Cenomanian Turrilitidae (Cretaceous heteromorph ammonites) from the Koppeh Dagh,northeast Iran: Taxonomy and stratigraphic implications

Early and early middle Cenomanian turrilitid ammonoids from the upper part of the Albian–Cenomanian Aitamir Formation of the Koppeh Dagh (northeast Iran) are described, illustrated and placed in an integrated stratigraphic context. The Aitamir Formation represents a graded siliciclastic shelf system and the turrilitid faunas comprise eight different species. Representatives of Mariella and Hypoturrilites have been recorded from a lower Cenomanian horizon in the Ghorghoreh section, corresponding to the Mantelliceras mantelli ammonite biozone. Mariella bicarinata (Kner, 1852) and H. wiedmanni Collignon, 1964 are recorded for the first time from Iran and the larger palaeobiogeographical area, respectively. The horizons with Turrilites costatus and T. scheuchzerianus at Taherabad can be dated as early middle Cenomanian Acanthoceras rhotomagense Zone, T. costatus Subzone. Concentrations of ammonoids commonly occur above regressive sandstone units, at the transition into overlying deeper marine shale units and in their lower parts, respectively. Such intervals represent the early transgressive systems tract of depositional sequences and may thus be regarded as early transgressive, slightly condensed shell accumulations. The uppermost lower to lower middle Cenomanian succession at Taherabad is of striking bio-, event- and sequence stratigraphic similarity to contemporaneous sections in northwest Europe. It reflects deposition during falling and low sea-level associated with the latest early Cenomanian unconformity SB Ce 3 as well as the pulsating transgressive development during the early middle Cenomanian, including levels correlative to the arlesiensis, primus and Mid-Cenomanian events in northwest Europe.     

The Mid-Cenomanian Event in southeastern France: Evidence from palaeontological and clay mineralogical data

Reconstruction of main palaeoenvironmental conditions across the Mid-Cenomanian Event (MCE I) in the hemipelagic Tethyan section of Blieux (Southeast France, Vocontian Basin) is proposed. Quantitative analyses of calcareous nannofossil, ammonoid and clay mineral assemblages have been made and compared with respect to sea level changes and the carbon cycle perturbations. The nannofossil primary productivity, as recorded by nannofossil fluxes and relative abundances of meso-eutrophic taxa, is low just below and during the MCE Ia, then slightly increases in the interval including the MCE Ib. The clay assemblages mainly consist of illite/smectite mixed-layers with a smaller proportion of kaolinite. The percentage of kaolinite strongly decreases in the interval including the MCE Ia and slightly increases in the interval including the MCE Ib. The clay assemblages are mainly detrital in origin and reflect environmental changes including differential settling processes, climate, intensity of runoff and detrital sources. The ammonoid assemblages are characterised by a significant change during the MCE I: planispirals (mainly Schloenbachia) are dominant until the MCE Ia, whereas heteromorphs (mainly Sciponoceras) become dominant from the MCE Ib onwards. Strongly oligotrophic levels in sea surfaces are recorded during the MCE Ia and are related both to arid climatic conditions and major sea level fall (both 3rd order and medium scale lowstand deposits). A decrease in bathymetry could partly explain the decrease in the relative abundance of Schloenbachia. The first occurrence of Sciponoceras took place during the MCE Ib; this second positive increase in δ¹³C is not associated with enhanced nannofossil primary productivity. No clear relations can be established between the occurrence of Sciponoceras and trophic resources.     

Belemnites from the lower middle Cenomanian of Hoppenstedt, northern Germany: significance and integrated correlation

The belemnite species Praeactinocamax primus (Arkhangelsky, 1912) and Belemnocamax boweri Crick, 1910 are described from the Cenomanian of the abandoned limestone quarry section of Hoppenstedt (Sachsen-Anhalt, northern Germany). They co-occur in the upper part of a prominent tripartite bioclastic limestone bed associated with the ammonite Acanthoceras rhotomagense, indicating the primus Event of the lower middle Cenomanian A. rhotomagense ammonite Zone. An integrated stratigraphical calibration including carbon stable isotope correlation to southern England suggests that the belemnite event horizon at Hoppenstedt occupies exactly the same chronostratigraphical position as elsewhere, highlighting the strictly isochronous character of the primus Event across northwestern Europe. Furthermore, stratigraphical gaps in the Hoppenstedt succession are evaluated.     

