GeolCarp_Vol62_No3_189

www.geologicacarpathica.sk

GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA

, JUNE 2011, 62, 3, 189—202 doi: 10.2478/v10096-011-0016-9

Introduction

Organic walled dinoflagellate cysts (further dinocysts) were
recently used for biostratigraphic studies of the Mesozoic in
many regions. However, dinocyst zones are usually based on
the  local  taxonomic  changes  of  microphytoplankton  assem-
blages that invoke a lot of difficulties in interregional corre-
lations  and  age  determination.  To  avoid  these  problems,
palynologists  apply  the  first  and  last  appearances  (FADs/
LADs)  of  the  selected  species,  and  this  approach  is  widely
adopted in palynological practice. Nevertheless the composi-
tion  of  key  species  groups  is  often  determined  by  regional
palynostratigraphic  needs  that  reflect  regional  peculiarities
of the dinocyst successions. Uppermost Jurassic and the low-
ermost Cretaceous is an even more confused situation, when
the isolation of Boreal basins caused high endemism of Bo-
real and Tethyan biotas. It makes long distance correlations
very problematic, even through ecotone regions of the Rus-
sian Platform, Crimea and NW Europe.

In spite of high regional differences of dinocyst assem-

blages and key species, the general development of dinocyst
floras apparently has to go on similar stages reflected by ma-
jor evolutionary tendencies and global climatic and geologi-
cal  trends.  Thus,  a  combined  approach,  including  both  the
method  of  selected  key  species  providing  the  definition  of
several marker levels, and the study of evolutionary stages of
the dinocyst, can provide important information for correla-
tion of dinocyst successions in distant regions. We used this
approach  for  our  palynostratigraphical  investigation  of  the
uppermost Jurassic and the lowermost Cretaceous of Siberia,
the Urals and Russian Platform and this methodology allows
us to compare our biostratigraphic results using palynologi-

cal data from different regions of Europe, America, Australia
and Antarctica.

Material and geological setting

Palynological material comes from five sections: Nordvik

section  (Laptev  Sea  coast),  Severo-Vologochanskaya 18
well  (Yenisei  River  mouth),  Zapadno-Purpeiskaya 710  well
(NW Siberia), Yatriya River section (Subarctic Urals), Kash-
pir section (middle reaches of the Volga River) (Fig. 1). An
almost continuous succession of Oxfordian to the Hauteriv-
ian  age  deposits,  containing  diverse  ammonites,  bivalves,
belemnites,  foraminifers  and  palynomorphs,  is  exposed  in
several outcrops on the Nordvik Peninsula (Saks et al. 1963;
Basov  et  al.  1970;  Zakharov  et  al.  1983;  Nikitenko  et  al.
2008).  The  Volgian  and  the  Berriasian  are  represented  by
grey  claystone  and  siltstone  of  the  Paksa  Formation  which
were  deposited  in  the  central  part  of  the  paleobasin.  There
are no stratigraphic gaps across the Jurassic-Cretaceous (J/K)
boundary,  which  is  located  (Fig. 2):  1)  at  the  base  of  the
Chetaites sibiricus Zone (base of the Boreal Berriasian) cali-
brated  against  the  Berriasella  jacobi  Zone  by  Saks  et  al.
(1963), Basov et al. (1970), Zakharov et al. (1983) on the ba-
sis of paleontological data; 2) at the base of the Craspedites
okensis  (base  of  the  Upper  Volgian)  calibrated  against  the
Berriasella jacobi Zone by Sey & Kalacheva (1999) on the
basis of paleontological data; 3) in the middle of Craspedites
taimyrensis Zone (upper part of the Upper Volgian) calibrated
against Calpionella Zone by Houša et al. (2007) on the basis
of  faunistic  and  paleomagnetic  data  (Chron  M19n  corre-
sponds to the Craspedites taimyrensis Zone).

