NW Gulf of Suez, has been examined with the aim to known their stratigraphic and paleogeographic distribution. The Miocene succession includes two formations: Sadat Formation, unconformably overlying the middle/upper Eocene rocks at the base and Hommath Formation at the top. Twenty-eight echinoid species (8 regular and 20 irregular) belonging to 18 genera, 13 families, and 7 orders have been identified, systematically described, and illustrated in this work. Eleven species are recorded for the first time from Egypt: ten of these came from the Hommath Formation (Schizechinus cf. serresii Desor (1856), Schizechinus pentagonus Kier 1972, Clypeaster cf. martini des Moulins 1837, Scutella checchiae occidentalis Desio 1934, Scutella melitensis Airaghi 1902, Echinodiscus desori Duncan and Sladen 1883, Echinolampas cf. zeitensis Fourtau 1920, Schizaster lovisatoi Cotteau 1895, Agassizia (Agassizia) powersi Kier 1972, and Hemipatagus ocellatus Defrance (1827)), and one from the Sadat Formation (Clypeaster campanulatus Schlotheim (1820)). The identified fauna shows a strong affinity with the Mediterranean bio-province.