Bioturbation structures in the Holovnia Siliceous Marls (Turonian-lower Santonian) in Rybotycze (Polish Carpathians)

The Holovnia Siliceous Marls represent carbonate turbidites interbedded with non-calcareous pelagic/hemipelagic shales. This study reports on bioturbation pattern, trace fossil assemblage and distribution of bioturbation structures, i.e. structures resulting from the life activity of organisms in general, in the succession exposed in the village of Rybotycze. 20 ichnospecies were identified, with one new ichnogenus (Squamichnus) and one new species (Squamichnus acinaceformis). The ichnofossils represent nearly exclusively fodinichnia produced close to the seafloor, below calcite compensation depth. Shallow location of anoxic pore waters is indicated to be responsible for relatively shallow bioturbation depth whereas variability in frequency of turbidite sedimentation and petrographic composition of turbidites is suggested as the chief control on the vertical distribution of the bioturbation structures in the succession

Bioturbation structures of the Kropivnik Fucoid Marls (Campanian-lower Maastrichtian) of the Huwniki-Rybotycze area (Polish Carpathians)

The Kropivnik Fucoid Marls of the Polish Outer Carpathians contain numerous bioturbation structures, and comprise thin-bedded sandstones, hard and soft marlstones and muddy to clayey, mainly turbiditic shales. Comparison of three sections elucidated the stratigraphicand sedimentological controls on the distribution of the bioturbation structures, which are most common on the soles of sandstone beds, and within and on the tops of beds of hard marlstone overlain by shale. Most of the bioturbation structures are taxonomically undeterminable. Nevertheless, twenty seven ichnospecies, including one new ichnospecies (Taenidium recurvum), and seven forms of trace fossilsof unknown taxonomic affinity were recognised. Most ichnotaxa were observed as individual specimens. Irregular structures apparentlyformed by the squashing of burrows filled with fluidised fill, called here turbidichnia, are quite common in some marlstone beds in thelower part of the succession. Planolites beverleyensisand Halopoa imbricataare the most frequent trace fossils on the lower surfaces ofsandstone beds. Chondrites intricatus, Planolites beverleyensis and Thalassinoides suevicusrepresent the most common taxa in hardmarlstones. Endoreliefs of Scolicia isp. are quite frequent in the top parts of marlstone beds in some parts of the succession. Other ichnotaxa were found either rarely or as single specimens only. The burrowing depth, reaching 15 cm below the tops of normally-graded rhythmic units, together with the relatively rich trace fossil assemblage and common occurrence of Planolites and Thalassinoides, is interpreted as indicating fully oxic conditions at the bottom of the sedimentary basin

Integrated sedimentological and ichnological study of the Coniacian sedimentation in North Sudetic Basin, SW Poland

Lithofacies and ichnological features of the Coniacian deposits of the upper part of Żerkowice Member and lowest part of the overlying Czerna Formation in southeastern part of the North Sudetic Synclinorium are described and their sedimentary palaeoenvironment is interpreted. The study confirms a shallow-marine to paralic/paludine palaeoenvironment. Sedimentation of the Żerkowice Member occurred in an upper shoreface environment dominated by waves, tidal currents and wave-generated alongshore currents, with an episodic encroachment of foreshore zone and shoal-water deltas. The interpretation is supported by a high-diversity assemblage of trace fossils with 21 ichnogenera, representing a stressed expression of the Skolithos Ichnofacies dominated by Ophiomorpha nodosa and a proximal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies with Thalassinoides and rare specimens of diverse other ichnotaxa. Sedimentation of the Czerna Formation commenced after a stasis, with at least a local hiatus caused by emergence, and proceeded in a laterally and vertically more varied environment, with transgressive coastal lagoons evolving into freshwater lakes and marshes and with a repetitive regressive intrusion of shoreface and shoal-water deltas. The emergence of the area is recorded by coal-bearing deposits with plant-root traces. Local occurrence of the Teredolites Ichnofacies in coal (peat) deposits above the base of the Czerna Formation indicates renewed marine flooding. Continuation of the latter is locally evidenced by a trace-fossil assemblage with 17 ichnogenera, representing proximal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies followed by distal expression of the Skolithos Ichnofacies in the overlying transgressive-regressive cyclothems. The palaeoenvironmental changes recorded by the sedimentary succession indicate bathymetric fluctuations and imply considerable shoreline shifts and palaeogeographic changes in the basin. These changes are interpreted as a combined signal of 2nd- and 3rd-order eustatic cycles, modified and partly obliterated by the effects of intrabasinal tectonic forcing and by palaeogeographically controlled variation in sediment supply

Coniacian-?Santonian paralic sedimentation in the Rakowice Małe area of the North Sudetic Basin, SW Poland : sedimentary facies, ichnological record and palaeogeographical reconstruction of an evolving marine embayment

The Coniacian-?Santonian siliciclastic succession outcropped in a sandstone quarry at Rakowice Małe (Żerkowice Member of the Rakowice Wielkie Formation, and the Czerna Formation including the Nowogrodziec Member; North Sudetic Basin, SW Poland) provides an interesting example of paralic deposits. Lithofacies and ichnofossil examination indicate coastal, lacustrine, paludal and lagoonal sedimentation. Valuable new data are supplied by trace fossils, a feature not considered yet in the literature on the Upper Cretaceous of the North Sudetic Basin. Trace fossils are overall abundant in the upper part of the Nowogrodziec Member and overlying part of the Czerna Formation. The following ichnogenera: Thalassinoides, Ophiomorpha, Asterosoma, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Skolithos, Teredolites, Chondrites, Cylindrichnus, Arenicolites, Rosselia, Teichichnus, Phycodes, Phycosiphon, and Schaubcylindrichnus are represented. The trace fossils represent the Skolithos, Teredolites and Cruziana ichnofacies. The Cruziana Ichnofacies is typified by the richest trace fossil assemblage characteristic of its archetypal, proximal and stressed expressions. An upper shoreface to foreshore origin of these sediments is documented using lithofacies and the ichnofossils Ophiomorpha and Thalassinoides in the exposed part of the Żerkowice Member. Dominance of kaolinite, lack of burrows and upward passage into paludal deposits is interpreted to indicate a lacustrine origin of variegated clayey mudstone at the base of the Nowogrodziec Member. The changes of depositional environments are interpreted as resulting from separation of the area from the open sea by a sand barrier formed due to the termination of the forced regression. Siltstones containing plant roots and fragments of drifted wood showing the trace fossil Teredolites clavatus, together with coal-seams containing Thalassinoides isp., are assigned to indicate a coastal plain, paludal deposition of the overlying part of the Nowogrodziec Member and incursion of marine waters. The fining upward sequence constituting the top part of the Nowogrodziec Member and showing almost archetypal Cruziana Ichnofacies substituted by its expression indicative of highly stressed, brackish conditions are shown to indicate extensive drowning of the area and lagoonal sedimentation. Termination of the drowning, embodied in a maximum flooding surface, is indicated in a bed of coaly mudstone at the top of the Nowogrodziec Member. Sedimentation on a periodically prograded brackish bay shoreface is inferred from lithofacies, ichnofossils and body fossils for the deposits overlying the Nowogrodziec Member and topping the examined succession. The trace fossils indicate Cruziana Ichnofacies and Skolithos Ichnofacies in the expression of slightly stressed environ- ments. The whole examined part of the Czerna Formation is interpreted as a fifth-order transgressive-regressive cycle