The heterodont bivalve Maghrebella forgemoli (Coquand, 1862) from Cenomanian of Batna,northeastern Algeria: Palaeobiogeography,biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment

In the northern Aurès Range near Batna, Algeria, the Cenomanian Smail Marls Formation consists of fossiliferous deposits rich in diverse benthic macrofauna, mostly dominated by bivalves, among them the carditid Maghrebella forgemoli (Coquand, 1862). Almost exclusively Cenomanian, the abundance zone of Maghrebella forgemoli is in the higher levels of Lower Cenomanian, extending from the Sharpeiceras schlueteri zone to the Mantelliceras dixoni zone and corresponds to a limited circalittoral interval with relatively low energy, soft substrata, and relatively cold temperatures. The distribution of Maghrebella forgemoli in Mountains of Batna evidences bathymetric variation controlled by the tectonic activity affecting the ante-Triassic and the Upper Cretaceous substrata and generating a system of tilted blocks, at the beginning of the uppermost Albian-Cenomanian and Turonian, in the eastern Atlasic domain that extends to central Tunisia.     

Calibration of Early Cretaceous dinoflagellate zones from the NWS of Australia to the global time scale through calcareous nannofossils

Palynomorphs and nannofossils were examined from the Lower Cretaceous interval of the well North Scarborough-1, drilled on the Exmouth Plateau, North West Shelf of Australia. Integration of the chronostratigraphic information from both fossil groups revealed discrepancies in the age information with the nannofossils suggesting a younger age than dinoflagellate cysts. The nannofossil events have a stronger tie to the global time scale than the dinoflagellate zones which are mainly local. The direct comparison of nannofossil and dinoflagellate events in the same section allows for improved stratigraphic precision and a revised correlation of Australian dinoflagellate zonal ages to the global time scale, GTS12. Global nannofossil ages confirm a Barremian–late Hauterivian age for the Muderongia australis Zone, but the Systematophora areolata to Dissimulidinium lobispinosum Zones appear to be 1–2 my younger than previously estimated.     

Lower Aptian ammonite biostratigraphy and potential for further studies of OAE 1a in Bulgaria

Sediments of Early Aptian age in Bulgaria can be assigned to four different facies: platform carbonates (Urgonian complex), shallow-water siliciclastics, hemipelagic and flyschoid siliciclastics. The taxonomic analysis of the ammonite faunas of 18 sections from these four different facies resulted in a revision of the existing ammonite zonation scheme so far applied in Bulgaria and adjoining areas. A new biostratigraphic scheme, which bridges the western and eastern Tethys, is thereby proposed for the Lower Aptian of Bulgaria.The Upper Barremian Martelites sarasini Zone is characterized in its upper part by the Pseudocrioceras waagenoides Subzone in the shallow-water sections and by a horizon with Turkmeniceras turkmenicum in the deep-water settings. The Upper Barremian/Lower Aptian boundary is fixed by the first appearance of Paradeshayesites oglanlensis. For the Lower Aptian the following ammonite zones were established (from bottom to top): The Paradeshayesites oglanlensis Zone, the Deshayesites forbesi Zone (= formerly Paradeshayesites weissi Zone) including the Roloboceras hambrovi Subzone in the upper part, the Deshayesites deshayesi Zone including the Paradeshayesites grandis Subzone in the upper part and the Dufrenoyia furcata Zone. The Lower–Middle Aptian boundary has been defined by the appearance of species belonging to the genera Epicheloniceras and Colombiceras.The Lower Aptian ammonite faunas of Bulgaria, allow an interregional correlation with other areas of the Tethyan Realm. The presence of Turkmeniceras in the Upper Barremian enables a correlation with the Transcaspian region, whereas Roloboceras, Koeneniceras and Volgoceratoides found in the middle part of the Lower Aptian are more typical representatives of the ammonite faunas in northern Europe (England, Germany, Volga region).The analysis of the ammonite successions in combination with sedimentological observations enable us to conclude that the marls and marly limestones of the Lower Aptian studied here also cover the interval of the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. An interval of thin-laminated clays, rich in organic matter, was identified in the upper part of the D. forbesi Zone (Roloboceras hambrovi Subzone). This interval is characterized by a total lack of benthic faunas.     

