International Geological Journal - Official Journal of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association

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PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE MAASTRICHTIAN DINOSAUR- AND MAMMAL SITES OF THE RÂUL MARE AND BARBAT VALLEYS (HAŢEG BASIN, ROMANIA)

Published: Apr 2005

Pages: 137 - 147

Authors: JIMMY VAN ITTERBEECK, VALENTINA S. MARKEVICH, VLAD CODREA

Abstract: The palynomorph associations of the Upper Cretaceous dinosaur-bearing sediments of three different sites (Pui, Totesti-baraj and Nălaţ-Vad) within the Haţeg Basin show a great similarity with the palynomorph associations of the stratotypes of the Densus-Ciula and Sânpetru Formations. The absence of volcanoclastic layers places the sediments within the Sânpetru Formation. Palynological evidence indicates a Maastrichtian age of the vertebrate sites studied. The age can be refined to the Early-Late Maastrichtian boundary interval based on the good correlation with the lower Rogancian (France), the lower Garumnian (Spain) and the Gulpen Formation (Maastrichtian stratotype, The Netherlands). The ancient vegetation, dominated by ferns and bryophytes with disperse flowering plants and gymnosperm trees, is indicative for a subtropical climate. Freshwater ferns flourished in the floodplain ponds. For the first time, the megaspore genus Ghoshispora is recorded in Europe.

Keywords: Maastrichtian, Southern Carpathians, Romania, Haţeg Basin, palynology

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