Uppermost Jurassic and lowermost Cretaceous dinocyst

successions of Siberia, the Subarctic Urals and Russian

Platform and their interregional correlation

EKATERINA PESTCHEVITSKAYA, NATALIA LEBEDEVA and ALYONA RYABOKON

Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of SB RAS, av. ak. Koptyug 3, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;

PeschevickayaEB@ipgg.nsc.ru; LebedevaNK@ipgg.nsc.ru

(Manuscript received May 7, 2010; accepted in revised form October 13, 2010)

Abstract: Uppermost Jurassic and lowermost Cretaceous dinocyst successions calibrated against ammonite and fora-
miniferal zones were studied in five sections from North Siberia, the Subarctic Urals and the Russian Platform. To-
gether with analysis of published palynological material on additional contemporaneous sections from the Russian
Platform, our research provides a reliable regional correlation. The obtained biostratigraphic results are compared to
palynological data from different regions of Europe, America, Australia and Antarctica using the method of first/last
appearances of selected key species and evolutionary trends of dinocyst floras. Four correlative levels are defined in the
middle parts of the Volgian and Berriasian and near their tops providing interregional correlation of dinocyst succes-
sions. These levels range within 1—1.5 ammonite zones as the first/last appearances of some key species have minor
stratigraphic shifts in different sections that may be related to migration processes or to a different understanding of the
stratigraphic position of ammonite zones.

Key words: Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, Russia, bioevents, interregional correlation, dinoflagellate cysts.

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The Upper Berriasian was also studied in the Severo-Volo-

gochanskaya  18  well,  where  it  is  represented  by  silty  clay-
stone  of  the  Nizgnaya  Kheta  Formation.  The  Formation  is
characterized  by  diverse  foraminifers  and  palynomorphs
(Pestchevitskaya & Khafaeva 2008).

In the Zapadno-Purpeiskaya 710 well, the Volgian—Berria-

sian part of the section consists of clayey-siliciclastic rocks
of the Bazhenovo  Formation.  Core  material is  studied from
the  Middle—Upper  Volgian  and  Middle—lowermost  Upper
Berriasian.  This  stratigraphic  subdivision  is  based  on  bi-
valves, ammonites and palynomorphs (Beisel et al. 2002).

A well-studied section of marine Upper Volgian—Lower

Cretaceous  deposits  with  diverse  ammonites,  belemnites,  bi-
valves and palynomorphs is also exposed on the eastern slope
of the Subarctic Ural Mountains (Golbert et al. 1972; Fedoro-
va et al. 1993; Beizel et al. 1997; Lebedeva & Nikitenko 1998,
1999). The Upper Volgian and the Lower Berriasian are repre-
sented  by  grey  sandy  siltstone  and  silty  claystone  of  the  Fe-
dorov  and  Khorasoim  Formations  respectively.  The  J/K
boundary is located at the top of the Chetaites chetae Zone on
the basis of ammonites (Golbert et al. 1972; Lebedeva & Ni-
kitenko 1999) (Fig. 2). There is a hiatus in the Lower Berria-
sian including the Chetaites sibiricus Zone.

In the Kashpir section, the Ryazanian and the Volgian are

represented  by  sandstone  and  siltstone  of  the  Zhigulyovo
and the Undory Formations comprising a bench of organic-
reached claystone in its uppermost Volgian part (Gerasimov
1969; Mesezhnikov 1993a,b; Olferiev 1997). A stratigraphic
gap  at  the  base  of  the  Zhigulyovo  Formation  includes  the
lower part of the Ryazanian and the very uppermost part of
the Upper Volgian. The J/K boundary is located (Fig. 3): 1) at
the  top  of  the  Craspedites  nodiger  Zone  (Gerasimov  1969;
Casey  et  al.  1977;  Mesezhnikov  1993a;  Olferiev  1997)  on
the  basis  of  paleontological  data  and  by  Molostovsky  &

Eryomin  (2008)  on  the  basis  of  paleomagnetic  data  (Chron
M19n  corresponds  to  the  Craspedites  nodiger  Zone);  2)  at
the base of the Kachpurites fulgens Zone (base of the Upper
Volgian) by Hantzpergue et al. (1998) on the basis of ammo-
nites. Published palynological data on the Lower and Middle
Volgian of the Gorodische and Kashpir sections (Volga Riv-
er  basin),  the  Upper  Volgian  and  Ryazanian  of  Tchernaya
River  and  Kuzminskoje  sections  (Oka  River  basin)  have
been  used  for  the  comparative  analysis  of  dinocyst  succes-
sions (Fig. 3). In the Volga River basin, the Lower and Mid-
dle  Volgian  is  represented  by  calcareous  claystone  and
marlstone  of  the  Trazovskaya  and  Promza  Formations,  and
by  sandstone  and  siltstone  of  the  Undory  Formation  in  its
upper part (Gerasimov 1969; Mesezhnikov 1993a,b; Olferiev
1997).  In  the  Oka  River  basin,  the  Upper  Volgian  and  the
Ryazanian  consist  of  sands  of  the  Lopatkino  and  Kuzmin-
skoje Formations. There is a hiatus near the J/K boundary in-
cluding the Craspedites nodiger Zone of the Upper Volgian
and lower part of the Lower Ryazanian.