Evolution of the Cretaceous calcareous nannofossil genus Eiffellithus and its biostratigraphic significance

The calcareous nannofossil genus Eiffellithus is an important taxon of mid- to Upper Cretaceous marine sediments in biostratigraphy and paleoceanography. The definition of species within Eiffellithus have been both broadly interpreted and variably applied by nannofossil workers. This is particularly true for the Eiffellithus eximius plexus. While the taxonomy of mid-Cretaceous Eiffellithus species has recently been well-defined, the remaining 35 m.y. history of the genus has not been closely examined. Our investigation of Cenomanian to Maastrichtian sediments from the Western Interior Seaway, Gulf of Mexico, and Western Atlantic gives rise to six new species of Eiffellithus that can be reliably differentiated. In this paper the hitherto used biostratigraphic markers (E. turriseiffelii and E. eximius) have been redefined in a more restricted sense to increase their utility. These refinements in taxonomy reveal an obvious shift in abundance both within the genus and within the nannofossil assemblage as a whole through the Late Cretaceous. In the Cenomanian and Maastrichtian the genus is composed exclusively of coccoliths bearing an X-shaped central cross, such as E. turriseiffelii, while in the Coniacian through Campanian axial-cross forms such as E. eximius comprise more than 60% of the genus. Within the nannofossil assemblage the genus has low abundances in the Cenomanian but increases to >15% of the assemblage in well-preserved samples in the Santonian. In addition, the pattern of diversification of this genus, whereby a x-shaped, diagonal cross repeatedly gives rise to an axial cross by rotation about the central axis, is an excellent example of iterative evolution that may be related to repetitive shifts in Late Cretaceous climatic and paleoceanographic regimes.     

Stratigraphy and sedimentation rates of Upper Cretaceous deep-water systems of the Rhenodanubian Group (Eastern Alps, Germany)

In the Bavarian Alps (Germany), west of the Isar River, the abyssal deposits of the Lower Barremian to Upper Campanian Rhenodanubian Group consist of siliciclastic and calcareous turbidites alternating with hemipelagic non-calcareous mudstones. The up to 1500-m-thick succession, deposited in the Penninic Basin to the south of the European Plate, is characterized by a low mean sedimentation rate (c. 25 mm kyr⁻¹) over 60 million years. Palaeocurrents and turbidite facies distribution patterns suggest that sedimentation occurred on a weakly inclined abyssal plain. The highest sedimentation rates (up to 240 mm kyr⁻¹) were associated with the calcareous mud turbidites of the newly defined Röthenbach Subgroup, which includes the Piesenkopf, Kalkgraben and Hällritz formations (Middle Coniacian to Middle Campanian). These calcareous turbidites prograded from the west, and interfinger towards the east with red hemipelagic claystone. A high sea level presumably favoured pelagic carbonate production and accumulation on the shelves and on internal platforms in the western part of the basin, whereas siliciclastic shelves with steep slope angles have bordered the eastern part of the basin, where a dearth of turbidite sedimentation and increased Cretaceous oceanic red beds deposition occurred. In contrast to the eustatically-induced Middle Coniacian to Lower Campanian Cretaceous oceanic red beds (calcareous nannoplankton zones CC14 to CC18), red hemipelagites of Early Cenomanian age (upper part of calcareous nannoplankton zone CC9) and early Late Campanian age (upper part of zone CC21 and zone CC22) are interpreted as the result of regional tectonic activity.     

Stratigraphy and ammonite fauna of the upper Shemshak Formation (Toarcian–Aalenian) at Tazareh,eastern Alborz,Iran

With a thickness of 3900 m, the Tazareh section is one of the thickest developments of the Shemshak Formation in the Alborz range. It overlies with sharp and disconformable contact the limestones and dolomites of the Lower–Middle Triassic Elikah Formation and is topped, again with a disconformable contact, by the marls and limestones of the Middle Jurassic Dalichai Formation. The nearly exclusively siliciclastic succession represents a range of environments, from fluvial channels, flood plains, swamps and lake systems to storm-dominated shelf, and a comparatively deep marine and partly dysoxic basin. The segment of the section between 2300 and 3500 m is exclusively marine and contains a moderately diverse ammonite fauna, ranging from the Middle Toarcian to the Upper Aalenian. The ammonite fauna comprises 21 taxa, among them the new genus Shahrudites with two new species, Shahrudites asseretoi and S. stoecklini from the Middle Aalenian Bradfordensis Zone. The other ammonites from the Shemshak Formation at Tazareh (as elsewhere in North and Central Iran) are exclusively Tethyan in character and closely related to faunas from western and central Europe. An ammonite-based correlation of Toarcian–Aalenian successions of the eastern Alborz with time-equivalent strata of the Lut Block, part of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent (ca. 500 km to the south), suggests a strong influence of synsedimentary tectonics during the deposition of the upper Shemshak Formation.     

