Late Carboniferous lycopsids of the Karantrav locality (the Southern Urals)

Numerous plant remains as the imprints of lycopsid strobili and stems and the sporadic imprints of articulate stems were first found in the Upper Carboniferous deposits from the Western Slope of the Southern Urals (Karantrav Settlement area). The brief stratigraphic characteristic of the studied locality is given. The studied plant assemblage is represented by Lepidodendron ophiurus Brongniart, L. vaselgense Anikeeva et O. Orlova, sp. nov., Lepidodendron sp., Lepidostrobus tevelevii O. Orlova, Mamontov et Anikeeva, sp. nov., L. ronnaensis Bek et Oplustil, Knorria sp., Calamites sp., and Mesocalamites ramifer (Stur) Hirmer. In-situ microspores of the Lycospora type were discovered in the sporangia of some strobili of the genus Lepidostrobus. Four lycopsid species (two are new) were described.     

Lower Bathonian Belemnites and Biostratigraphy of the Central and Southern Parts of the East European Platform: Part 1. Megateuthididae

Belemnites from the lower Bathonian of the Russian Plate are revised on the basis of the study of two reference sections—Pletnyovka and Sokur quarries. The first part of the study deals with the members of the family Megateuthididae. They include eight species of the genus Barskovisella gen. nov., neoendemic to the territory of the Russian Plate and originating from high Boreal taxa—species of the genus Paramegateuthis Gustomesov, 1960, which immigrated to the Middle Russian Sea in the early Bathonian via a short-lived meridional strait. The new genus includes six new species described in the present paper—Barskovisella pseudoishmensis sp. nov., B. issae sp. nov., B. variabilis sp. nov., B. barskovi sp. nov., B. gracilis sp. nov., and B. renegata sp. nov. The beds with Barskovisella, a new belemnite-based unit, corresponding to the Oraniceras besnosovi ammonite zone and including four successive phylogenetic biohorizons well comparable in resolution with ammonite-based infrazonal subdivisions, are introduced.     

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.     

Marine Early Bajocian Deposits of the Lower Volga Region (Volgograd Region) and Their Belemnite-Based Stratigraphy

A representative early Bajocian belemnite assemblage containing four genera and 11 species (two identified in open nomenclature and five new: Eocylindroteuthis weisi sp. nov., E. mariottii sp. nov., E. yarkovi sp. nov., Homaloteuthis volgogradensis sp. nov., and Hastites orphana sp. nov.) is described from a section near the Dubovoi hamlet in the Greater Don Bend area (southern termination of the Don-Medveditsa dislocations). Some members of this assemblage were previously known from the Caucasus; however, it is possible to state the discovery of a Euroboreal belemnite fauna completely new for Russia, previously described only from Central Europe and almost unknown for Eastern Europe. The age of the studied assemblage collected from the lower part of the section, traditionally considered to be Upper Bajocian, corresponds to the Laeviuscula ammonite Chronozone and is the first reliable evidence of marine settings in the Volga Region for the early Bajocian. Two new biostratigraphic units, Beds with Eocylindroteuthis weisi and Beds with H. orphana, are introduced. The former, judging from the occurrences of its characteristic species in Western Europe, has a broad correlative potential. On the basis of datings obtained, the scheme of the formational subdivision of the Middle Jurassic of the Volga Region near Volgograd is revised, and the formerly abandoned Bakhtemir Formation is reinstated as a valid unit. Its total range is reestablished as corresponding to the upper part of the Discites (?)/Laeviuscula Chronozone (lower Bajocian)–Garantiana Chronozone (upper Bajocian).     

Ammonites and Stratigraphy of the Terminal Part of the Middle Volgian Substage (Upper Jurassic; Epivirgatites nikitini Zone and Its Equivalents) of the Panboreal Realm: 2. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Titanites</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glaucolithites</Emphasis>

The genera Titanites and Glaucolithites, which were previously known only from the Portlandian of Northwestern Europe are now established in Epivirgatites nikitini Zone of European Russia. The Volgian species of Titanites are represented by both the endemic taxa Titanites (Paratitanites) manipulocostatus subgen. et sp. nov. and T. (Pseudogalbanites) triceps subgen. et sp. nov. and Titanites (Titanites) ex gr. titan Buckman of the Portland type. A new species Glaucolithites gardarikensis is described. It is likely that these ammonites migrated to the Central Russian Sea from northwestern Europe via the Norway-Greenland seaway and further to the Mezen-Pechora system of straits, which is supported by occurrences of Titanites in the north of Central Russia and Glaucolithites in East Greenland and on Spitsbergen. The direct and indirect correlations show that the middle part of the Nikitini Zone (Lahuseni Subzone) should at least partly be correlated with the Portlandian Kerbeus Zone.     