Dinocyst successions of Siberia, the Subarctic Urals

and Russian Platform

Outcrops of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits

on the Nordvik Peninsula represent one of the most significant
sections  for  the  analysis  of  Siberian  dinocysts  of  this  strati-
graphic  interval  and  provide  a  continuous  succession  of  di-
nocyst  events  near  the  J/K  boundary  calibrated  against
ammonite  zones.  Here,  the  Upper  Volgian  and  Berriasian
yield rather rich dinoflagellate floras in moderate abundance,
mostly  composed  of  species  widely  distributed  in  Boreal  re-
gions (Fig. 2). The endemic Russian forms included are only
Ambonosphaera  delicata  Lebedeva,  Leberidocysta  spinosa

Fig. 1. Locations of analysed sections.

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Fig. 2.

Uppermost Jurassic and lowermost Cretaceous dinocyst events of

Siberia and Subarctic Urals.

J/K

– indicates different versions of

J/K boundary location. In th

e brackets, general base

range

(for

FADs)

and

top

range

(for

LADs)

the

species

are

ven.

Species,

which

not

appear

below

above

certain

levels

are

marked

bold

type.

The

evaluation

stratigraphical

nge

of dinocyst species is based on original author’s material and

publications cited in this paper and also in Powel A.J. (Ed.) (

1992), Jansonius & McGregor (1996), Riding et al. (1998), Lebed

eva

Nikitenko

(1998,

1999),

Pestchevitskaya

(2007).

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GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 3, 189—202

Fig. 3.

Uppermost

Jurassic

and

lowermost

Cretaceous

dinocyst

events

the

Russian

Platform.

J/K

–

indicates

different

versions

the

J/K

boundary

location.

the

brackets,

general

base

range

(for

FADs)

and

top

range

(for

LADs)

the

species

are

ven.

Species,

which

not

appear

below

above

certain

levels

are

marked

bold

type.

The

evaluation

stratigraphical

nge

of dinocyst species is based on original author’s material and

publications cited in this paper and also in Powel A.J. (Ed.) (

1992), Jansonius & McGregor (1996), Riding et al. (1998), Lebed

eva

Nikitenko

(1998,

1999),

Pestchevitskaya

(2007).

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UPPERMOST JURASSIC AND LOWERMOST CRETACEOUS DINOCYST SUCCESSION (RUSSIA)

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GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 3, 189—202

Pestchevitskaya, and Dingodinium subtile Pestchevitskaya. A
characteristic feature is the diversity of the Subfamily Pareodi-
nioideae. This succession provides the first report of Scrinio-
dinium  campanula  Gocht  from  the  upper  part  of  the  Middle
Volgian. In the Upper Berriasian it is well correlated with di-
nocyst assemblages from the Yenisei River region that contain
a  similar  taxonomic  composition  (Fig. 2).  Berriasian  micro-
phytoplankton  associations  from  the  Zapadno-Purpeiskaya
710 well are less abundant and diverse. Middle Volgian sam-
ples  are  almost  barren  of  palynomorphs,  and  produce  resi-
dues  rich  in  amorphogen.  This  situation  is  typical  for  the
inner  areas  of  West  Siberia,  where  Volgian  organic-rich
shales  of  Bazhenovo  Formation  often  contain  neither  fauna
nor  palynomorphs.  This  is  commonly  explained  by  anoxic
conditions  during  deposition  (Shurygin  et  al.  2000).  In  the
Subarctic  Urals  and  the  Pechora  River  region,  dinoflagellate
floras  are  enriched  by  chorate  and  leptodinioid  forms,  which
are rare in Siberia. In the Yatria River section, the endemic Si-
berian species Ambonosphaera delicata Lebedeva is found in
the Upper Berriasian, while in the Nordvik section its lower-
most occurrence is observed in the Upper Volgian. The diver-
sity of dinocysts increases considerably in the sections of the
Volga  and  Oka  Rivers  regions,  especially  in  the  Berriasian
successions  (Fig. 2).  Gonyaulacoids  become  very  abundant,
while pareodinioid forms typical for Siberia are almost absent.

