The Cenomanian and Turonian in NortheasternCentral Asia

Northeastern Central Asia during the Albian and Early Cenomanianwas one of the peripheral basins of the Central Asian region. The similarity of their freshwater molluscs makes it possible to correlate isolated series in these two regions. Subsequently, a pulsating transgression of the Tadzhik Sea invaded northeastern Central Asia which became a part of the Central Asian Province of the Tethys. The complicated palaeogeography means that there are many different local biostratigraphic successions. The relations between these have been worked out from an integrated study of the biostratigraphy, palaeogeography, ecology and biogeography. Marked endemism amongst the molluscs, sometimes total, limits correlation with other regions of the Tethys; in particular, correlation of some of the local biozones (or “lones”) with western European zones is still uncertain.