Campanian-Lower Paleogene gastropods from the Kharga Oasis,south Western Desert,Egypt

The Campanian-Lower Paleogene successions exposed at the Kharga Oasis contain well-preserved gastropods. Nineteen gastropod species are identified and described in detail. Two new species are established: Gisortia khargaensis from the lower Eocene El Rufuf Formation and Ornopsis? barisensis from the lower Paleocene Kurkur Formation. In addition to, Turritella (Torquesia) derbesi Coquand is recorded herein for the first time from Egypt. The studied gastropods belonging to four clades: Sorbeoconcha (Metacerithium abictiforme (Wanner), Mesalia hofana Mayer-Eymar, Mesalia sp., Turritella (Torquesia) derbesi Coquand, Turritella (Torquesia) forgemoli Coquand, Turritella kaserensis Hewaidy and Azab, Turritella sp.), Littorinimorpha (Cypraedia bullina Oppenheim, Gisortia khargaensis nov. sp., Natica farafrensis Wanner, Aporrhais schweinfurthi (Quaas), Drepanocheilus bicarinatus Abbass, Drepanocheilus? sp., Anchura? unicarinatus (Abbass), Epitonium sp.), Neogastropoda (Ornopsis? barisensis nov. sp., Rostellana daniensis (Quaas), Vouta sp.), and Heterobranchia (Avellana cretacea Quaas).     

Foraminiferal evidence of basin submergence in part of Sundarban mangrove delta,India

Sundarban is a largest mangrove forest delta developed along the NE-SW direction covering parts of India and Bangladesh. Little work has been done on Indian part of Sundarban in respect of heterogeneity in channel morphology which could be mostly due to the effect of tilting and basin subsidence. These changes might have played a major role on development of high marshes, which offers a congenial environment for survival of Haplophragmoides wilberti, Jadammina macrescens, Trochammina inflata, and Miliammina fusca. These marsh benthonic foraminiferal assemblages provide a direct evidence of recent past sea level changes. To establish the depositional pattern and their effects rendered by merciless changing environment, 11 pit sections have been excavated along three E-W transects from Indian Sundarban. Depth of these pit sections varies from 2 to 3 m. Generally, top 20 cm sediment (in pit section W-1 to W-11) deposited under the intertidal environment, as indicated by the presence of Ammonia tepida. However, sediment below 20 cm in some of the pit sections (W-3 and W-5) exhibits fresh water signatures as indicated by the presence of Charophytes algae. In other pit sections (W-1, W-2, W-6, W-7, W-8, W-9 and W-11), the intertidal assemblage is noticed just above the upper marshes assemblage and vice versa, signifying that depositional environment is in proximity to the mangrove dominated area as indicated by the presence of marsh benthonic foraminiferal assemblage containing T. inflata, H. wilberti, Haplophragmoides sp., J. macrescens and M. fusca. Bottom sediment in most of the pit sections from south to north have different depositional environment with alternate presence of intertidal to subtidal faunal assemblages. The peculiar presence of intertidal assemblage above the upper marshes assemblages in recent sediment points towards the theory of submergence due to relative rise in the sea level. But the effect of relative sea level rise is not uniform throughout the area because of differential subsidence due to varied rate of sediment supply (0.5 to 3.3 cm/year) and eastward tilting of the basin. Based on the upper marshes benthonic foraminiferal assemblage and radiocarbon age (in W-1 at 100 cm ~?150 years age), the average subsidence rate as recorded is approximately 0.3 to 0.5 cm/year. Hence, such depositional sequence conjectures that the Indian part of Sundarban is undergoing a phase of submergence concomitant to basin subsidence.     

