Microbiota and Paleoenvironments of the Turtas Paleobasin, Late Oligocene, Western Siberia

Abstract

The Turtas Formation (the Upper Oligocene of Western Siberia), uncovered by the Zyryanka-1 Borehole, contain diverse assemblage of microfossils. The ecological composition (freshwater diatoms, spicules and gemmuloscleres of freshwater sponges, spores and pollen, as well as zygospores of Zygnematales algae) indicates the nonmarine nature of the Early Turtas Basin. In contrast to the assemblage of the Zhuravka horizon (southern regions of Western Siberia), the absence of Fagaceae and dinocysts of the genus Pseudokomewuia, as well as low numbers of Taxodiaceae–Cupressaceae and Betulaceae, are probably explained by local characteristics.