Late Bajocian Research Articles

Diversity dynamics of Early and Middle Jurassic brachiopods in the Getic and Danubian tectonic units of eastern Serbia: Regional versus global patterns

Quantitative assessment of regional diversity patterns reveals trajectories of faunal development on the basin scale and helps to understand its dependence on palaeoenvironmental changes, global-scale biotic evolution, and major events in the history of the Earth. A total of 86 species, 50 genera, 18 families, and 9 superfamilies of Early and Middle Jurassic brachiopods are established in the Getic and Danubian tectonic units of eastern Serbia. Compilation of their stratigraphic ranges allows analysis of their total diversity, number of appearances and disappearances, and turnovers. In both units, brachiopods radiated rapidly in the Early Pliensbachian. Then, their diversity declined, and these fossils disappeared. A new radiation took place in the Late Bajocian, and brachiopods remained diverse until the end of the Bathonian. They disappeared before the Callovian in the Getic Unit and in the Early Callovian in the Danubian Unit. The Early Pliensbachian radiation was significantly stronger than the Late Bajocian at the level of species; the strength of these radiations was more or less comparable at higher taxonomic levels. The strength of turnovers among brachiopods differed through geological time. The composition of the Middle Jurassic brachiopod assemblages was more or less stable. Regional shoreline shifts, basin depth changes, palaeobiogeographical changes, and plate tectonic re-organizations were possible controls on regional patterns of brachiopod diversity dynamics. However, the latter also reflects some diversity patterns documented globally and in some other regions (the Bakony Mountains, the Swiss Jura Mountains, and the Northern Caucasus).

The fungal spore Annella capitata Srivastava from the Jurassic (Late Toarcian–Late Bajocian) Cañadón Asfalto Formation of Patagonia, Argentina

The fungal spore Annella capitata Srivastava is recorded for the first time in Argentina, within the continental Jurassic strata of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation, Cañadón Asfalto Basin, Patagonia. It is identified on pollen grains belonging to the Cheirolepideaceae, Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae. This paper contrasts A. capitata with ubisch bodies (small sporopollenin spherules attached to the exine). A. capitata has the same characteristics in the different pollen taxa, while the ubish bodies exhibit taxon-dependent differences in ultrastructure, size and morphology. The presence of hyphae and spore germlings reinforces a fungal origin of A. capitata. The degree and type of deterioration associated with these fungal microfossils are presented. Based upon the ecological requirements of the plant families recognized in the Cañadón Asfalto palynoflora, it is inferred that A. capitata Srivastava thrived in low-energy environments under warm-temperate and humid conditions.

Aalenian–Early Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) radiolarian assemblages in the Tavas nappe within Lycian nappes in the western Taurides (SW Turkey): The first dating of carbonate platform drowning

Stratigraphic sections (Kizilca and Kizilca North) in the Tavas nappe, western Taurides, Turkey records the event of carbonate platform drowning in the western Tethyan realm. Our detailed biostratigraphic study of radiolarians and other microfossils places the important temporal constraints on this event and indicates that drowning occured in the geochronological interval from Early Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) through to Middle Jurassic (early Bathonian). The basal part of the Kizilca section is represented by platform carbonates with abundant benthic foraminifera and algae of Hettangian–Sinemurian to Pliensbachian age. Toward the upper part of the section, the occurrence of brecciated limestones with some ammonites and belemnites reveals that the drowning event began in the Pliensbachian. The first radiolarian assemblages of early–middle to late Aalenian age were obtained from the overlying units characterized by pelagic limestones and chert alternation. Just after the subsidence of the platform, ribbon chert sedimentation began in the late Aalenian, as indicated by the radiolarians. Successively, early–late Bajocian and latest Bajocian–early Bathonian radiolarian assemblages were obtained from overlying chert with mudstone–silicified mudstones. Similar to that observed in the Kizilca section, the Kizilca North section include successively pelagic limestones, pelagic limestone–chert alternation and chert–mudstone alternation of late Aalenian to early–middle Bajocian age according to radiolarian biostratigraphy. All of these observations indicate that a continuous stratigraphy recorded the drowning event without a large gap from Hettangian–Sinemurian to early Bathonian in the Tavas nappe. This drowning event has close similarities with coeval events in other Tethyan realms in terms of mechanism, facies characteristics and fossil assemblages. Therefore, this study can aid correlation studies of the Tavas nappe with the Jurassic paleogeography worldwide.

