Calcareous nannofossils from the upper Campanian–Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) in the Kladorub Formation (Kula tectonic zone, NW Bulgaria)

Abstract

A detailed investigation into the calcareous nannofossils from the upper Campanian–Maastrichtian deposits of the Kladorub Formation (NW Bulgaria) has been carried out in order to examine their taxonomic content and test the applicability of cosmopolitan zonation schemes for this stratigraphic interval in the country. The Kladorub Formation is composed of silty to fine-sandy marlstones and rare marly limestones, occasionally interbedded with sandstone layers. The recovered nannofloras are abundant, taxonomically diverse and exhibit predominantly moderate preservation, which allowed precise taxonomic identifications and biostratigraphic analysis to be made. As a result, the presence of two previously undocumented, biostratigraphically significant taxa has been recorded (i.e., Eiffellithus parallelus and Ceratolithoides kamptneri). Consequently, the studied Upper Cretaceous sediments have been assigned to subzone UC15dTP (pars.)–subzone UC20dTP; in the uppermost 2 m of the section, the presence of zone NP1 has also been indicated, which is in concordance with previous authors’ data. Due to the lack of proper chronostratigraphic framework for the Kladorub Formation, top Uniplanarius trifidus and base Lithraphidites quadratus have, respectively, been used to approximate the Campanian/Maastrichtian and lower/upper Maastrichtian boundaries. The Cretaceous/Palaeogene boundary, however, could not be drawn with precision, because it falls within a 6.5-m interval of non-exposure. The resulting biostratigraphic framework offers higher stratigraphic resolution than previously used local zonation schemes and allows correlation with coeval sedimentary successions from other parts of the Tethyan and Boreal realms.