Studia Geologica Polonica  vol. 109 (Abstracts)

Palaeoenvironment and age of the Krzonowe Formation (marine Toarcian-Aalenian), Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians

Krzysztof BIRKENMAJER & Jarosław TYSZKA

Abstract
The Krzonowe Formation (Lower Toarcian-Aalenian) of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians (Poland), is a unique gryphaeid-bearing marine succession of strata, consisting mainly of shales with intercalations of fine-grained sandstone, sideritic and oolitic-bioclastic limestone and ostreid coquina. The unit belongs to the Grajcarek Succession which was deposited in the southern part of the Magura sedimentary basin, and was separated from the Pieniny Klippen Basin by the Czorsztyn Ridge. The Grajcarek Succession was thrust retroarc over the folded tectonic units of the Pieniny Klippen Belt during the latest Cretaceous/early Paleocene phase of folding.
The Krzonowe Formation is underlain by dark shaly flyschoid rocks of the Szlachtowa Formation (Upper Liassic). There is lithological and microfaunal transition between the two formations. The Szlachtowa Formation appears again above the Krzonowe Formation; this was originally considered to be a tectonic repetition. An alternative explanation is that the Krzonowe Formation (Lower Toarcian-Aalenian) forms an intercalation within the Szlachtowa Formation. The upper unit of the latter formation, above the Krzonowe Formation, might thus represent the Aalenian. If this is confirmed by further palaeontological dating, the Krzonowe Formation would be downgraded to member within the upper part of the Szlachtowa Formation.
The following microfacies have been elaborated in the Krzonowe Formation: ostreid coquina; oolitic-bioclastic limestone; marly ferruginous sandstone; and quartz sandstone. The facies/biofacies successions indicate a regressive depositional trend from basal dark shale beds of the Szlachtowa Formation (Toarcian Anoxic Event) to arenaceous-calcareous-coquina beds of the Krzonowe Formation (Aalenian shallowing). This trend is reversed during the Aalenian, with dark shaly beds reappearing in the upper part of the Krzonowe Formation.

Studia Geologica Polonica, 109: 43-51.

Ślady starych robót górniczych w poszukiwaniu jurajskich rud żelaza w pienińskim pasie skałkowym na Spiszu

Krzysztof BIRKENMAJER

Streszczenie
W uroczysku Krzonowe, znajdującym się na południe od wsi Frydman, a na północ od górskiego pasma Branisko na Polskim Spiszu (pieniński pas skałkowy, Karpaty), występują utwory morskie należące do formacji z Krzonowego (toark-aalen), z charakterystycznym poziomem syderytycznych muszlowców ostrygowych (gryfeowych) w aalenie. Muszlowce te były obiektem poszukiwań i wstępnej eksploatacji rud żelaza prawdopodobnie w drugiej połowie XIX wieku, gdy w Kuźnicach koło Zakopanego dymiły piece hutnicze. Ślady tych robót górniczych, w postaci płytkich studni i szybików, były jeszcze dobrze widoczne w 1953 r. Obecnie są one w znacznej mierze zapełznięte.
 

Traces of old mining works for Jurassic iron ore in the Pieniny Klippen Belt at Polish Spisz, Carpathians

Studia Geologica Polonica, 109: 53-67.
 

New data on stratigraphy of the Spisz Limestone Formation (Valanginian) and the brachiopod succession in the lowermost Cretaceous of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians, Poland

Michał KROBICKI* & Andrzej WIERZBOWSKI**

Abstract
The condensed deposits of the lowermost part of the Spisz Limestone Formation contain ammonites and calpionellids indicative of the Early Valanginian and, locally, possibly even of the earliest part of the Late Valanginian. Rare ammonites (of the genera Rodighieroites and ?Dicostella) occurring in the middle part of this formation suggest the Late Valanginian (Pachydicranus Chron) age. The youngest deposits of the Spisz Limestone Formation may belong to the Upper Valanginian and/or to the Lower Hauterivian. This is inferred from their superposition only. The lithostratigraphic units of the section studied in the Biała Woda Valley have been reinterpreted. Successive brachiopod assemblages of this section, strictly correspond to those of the Łysa Limestone Formation from the Sobótka Klippe section. They indicate an ecostratigraphic value of these fossils for local correlation within the lowermost Cretaceous of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians.

Studia Geologica Polonica, 109: 69-85.

Late Cretaceous Radiolaria from the Czorsztyn Succession, Pieniny Klippen Belt, Polish Carpathians

Marta BĄK

Abstract
This paper is a continuation of investigations on radiolarian faunas from Cretaceous deposits in the Czorsztyn Succession, Pieniny Klippen Belt, Carpathians. The radiolarian assemblages from Lower Cenomanian to Upper Santonian deposits of this succession are dominated by spherical cryptothoracic and cryptocephalic Nassellariina, such as Holocryptocanium barbui, H. tuberculatum, Hemicryptocapsa prepolyhedra, Squinabollum fossile and Cryptamphorella conara. The Spumellariina are rare, including: Patellula planoconvexa, P. cognata and Cavaspongia californiaensis.

Studia Geologica Polonica, 109: 87-102.

Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) brachiopods of the Spisz Limestone Formation, Pieniny Klippen Belt, Polish Carpathians: their stratigraphic ranges and palaeoenvironment

Michał KROBICKI

Abstract
The Spisz Limestone Formation (Valanginian) of the Pieniny Klippen Belt in Poland is poor in brachiopods, as compared with the Łysa Limestone Formation (Upper Berriasian). The stratigraphic usage of single brachiopod species is limited, except for the species of the genus Fortunella, here recorded for the first time from the Pieniny Klippen Belt. The Valanginian brachiopod assemblages are useful for ecostratigraphy. Comparison of the Valanginian and Late Berriasian assemblages from the Pieniny Klippen Belt shows that they are also useful in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

Studia Geologica Polonica, 109: 103-130.

Calpionellid stratigraphy of the Tithonian-Berriasian pelagic limestones in the Tatra Mts (Western Carpathians)

Andrzej PSZCZÓŁKOWSKI

Abstract
The Pieniny Limestone Formation (Tithonian-Berriasian) of the lower Sub-Tatric Succession (Tatra Mts) is subdivided into two formal members: the Pośrednie Member (new unit), and the Osnica Member. Standard calpionellid zonations can be applied in this succession. The age of the Pieniny Limestone Formation is late Lower Tithonian to early Upper Berriasian. In the Gładkie Upłaziańskie section, this formation terminates in the late Lower Berriasian. The boundaries of the Pieniny Limestone Formation are diachronous. The Chitinoidella Zone is documented in the lower part of the Pieniny Limestone Formation. In the studied sections, Calpionella elliptica Cadisch disappears in the upper part of the Simplex Subzone, while the last occurrence of Calpionellopsis simplex (Colom) was observed in the upper part of the Oblonga Subzone.