Diachronisme des bassins turbiditiques d'avant-pays méso/néocrétacés du pays de Sault (Aude,Pyrénées françaises)

The cartographic, sedimentological and micropalaeontological analysis of remnants of Middle–Upper Cretaceous turbiditic basins from the ‘Pays de Sault’ (Aude, French Pyrenees) shows their diachronism (interpreted on a wider scale) and their sequence diversity. The ‘Gesse breccias’ are regarded as the proximal deposits of a Turonian narrow foreland basin, principally supplied by the erosion of the Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous cover of the High Primary Range to the south, induced by a strike-slip and overthrusting faulting within the en-échelon North-Pyrenean Fault Zone. More to the north, the North-Pyrenean ‘Axat Basin’ consists of two successive backstepping turbiditic wedges, respectively corresponding to an Upper Albian distal flysch and to a Middle–Upper Cenomanian more proximal flysch, all the series unconformably overlying structures that were folded then eroded before the Upper Albian. The previous concept of carbonate olistoliths included within the Axat Cenomanian flysch is also refuted: these large-size blocks are now interpreted as belonging to a tectonic slice destroyed and partly collapsed on the southern slope of the Rebenty Valley during the Quaternary. To cite this article: M.-J. Fondecave-Wallez, B. Peybernès, C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Jurassic-Cretaceous (Bathonian to Cenomanian) palynology and stratigraphy of the West Tiba-1 borehole,northern Western Desert,Egypt

Land-derived pollen and spores and marine dinoflagellate cysts were extracted from the Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments of the West Tiba-1 borehole, northern Western Desert, Egypt, On the basis of the recovered palynomorphs, of known stratigraphical significance, the following stages were assessed: Bathonian-Oxfordian (Middle-Late Jurassic) and Hauterivian, Aptian-Early Albian, Late Albian-Early Cenomanian, Early Cenomanian and Late Cenomanian (Early-Middle Cretaceous). No palynomorphs diagnostic for the Berriasian, Valanginian and Barremian stages (Early Cretaceous) were depicted. Based on the nature and composition of the identified palynomorph content, five informal palynomorph assemblage zones were recognised. These are: the Gonyaulacysta jurassica-Korystocysta kettonensis Assemblage Zone (PI, Bathonian-Oxfordian), Ephedripites-Aequitriradites verrucosus Assemblage Zone (PII, Hauterivian), Afropollis jardinus-Duplexisporites generalis-Tricolpites Assemblage Zone (PIIl, Aptian-Early Albian), Nyssapollenites-Elaterosporites Assemblage Zone (PIV, Late Albian-Early Cenomanian) and Assemblage Zone PV (Early-Late Cenomanian). The latter zone was differentiated into two subzones, namely the Classopollis brasiliensis-Elaterosporites klaszii Assemblage Subzone (PVa, Early Cenomanian) and Afropollis kahramanensis-Triporates Assemblage Subzone (PVb, Late Cenomanian). The time stratigraphy of the studied interval was revised. The occurrences and types of the dinoflagellate cysts, extracted from the studied succession, reflect a general shallow (shelf) marine pal˦oenvironment.     

Palynostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental significance of the Cretaceous succession in the Gebel Rissu-1 well,north Western Desert,Egypt

