The upper Bajocian-Lower Bathonian of Pechora River basin and Boreal-Tethyan correlation

Distribution of ammonites in the Bajocian-Bathonian boundary beds of the Izhma River basin is considered. A new scheme of zonal subdivisions suggested for the Pechora basin includes the Arctocephalites arcticus Zone of the upper Bajocian and the Arctocephalites greenlandicus-Arcticoceras ishmae Zone of the lower Bathonian. The Dreshchanka Formation age (late Bajocian-early Bathonian) and the commencement time of the Boreal sea transgression (Late Bajocian) are specified. Correlation of the Bajocian-Bathonian boundary strata of the northern Caucasus, central and northern Russia with stratigraphic scales of Western Europe and East Greenland are discussed. New infrazonal subdivisions, i.e., the faunal horizons, are described. As is shown, the parkinsoni-zigzag zonal boundary accepted to be the Bajocian-Bathonian boundary in standard scale corresponds to boundaries separating the michalskii and besnosovi zones in the Lower Volga region and the arcticus and greenlandicus zones in the Boreal areas.     

Palaeobiogeographic implications of Late Bajocian-Late Callovian (Middle Jurassic) dinoflagellate cysts from the Central Alborz Mountains, northern Iran

The Dalichai Formation with an age of Late Bajocian-Late Callovian was sampled in Central Alborz Mountains of northern Iran and studied for palynological, palaeobiogeographical and palynocorrelation purposes. Palynological studies revealed diverse and well-preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and lead to identification of three zones i.e., Cribroperidiniumcrispum (Late Bajocian), Dichadogonyaulaxsellwoodii (Bathonian to Early Callovian) and Ctenidodiniumcontinuum (Early to Middle Callovian) Zones. Subzone a of the D. sellwoodii Zone (Early to Middle Bathonian) was also differentiated. This biozonation corresponds to those recognised in Northwest Europe. Furthermore, the ammonoid families recorded including Phylloceratidae, Oppeliidae, Reineckeiidae, Perisphinctidae, Haploceratidae, Parkinsoniidae and Sphaeroceratidae, which confirm the Late Bajocian to Late Callovian age, are quite similar to those of Northwest Europe and the northwestern Tethys. The close similarities of the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and ammonite fauna of northern Iran with those of Northwest Europe and the northwestern Tethys during the Middle Jurassic indicate direct but episodic marine connection and faunal exchange between the two areas.     

吐鲁番拗陷中侏罗世孢粉植物群及古环境

根据吐鲁番拗陷葡１井和草南１井中侏罗世的孢子花粉化石及其组合特征，研究孢粉植物群、古植被面貌及古生态环境，探讨中侏罗世的古气候性质、演变及其对聚煤作用和油气生成的影响。     

Correlation of upper Bajocian-Bathonian zones in Siberia with the stage standard

The suggestions to transfer the Arcticoceras ishmae Zone from the middle to the lower Bathonian and the Arctocephalites arcticus Zone from the lower Bathonian to the upper Bajocian put forward by some researchers, are critically considered. These suggestions are based on paleontological records from the Sokur quarry near Saratov. Based on paleontological data from Siberia represented in a number of regional ammonite, belemnite, and retroceram zonations, we infer that the proposed zonal subdivision of the Jurassic in the Sokur quarry to be untrue and believe the revision of the correlation of the above-mentioned zones with the stage and zonal standard to be premature because of insufficient argumentation.     

High resolution ammonite–benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy across the Aalenian–Bajocian boundary in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal)

This work describes the ammonite and benthic foraminiferal assemblages recorded across the Aalenian–Bajocian boundary of the Serra da Boa Viagem II section, located about 6 km to the east of the Bajocian GSSP (Murtinheira, Portugal), and calibrated to the standard ammonite zonation previously established for the Lusitanian Basin. A total of 220 ammonite specimens referred to 30 fossiliferous levels were collected and identified throughout the section, enabling the recognition of the Concavum Zone (Concavum and Limitatum subzones) of the upper Aalenian, and the Discites Zone of the lower Bajocian. A total of 2356 foraminifers were obtained from the 16 samples collected along the section, corresponding to 4 suborders, 8 families, 16 genera and 44 species. The occurrence of Lenticulina quenstedti (Gümbel) has enabled the recognition of the Lenticulina quenstedti Zone, ranging from the Bradfordensis Zone (middle Aalenian) to the lower Discites Zone (lower Bajocian). The first record of Ramulina spandeli Paalzow, whose occurrence, up to now, was limited in the Lusitanian Basin to the Murtinheira section (the Bajocian GSSP), highlights the usefulness of the Ramulina spandeli Zone, with its lower boundary referred to the lower Discites Zone (lower Bajocian). Other bioevents displaying local, basinal or regional biostratigraphic interest have also been identified. The benthic foraminiferal record here presented, accurately calibrated with the ammonite record, aims at contributing to support the recognition of the Lenticulina quenstedti Zone and the Ramulina spandeli Zone as formal biostratigraphic units integrating the biostratigraphic scale based on benthic foraminifers for the Aalenian–Bajocian boundary in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The upper Bathonian ammonite zonation of East Siberia

