Quaternary key-site Korchevo in Belarus: geology, paleontology and correlation

Abstract

The Korchevo section with two layers of Quaternary Interglacial deposits is unique on the territory of Belarus. Deposits of this type occur in the middle part of the country at a depth of about 100 m on Narev moraine. These deposits in Korchevo were removed to the surface as a result of glaciotectonic processes and became available for paleontological studies. The location of fossil mammal fauna from Korchevo is the only one on the territory of Belarus, where the autochthonous complex of the ancient Middle Pleistocene mammals of Belarus studied on thousands remains of the of rodents teeth. The primitive root vole Mimomys intermedius (Newton) is the species of Alizarovian and Korchevian fauna. Seed flora, fauna of molluscs, insects and ostracods were the oldest in Middle Pleistocene. Paleontological studies were the basis for the allocation of stratigraphic units (Alizarovian Interglacial, Nevdian Glacial and Korchevian Interglacial) in the Middle Pleistocene of Belarus. Interglacial deposits of the key-site are very well correlated with Augustovian Interglacial formations in Poland. They correspond to parts of Cromer and Bavel complexes in the European stratigraphic scale of the Quaternary system.