Early Triassic palynomorphs from Kuraloi Block,Belphar area,Ib-River coalfield,Mahanadi basin,Odisha

A rich assemblage of palynomorphs including miospores and megaspores has been recorded from the bore core no. IBKAN-2 drilled at a depth of 17.80m in Kuraloi Block-A, south-west part of the Ib-River Coalfield, Jharsuguda district, Odisha. The miofloral assemblage recovered shows prominence of cingulate, zonate, taeniate, non-striate and non saccate palynotaxa which indicate an early Triassic age and is comparable with the palynoassemblages of the same age known from the Damodar basin, India. The megaspore assemblage includes eight genera and fifteen species namely, Banksisporites karanpuraensis, B. indicus, B. utkalensis, Banksisporites sp., Barakarella pantii, Barakarella sp., Biharisporites spinosus, Biharisporites sp., Erlansonisporites triassicus, Erlansonisporites cf. erlansonii, Erlansonisporites sp. Jhariatriletes sp., Singhisporites sp., Ramispinatispora sp. and Talchirella trivedii. Records of megaspores are sparse in the early Triassic of Gondwana basins of India. The present study records the first occurrence of miospores and megaspores from the early Triassic of Mahanadi basin besides substantiating the earlier data.     

Conodont-based stratigraphy of the Mosolovian Regional Stage (Eifelian,Middle Devonian) of the Voronezh Anteclise

Conodonts from the deposits of the Mosolovian Regional Stage (Middle Devonian) of the Voronezh Anteclise are studied on the basis of the data from six boreholes. Three assemblages are recognized. The index species of the lowermost assemblage is Icriodus formosus Naz. The index species of the middle assemblage are I. formosus Naz. and Pseudobipennatus ziegleri Kon. et Kim, as well as I. arkonensis Stauff. and I. jejunus Naz. This assemblage is the most diverse and is recognized in all boreholes. The deposits containing this assemblage correspond to the maximum of the Nara transgression. The upper assemblage is also recognized in all the studied boreholes. Its index species is Ps. ziegleri Kon. et Kim. The Mosolovian Regional Stage is assigned to the kockelianus Zone. The distribution diagrams of species in the most diverse middle assemblage support the hypothesis that, in the southeastern regions of the Voronezh anteclise, the depth was greater than in its western part. The characteristic conodont species are shown in the plates.     

Ammonite assemblages from basal layers of the Ryazanian Stage (Lower Cretaceous) of Central Russia

Five successive ammonite assemblages are distinguished in the basal part (Riasanites rjasanensis Zone s. l.) of the Ryazanian Stage of the East European platform. These are (from the base upward) (1) Hectoroceras tolijense; (2) Hectoroceras kochi; (3) Riasanites swistowianus; (4) Riasanites rjasanensis; and (5) Transcaspiites transfigurabilis assemblages. Two lower assemblages consist entirely of boreal taxa, which occur in association with diverse ammonites of the Tethyan origin higher in the section. The data obtained show that three upper assemblages are correlative with the Berriasian Dalmasiceras tauricum, Riasanites rjasanensis-Spiticeras cautleyi, and Euthymiceras euthymi subzones of the northern Caucasus. The succession of five–six ammonite assemblages established in the East European platform above the top of the Craspedites nodiger Zone may correspond to the same number of ammonite assemblages characterizing lower subzones of the standard Berriasian. Berriasella rulevae Mitta, sp. nov. from the upper part of the Riasanites rjasanensis Zone (transfigurabilis biohorizon) is described.     

Age and palynological characteristic of the Dongning Formation (Eastern Heilongjiang,China)

The taxonomic composition of the palynological assemblage of the Dongning Formation is supplemented. The palynological assemblage corresponds to those from the Lipovtsy Formation (Aptian) in the Razdolnaya Basin of Primorye (Russia) and the Muling Formation (Aptian) in the Jixi Basin of eastern Heilongjiang (China). It is found that the age of the Dongning Formation is Aptian. The palynological assemblage is characterized by dominance of spores of Gleicheniaceae; they are accompanied by spores of Cyatheaceae. The most important feature of the palynological assemblage of the Dongning Formation is the presence of angiosperm pollen (Tricolpites sp., T. micromunus, T. vulgaris, Retitricolpites georgiensis, R. vulgaris, Clavatipollenites hughesii, Quercites sparsus, Fraxiniopollenites variabilis).     

The Bajocian–Bathonian plant fossil from the Hojedk formation,Lenjan section,Kerman, Iran

The Jurassic successions represent a wide distribution in North of the Kerman province. These successions include Ab-Haji, Badamu, and Hojedk formations. The Hojedk Formation contains the plant fossils. The Lenjan section is one of the suitable areas for paleontological studies on the Hojedk Formation. The study section is mostly composed of green sandstone and shale with several interbedded coal veins with different thicknesses. The thickness of the Hojedk Formation is about 200 m in the Lenjan section. In this study, seven genera and 13 species of macro plant fossils were identified and described, including Nilssonia undulata, Nilssonia bozorga, Nilssonia berriesi, Nilssonia sp., Klukia cf. exilis, Klukia exilis, Cladophlebis antarctica, Coniopteris lobata, Coniopteris murrayana, Elatocladus confertus, Podozamites sp., Equisetites sp., and Coniopteris sp. The Bajocian–Bathonian can be attributed to the Lenjan section based on the recognized flora.     

