Middle and Late Miocene palynological biozonation of the south-western part of Central Paratethys (Croatia)

Abstract

Middle and Late Miocene palynological biozonation of the south-western parts of Central Paratethys (Croatia) is presented based on organic-walled phytoplankton. Nine characteristic palynozones of regional palynostratigraphic range are recognized, e.g. Early Badenian (Langhian) Cribroperidinium tenuitabulatum (Cte), Badenian (Late Langhian – Earliest Serravallian) Unipontidinium aquaeductum (Uaq), Late Badenian (Early Serravallian) Cleistosphaeridium placacanthum (Cpl), Sarmatian (Middle and Late Serravallian) Polysphaeridium zoharyi – Lingulodinium machaerophorum (Pzo-Lma), early Early Pannonian s.l. Mecsekia ultima – Spiniferites bentorii pannonicus (MulSpa), middle Early Pannonian s.l. Spiniferites bentorii oblongus (Sob), late Early Pannonian s.l. Pontiadinium pecsvaradensis (Ppe), early Late Pannonian s.l. Spiniferites validus (Sva), and late Late Pannonian s.l. Galeacysta etrusca (Get). As inferred from the regional palynostratigraphic correlation, the signals of two transgressions after the isolation of Paratethys during the Sarmatian are recognised: the first one in the late Early Pannonian, when Mediterranean dinoflagellates migrated into the Pannonian Basin, and the second one in the Late Pannonian, when endemic Paratethyan taxa migrated into the Mediterranean.