Mesozoic sandstones and the reconstruction of tectonic depositional environments in the Bureya sedimentary basin in the Far East

The early Jurassic-Early Cretaceous tectonic environments were reconstructed for the first time on the basis of the study of sandstones from the Soloni-Urgal interfluve (Bureya sedimentary basin, Far East). The mineralogical-petrographic and lithochemical studies revealed that the sandstones are mostly quartz-feldspathic and feldspathic graywackes of acid composition with less common litites, graywacke arkoses, and arkoses. It was shown that the Lower-Middle Jurassic sediments were formed in active continental margin and continental volcanic arc settings, while the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sediments were accumulated in a passive continental margin setting. Orogenic events in the Toarcian-Aalenian, Late Bajocian, and Late Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian led to sedimentation gaps.

Tectonically controlled sedimentation: impact on sediment supply and basin evolution of the Kashafrud Formation (Middle Jurassic, Kopeh-Dagh Basin, northeast Iran)

The Kashafrud Formation was deposited in the extensional Kopeh-Dagh Basin during the Late Bajocian to Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) and is potentially the most important siliciclastic unit from NE Iran for petroleum geology. This extensional setting allowed the accumulation of about 1,700 m of siliciclastic sediments during a limited period of time (Upper Bajocian–Bathonian). Here, we present a detailed facies analysis combined with magnetic susceptibility (MS) results focusing on the exceptional record of the Pol-e-Gazi section in the southeastern part of the basin. MS is classically interpreted as related to the amount of detrital input. The amount of these detrital inputs and then the MS being classically influenced by sea-level changes, climate changes and tectonic activity. Facies analysis reveals that the studied rocks were deposited in shallow marine, slope to pro-delta settings. A major transgressive–regressive cycle is recorded in this formation, including fluvial-dominated delta to turbiditic pro-delta settings (transgressive phase), followed by siliciclastic to mixed siliciclastic and carbonate shoreface rocks (regressive phase). During the transgressive phase, hyperpycnal currents were feeding the basin. These hyperpycnal currents are interpreted as related to important tectonic variations, in relation to significant uplift of the hinterland during opening of the basin. This tectonic activity was responsible for stronger erosion, providing a higher amount of siliciclastic input into the basin, leading to a high MS signal. During the regressive phase, the tectonic activity strongly decreased. Furthermore, the depositional setting changed to a wave- to tide-dominated, mixed carbonate–siliciclastic setting. Because of the absence of strong tectonic variations, bulk MS was controlled by other factors such as sea-level and climatic changes. Fluctuations in carbonate production, possibly related to sea-level variations, influenced the MS of the siliciclastic/carbonate cycles. Carbonate intervals are characterized by a strong decrease of MS values indicates a gradual reduction of detrital influx. Therefore, the intensity of tectonic movement is thought to be the dominant factor in controlling sediment supply, changes in accommodation space and modes of deposition throughout the Middle Jurassic sedimentary succession in the Pol-e-Gazi section and possibly in the Kopeh-Dagh Basin in general.

Erosion of a Jurassic ophiolitic nappe-stack as indicated by exotic components in the Lower Cretaceous Rossfeld Formation of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria)

