Hundred years of the national geological survey within the Polish Geological Institute

Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny (PIG) został powołany uchwałą Sejmu Ustawodawczego w dniu 30 maja 1919 r. jako państwowa służba geologiczna w obrębie Ministerstwa Przemysłu i Handlu, a oficjalne otwarcie instytutu odbyło się 7 maja 1919 r. W marcu 1938 r. dekretem prezydenta RP powołano państwową służbę geologiczną składającą się z PIG i Państwowej Rady Geologicznej. Z kolei dekret z dnia 8.10.1951 r. przystosował formy organizacyjne służby geologicznej do systemu planowania centralnego i dominacji własności państwowej, a sam instytut (którego nazwa została zmieniona na Instytut Geologiczny) został instytutem naukowo-badawczym. W 1985 r. powołano Ministerstwo Ochrony Środowiska i Zasobów Naturalnych, a do instytutu powróciło wiele zadań służby geologicznej, z tego też względu właściwym był powrót do historycznej nazwy – PIG, co nastąpiło 19.06.1987 r. Od 1.01.2012 r. PIG pełni funkcję państwowej służby geologicznej, a wcześniej – od 1.01.2002 r. – instytutowi powierzono zadania państwowej służby geologicznej. W dniu 24.02.2009 r. Rada Ministrów nadała PIG status państwowego instytutu badawczego. Stuletnia historia PIG pokazuje, że wszystkie podstawowe zadania tradycyjnie przypisywane państwowym służbom geologicznym były wykonywane z powodzeniem, a PIG jest modelowym przykładem współczesnej państwowej służby geologicznej o bardzo szerokich kompetencjach.The Polish Geological Institute (PGI) was established by the Polish Parliament on May 30, 1919 as the national geological survey within the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the official opening of the Institute took place on May 7, 1919. In March 1938, the President of Poland accepted a new decree concerning geological survey of Poland which was composed of the PGI and the State Geological Council. The decree of October 8, 1951 adjusted the organization forms of the geological survey to the system of central planning and the domination of state property, and the institute (with the name changed to the Geological Institute) became a scientific institution. In 1985, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Mineral Resources was established, and many tasks of geological survey returned to the institute, hence this turned out to be appropriate to return, on June 19, 1987, to the historical name, PGI. Since January 1, 2012, the Polish Geological Institute has served as the Polish geological survey, and earlier, since January 1, 2002, legally specified tasks of the Polish geological survey has been assigned to the PGI. On February 24, 2009 the Council of Ministers gave the PGI a status of National Research Institute. For the century the PGI has successfully fulfilled all the basic responsibilities and commitments that are conventionally assigned to national geological surveys, and is a model example of modern national geological survey of very wide expertise

Palaeogeographical zonation of gypsum facies: Middle Miocene Badenian of Central Paratethys (Carpathian Foredeep in Europe)

Studies on Middle Miocene Badenian gypsum in various parts of Central Paratethys, the oldest widespread primary marine gypsum, in western Ukraine, southern Poland and Moravia (Czech Republic) indicate that there are three principal gypsum facies: crystalline gypsum, stromatolitic gypsum and clastic gypsum. The latter typically occurs between crystalline and stromatolitic gypsum and between stromatolitic gypsum and the land. In addition, it is common in channels within gypsum microbialites, and is the main facies during the deposition of the upper part of Badenian gypsum when important bathymetric differences existed within the marginal part of the Carpathian Foredeep Basin, the largest foredeep basin in Europe. Within crystalline gypsum facies, it is observed the overall size of the crystals increases and that the layering declines towards the permanent, stabilized brine body, and thus the giant gypsum intergrowths–non-layered coarse-crystalline selenite – is the end-member of gypsum facies continuum. Typically it passes into layered selenites although owing to fluctuations of pycnocline level, some transitional gypsum subfacies may be missing both in the vertical section as well as in particular outcrops. The following important controls on the development of gypsum facies have been identified: pycnocline level fluctuations, brine level fluctuations including brine sheets and floods, rare marine transgressions, pedogenesis leading to “alabastrine” gypsum development, and rate of inflow of continental water

Foraminiferal and calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy of the upper Badenian–lower Sarmatian strata in the SE Polish Carpathian Foredeep

The Badenian/Sarmatian boundary in the Central Paratethys has been traditionally identified by the faunal turnover recording an important environmental change possibly controlled by the change from marine to brackish conditions. The strata below the Badenian/Sarmatian boundary in the northern Carpathian Foredeep are included into the Pecten beds, and those above it into the Syndesmya beds. Foraminiferal study of the Babczyn 2 borehole which is one of the crucial sections in the northern Carpathian Foredeep, well-known for the depositional age of rhyolite tuff within the Pecten beds dated by Śliwiński et al. (2012) at 13.06 ±0.11 Ma, indicated that in fact the boundary occurs within the Syndesmya beds. This conclusion is based upon the rapid change from a stenohaline foraminiferal fauna to a euryhaline one, and the appearance of the species Anomalinoides dividens, the taxon regarded as the marker for the Sarmatian. In the Babczyn 2 and Cieszanów 1 (located ~2.5 km basinward of Babczyn 2) boreholes, Anomalinoides dividens appears 3.1–3.8 m above the replacement of stenohaline by euryhaline foraminifers. The calcareous nannoplankton study shows that the upper Badenian and the lower Sarmatian strata in the studied sections represent the NN6, undivided NN6-NN7, and NN7 zones