In spite of considerable lateral taxonomic differences of

contemporaneous dinocyst assemblages, several stratigraph-
ic marker levels can be determined on the basis of evolution-
ary  trends  and  FADs/LADs  of  selected  species.  Levels  of
high  taxonomic  changes  in  dinocyst  assemblages  are  ob-
served near the bases of the Middle and Upper Volgian, near
the base of the Berriasian, and in the middle and upper parts
of the Berriasian (Figs. 2, 3). This is the result of the appear-
ance both of well known Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian taxa and
FADs/LADs of stratigraphically important species providing
regional correlations. The FAD of Senoniasphaera jurassica
(Gitmez & Sarjeant) Lentin & Williams is observed near the
base of the Middle Volgian in the Volga and Pechora Rivers
regions,  while  in  European  sections  it  is  recognized  in  the
Kimmeridgian (Powel 1992). The FAD of  Chlamydoforella
nyei  Cookson  &  Eisenack  is  defined  in  the  uppermost  Vol-
gian in the Yatriya and Volga River sections. The first occur-
rences  of  Spiniferites  ramosus  (Ehrenberg)  Mantell  are
found in the uppermost Volgian in the Subarctic Urals and at
the base of the Berriasian in the Nordvik section. A well cor-
relatable  marker  near  the  Upper  Berriasian/Ryazanian  base
is the FAD of Cassiculosphaeridia reticulata Davey, which
is found in almost all sections (Figs. 2, 3). This level is also
confirmed  by  the  FADs  of  Kleithriasphaeridium  fasciatum
(Davey & Williams) Davey (Yatriya and Oka River regions)
and  Stanfordella  exanguia  (Duxbury)  Helenes  &  Lucas-
Clark (Volga River and Nordvik regions). The marker level
in the middle of the Upper Berriasian is defined by the FAD
of Dingodinium subtile Pestchevitskaya in the Siberian sec-
tions and the LADs of Senoniasphaera jurassica (Gitmez &
Sarjeant)  Lentin  &  Williams  and  Gonyaulacysta  jurassica
(Deflandre)  Norris  &  Sarjeant  both  in  Siberia  and  on  the
Russian  Platform  (Figs. 2,  3).  The  top  of  the  Berriasian  is
characterized by the LADs of Dingodinium? spinosum (Dux-

bury) Davey and Dingodinium tuberosum (Gitmez) Fisher
& Riley in Siberia and the Volga River region.