Abstract The microfacies and biostratigraphy of components in mass-flow deposits from the Lower Cretaceous Rossfeld Formation of the Northern Calcareous Alps in Austria were analysed. The pebbles are classified into six groups: 1) Triassic carbonates (uppermost Werfen to basal Gutenstein Formations), 2) Upper Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous carbonates (Oberalm Formation and Barmstein Limestone), 3) contemporaneous carbonate bioclasts (?Valanginian to ?Hauterivian), 4) siliceous pebbles (radiolarites, ophicalcites, siliceous deep-sea clays, cherts), 5) volcanic and ophiolitic rock fragments and 6) siliciclastics such as quartz-sandstones and siltstones. The radiolarites show three age groups: Ladinian to Early Carnian, Late Carnian/Norian and Late Bajocian to Callovian. The Middle Triassic radiolarites are interpreted as derived from the Meliata facies zone or from the Neotethys ocean floor, whereas the Late Triassic radiolarites give evidence of the sedimentary cover of the Neotethys ocean floor. During late Early to early Late Jurassic, the Triassic to Early/Middle Jurassic passive margin of the Neotethys attained a lower plate position and became obducted by the accreted ocean floor of the Neotethys Ocean. The accreted ocean floor was contemporaneously eroded and resedimented in different deep-water basins in front of the nappe-stack. These basin fills were subsequently incorporated in the orogen forming mélanges in this complex ophiolitic nappe-stack. The Middle Jurassic radiolarites are interpreted as the matrix of these mélanges. Together with the volcanic and ophiolitic material the siliceous rocks were eroded from this ophiolitic nappe-stack in Early Cretaceous times and brought by a fluvial system to the Rossfeld Basin within the Tirolic realm of the Northern Calcareous Alps. The different fining-upward sequences in the succession of the Lower Cretaceous Rossfeld Formation can be best explained by sea-level fluctuations and decreasing tectonic activity in the Jurassic orogen

Bajocian ammonoids from Pumani River area (Ayacucho, Peru): Palaeobiogeographical and palaeoenvironmental implications for the Arequipa Basin

Deposits of the Socosani Formation in the Pucayacu and Pumani sections (Ayacucho Department, Peru), along several kilometres, have yielded Upper Bajocian ammonoid fossil-assemblages characterized by the occurrence of juvenile individuals belonging to endemic or pandemic genera, such as Megasphaeroceras and Spiroceras respectively. In addition, certain Bajocian genera relatively common in the Mediterranean-Caucasian Subrealm, but very scarce in the Eastern Pacific Subrealm, such as the strigoceratid Cadomoceras and the phylloceratid Adabofoloceras, occur in this area. According to the taphonomic, palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographical evidence from the Pumani River area, the maximum deepening, relative sea-level rise and oceanic accessibility of a Bajocian–Bathonian, second-order, transgressive/regressive facies cycle in the marine Arequipa Basin were reached during the Late Bajocian Niortense Biochron. However, synsedimentary regional tectonics in the Pumani River area disturbed this general deepening/shallowing cycle of the Arequipa Basin, particularly during the Late Bajocian post-Niortense time-interval of the Garantiana and Parkinsoni biochrons.

Growth and demise of the Jurassic carbonate platform in the intracratonic Paris Basin (France): Interplay of climate change, eustasy and tectonics

It is usually very difficult to identify and quantify the relative influence of tectonics, eustasy and climate on carbonate system evolution from sedimentary records. In order to improve our understanding of these mechanisms, we have traced for the first time, the evolution of the eastern Paris Basin platform throughout the entire Jurassic period. This carbonate platform underwent eight successive growth and demise phases, with different depositional profiles ranging from ramps to flat-topped geometries. The eight carbonate growth periods are compared with the standard sea-level curves, local tectonic regimes and recently published oxygen-isotope and/or clay mineralogy databases. Prograding heterozoan facies along ramp profiles mark periods dominated by second-order eustatic sea-level rise, relatively cool sea surface temperatures, and mesotrophic and humid conditions (Hettangian, Pliensbachian, late Oxfordian, Tithonian). During these periods, variable detrital contents in the sedimentary succession hampered the efficiency of shallow-marine carbonate factories. Higher sea surface temperatures, oligotrophic and humid conditions associated with either eustatic sea-level rise or very high local subsidence occurred during the early Bajocian and the mid-Oxfordian. These seawater properties seem to have favoured the aggradation of scleractinian corals forming dome-shaped bioherm buildups. An oolitic and lime-mud carbonate system, deposited during the Bathonian second-order eustatic sea-level fall, is characterised by miliolid-rich micritic facies on a rimmed-ramp under stable, cooler and drier conditions. The second-order maximum flooding associated with a sea surface temperature decline and/or a seawater eutrophication caused at least five carbonate demise periods (i.e. Toarcian, earliest late Bajocian, Callovian/Oxfordian transition, earliest late Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian).