The stratigraphy of Zechstein strata in the East European Craton of Poland : an overview

The sedimentary and stratigraphic patterns established for Zechstein of the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise (and in particular the eastern Łeba Elevation) were applied to other parts of the East European Craton (EEC) in Poland: the eastern Peribaltic Syneclise and the Podlasie region. A very large number of mostly fully-cored borehole sections in the Puck Bay region certainly predestines the eastern Łeba Elevation area to use it as a model. The most part of the EEC, except of its part adjacent to the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone, during the Zechstein deposition represents the marginal parts of the basin. The fauna occurring in the Zechstein carbonate deposits of the EEC makes it possible to distinguish between the Zechstein Limestone and the younger carbonate strata, but certainly not between the Main Dolomite and the Platy Dolomite and hence the facies models for the Zechstein that have been previously developed in the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise augmented by sequence stratigraphic approach seem to be the best tool to apply in other peripheral areas in the EEC area. The Zechstein sequence in the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise consists, in general terms, of three parts: (1) carbonate platform of the Zechstein Limestone (occurring only in the north-westernmost corner of the study area and passing into basin facies dominant in the most part of the area); (2) the PZ1 evaporite platform system composed of sulphate platforms and adjacent basin system and constituting the major part of the Zechstein sequence; and (3) the Upper Anhydrite-PZ3 cover. There is a consensus, as far as the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise is concerned, that the Platy Dolomite platform is wider than the Main Dolomite platform. In the easternmost part of the Peribaltic Syneclise, the stratigraphical interpretations are diverse. We have included the anhydrite overlying the Zechstein Limestone into the Upper Anhydrite, and concluded that the overlying interbedded mudstone and anhydrite also belong to the Upper Anhydrite. When above the Upper Anhydrite one carbonate unit occurs, it is assigned either to the Main Dolomite and Platy Dolomite, or to the Platy Dolomite. The same conclusion is proposed for the marginal parts of the Podlasie Bay. The deposition of Zechstein Limestone resulted in the origin of carbonate platforms along the basin margins which changed an inherited topographic setting. The Lower Anhydrite deposits are lowstand systems tracts (LST) deposits, lacking in more marginal parts of the western and eastern Peribaltic Syneclise and in the major part of the Podlasie Bay. The accommodation space existed and/or created during the Lower Anhydrite and the Oldest Halite deposition in the Baltic and Podlasie bays was filled and at the onset of the Upper Anhydrite deposition, a roughly planar surface existed except in the area ad jacent to the main Polish basin. The Upper Anhydrite deposits are transgressive systems tracts deposits and then highstand systems tracts deposits and they encroached the Zechstein Limestone platforms. The Upper Anhydrite deposition was terminated by sea level fall, and the Upper Anhydrite deposits in the marginal areas became subject to karstification. The Main Dolomite transgression took place in several phases but its maximum limit did not reach the Upper Anhydrite limit. The deposition of the PZ2 chlorides (LST deposits) resulted in the filling of the accommodation space that was inherited after the deposition of the Main Dolomite and the Basal Anhydrite. Subsequently, the area became exposed, and marine deposits (Grey Pelite and Platy Dolomite) related to the last major transgression during the life of the Zechstein basin that resulted in a flooding of the exposed surface of older Zechstein deposits, including the area that was emergent during deposition of the PZ2 cycle. Microbial carbonates, being stromatolites and thrombolites, are a common feature of all Zechstein carbonate units but in particular this is the case of the Platy Dolomite. There are no direct premises allowing for convincing settlement doubts regarding the stratigraphical position of the upper carbonate unit in many cases, but several lines of evidence suggest that, as in the entire Zechstein basin, the Main Dolomite considerably shifted basinward, and the Platy Dolomite - landward, although it is difficult to ascertain whether the original Platy Dolomite extent was similar to or greater than the limit of the Zechstein Limestone as elsewhere in the Zechstein Basin

The stratigraphy of Zechstein strata in the East European Craton of Poland : an overview