Interregional correlation of Russian dinocyst

successions

Comparison of Russian and NW European dinocyst suc-
cessions

The Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous dinocyst succes-

sions  of  NW  Europe  are  studied  and  discussed  in  numerous
publications  (Duxbury  1977;  Powel  1992;  Jansonius  &
McGregor  1996;  Poulsen  1996;  Duxbury  et  al.  1999;  Hern-
green et al. 2000; Abbink et al. 2001; Hunt 2004 and others).
Dinoflagellate floras from the Russian Platform are similar to
the  microphytoplankton  associations  from  Denmark  (Davey
1982; Poulsen 1996), Netherlands (Herngreen et al. 2000; Ab-
bink et al. 2001) and England (Duxbury 1977; Duxbury et al.
1999; Hunt 2004) comprising rich gonyaulacoids and various
chorate  forms,  while  the  Siberian  dinocyst  assemblages  are
closer to those of the Norwegian and Barents Sea comprising
more  diverse  pareodinioids  (Aarhus  et  al.  1986;  Smelror  &
Dypvik  2005).  Nevertheless  European  dinocyst  successions
include  a  number  of  species  that  are  absent  in  Russia
(Figs. 2—4).  Several  European  stratigraphic  markers  are  well
defined  in  the  Portlandian  and  Ryazanian,  including  a  level
near  the  J/K  boundary,  although  some  species  have  slightly
different FADs/LADs (within one ammonite zone) in different
sections (Fig. 4). As in Russia, there are levels of high taxo-
nomic  changes  within  dinocyst  assemblages.  The  level  near
the base of Kerberites kerberus Zone characterized by the re-
gional  FADs  of  Isthmocystis  distincta  Duxbury,  Perisseia-
sphaeridium  insolitum  Davey,  Gochteodinia  virgula  Davey,
Gochteodinia villosa (Vozzhennikova) Norris can be correlat-
ed  against  the  Russian  upper  Middle  Volgian  level  by  the
FAD of Dingodinium? spinosum (Duxbury) Davey defined in
Denmark,  Netherlands  and  N  Siberia  (Figs. 2,  4).  The  level
near the top of the Volgidiscus lamplughi Ammonite Zone can
be correlated against the Russian dinocyst level corresponding
to  the  Craspedites  nodiger  Ammonite  Zone  by  the  LAD  of
Cribroperidiunim? gigas (Raynaud) Helenes identified in off-
shore Norway, the North Sea and Oka River regions (Figs. 3,
4). The level in the middle of the Berriasian is well defined in
NW Europe by the inception and extinction of a wide num-
ber  of  gonyaulacoid  species,  and  some  of  them  (Kleithria-
sphaeridium  fasciatum  (Davey  &  Williams)  Davey,
Lagenorhytis  delicatula  (Duxbury)  Duxbury,  Meiouro-
gonyaulax  pertusa  (Duxbury)  Below,  Sentusidinium  rioultii
(Sarjeant)  Sarjeant  &  Stover  also  have  their  FADs  near  this
level  on  the  Russian  Platform.  The  extinction  of  Senonia-
sphaera jurassica (Gitmez & Sarjeant) Lentin & Williams in
the  middle  of  the  Upper  Berriasian  has  been  indentified  in
North Siberia, the Russian Platform and Dorset (Figs. 3, 4). A
reliable  correlative  marker  at  the  top  of  the  Berriasian  is  the
LAD of Dingodinium? spinosum (Duxbury) Davey, which is
well-defined in Siberia, the Russian Platform and NW Europe.
Minor stratigraphic shifts of the FADs/LADs of some species
in different sections do not provide accurate interregional cor-

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GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 3, 189—202

Fig. 4.

Uppermost

Jurassic

and

lowermost

Cretaceous

dinocyst

events

Europe.

Correlations

dinocyst

successions

against

ammoni

zones

are

given

Poulsen

(1996),

Duxbury

al.

(1999),

Herngreen

al.

(2000)

and

Abbink

al.

(2001).

brackets,

general

base

range

(for

FADs)

and

top

range

(for

Ds)

the

species

are

given.

Species,

which

not

appear

belo

above

certain

levels,

are

marked

bold

type.

The

evaluation

stratigraphical

range

dinocyst

species

based

origina

author’s

material

and

publications

cited

this

paper

and

Powel

A.J.

(Ed.)

(1992),

Jansonius

McGregor

(1996),

Riding

al.

(1998),

Lebedeva

Nikitenko

(1998,

1999)

and

Pestchevitsk

aya

(2007).

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GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 3, 189—202

relations, but allow the comparison of certain stratigraphic in-
tervals that are characterized by similar dinocyst events within
1—1.5 ammonite zones.