The Niton Member: A new Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian (Jurassic) glauconitic sandstone member, Fernie Formation, west-central Alberta subsurface -- sedimentology, biostratigraphy and regional considerations

Abstract A new member, the Niton Member, is recognized formally for a distinctive and regionally mappable, unconformity-bounded sandstone unit in the upper Fernie Formation in the subsurface of west-central Alberta. This member is Late Jurassic (Late Oxfordian to Early Kimmeridgian) in age based on terrigenous and marine palynomorph assemblages, and consists predominantly of glauconitic sublitharenites to quartz arenites with rare shale beds. Marine bioturbation of the member is extensive and is dominated by a Cruziana trace fossil assemblage. Concomitant with progradation, the member was overprinted by pedogenic processes. The Niton Member is readily distinguished from the underlying Rock Creek Member (Bajocian to Aalenian) as well as the overlying “Upper Fernie” shale (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian), and serves as a regional marker in a sequence below the Mannville Group that has long been difficult to interpret. The Niton Member accumulated as a prograding, shallow marine sand-body following a 7 Ma (Late Bajocian to Callovian) hiatus. The Niton Member is one of a regional complex of glauconitic clastic rocks that was deposited in a series of prograding events associated with multi-phase transgression initiated in the Late Callovian and Early Oxfordian over much of the southern Canadian and northwest U.S. interior during early orogenic foredeep development.

Dinoflagellate cysts from the Upper Bajocian–Lower Oxfordian of the Dalichai Formation in Binalud Mountains (NE Iran): their biostratigraphical and biogeographical significance

The Binalud Mountains of NE Iran represent the easternmost extension of the Alborz Range. After the Mid-Cimmerian orogenic event and rapid subsidence, the deep marine sediments of the Dalichai Formation were deposited. A well-preserved section of the formation was sampled for palynological purposes. The study revealed diverse and nearly well-preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. Thirty-six dinoflagellate cyst species identified lead to identification of four biozones: Cribroperidinium crispum (Late Bajocian), Dichadogonyaulax sellwoodii (Bathonian to Early Callovian), Ctenidodinium continuum (Early to Late Callovian), and Ctenidodinium tenellum (Early Oxfordian) biozones. The close similarities of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages between Binalud Mountains, NE Iran, with those of Alborz Mountains (Northern Iran) during Middle Jurassic confirm the connection between two sedimentary basins during this time in Iran. Meanwhile, this biozonation corresponds largely to that established in Northwest Europe and reveals the marine connection between NE and North of Iran with Northwest Europe and the Northwestern Tethys during the Late Bajocian to Early Oxfordian.

Sedimentary evolution and palaeogeography of mid-Jurassic deposits of the Central High Atlas, Morocco

In the axis of the Moroccan Central High Atlas rift basin, Toarcian–Middle Jurassic deposits, excepting the early Toarcian Tagoudite Formation, are represented by two formations – Agoudim and Tazigzaout – comprising clays, marls and limestones. On the margins of the basin, the lateral equivalents of these two formations are dolostone-dominated and show the lithological and environmental characteristics of the Bin El Ouidane Group recognized in the NW part of the Central High Atlas (Beni-Mellal/Azilal area). This group is overlain by clays and limestones of the Tillouguite Formation and by Bathonian red beds (silts, sandstones and conglomerates) of the Anemzi Formation. From the Toarcian to Aalenian (Agoudim Members I and II) the contrasting palaeogeographical evolution is marked by a relatively deep central basin bordered by shallow marine carbonates. The Aalenian–Lower Bajocian interval (Agoudim Member II) contains lenticular biodetritic limestones within hemipelagic deposits. These facies resulted from recurrent faulting (tectonic pulses), which was at the origin of the individualization of a series of ridges and depocentres within the High Atlas trough. During the Bajocian (Agoudim Members III and IV) the palaeogeography became homogeneous across the Central High Atlas and corresponded to a carbonate ramp with coral patch reefs. During the ?Late Bajocian (Tazigzaout Lower Member) a new palaeogeography developed with reappearance of the central depocentres. During the latest Bajocian–earliest Bathonian (Tazigzaout Upper Member) a very homogeneous carbonate ramp was again established. These times of uniform palaeogeography are interpreted as relative stable tectonic periods that were progressive stages leading to the ending of the Toarcian–Middle Jurassic sedimentary cycles in the Central High Atlas rift basin of Morocco.