Palynological investigation of the Cretaceous Abu Roash, Bahariya, Kharita, Alamein, Alam El Bueib and Betty formations, encountered in the Gebel Rissu-1 well, north Western Desert, Egypt yielded 27 species of pteridophytic spores, 24 of gymnosperm pollen, 25 of angiosperm pollen and 11 of dinoflagellate cysts in addition to some acritarchs, foraminiferal test linings and freshwater algae. This enabled us to recognize five miospore biozones arranged from youngest to oldest as: Classopollis brasiliensis–Afropollis cf. kahramanensis–Dichastopollenites ghazalataensis Assemblage Zone (Late Cenomanian); Elaterosporites klaszii–Sofrepites legouxae–Afropollis jardinus Assemblage Zone (Middle/Late Albian–Early Cenomanian); Pennipollis peroreticulatus–Duplexisporites generalis-Tricolpates Assemblage Zone (Early Aptian–Early Albian); Tucanopollis crisopolensis–Afropollis sp. Assemblage Zone (Barremian) and Appendicisporites cf. tricornitatus–Ephedripites spp. Assemblage Zone (Late Neocomian).The Early Cretaceous Kharita, Alam El Bueib and the Betty formations encountered in the Gebel Rissu-1 well are interpreted to indicate oxic proximal and distal shelf deposits, characterized by type III/IV, V kerogen, which is gas prone but having little potential to produce hydrocarbons. The Upper Cretaceous Abu Roash and Bahariya formations are characterized by a distal suboxic–anoxic and marginal dysoxic–anoxic environment, and their kerogen type III/II indicates gas/oil prone nature. The Bahariya and Kharita Albian–Cenomanian sediments in the present study witnessed the onset of a semi-arid to arid climate, with local or seasonal humid conditions, based on the continuous high abundance of the elaterates pollen and Afropollis-producing plants that inhabited the paleotropical humid coastal plains.     

Conodont Biostratigraphy and Age Determination of the Lower–Middle Triassic Boundary in South Guizhou Province, China

The demarcation of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is a disputed problem in global stratigraphic research. Lower–Middle Triassic strata of different types, from platform to basin facies, are well developed in Southwest China. This is favorable for the study of the Olenekian–Anisian boundary and establishing a stratotype for the Qingyan Stage. Based on research at the Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county and the Qingyan section in Guiyang city, Guizhou province, six conodont zones have been recognized, which can be correlated with those in other regions, in ascending order as follows: 1, Neospathodus cristagalli Interval-Zone; 2, Neospathodus pakistanensis Interval-Zone; 3, Neospathodus waageni Interval-Zone; 4, Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Assemblage-Zone; 5, Chiosella timorensis Interval-Zone; and 6, Neogongdolella regalis Range-Zone. An evolutionary series of the Early–Middle Triassic conodont genera Neospathodus-Chiosella-Neogongdolella discovered in the Ganheqiao and Qingyan sections has an intermediate type named Neospathodus qingyanensis that appears between Neospathodus homeri and Chiosella timorensis in the upper part of the Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Zone, showing an excellent evolutionary relationship of conodonts near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is located at 1.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Qingyan section, whereas this boundary is located 0.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Ganheqiao section. There exists one nearly 6-m thick vitric tuff bed at the bottom of the Xinyuan Formation in the Ganheqiao section, which is usually regarded as a lithologic symbol of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary in South China. Based on the analysis of high-precision and high-sensitivity Secondary Ion Mass Spectrum data, the zircon age of this tuff has a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 239.0±2.9Ma (2s), which is a directly measured zircon U-Pb age of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county can therefore provide an excellent section through the Lower–Middle Triassic because it is continuous, the evolution of the conodonts is distinctive and the regionally stable distributed vitric tuff near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary can be regarded as a regional key isochronal layer. This section can be regarded not only as a standard section for the establishment of the Qingyan Stage in China, but also as a reference section for the GSSP of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary.     

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the marine Oligocene and Miocene succession in some wells in Northern Egypt

Twelve calcareous nannofossil biozones of Late Oligocene-Late Miocene in Northern Egypt were defined and correlated with their corresponding biozones in Egypt and other parts of the world. These are arranged from the top to base as Zone NN12, Zone NN11, Zone NN10, Zone NN8, Zone NN7, Zone NN6 Zone NN5, NN4, Zone NN3, Zone NN2 Zone NP25 and Zone NP24. In the present study (Boughaz-1 Well), the Late Miocene unconformably overlies the Middle Miocene. This unconformity surface is recognized by the missing of calcareous nannofossil zones NN7 to NN9. While, in North Sinai (Malha-1 Well), the Early/Middle Miocene boundary cannot be recognized, where the Middle Miocene unconformably overlies the topmost Oligocene, and it is defined by the missing calcareous nannofossil zones NN1 to NN4.     