Modifications to the upper Bathonian zonal scale for northern East Siberia provided by the newly available paleontological record on Middle Jurassic reference sections in the Arctic regions of Yakutia and by the revised earlier collections, are justified. The oldest East Siberian members of Cadoceras are found to be characteristic not of the initial Callovian age as believed by Russian paleontologists, but of the terminal Bathonian age as was previously shown in the biostratigraphic scheme of East Greenland. The succession of zones and index species analogous to that of the latter is revealed in the studied region and the zonal boundaries in Siberia and East Greenland are inferred to be synchronous. Finds of Cadoceras calyx in the upper Bathonian scale permitted, for the first time, the recognition of a corresponding zone. The Bathonian-Callovian boundary is placed between the calyx and anabarense zones. The upper Bathonian zonal scale of northern East Siberia is now in total agreement with the East Greenland zonal scale.     

Jurassic–Cretaceous radiolarian biostratigraphy and sedimentary environments of the Ceno-Tethys: records from the Xialu Chert in the Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone,southern Tibet

Radiolarian biostratigraphic research has been carried out along two continuous sections through the Xialu Chert, one of the accreted sheets included in the Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone. Six radiolarian zones have been identified as follows: Laxtorum(?) jurassicum Zone (Aalenian), Tricolocapsa plicarum Zone (Bajocian–lower Bathonian), Stylocapsa(?) spiralis Zone (upper Callovian–Oxfordian), Hsuum maxwelli Zone (Kimmeridgian), Pseudodictyomitra carpatica Zone (upper Tithonian–lower Valanginian), and Turbocapsula costata Zone (Aptian).A reconstructed stratigraphy of the Xialu Chert, based on lithological succession and radiolarian dating, indicates that the chert exhibits a long depositional history, at least from early Middle Jurassic (Aalenian) to late Early Cretaceous (Aptian). The separation of the Lhasa Block from the northern Gondwana margin must, therefore, be dated before the Aalenian. The absence of calcareous sediments in the Xialu Chert indicates that the oceanic basin was deeper than the CCD throughout the depositional history. The transition from chert to siliceous mudstone is recorded sometime in Early Cretaceous, most probably around the Barremian/Aptian boundary. This means that the oceanic plate had already started being consumed at a trench by that time. The accretion of the Xialu Chert occurred after the Aptian time.     

Biostratigraphy of the Bajocian–Bathonian boundary beds in the basin of the Bolshoi Zelenchuk River (Northern Caucasus)

The study of ammonites from the upper part of the upper Bajocian and lower part of the lower Bathonian in the sections of the basin of the Bolshoi Zelenchuk (Karachay-Cherkessia) allowed the recognition of Beds with Parkinsonia djanelidzei (approximate equivalent of the middle part of the Parkinsonia parkinsoni Chronozone) and Beds with Oraniceras scythicum (lower part of the Zigzagiceras zigzag Chronozone). The taxonomic composition and distribution of foraminifers, ostracodes, dinoflagellate cysts, and miospores were studied in the samples from these deposits (upper part of the upper member of Djangura Formation). The recognized characteristic assemblages of microfauna and palynomorphs allowed ostracode and dinocyst subdivisions to be proposed for the Bajocian–Bathonian boundary beds of the Northern Caucasus for the first time. The most important taxa, including ammonites, foraminifers, ostracodes, and dinocysts, are illustrated.     