The Yakutosirenites armiger Ammonoid Zone of Northeast Asia as a Reference Level of the Boreal-Tethyan Correlation of the Lower Carnian

Problems of the Boreal-Tethyan correlation of the lower Carnian and their potential solutions are discussed. The composition and distribution of ammonoids in the most representative sections of the upper part of the lower Carnian Substage in Northeast Asia, including the northern Okhotsk Region, northern Verkhoyansk Region, and the central part of Kotelnyi Island, are considered. For the first time, the Yakutosirenites armiger ammonoid zone is paleontologically substantiated, and its boundaries in the lower Carnian section in the basin of the Tikhaya River of Kotelnyi Island are defined. The composition of the ammonoid assemblage of the armiger Zone in the studied region is emended and supplemented. It contains, along with the local ammonoid taxa (Yakutosirenites armiger (Vozin), Arctophyllites okhotensis Konstantinov) and rare exotic species of southern origin (Siberioklipsteinia dagysi Konstantinov), the cosmopolitan genus Sirenites. The history of the study and the morphology of the genus Sirenites are considered, and data on its stratigraphic and geographic distribution are summarized. The presence of Sirenites senticosus (Dittmar) and S. ovinus Tozer in the ammonoid assemblage of the armiger Zone of Northeast Asia enables its direct correlation with Tethyan sections, i.e., with the Austrotrachyceras obesum and Sirenites nanseni zones of British Columbia and with the Austrotrachyceras austriacum Zone of the Alpian scale and their equivalents, widespread in many Tethyan regions. This makes it possible to consider the armiger Zone of Northeast Asia as a reference level of the Boreal-Tethyan correlation of the lower Carnian.     

The biostratigraphic and paleoecological importance of the subsurface Carboniferous microfossil assemblages from Faghur-1x well,Western Desert of Egypt

The microfossil assemblages of subsurface Carboniferous rocks from Faghur-1x were examined and identified. Their biostratigraphical and paleoenvironmental importance were investigated. The assemblage included well-preserved foraminifera like Omphalotis omphalota, Omphalotis sp. 2, Omphalotis sp. 3, Paraarchaediscus stilus, Paraarchaediscus koktjubensis, Archaediscus krestovnikovi, Archaediscus complanatus, Archaediscus inflatus, Archaediscus karreri, Diplosphearina inequalis, Eotubertina sp., Tetrataxis conica, Cribrostomum lecomptei, Palaeotextularia angulata, and Palaeotextularia longiseptata. This foraminiferal association indicates the late Viséan-early Serpukhovian. The other microfossils are gastropods, brachiopods, ostracods, crinoidal ossicles, frond-like fenestrate bryozoan types and stick-like colonies, echinoderms, microproblematica like Draffania biloba and algal Calcisphaera and the dasyclad Koninckopora. This microfossils assemblage points to the deposition in a restricted to open platform in a lagoonal framework environment. The Tehenu Basin is the eastern segment of northern African Sahara basins that provided refuge for the foraminiferal genera through the mass extinction events during the glacial Viséan-Serpukhovian times. However, its foraminiferal associations have lower diversities than the western basins, which indicate that it was more readily affected by the mass extinction event.     

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.     

Gymnospermes s.l. du Jurassique supérieur du massif Manamana,Sud-Ouest de Madagascar: une nouvelle paléoflore gondwanienne

Fossil plants from Upper Jurassic sediments belonging to the Gymnosperms s.l. have been studied in the Manamana massif from the southwestern part of Madagascar. The levels are Upper Oxfordian in age on the basis of the palaeontological content, especially with ammonites. The majority of fossil plants are devoided of organic matter but in some cases collodion peels have been made to present epidermal characters. The cuticle of Brachyphyllum madagascariense nov. sp. has been observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM). This new flora is constituted by Pteridospermales and Coniferales. Fragmentary fronds of Pteridospermales have been collected of Pachypteris sp. A and Pachypteris sp. B. Some epidermal characters are described. Coniferales are represented by leafy stems. The diagnosis of Brachyphyllum madagascariense nov. sp. is given with morphological and epidermal characters. Others conifers have been determined: Brachyphyllum sp. A, Brachyphyllum sp. B, Elatocladus sp., Cupressinocladus sp., Cyparissidium sp.. Araucarites sp. remains are probably isolated fertile scales of a female cone. Complete cones of Conites sp. are also present.Comparisons of the systematic composition are made with other Gondwana floras of the same age from Antarctica, South America, Madagascar, India, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. This flora shows xerophytic adaptations. With the Filicales described by Appert (1973a, b) from the same localities, it is now the most diverse flora from the Upper Jurassic of Madagascar, despite the lack of Cycadales, Bennettitales and Angiosperms.     