Comparison of dinocyst successions of Russia and North
America

Uppermost Jurassic—lowermost Cretaceous dinocyst suc-

cessions of North America are studied from differing distant
areas including Arctic Canada (Davies 1983), Newfoundland
(Van  Helden  1986),  SE  Canada  (Bujak  &  Williams  1978),
and  the  Bahama  Basin  (Habib  1983).  The  different  geo-
graphical positions of studied areas result in essential region-
al peculiarities of dinoflagellate floras. Microphytoplankton
assemblages  from  Newfoundland  are  characterized  by  low
species diversity. It is interesting to note the presence of the
typical Russian species  Imbatodinium  kondatjevii  Vozzhen-
nikova in this section. The assemblages from Arctic Canada
are  more  diverse  and  contain  abundant  pareodinioid  forms
that are also recognized in Siberia. The diversity of gonyaul-
acoids  and  the  presence  of  Achomosphaera  neptuni
(Eisenack)  Davey  &  Williams,  Chytroeisphaeridia  chytroe-
ides (Sarjeant) Downie & Sarjeant, Phoberocysta neocomica
(Gocht)  Millioud,  Gochteodinia  villosa  (Vozzhennikova)
Norris,  Tubotuberella  apatela  (Cookson  &  Eisenack)  Ioan-
nides et al., Wallodinium krutzschii (Alberti) Habib are simi-
lar features of the dinocyst assemblages from SE Canada and
the  Russian  Platform.  Dinocyst  successions  of  the  Bahama
region are of transitional character comprising species typi-
cal for different areas of Europe, Russia and Australia. The
levels  of  high  taxonomic  changes  in  American  dinocyst  as-
semblages are observed near the bases of the Tithonian and
the  Berriasian,  and  in  their  upper  parts  (Fig. 5).  The  Upper
Tithonian level can be correlated against the Upper Volgian
level  of  Siberia  by  the  FAD  of  Tanyosphaeridium  isocala-
mum (Deflandre & Cookson) Davey & Williams determined
in SE Canada and Nordvik section. The appearance of Circu-
lodinium colliveri (Cookson & Eisenack) Helby near the J/K
boundary  is  recognized  in  SE  Canada  and  the  Volga  River
region.  A  reliable  correlative  level  is  defined  in  the  upper
part  of  the  Berriasian:  these  marker  events  are  the  LAD  of
Sentusidinium  rioultii  (Sarjeant)  Sarjeant  &  Stover  recog-
nized in Newfoundland and the Volga River region, the FAD
of Nelchinopsis kostromiensis (Vozzhennikova) Wiggins rec-
ognized in Newfoundland and the Subarctic Urals, the FAD of
Sentusidinium?  “cuculliforme”  Davies  and  the  LAD  of
Paragonyaulacysta  capillosa  (Brideaux  &  Fisher)  Stover  &
Evitt recognized in Arctic Canada and the Nordvik section.

Comparison of dinocyst successions of Russia, Australia
and Antarctica

The dinocyst assemblages of Australia and Antarctica com-

prise a number of endemic species providing detailed regional
zonation  of  Upper  Jurassic  and  Lower  Cretaceous  deposits
(Helby  et  al.  1987;  Duane  1996;  Partridge  2006).  A  succes-
sion  of  dinocyst  zones  dated  by  ammonites,  belemnites  and
bivalves is defined in the Tithonian and Berriasian of Austra-
lia  (Helby  et  al.  1987;  Partridge  2006).  In  the  Berriasian,  a

similar  succession  is  also  identified  in  the  Antarctic  region
within  the  President  Beaches  Formation  (Duane  1996).  The
underlying Anchorage Formation of Kimmeridgian-Tithonian
age yielded only barren palynological residues (Duane 1996).
Correlative  levels  are  defined  for  these  regions  in  the  lower-
most Berriasian by the FAD of Senoniasphaera ptomatis Hel-
by,  May  &  Partridge,  and  slightly  upward,  by  the  LAD  of
Kalyptea  wisemaniae  Stover  &  Helby  (Fig. 6).  These  levels
are  characterized  by  the  inception  and  extinction  of  a  wide
number of species, and most of them are endemics. Neverthe-
less  the  lowermost  Berriasian  level  can  be  correlated  against
the  same-aged  level  on  the  Russian  Platform  by  the  FAD  of
Circulodinium  colliveri  (Cookson  &  Eisenack)  Helby  deter-
mined  in  Antarctica  and  the  Volga  River  region  (Figs. 3,  6).
Another  marker  species  for  the  correlation  of  the  Australian
and  Russian  regions  is  Batioladinium  reticulatum  Stover  &
Helby, its inception in the upper part of the Berriasian is de-
fined in Australia and NW Siberia.

