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

Integrated stratigraphy of the Oxfordian global stratotype section and point (GSSP) candidate in the Subalpine Basin (SE France)

An integrated biostratigraphic approach, based on ammonites, calcareous nannofossils, dinoflagellates, combined with sedimentology, carbon-isotope and physical stratigraphy, is proposed for the Subalpine Basin (Thuoux and Saint-Pierre d’Argençon sections). Within the expanded marl deposits of the Terres Noires Fm., the Callovian-Oxfordian boundary is particularly well defined by ammonite taxa from different families (i.e. Cardioceratidae, Oppeliidae, Aspidoceratidae and Perisphinctidae), calcareous nannoplankton (first occurrence of large-sized Stephanolithion bigotii) and dinoflagellate cysts (first occurrence of Wanaea fimbriata). This precise biostratigraphy and diversity of ammonites permit long-range correlations with Boreal and Pacific domains. The exceptional outcrop conditions and continuous sedimentation allow high-resolution chemostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy to be used. Variations of the δ13C record (1.5‰ increase during the Lamberti Zone), consistent with data from other sections of the Subalpine Basin and with the Paris Basin, provide additional markers to characterise the Callovian-Oxfordian boundary. Promising results from cyclostratigraphy should serve to constrain the duration of biostratigraphic units and thus improve the Late Jurassic Geologic Time Scale. Comparisons are made with the two other candidates for an Oxfordian GSSP, Redcliff Point (UK) and Dubki (Russian Platform). Finally, the advantages of the Subalpine Basin sections support the proposal of Thuoux as a suitable GSSP candidate for the base of the Oxfordian Stag

Stratigraphie et paleogeographie de la marge septentrionale de la plate-forme arabe au mesozoique (Turquie du sud-est)

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