Ophiolitic radiolarites of the Crimea and their significance for geodynamics of Mesotethys

In southern Crimea, at the southeastern foot of the Demerdzhi Mountain, at the base of conglomerates, aged from the Callovian to the Kimmeridgian, there were revealed pebbles of radiolarian cherts, from which using hydrofluoric acid, Triassic radiolarians of fine and satisfactory preservation were identified. Among them were Podobursa primitiva Tekin, Picapora robusta Kozur et Mostler, Spinotriassocampe carnica Kozur et Mostler, etc., by which the age of Crimean radiolarites was dated as Triassic (Ladinian-Early Norian).     

Early cretaceous radiolarian assemblages from the East Sakhalin Mountains

Three-dimensional radiolarian skeletons isolated from rock matrix in HF solution and then studied under scanning electron microscope substantiate the Early Cretaceous age of volcanogenic-cherty deposits sampled from fragmentary rock successions of the East Sakhalin Mountains. Accordingly the Berriasian age is established for jasper packets formerly attributed to the Upper Paleozoic-Mesozoic Daldagan Group; the Valanginian radiolarians are identified in cherty rock intercalations in the Upper Paleozoic (?) Ivashkino Formation; the Berriasian-Barremian assemblage is macerated from cherty tuffites of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Ostraya Formation; and the Aptian-early Albian radiolarians are characteristic of tuffaceous cherty rocks sampled from the Cretaceous Khoe Formation of the Nabil Group. Photographic documentation of radiolarian skeletons specifies taxonomic composition and age of the Berriasian, Valanginian, Berriasian-Valanginian, Barremian, and Aptian-Albian radiolarian assemblages from the East Sakhalin Mountains, and their evolution as related to abiotic events is considered. Coexistence of Tethyan and Pacific species in the same rock samples evidence origin of radiolarian assemblages in an ecotone. Consequently, the assemblages are applicable for intra- and interregional correlations and paleogeographic reconstructions.     

New data on correlation of the Middle Mesozoic oceanic and island arc rocks of Eastern Asia

Using a radiolarian method, correlation of stages and substages of the Middle Mesozoic submarine volcanic-siliceous sequences was carried out for the vast territory of Eastern Asia for the first time. The correlation of fragmented outcrops of genetically various siliceous-terrigenous-volcanic rocks showed a broad lateral distribution of sediments from the Norian to Hauterivian stages inclusive within the studied area. This work, based on a combination of paleontological, structural-tectonic, and lithological-petrological methods in contrast to the terrane approach, has demonstrated the possibility of age and facial characteristics of isolated outcrops of the Middle Mesozoic submarine rocks for the huge territory of Eastern Asia.     

Tectonic reorganizations and radiolarian assemblages of the northwest Pacific continental framing of Russia

Abstract Main stages of radiolarian taxonomic evolution in the Pacific rim of Russia are discussed. The diversity and distribution of radiolarian assemblages displayed in the studied sections and their geological and tectonic setting have implications regarding paleoecological and paleo-oceanographic conditions as well as paleotectonic reconstructions. Radiolarian events show the close relationship with the tectonic rearrangements in the Pacific and in North America. The attempt to analyze paleo-oceanological aspects and major factors affecting radiolarian events is presented.     

Upper Cretaceous deposits in the northwest of Saratov region, Part 2: Problems of chronostratigraphy and regional geological history

Problems of geochronological correlation are considered for the formations established in the study region with due account for data on the Mezino-Lapshinovka, Lokh and Teplovka sections studied earlier on the northwest of the Saratov region. New paleontological data are used to define more precisely stratigraphic ranges of some stratigraphic subdivisions, to consider correlation between standard and local zones established for different groups of fossils, and to suggest how the Upper Cretaceous regional scale of the East European platform can be improved. Considered in addition are paleogeographic environments in the study region during the Late Cretaceous epoch and principal stages of the regional geological evolution.     

Foraminifers and radiolarians across the Albian-Cenomanian and Cenomanian-Turonian Boundaries (Northern Peri-Tethys)

Changes in morphological diversity and taxonomic composition of late Albian-early Turonian foraminiferal and radiolarian assemblages from the northern Peri-Tethys are considered. Several stages are defined in evolution of planktonic foraminifers: polytaxic (Albian-Cenomanian), oligotaxic (Cenomanian-Turonian boundary period), and polytaxic (Turonian). The Albian-Cenomanian stage was characterized by intense development of rotaliporids representing an intricate group of planktonic foraminifers, which became extinct in the terminal Cenomanian. An intense speciation of the radiolarian genus Crolanium and last occurrences of its most species, the index species C. cuneatum included, was characteristic of the terminal Albian. Spheroid and discoid radiolarians were dominant in the Cenomanian, while the Turonian was marked by intense development of all the radiolarian morphotypes.