Comparison of Russian, Central European and SW Euro-
pean dinocyst successions

South European and Central European dinocyst assem-

blages  of  the  uppermost  Jurassic  and  the  lowermost  Creta-
ceous studied in SE France (Monteil 1992, 1993), SE Spain
(Leereveld  1995,  1997)  and  Austria  (Boorová  et  al.  1999)
are  characterized  by  similar  taxonomic  composition.  A  dis-
tinctive succession of dinocyst events has enabled the work-
ing  out  of  a  detailed  dinocyst  zonation,  but  most  of  the
regional stratigraphical markers cannot be identified in NW
Europe, Russia, America and Australia, precluding accurate
interregional  correlations  (Figs. 2—7).  Nevertheless,  several
species  from  the  Central  European  and  SW  European  di-
nocyst assemblages are also recognized in Siberia and on the
Russian Platform: Achomosphaera neptuni (Eisenack) Davey
&  Williams,  Chytroeisphaeridia  chytroeides  (Sarjeant)
Downie & Sarjeant, Circulodinium distinctum (Deflandre &
Cookson) Jansonius, Cometodinium habibii Monteil, Dingo-
dinium  “albertii”  Clarke  &  Verdier,  Dingodinium  cervicu-
lum Cookson & Eisenack, Exiguisphaera phragma Duxbury,
Kleithriasphaeridium fasciatum (Davey & Williams) Davey,
Meiourogonyaulax  pertusa  (Duxbury)  Below,  Muderongia
tabulata  Raynaud,  Scriniodinium  campanula  Gocht,  Spini-
ferites  ramosus  (Ehrenberg)  Mantell, Stanfordella  exanguia
(Duxbury)  Helenes  &  Lucas-Clark,  Tanyosphaeridium  iso-
calamum  (Deflandre  &  Cookson)  Davey  &  Williams,
Tubotuberella  apatela  (Cookson  &  Eisenack)  Ioannides  &
al.,  Wallodinium  cylindricum  (Habib)  Duxbury,  Wrevittia
helicoidea  (Eisenack  &  Cookson)  Helenes  &  Lucas-Clark.
The FAD of Spiniferites ramosus in the uppermost Jurassic—
lowermost  Berriasian  is  determined  in  SE  France,  the  Sub-
arctic  Urals  and  North  Siberia,  and  FAD  of  Dingodinium
cerviculum Cookson & Eisenack in the middle of the Lower
Berriasian is defined in Austria and West Siberia. Four cor-
relative events are observed in the upper part of the Berria-
sian:  the  FAD  of  Meiourogonyaulax  pertusa  (Duxbury)
Below in SE Spain and the Volga River region; the FAD of
Kleithriasphaeridium fasciatum (Davey & Williams) Davey
in  Austria,  the  Subarctic  Urals  and  Oka  River  region;  FAD

196

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Fig. 5.

Uppermost Jurassic and lowermost Cretaceous dinocyst events of

N America. Correlation of dinocyst succession against

buchia

zones is given in Davies (1983). In the brackets, general

base range (for FADs) and top range

(for LADs) of the species a

re given. Species, which do not

appear below or above certain l

evels, are marked by bold

type. The evaluation of stratigraphic

range

dinocyst

species

based

original

author’s

materia

and

publications

cited

this

paper

and

also

Powel

A.J.

(Ed.)

(1992),

Jansonius

McGregor

(1996),

Riding

al.

(1998),

edeva

Nikitenko

(1998,

1999),

Pestchevitskaya

(2007).

197

UPPERMOST JURASSIC AND LOWERMOST CRETACEOUS DINOCYST SUCCESSION (RUSSIA)

GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA

GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 3, 189—202

Fig. 6. Uppermost Jurassic and lowermost Cretaceous dinocyst events of Australia and Antarctica. In the brackets, general base range (for
FADs) and top range (for LADs) of the species are given. Species, which do not appear below or above certain levels, are marked by bold
type. The evaluation of stratigraphical range of dinocyst species is based on original author’s material and publications cited in this paper
and also in Powel A.J. (Ed.) (1992), Jansonius & McGregor (1996), Riding et al. (1998), Lebedeva & Nikitenko (1998, 1999) and Pestche-
vitskaya (2007).

of Exiguisphaera phragma Duxbury in Austria and Oka River
region; FAD of Stanfordella exanguia (Duxbury) Helenes &
Lucas-Clark in Austria, North Siberia and on the Russian
Platform. These events appear to have stratigraphic shifts
within 1—1.5 ammonite zones in different regions.

Discussion and conclusions

Our analysis of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous di-

nocyst  successions  of  different  regions  of  Russia,  Europe,
America and Australia demonstrates their essential regional
peculiarities. The taxonomic composition of dinocyst assem-
blages  allows  the  determination  of  regional  zonations,  and
several  regional  levels  of  high  taxonomic  changes  in  di-
nocyst  assemblages  are  defined.  Nevertheless,  a  number  of
key species can provide interregional correlations (Fig. 8). In
the middle of the Volgian and uppermost Berriasian, Russian
dinocyst  successions  are  mostly  correlated  against  Boreal
successions  of  Europe  and  America,  while  the  levels  of  the
uppermost Jurassic—lowermost Berriasian and the middle of

the Berriasian also provide correlation against SE European,
Australian, and Antarctic successions.