The sedimentary and stratigraphic patterns established for Zechstein of the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise (and in particular the eastern Łeba Elevation) were applied to other parts of the East European Craton (EEC) in Poland: the eastern Baltic Syneclise and the Podlasie region. A very large number of mostly fully-cored borehole sections in the Puck Bay region certainly predestines the eastern Łeba Elevation area to use it as a model. The most part of the EEC, except of its part adjacent to the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone, during the Zechstein deposition represents the marginal parts of the basin. The fauna occurring in the Zechstein carbonate deposits of the EEC makes it possible to distinguish between the Zechstein Limestone and the younger carbonate strata, but certainly not between the Main Dolomite and the Platy Dolomite and hence the facies models for the Zechstein that have been previously developed in the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise augmented by sequence stratigraphic approach seem to be the best tool to apply in other peripheral areas in the EEC area. The Zechstein sequence in the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise consists, in general terms, of three parts: (1) carbonate platform of the Zechstein Limestone (occurring only in the north-westernmost corner of the study area and passing into basin facies dominant in the most part of the area); (2) the PZ1 evaporite platform system composed of sulphate platforms and adjacent basin system and constituting the major part of the Zechstein sequence; and (3) the Upper Anhydrite-PZ3 cover. There is a consensus, as far as the western part of the Peribaltic Syneclise is concerned, that the Platy Dolomite platform is wider than the Main Dolomite platform. In the easternmost part of the Peribaltic Syneclise, the stratigraphical interpretations are diverse. We have included the anhydrite overlying the Zechstein Limestone into the Upper Anhydrite, and concluded that the overlying interbedded mudstone and anhydrite also belong to the Upper Anhydrite. When above the Upper Anhydrite one carbonate unit occurs, it is assigned either to the Main Dolomite and Platy Dolomite, or to the Platy Dolomite. The same conclusion is proposed for the marginal parts of the Podlasie Bay. The deposition of Zechstein Limestone resulted in the origin of carbonate platforms along the basin margins which changed an inherited topographic setting. The Lower Anhydrite deposits are lowstand systems tracts (LST) deposits, lacking in more marginal parts of the western and eastern Peribaltic Syneclise and in the major part of the Podlasie Bay. The accommodation space existed and/or created during the Lower Anhydrite and the Oldest Halite deposition in the Baltic and Podlasie bays was filled and at the onset of the Upper Anhydrite deposition, a roughly planar surface existed except in the area adjacent to the main Polish basin. The Upper Anhydrite deposits are transgressive systems tracts deposits and then highstand systems tracts deposits and they encroached the Zechstein Limestone platforms. The Upper Anhydrite deposition was terminated by sea level fall, and the Upper Anhydrite deposits in the marginal areas became subject to karstification. The Main Dolomite transgression took place in several phases but its maximum limit did not reach the Upper Anhydrite limit. The deposition of the PZ2 chlorides (LST deposits) resulted in the filling of the accommodation space that was inherited after the deposition of the Main Dolomite and the Basal Anhydrite. Subsequently, the area became exposed, and marine deposits (Grey Pelite and Platy Dolomite) related to the last major transgression during the life of the Zechstein basin that resulted in a flooding of the exposed surface of older Zechstein deposits, including the area that was emergent during deposition of the PZ2 cycle. Microbial carbonates, being stromatolites and thrombolites, are a common feature of all Zechstein carbonate units but in particular this is the case of the Platy Dolomite. There are no direct premises allowing for convincing settlement doubts regarding the stratigraphical position of the upper carbonate unit in many cases, but several lines of evidence suggest that, as in the entire Zechstein basin, the Main Dolomite considerably shifted basinward, and the Platy Dolomite – landward, although it is difficult to ascertain whether the original Platy Dolomite extent was similar to or greater than the limit of the Zechstein Limestone as elsewhere in the Zechstein Basin

Sedimentary and environmental history of the Late Permian Bonikowo Reef (Zechstein Limestone, Wuchiapingian), western Poland

The Bonikowo Reef occurs in the central part of the Zechstein Limestone Basin in western Poland and was growing on the topmost edges of tilted blocks and/or on the top of uplifted horsts of the Brandenburg–Wolsztyn–Pogorzela High. Its size is ca. 1.6 km2. The Bonikowo Reef shows the thickest reef section (90.5 m) recorded in the High. The Zechstein Limestone unit is represented mostly by limestones, often thoroughly recrystallized, although the macrotextures and biota of the boundstone are identifiable in most cases. The drillcore section is a mixture of boundstones (microbial and bryozoan), wackestones, packstones and grainstones, which often co-occur. The δ13C and δ18O values for both calcite (avg. 3.8 ± 0.8‰ and −3.4 ± 1.7‰, respectively) and dolomite (avg. 3.5 ± 0.7‰ and −5.2 ± 1.3‰, respectively) are transitional between the values previously reported for condensed sequences of the basinal facies and larger reef complexes. The biofacies of the Bonikowo Reef are very similar to those recognized in other reefs of the Brandenburg–Wolsztyn–Pogorzela High, which owe their origin to the destruction of bryozoan boundstones. The biota composition is typical and characteristic of other Zechstein Limestone reefs. However, the Bonikowo Reef demonstrates the importance of microbialites, laminar and nodose encrustations, in the growth and cohesion of the Zechstein Limestone reefs. Such encrustations abound within the Zechstein Limestone although, in many cases, the real nature of the encrustations is difficult to ascertain. These laminated encrustations show great similarity to Archaeolithoporella that is one of the most important Permian reef-building organisms. The encrustations considered to represent Archaeolithoporella were also previously recorded in the Zechstein Limestone of western Poland and in its stratigraphic equivalent, the Middle Magnesian Limestone of Northeast England. The lower part of the sequence shows great biofacies variability that reflects common environmental changes. The major part of the section is represented by slope deposits grading upward into the reef, which reflects the prograding nature of reef margin. The progradation rate for the Bonikowo Reef is estimated at 400 m/My