Bajocian ammonoids from Pumani River area (Ayacucho,Peru): Palaeobiogeographical and palaeoenvironmental implications for the Arequipa Basin

Deposits of the Socosani Formation in the Pucayacu and Pumani sections (Ayacucho Department, Peru), along several kilometres, have yielded Upper Bajocian ammonoid fossil-assemblages characterized by the occurrence of juvenile individuals belonging to endemic or pandemic genera, such as Megasphaeroceras and Spiroceras respectively. In addition, certain Bajocian genera relatively common in the Mediterranean-Caucasian Subrealm, but very scarce in the Eastern Pacific Subrealm, such as the strigoceratid Cadomoceras and the phylloceratid Adabofoloceras, occur in this area. According to the taphonomic, palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographical evidence from the Pumani River area, the maximum deepening, relative sea-level rise and oceanic accessibility of a Bajocian–Bathonian, second-order, transgressive/regressive facies cycle in the marine Arequipa Basin were reached during the Late Bajocian Niortense Biochron. However, synsedimentary regional tectonics in the Pumani River area disturbed this general deepening/shallowing cycle of the Arequipa Basin, particularly during the Late Bajocian post-Niortense time-interval of the Garantiana and Parkinsoni biochrons.     

Dinoflagellate cysts from the Upper Bajocian–Lower Oxfordian of the Dalichai Formation in Binalud Mountains (NE Iran): their biostratigraphical and biogeographical significance

The Binalud Mountains of NE Iran represent the easternmost extension of the Alborz Range. After the Mid-Cimmerian orogenic event and rapid subsidence, the deep marine sediments of the Dalichai Formation were deposited. A well-preserved section of the formation was sampled for palynological purposes. The study revealed diverse and nearly well-preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. Thirty-six dinoflagellate cyst species identified lead to identification of four biozones: Cribroperidinium crispum (Late Bajocian), Dichadogonyaulax sellwoodii (Bathonian to Early Callovian), Ctenidodinium continuum (Early to Late Callovian), and Ctenidodinium tenellum (Early Oxfordian) biozones. The close similarities of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages between Binalud Mountains, NE Iran, with those of Alborz Mountains (Northern Iran) during Middle Jurassic confirm the connection between two sedimentary basins during this time in Iran. Meanwhile, this biozonation corresponds largely to that established in Northwest Europe and reveals the marine connection between NE and North of Iran with Northwest Europe and the Northwestern Tethys during the Late Bajocian to Early Oxfordian.     

New record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plectoidothyris</Emphasis> from the Middle Jurassic Sequence of Jaisalmer Basin,Western India: Implications on the easterly brachiopod migrations

The Bathonian sediments of the Jaisalmer Basin, India host a terebratulide brachiopod Plectoidothyris which has been previously known from the Bajocian rocks of the Boreal Province. The sharp and prominent plication of the anterior commissure and increased length of costae separates the Jaisalmer specimens from other known species of the genus and the population represents an endemic species — Plectoidothyris jaisalmerensis. The population was only cursorily described earlier lacking in details of precise stratigraphic control and was wrongly assigned to a different genus. The present study is based on a large number of specimens from different localities with precise stratigraphic data, coupled with this some recent findings of time-diagnostic ammonites have helped determine the Plectoidothyris jaisalmerensis duration in the Jaisalmer Basin as the Late Bathonian. Presence of lower Jurassic Boreal brachiopod genera in the Middle Jurassic rocks of Ethiopian and Indo — Madagascan biogeographic provinces has been noticed earlier whereto Plectoidothyris is a new addition while it is also the first report of the genus from the Jurassic of India. The brachiopod migrations from the north to south of the Tethys provide evidences for opening of shallow water routes in the Tethyan seaway and are probably indicative of warmer water conditions in the Indo-Madagascan and African areas during the Middle Jurassic.     

New Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) ammonite assemblages from Kutch, India

The Bathonian ammonite assemblages have been previously poorly recorded in Kutch. The present study has unearthed a rich array of ammonite taxa ranging from the Middle to Upper Bathonian. While Oxycerites Rollier (1909) is a new record from Kutch, the oldest occurrence of Choffatia Siemiradzki (1898) has been found from the Middle Bathonian horizon. Oxycerites cf. orbis (Giebel) is a zonal index of the Late Bathonian in other areas and thus facilitates interprovincial correlation. Besides, palaeobiogeographic and stratigraphic distribution of many species have been modified based on new information. For example, macrocephalitin species, i.e., Kamptokephalites cf. etheridgei Spath (1928), Macrocephalites bifurcatus transient intermedius Spath (1928), M. cf. mantataranus Boehm (1912) were previously known from West Pacific, Indonesia have been now found in Kutch. Gracilisphinctes Buckman (1920) has been previously known to occur during the Middle Bathonian time, the present work extends its stratigraphic distribution up to the definite Upper Bathonian horizon. Procerites hians (Waagen) an endemic species in Kutch previously known from the Upper Bathonian beds, its stratigraphic range has been extended down to the Middle Bathonian.Detail taxonomy of the newly obtained taxa has been done and in many cases sexual dimorphism has been recognized.     