Strontium isotope variations in Middle Jurassic (Late Bajocian–Callovian) seawater: Implications for Earth's tectonic activity and marine environments

Strontium isotope ratios of well-preserved belemnite rostra and ammonite shells are presented from stratigraphically well-dated Upper Bajocian–Callovian sediments of the Polish Jura Chain in central Poland. Nekto-benthic belemnites show a narrow trend of changes of 87Sr/86Sr ratio that are interpreted to record secular variations in the strontium isotope composition of seawater. A new fit of the seawater strontium isotope curve for the Late Bajocian–Callovian is presented based on current and literature data. The data show a gradual decrease of seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratio throughout the Late Bajocian–earliest Middle Callovian, lowest 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.706850) and the flat minimum of the curve were reached in the latest Middle and the Late Callovian. The Middle Jurassic decrease in seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratio is interpreted to have been a result of the increased volcanic activity of the seafloor. Studied nektonic ammonites are considered to have lived in surface or shallow near-coastal waters of the Polish Jura Chain basin and been affected by the freshwater influx. A slight enrichment of ammonite shells in 87Sr isotope is linked to a change in strontium isotope composition of the surface or near-coastal waters due to the riverine strontium input.

Radiolarian assemblages of Middle and Late Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) ages from an olistolith record pelagic deposition within the Bornova Flysch Zone in western Turkey

Abstract The Bornova Flysch Zone (BFZ) in NW Anatolia comprises several olistoliths or tectonic slivers, representing various parts of the Izmir-Ankara ocean. Radiolarian assemblages extracted from one of the olistoliths of the BFZ, cropping out along the Sögütlü section, to the NE Manisa city, were studied in detail. The lowermost part of the section contains latest Bajocian – early Callovian radiolarian taxa, followed by radiolarian assemblages indicating Late Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) ages. Previous studies reveal that the Izmir-Ankara oceanic basin was initially opened during late Ladinian – early Carnian. The new radiolarian data obtained from this olistolith reveals that relatively condensed, and possibly more or less continuous, pelagic sedimentation took place during the late Middle Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous in a non-volcanic oceanic basin closer to the Tauride-Anatolide platform margin.

Middle Jurassic radiolarian assemblages from the sedimentary cover of the Adriatic margin (Zlatar Mountain, SW Serbia): 359-368

Abstract This paper focuses on the age of radiolarite sequences that are believed to be part of the sedimentary cover of the Adriatic margin; they are found structurally underneath ophiolitic mélange formations forming the base of the obducted western Vardar Ophiolitic Unit. Three sections of radiolarian chert yielded moderate to well preserved radiolarian assemblages. The age range inferred for all the three studied sections spans the Late Bajocian to Early Callovian interval.

Bajocian to Tithonian age of radiolarian cherts in the Tolmin basin (NW Slovenia)

Abstract The Tolmin basin is a typical example of a deep-water Mesozoic basin that developed on the rifted south Tethyan continental margin. Remnants of this basin are preserved at the intersection of the Dinarides and the southern Alps in northwestern Slovenia. The Jurassic successions consist of carbonate gravity-flow deposits, radiolarian cherts and shales, and are overlain by pelagic Biancone limestone. A distinctive chert-dominated interval (the upper member of the Tolmin Formation) was dated with radiolarians. The base of this interval was assigned to the late Bajocian in the distal part of the basin and to the middle Callovian-early Oxfordian in the more proximal part of the basin. The topmost radiolarian cherts are early Tithonian in age. The mid-Tithonian transition from chert to the Biancone limestone was also determined with nannoplankton. The beginning of highly siliceous sedimentation in the Bajocian correlates well over the entire western Tethys and was linked to two factors: an increase in water depth due to regional subsidence and an increase in plankton productivity. The pronounced silica enrichment coincided with the opening of the Alpine Tethys and with the intraoceanic subduction that occurred in the Meliata-Maliac-Vardar Ocean. Reorganization of the plate boundaries may have induced substantial changes in the circulation of water masses that, in turn, had a long-term effect on surface productivity. On the basin scale, radiolarian dating revealed considerable lateral and vertical variations in the thickness of chert successions. This distributional pattern implies that, in narrow continental-margin basins, sedimentation rates were primarily determined by the redeposition of pelagic sediments. Important stratigraphic gaps occur even in the distal basinal setting.