Upper Maastrichtian ammonite biostratigraphy of the Gulf Coastal Plain (Mississippi Embayment,southern USA)

The Cretaceous outcrop belt of the Mississippi Embayment in the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP) spans the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. A detailed reconstruction of this time interval is critical for understanding the nature of biotic and environmental changes preceding the end-Cretaceous Mass Extinction event and for deciphering the likely extinction mechanism (i.e., bolide impact versus volcanism). Eight sections encompassing the K/Pg succession across the Mississippi Embayment were analyzed using biostratigraphic sampling of ammonites, dinoflagellates, and nannofossils. An upper Maastrichtian ammonite zonation is proposed as follows, from oldest to youngest: Discoscaphites conradi Zone, D. minardi Zone, and D. iris Zone. Our study documents that the ammonite zonation established in the Atlantic Coastal Plain (ACP) extends to the GCP. This zonation is integrated with nannofossil and dinoflagellate biostratigraphy to provide a framework to more accurately determine the age relationships in this region. We demonstrate that ammonites and dinoflagellates are more reliable stratigraphic indicators in this area than nannofossils because age-diagnostic nannofossils are not consistently present within the upper Maastrichtian in the GCP. This biostratigraphic framework has the potential to become a useful tool for correlation of strata both within the GCP and between the GCP, Western Interior, and ACP. The presence of the uppermost Maastrichtian ammonite D. iris, calcareous nannofossil Micula prinsii, and dinoflagellates Palynodinium grallator and Disphaerogena carposphaeropsis suggests that the K/Pg succession in the GCP is nearly complete. Consequently, the GCP is an excellent setting for investigating fine scale temporal changes across the K/Pg boundary and ultimately elucidating the mechanisms causing extinction.     

Cenomanian–Turonian carbonate platform deposits in west central Jordan

We studied upper Albian to Turonian shallow-marine shelf deposits (Ajlun Group) of west central Jordan along a NNE-SSW running transect. The carbonate-dominated succession includes few siliciclastic intercalations, claystones and shales, and can be subdivided into five formations. The Naur, Fuheis and Hummar Formations of upper Albian to upper Cenomanian age represent shallow subtidal to supratidal platform environments. The uppermost Cenomanian to middle Turonian Shueib Formation includes deeper water deposits of the inner/mid-shelf and locally TOC-rich black shales. Shallow-marine platform environments once again dominate the Wadi As Sir Formation (middle-upper Turonian). A new multibiostratigraphic framework is based on ammonites (mainly of the middle Cenomanian rhotomagense Zone to the middle Turonian woollgari Zone) and calcareous nannofossils (biozones CC 9–CC 11), supplemented by benthic and planktonic foraminifers and ostracods. It forms the base of a sequence stratigraphic subdivision, containing eight sedimentary sequences (S1–S8), which are separated by four Cenomanian sequence boundaries (CeJo1–CeJo4) and three Turonian sequence boundaries (TuJo1–TuJo3). This scheme allows the correlation of the platform succession from distal to proximal shelf areas in contrast to previous correlations using lithologic units. Furthermore, comparisons between the platform successions and sequence patterns of west central Jordan and those from neighbouring areas allow to differentiate local, regional, and global controlling factors of platform development within the study area.     

Early Cenomanian cephalopods from the Grayson Formation of north-central Texas

Twenty-seven species of cephalopods are identified from an exposure of the Grayson Formation, Washita Group at the Waco Dam Spillway, McLennan County, north-central Texas. Mariella (Mariella) camachoensis (Böse), (?)Stomohamites sp., Engonoceras serpentinum (Cragin), Puzosia cf. crebrisulcata Kossmat, Mantelliceras cf. cantianum Spath, Mantelliceras saxbii (Sharpe), Sharpeiceras mexicanum (Böse), (?)Paracalycoceras sp., and Neohibolites sp. are reported from the Grayson Formation for the first time. The occurrence of Mantelliceras cf. cantianum, Mantelliceras saxbii, Sharpeiceras mexicanum, and (?)Paracalycoceras sp. indicates an early Cenomanian age for the Grayson exposed at the Waco Spillway locality. Previously, these mantellicerid ammonites have been recorded from the Buda Limestone interval which overlies the Grayson in north-central Texas.     