The Strontium Isotopic Composition in Glendonites of the Middle Jurassic in Northern Siberia

The Sr isotope composition in glendonites from two sections of the Middle Jurassic of Northern Siberia has been determined for the first time. Glendonite was formed by the replacement of icite by calcite during diagenesis. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in most of the samples of glendonites (0.70687–0.70715) is insignificantly lower than this ratio in the Late Bathonian–Early Bajocian ocean. This may indicate a contribution from the Callovian seawater in the formation of individual calcite generations or the influence of methanogenic fluid of deep origin.     

Lytoceratid ammonites from the Inferior Oolite Formation (Middle Jurassic,Aalenian and Bajocian) of Dorset (United Kingdom)

Ammonites of the family Lytoceratidae from the Middle Jurassic Inferior Oolite Formation, Aalenian to lowermost Bathonian, of Dorset are rarely described, perhaps because the macroconchs are often very large and difficult to collect intact and the microconchs are very small and easily overlooked. Detailed stratigraphical collecting over several years has shown them to be a minor part of the ammonite fauna but more common at certain horizons. Four genera, Lytoceras, Megalytoceras Nannolytoceras and Pleurolytoceras have been shown to have different stratigraphical ranges and abundances in the Aalenian and Bajocian but they have not been found in the Lower Bathonian of Dorset. The taxonomic basis of several of the well-known species is poorly described in the literature and is remedied here.     

Facies associations of the Bathonian Hamam Formation from Northwestern Jordan

Two stratigraphic sections of the Hamam Formation (Bathonian Stage, Middle Jurassic) exposed in the western part of Wadi Zarqa region, northwestern Jordan, are described and interpreted on the basis of palynoflora and facies analysis in order to reconstruct their depositional environments and sequence stratigraphic framework, which not discussed before. Five facies associations have been identified in the Hamam Formation characterized by a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic ramp setting, ranging from incised fluvial valley fill facies, beach foreshore restricted inner ramp to high-energy shoals and mid-ramp settings. The palynoflora includes well-preserved miospore assemblages which are recorded only from the incised fluvial valley fill facies for the first time and yielded 64 miospore species belonging to 40 genera. Most of these taxa are long-ranging and have been reported from Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks worldwide, except Callialasporites dampieri, Murospora florida, Granulatisporites jurassicus, Piceites expositus, Pityosporites parvisaccatus, Leptolepidites verrucatus, and Protopinus scanicus which have short ranges in the Middle Jurassic. Furthermore, these rocks are rich in shallow-marine Neo-Tethys macro-invertebrates supporting a Bathonian age. Two third-order depositional sequences bounded by three regional unconformities at the Bajocian–Bathonian and Bathonian–Callovian stage boundaries as well as within the Bathonian are defined based upon facies characteristics and stratal geometries. A regional correlation of sequence boundaries of similar age indicates that they are eustatic in origin.     

New record of Bathonian–Callovian calcareous nannofossils in the eastern Karakoram block: a possible clue to understanding the dextral offset along the Karakoram Fault

We report the first record of Bathonian–Callovian calcareous nannofossils from a marine sedimentary sequence of the eastern Karakoram block, in northern India. The calcareous mudstones and packstones, occasionally bearing red chert nodules, yielded calcareous nanofossils and Middle Jurassic Choffatia furcula ammonoids. Middle to Upper Jurassic nannofossil assemblage is dominated by representatives of the genus Watznaueria. The occurrence of Ansulasphaera helvetica whose range is Upper Bathonian–Upper Callovian, indicates a correlation with nannofossil zones NJ12–13. The occurrence of Cyclagelosphaera wiedmannii further infer an Upper Bathonian–Callovian age. These specimens show affinities with those found in a similar sedimentary formation exposed in north Karakoram. This suggests the existence of a narrow and elongated sedimentary basin, oriented in a NW–SE direction, at a latitude of c. 25°–30°N. At that time, the Karakoram block was situated near the already welded Qiangtang block of Asia. The northern and eastern Karakoram blocks were connected during Middle Jurassic. The activity and dextral offset of the Karakoram fault separated the Jurassic sedimentary formations of the northern and eastern Karakoram blocks by c. 150 km.     