Dating the Tethyan Ocean in the Western Alps with radiolarite pebbles from synorogenic Oligocene molasse basins (southeast France)

For the first time in the Western Alps, radiolarite pebbles collected from Tertiary foreland molasse conglomerates are treated for microfossil extraction and dated. Among forty pebbles collected in the field, seven of them released diagnostic radiolarian assemblages ranging in age from Late Bajocian–Early Callovian to Middle Oxfordian–Early Tithonian. These ages overlap previous biochronological data obtained from in situ localities of the Schistes Lustrés Piemont zone of the French-Italian Alps and triple the number of diagnostic radiolarite samples known so far in this segment of the chain. The diagnostic pebbles are characterized by low grade metamorphism, showing that some eroded thrust-sheets from the oldest parts of the ocean escaped any tectonic burial during the Alpine convergence. Mixing of low and high-grade radiolarites, mafics and ultramafics pebbles implies that various ocean-derived units were exposed. This tectonic scenario involves tight refolding and severe uplift of the Eocene subduction wedge in the Early Oligocene.

Palynology of the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian–Bathonian) Wanaea verrucosa dinoflagellate cyst zone of the North West Shelf of Australia

Marine and terrestrial palynomorphs from the Middle Jurassic Wanaea verrucosa dinoflagellate cyst zone are documented from subsurface sections of the North West Shelf of Australia. Selected intervals in the Perseus-3A, Sunrise-2 and Sunset West-1 wells were studied in detail and record evidence of brackish to shallow marine successions in the Northern Carnarvon and Bonaparte basins. The palynological data derived from these three wells constitute the basis for the formal definition of this important dinoflagellate cyst biozone and its three constituent subzones. The base of the Lower W. verrucosa Subzone is defined by the first appearance of the index species and is a relatively sparse, low diversity microphytoplankton assemblage; species richness increases up-section. The base of the succeeding Middle W. verrucosa Subzone is defined by the range base of Valvaeodinium spinosum, and the Upper W. verrucosa Subzone is defined by the incoming of the large and distinctive species Endoscrinium kempiae. Two new species, Meiourogonyaulax straussii sp. nov. and Valvaeodinium cookii sp. nov. are described and Jansonia scarffei is reattributed as Fostericysta scarffei (Tykoezinski et al. 2001) comb. nov. Taxa with epicystal and multiplate precingular archaeopyles are prominent, particularly in the Lower W. verrucosa Subzone; this represents the coeval evolutionary explosion of the gonyaulacacean dinoflagellate cysts observed in the latest Early to Late Bajocian of Europe. Further cosmopolitan dinoflagellate cyst occurrences are compared with European ranges to assign a Late Bajocian to Early Bathonian age to the W. verrucosa Zone.The associated spore–pollen assemblages are transitional from the upper Dictyotosporites complex to the lower Contignisporites cooksoniae zones. The latter zone is defined by the first appearance of the index species, but considerable care is required to separate this species from the many intermediate forms of Striatella–Contignisporites that occur through this interval. The palynofloras are dominated by araucariacean monosaccates (particularly Callialasporites spp.), corystosperm bisaccates (mostly Alisporites spp.) and moderately diverse bryophyte–lycophyte–pteridophyte spore assemblages.