Finds of Ediacaran-type fossils in Vendian deposits of the Yudoma Group,Eastern Siberia

It has been established that terrigenous units of mainly carbonate deposits of the Yudoma Group in the Uchur–Maya Region of the Siberian Platform contain an assemblage of Late Vendian Ediacaran-type macrofossils. The assemblage contains species such as Aspidella terranovica, Beltanelliformis brunsae, Nenoxites curvus, and Palaeopascichnus sp., which had widespread geographic distribution. Finds of Ediacaran fossils in fossil-rich deposits of the Yudoma Group have expanded the possibilities of using the classic biostratigraphic approach applied for subdivision and global correlation of carbonate deposits in Late Precambrian paleobasins.     

Paleogene biostratigraphy of the North Circum-Caspian region (implication of the dinocysts and nannoplankton from the Novouzensk reference borehole), Part 1: Age substantiation and correlation of deposits

Eight zonal dinocyst assemblages and three bio stratigraphic units ranked as “beds with flora” are first distinguished in the Danian—lower Lutetian interval of the Paleogene succession, penetrated by the reference borehole Novousensk no. 1, where eight standard and one local nannoplankton zones are simultaneously recognized. The direct correlation of nannoplankton and dinocyst zones is used to refine the paleon-tological substantiation and stratigraphic position of regional lithostratigraphic units, ranges of hiatuses, and the correlation with the general stratigraphie scale. The nannoplankton of the Danian NP2 Cruciplacolithus tenuis and NP3 Chiasmolithus danicus zones is characteristic of the Algai Formation (Fm). The nannoplankton of the NP4 Coccolithus robustus Zone and dinocysts of the D3a Alterbidinium circulum Zone from the Tsyganovo Fm characterizes the Danian top. The Lower Syzran Subformation (Subfm) corresponds to the upper part of the NP4 Coccolithus robustus Zone (Neochiastizygus junctus local zone) and to the D3b (part) Cerodinium depressum Zone of the Selandian dinocysts. The latter spans part of the Upper Syzran Subformation, whose characteristic nannofossils are the nannoplankton of the NP5 Fasciculithus tympaniformis Zone and the dinocysts of the D3b (part) Isabelidinium? viborgense Zone of the Selandian. The Novouzensk Fm is represented by a succession of the dinocyst Cerodinium markovae Beds and the standard D4c Apectodinium hyperacanthum Zone of the upper Thanetian. The coccolitophorids of the lower Thanetian NP6 Heliolithus kleinpelli Zone occur at the formation base. The Bostandyk Fm includes successive bio stratigraphie units of the Ypresian. In the dinocyst scale, these are the D5a Apectodinium augustum Zone, the Pterospermella Beds (DEla Zone of the North Sea scale), and zones DBlb-c Deflandrea oebisfeldensis, D7c Dracodinium varielon-gitudum, and D8 Dracodinium politum—Charlesdowniea coleothrypta, while units of the nannoplankton scale correspond to the NP12 Martasterites tribrachiatus and NP13 Discoaster lodoensis zones. The Kopterek Fm yields Lutetian nannofossils: the nannoplankton of the NP14 Discoaster sublodoensis Zone and the dinocysts of the Wetzeliella coronata—Areosphaeridium diktyoplokum Beds. Three meaningful hiatuses are established at the Danian base, Selandian top, and in the lower Ypresian.     

Some Calloporid (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) species from the Cenozoic sediments of western Kachchh,Gujarat

Seven species of Calloporid (family Calloporidae Norman, 1903) Bryozoa are described from the Cenozoic sediments of the western Kachchh, Gujarat, India. Among these Planicellaria walsariensis, Dionella sp., Pyriporella charopadiensis, P. vadsariensis and Wilbertopora sp. are new and the other species viz; Crassimarginatella blandfordi and Reptoporina chhasraensis are reported for the second time from these sediments. The phylogenetic analysis suggests all the species of Calloporid bryozoans are monophyletic i.e. all of these species have common ancestor.