Tectonic and eustatic control on a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate platform during the Late Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian (La Rochelle platform,western France)

Boreal and Tethyan realms of Western Europe present significant sedimentological, paleontological, and stratigraphic differences. The purpose of this study is to constrain regional versus global controls on the dynamics of a sedimentary system located at the interface of these two realms in order to better understand the origin of their differences. Detailed sedimentological, palynofacies and calcareous nannofossil analyses were performed on two sections from the La Rochelle platform (western France). The Pas section includes part of the Late Oxfordian and Early Kimmeridgian, and the Rocher d'Yves section is assigned to the Late Kimmeridgian. They correspond to monotonous marl–argillaceous limestone alternations. Limestones are essentially mudstones with echinoderms, bivalves and foraminifera that suggest low-energy, open-marine conditions. Highly bioclastic and/or peloidal deposits occur commonly, and show wackestones to wacke-pack-grainstones textures. These deposits indicate frequent high-energy events, and are interpreted as storm deposits. Marls dominate in the most proximal depositional environments, while calcareous deposits are more important in more distal environments. The Rocher d'Yves section is globally more marly than the Pas section, suggesting a more proximal setting. Palynofacies are dominated by woody particles, suggesting shallow-water, proximal depositional environments. Calcareous nannofossils are ascidian spicules, coccoliths, and schizospheres. Watznaueria britannica dominate calcareous nannofossil assemblages in the Pas section. The Rocher d'Yves assemblages are quasi-exclusively composed of Cyclagelosphaera margerelii, and indicate more proximal paleoenvironments than those of the Pas section. Different orders of depositional sequences are defined, with sequence boundaries corresponding to the most rapid relative sea-level falls. They are hierarchically stacked, and correlate, on the basis of ammonite zones, with the sequences of contemporaneous sections from Tethyan and boreal realms. The stacking pattern of these sequences suggests an orbital control on sedimentation. Small-, medium- and large-scale sequences correspond to precession (20 ky) cycles and to 100 ky and 400 ky eccentricity cycles, respectively. The elementary sequences have durations shorter than 20 ky. The Kimmeridgian was a period of global sea-level rise that ended in the Late Kimmeridgian. More proximal depositional environments in the Rocher d'Yves section (Late Kimmeridgian) than in the Pas section (Early Kimmeridgian) imply a progradation of the La Rochelle platform during the Kimmeridgian. This progradation resulted from a slowdown of the subsidence in the Aquitaine Basin during the Kimmeridgian, corresponding to the first steps of Atlantic Ocean opening. High-frequency cycles on the La Rochelle platform formed in sync with Milankovitch orbital cycles, while tectonics controlled the formation of the low-frequency cycles.     

Lamniform sharks from the Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Venezuela

Sampling of Cenomanian fossil-rich horizons within the La Luna Formation of two localities in the Zulia and Trujillo states (northern Venezuela) yielded numerous shark teeth belonging to various species within the order Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks). Twelve lamniform species were identified including three new species (Squalicorax lalunaensis sp. nov., Squalicorax moodyi sp. nov., Acutalamna karsteni gen. et sp. nov.) and the genus Microcarcharias gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate with the peculiar morphology of the small-sized odontaspidid M. saskatchewanensis. Other taxa reported here include Cretoxyrhina mantelli, Cretolamna sp., cf. Nanocorax sp. and five Squalicorax species left in open nomenclature. This is the first report of chondrichthyans from the mid-Cretaceous of Venezuela and one of the few records of this group from the Cenomanian of South America. The composition of these assemblages suggests some degree of endemism in the La Luna Sea but also possible connexions with the Western Interior Seaway. One of the most striking features of these assemblages is the high anacoracid diversity (eight species) despite the corresponding outer shelf/upper slope palaeoenvironments of the La Luna Formation. The high diversity of these opportunistic predators is probably related to the high diversity of medium to large marine vertebrates that provided food resources.     

New Alveolinoidea (Foraminifera) from the Cenomanian of Oman

The first alveolinoidean appearing in the Cenomanian Natih Formation of Oman (Adam foothills and southern edge of Jabal Akhdar) are studied in detail. Morphological analysis results in the creation of one new family, Myriastylidae, two new genera, Myriastyla and Alveocella, and four new species, M. omanensis, M. grelaudae, A. wernliana, and Cisalveolina nakharensis. These four new taxa have a short stratigraphic extension restricted to the uppermost part of Natih E unit and are dated early middle Cenomanian by neighboring foraminifers and ammonite levels.