It should be noted that these key species cannot be recog-

nized in all sections. They represent groups of correlative spe-
cies for certain levels, which allow in general the possibility of
step-by-step correlation of distant dinocyst successions. These
levels are defined in the middle parts of the Volgian/Tithonian
and  Berriasian,  near  the  J/K  boundary,  and  in  the  uppermost
Berriasian  (Fig. 8).  This  correlation  is  controlled  by  similar
evolutionary trends of the dinocyst floras. Upper Jurassic and
Lower  Cretaceous  dinocyst  assemblages  comprise  a  number
of species that arose in the lower horizons, but are gradually
replaced by new species upward within the sections. The anal-
ysis of dinocyst renewal shows similar tendencies in the rela-
tions  of  ancient/new  species  in  distant  regions  (Fig. 9).  The
quantity of Tithonian species considerably increases in the up-
permost Jurassic in relation to lower strata. The characteristic
feature of dinocyst assemblages of the lower and middle parts
of the Berriasian is the presence of Cretaceous species, which
become essentially richer in the Upper Berriasian. The renew-
al  tendencies  are  less  distinct  in  dinocyst  assemblages  from

198

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Fig. 7.

Uppermost

Jurassic

and

lowermost

Cretaceous

dinocyst

events

Central

and

Europe.

Correlations

dinocyst

successions

aga

inst

ammonite

zones

are

given

Monteil

(1992,

1993)

and

Leereveld

(1995,

1997).

the

brackets,

general

base

range

(for

FADs)

and

top

range

(for

LADs)

the

species

are

given.

Species,

which

not

appear

below

above

certain

levels,

are

marked

bold

type.

The

evaluation

stratigraphical

range

dinocyst

species

based

original

author’s

material

and

blications

cited

this

paper

and

also

Powel

A.J.

(Ed.)

(19

92),

Jansonius

McGregor

(1996),

Riding

al.

(1998),

Lebedeva

ikitenko

(1998,

1999),

Pestchevitskaya

(2007).

200

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Arctic and Boreal regions, a similar trend that has been dem-
onstrated for other fossil groups, such as ammonites (Shulgina
1985) and foraminifers (Nikitenko 2009). Similar-aged di-
nocyst assemblages from Australia and Boreal regions of the
Northern Hemisphere revealed close relations of ancient/new
species possibly due to similar latitudinal positions and cli-
matic conditions of these areas in the Upper Jurassic and the
Lower Cretaceous.

Thus, the definition of correlative levels characterized by

certain bioevents allows the comparison of dinocyst succes-
sions of Russia and distant regions of Europe, America, Aus-
tralia  and  Antarctica,  although  dinocyst  floras  reveal  rather
high regional divergence. An important aspect is the analysis
of the sequences of these levels as it provides reciprocal con-
trol of their stratigraphic positions. The correlation is proved
by similar evolutionary tendencies in the development of di-
nocyst  floras  in  different  regions.  The  correlative  levels
range  within  1—1.5  ammonite  zones  as  the  FADs/LADs  of
some key species may have minor stratigraphic shifts in dif-
ferent  sections  even  in  one  region.  It  may  be  related  to  the
migration  processes  or  to  a  different  understanding  of  the
stratigraphic  position  of  ammonite  zones.  Nevertheless,  di-
nocysts show considerable potential for long distance corre-

Fig. 9. Relations of ancient/new species in the uppermost Jurassic—lowermost Cretaceous in different regions. 1 – Lower and Middle Ju-
rassic species, 2 – Oxfordian species, 3 – Kimmeridgian species, 4 – Tithonian species, 5 – Berriasian species.

lations that are likely to be more accurate in the future, after
more precise calibration of ammonite zones.

Acknowledgments: We are grateful to Dr. J. Michalík, Dr. M.
Smelror, Dr. P. Skupien, Dr. J. Clough and Dr. R. Blodgett
for valuable criticism and useful suggestions. RFBR Grants
09-05-00210 and Grants by Presidium of RAS No. 21, 25.

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