Formal proposal for the Bathonian GSSP (Middle Jurassic) in the Ravin du Bès Section (Bas-Auran, SE France)

The Bathonian Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) is proposed at the base of limestone bed RB071 (bed 23 in Sturani 1967) in the Ravin du Bès Section (43° 57′ 38′′ N, 6° 18′ 55′′ E), Bas-Auran area, “Alpes de Haute Provence” French department. The Ravin du Bès Section, as formal candidate GSSP for the base of the Bathonian Stage, satisfies most of the requirements recommended by the International Commission on Stratigraphy: 1) The exposure extends over 13 m in thickness. At the Bajocian-Bathonian transition, no vertical (bio-, ichno- or tapho-) facies changes, condensation, stratigraphic gaps or hiatuses have been recorded. Structural complexity, synsedimentary and tectonic disturbances, or important alterations by metamorphism are not relevant constraints. 2) There is a well-preserved, abundant and diverse fossil record across the boundary interval, with key markers (ammonites and nannofossils) for worldwide correlation. The base of the Bathonian Stage and Zigzag Zone in Bas-Auran corresponds to the first occurrence level of Gonolkites convergens Buckman, which coincides with the first occurrence of Morphoceras parvum Wetzel. Calcareous nannofossils, as secondary global marker, are present in all beds and allow characterizing the Bajocian-Bathonian transition. 3) Regional analyses of sequence stratigraphy and manganese chemostratigraphy are available. Spectral gamma-ray data corroborate an Early Bathonian deepening half-cycle of second order. 4) The criteria of accessibility, conservation and protection are assured by the “Réserve Naturelle Géologique de Haute Provence”. The Cabo Mondego Section (Portugal) is suggested as the Bathonian auxiliary section and point (ASSP) within this GSSP proposal.     

The oldest known metriorhynchid crocodylian from the Middle Jurassic of North-eastern Italy: Neptunidraco ammoniticus gen. et sp. nov.

Metriorhynchidae is a clade of marine-adapted crocodilians known from several Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous specimens collected predominantly in South America and Europe, but poorly known in the northern margin of Gondwana. The “Portomaggiore crocodile” is the most complete specimen of an Italian metriorhynchid to date: it consists of a partial skeleton that has been provisionally referred to an unnamed species of Late Jurassic Metriorhynchus or Geosaurus. The specimen is preserved in the reddish, nodular limestone of the Rosso Ammonitico Veronese Formation (Bajocian–Tithonian); new data on microfossil associations constrain the age of the metriorhynchid to the late Bajocian–earliest Bathonian. On the basis of cranial synapomorphies, the “Portomaggiore crocodile” falls as the closest sister-taxon of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous geosaurines, and is referred to Neptunidraco ammoniticus gen. et sp. nov. It is unique among Middle Jurassic metriorhynchids in showing an incipient streamlining of the skull, shared with Late Jurassic and Cretaceous taxa. Since Neptunidraco is the oldest known member of Metriorhynchidae, its phylogenetic position supports the hypothesis that the timing of the initial metriorhynchid and geosaurine diversifications should start in the Bajocian.     

Radiolarian Age of Chert-hosted Bedded Manganese Deposits from the Gen-otani Mine in the Tamba District, Northern Kyoto City, Japan

Abstract. Numerous bedded manganese deposits sporadically distributed throughout the Tamba district, southwestern Japan are intercalated within chert sequence. It is well known that radiolarian remains are commonly included in both bedded manganese deposits and host cherts. The Gen‐otani mine, one of these deposits, is located at Otani, Keihoku‐Shimonaka, northern Kyoto City. Chemical composition and age of the chert sequence at the mine were examined. Mainly according to SiO₂ and MnO contents together with lithology, the chert sequence is divided into three sections; lower massive chert, middle bedded manganese deposit and upper bedded chert sections. Radiolarian faunas consisting of middle Jurassic species such as Eucyrtidiellum unumaense, Dictyomitrella(?) kamoensis, Parvicingula dhimenaensis, Sethocapsa aitai, Sethocapsa kodrai, Transhsuum brevicostatum, Tricolocapsa plicarum, Unuma echinatus and others were extracted from both the middle manganese section and overlying bedded chert of the upper section. This examination reveals that the bedded manganese deposit at the Gen‐otani mine formed until Bajocian to early Bathonian (middle Middle Jurassic) in age.