A new Paleogene micropaleontological and palaeogeographical data in the Petchora Depression, northeastern European Russia

Abstract

A new bore-hole from the Petchora Depression (northeastern Europe) yielded a rich Paleocene—Eocene record which allowed, for the first time, the study of dinoflagellate cysts in the whole Polar and Pre-Polar Ural region. The simultaneous occurrence of dinoflagellates in the whole section, benthic foraminifera in the Palaeocene part and diatoms in the Eocene section permits a high-resolution biostratigraphy. The lithological and micropalaeontological analyses suggest the existence of a marine basin in the Polar and Pre-Polar Ural area and its constant communications with the west Siberian epicontinental sea during the Thanetian—Ypresian.