New finds of middle and late jurassic radiolarians in the siliceous-clayey and clastic rocks of the Nadan’khada-Bikin terrane (Jurassic accretionary wedge, western Sikhote Alin) and their geological significance

The lithostratigraphic analysis of the paleooceanic sediments in the Bikin segment of the Nadan'khada-Bikin terrane of the Jurassic accretionary wedge revealed late Bajocian and early to middle Bathonian radiolarians in the siliceous-clayey rocks constituting its southern part in the Perepelinaya-Cher� emshanka and Kedrovka areas. Siltstones from the central part of the Bikin segment in the upper reaches of the Vasil'eka River contain radiolarians of the terminal late Tithonian age. Combined with the known dates available for siliceous-clayey rocks from the western part of the Nadan'khada Alin Range and the Ulitka- Zolotoi Klyuch area, these data made it possible to define three stages in the formation of the Bikin segment of the Nadan'khada-Bikin terrane of the accretionary wedge: the terminal Middle Jurassic, the late Titho� nian, and the Berriasian. The formation of this segment lasted approximately 25 Ma.

Aalenian to Cenomanian Radiolaria of the Bermeja Complex (Puerto Rico) and Pacific origin of radiolarites on the Caribbean Plate

The study of the radiolarian ribbon chert is a key in determining the origins of associated Mesozoic oceanic terranes and may help to achieve a general agreement regarding the basic principles on the evolution of the Caribbean Plate. The Bermeja Complex of Puerto Rico, which contains serpentinized peridotite, altered basalt, amphibolite, and chert (Mariquita Chert Formation), is one of these crucial oceanic terranes. The radiolarian biochronology presented in this work is mainly based by correlation on the biozonations of Baumgartner et al. (1995) and O’Dogherty (1994) and indicates an early Middle Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous (late Bajocian–early Callovian to late early Albian–early middle Cenomanian) age. The illustrated assemblages contain about 120 species, of which one is new (Pantanellium karinae), and belonging to about 50 genera. A review of the previous radiolarian published works on the Mariquita Chert Formation and the results of this study suggest that this formation ranges in age from Middle Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous (late Aalenian to early–middle Cenomanian) and also reveal a possible feature of the Bermeja Complex, which is the younging of radiolarian cherts from north to south, evoking a polarity of accretion. On the basis of a currently exhaustive inventory of the radiolarite facies s.s. on the Caribbean Plate, a re-examination of the regional distribution of Middle Jurassic sediments associated with oceanic crust, and a paleoceanographic argumentation on the water currents, we come to the conclusion that the radiolarite and associated Mesozoic oceanic terranes of the Caribbean Plate are of Pacific origin. Eventually, a discussion on the origin of the cherts of the Mariquita Formation illustrated by Middle Jurassic to middle Cretaceous geodynamic models of the Pacific and Caribbean realms bring up the possibility that the rocks of the Bermeja Complex are remnants of two different oceans.

Palaeobiogeographic implications of Late Bajocian–Late Callovian (Middle Jurassic) dinoflagellate cysts from the Central Alborz Mountains, northern Iran

The Dalichai Formation with an age of Late Bajocian–Late Callovian was sampled in Central Alborz Mountains of northern Iran and studied for palynological, palaeobiogeographical and palynocorrelation purposes. Palynological studies revealed diverse and well-preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and lead to identification of three zones i.e., Cribroperidinium crispum (Late Bajocian), Dichadogonyaulax sellwoodii (Bathonian to Early Callovian) and Ctenidodinium continuum (Early to Middle Callovian) Zones. Subzone a of the D. sellwoodii Zone (Early to Middle Bathonian) was also differentiated. This biozonation corresponds to those recognised in Northwest Europe. Furthermore, the ammonoid families recorded including Phylloceratidae, Oppeliidae, Reineckeiidae, Perisphinctidae, Haploceratidae, Parkinsoniidae and Sphaeroceratidae, which confirm the Late Bajocian to Late Callovian age, are quite similar to those of Northwest Europe and the northwestern Tethys. The close similarities of the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and ammonite fauna of northern Iran with those of Northwest Europe and the northwestern Tethys during the Middle Jurassic indicate direct but episodic marine connection and faunal exchange between the two areas.