Mid-Cretaceous spicule-rich turbidites in the Silesian Nappe of the Polish Outer Carpathians : radiolarian and foraminiferal biostratigraphy

Spicule-rich turbidites are widespread inmid-Cretaceous deep-water flysch of the Subsilesian and Silesian units in the Polish Outer Carpathians. The spicule-rich material with an admixture of numerous radiolarian and foraminiferal particles was supplied, together with siliciclastic material, from shallow environments, mostly from the northern margin of the Carpathian Basin. We present new data on theage of these deposits in the Silesian Nappe, where they are distinguished as the Mikuszowice Cherts. This unit is composed of medium-and thick-bedded siliciclastic to calcareous turbidites including bluish cherts in their middle and upper parts and of thin non-calcareoushemipelagic shales. We have studied radiolaria and foraminifera from hemipelagic sediments and spicule-rich turbidites, from two con-tinuous sections in the Barnasiówka Range (Beskid Wyspowy Mts.) that included the Mikuszowice Cherts (31 m thick) and their transition into the surrounding units. The age of the Mikuszowice Cherts was determined taking into account the following radiolarian datumevents: (1) the occurrence of Praeconocaryomma lipmanaein the entire unit, (2) the FO (first occurrence) of Hemicryptocapsa tuberosain the upper part of the unit, (3) the FO of Amphipyndax stockiclose to the upper boundary of the unit, (4) the FO of Hemicryptocapsa prepolyhedra in the lowermost part of the overlying Barnasiówka Radiolarian Shale Formation. These datum events appear successivelyin the Western Tethys successions within the Rotalipora cushmani planktonic foraminiferal Zone, which corresponds to the middle andupper Cenomanian (except for its uppermost part). The foraminiferal assemblages, in which such taxa as Rotalipora cf.cushmani, R. cf. greenhornensis, whiteinellids and Uvigerinammina praejankoi successively appear, confirm the mid-late Cenomanian age of thespicule-rich turbidites in the Silesian Nappe

Geotouristic values of the Chochołowska Valley (Tatra Mountains, Poland) and their accessibility for people with physical disabilities

The purpose of this contribution is to present the geotourist path in the Chochołowska Valley for the disabled with limited mobility, as well as for the elderly. The Chochołowska Valley is the most westward valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains (Western Tatras). It is the longest and largest valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains, with an area of 35 km2 and 10 km in length. The highest peak located in the Chochołowska Valley is the Starorobociański Wierch at 2176 m a.s.l. The altitude at the end of the valley around Siwa Polana, is about 900 m a.s.l. (from 910 m a.s.l. to 920 m a.s.l.). At the Polana Huciska, where the geotoursit path ends, the altitude is about 1000 m a.s.l. The length of the path is 3.5 km, and the altitude difference over this distance is 100 meters. The Chochołowska Valley is developed in sedimentary rocks (limestones, marls, dolomites), belonging to two nappes: Choč Nappe (e.g. Siwiańskie Turnie outcrop) and Križna Nappe (e.g. Niżna Brama Chochołowska Rock Gate). The valley administratively belongs to the Witów village. A green tourist trail was marked through the valley. It start from the Siwa Polana to the mountain hut named after John Paul II on Polana Chochołowska. An asphalt road is from Siwa Polana to the Polana Huciska. The Chochołowska Valley is one of the most beautiful Tatra valleys with numerous rock outcrops and is considered to have a high geotouristic potential. The proposed geotourist path includes selected outcrops, which can be easily accessed by people with limited mobility, including people in wheelchairs. This path runs along a wide asphalt road, and any additional equipment (e.g. a freewheel for wheelchairs) is not required. A large car parking lot is available at the beginning of the proposed path (Siwa Polana), as well as sanitary and catering facilities

Location of the Dubivtsi section in western Ukraine.

A–General geographic location marked by red circle, modified after [33], B–Lithological column at Dubivtsi section as logged in 2009, after [33], slightly modified. Foraminifera zones according to Dubicka and Peryt [33] and Walaszczyk and Peryt [36].</p

Comparison of dimensions of <i>Stomiosphaerina bakae</i> sp. nov., <i>Stomiosphaerina biedai</i> Nowak 1974, <i>Stomiosphaerina</i> sp. described by Nowak [14] and <i>Stomiosphaerina proxima</i> Řehánek 1987.

Comparison of dimensions of Stomiosphaerina bakae sp. nov., Stomiosphaerina biedai Nowak 1974, Stomiosphaerina sp. described by Nowak [14] and Stomiosphaerina proxima Řehánek 1987.</p

<i>Stomiosphaerina bakae</i> sp. nov.

in transversal sections. A–paratype 2—repository number: Dub 17-5-P2, specimen number 5 in Table 1. A1 –circular shape of a cyst with well-preserved thin inner (green arrow) and thicker outer (yellow arrow) layers. Note the equal thickness of the inner layer. A2 –dark cross (red arrows) is clearly visible. B–specimen number 6 in Table 1. B1 –small cyst with hardy recognizable inner layer. B2 –note the dark cross (red arrows). C,D–specimens number 7 and 8, respectively in Table 1, showing a circular shape of a cyst with well visible, thick inner layer and hardly recognizable outer layer from the surrounding material. Sample Dub 17. Thin section. A1,B1,C,D–plain-polarized light; A2,B2 –crossed-polarized light.</p

<i>Stomiosphaerina bakae</i> sp. nov.

A–holotype—repository number: Dub 17-1-H seen in longitudinal section of a test, specimen number 1 in Table 1. A1 –asymmetrical oval shape (pear-like shape) and morphology of two layers: inner (green arrow), which is thin and even, observed as a brownish color and outer layer (yellow arrow) composed of the coarse, wide and long plate-shaped calcite crystals. The proximal margin of the outer layer (pink arrow) is distinct and observed as a characteristic rim formed by distinct pyramidal top of calcite crystals. Note the smooth and even distal margin of the outer layer (orange arrow). The distinct boundary between the outer and inner layer is clearly visible. A2 –dark cross (red arrows) is clearly visible. B–longitudinal section of specimen number 2 in Table 1: B1 –clearly visible outer layer with coarse calcite crystals (yellow arrow), and dark, brownish color of inner layer with fibrous calcite (green arrow). B2 –dark cross (marked by red arrows) is visible. C–paratype 1—repository number: Dub 17-3-P1, specimen number 3 in Table 1. Longitudinal section of the test with narrow aperture (blue arrow). D–longitudinal section of specimen number 4 in Table 1 showing test with hardly visible aperture (blue arrow). Sample Dub 17. Thin section. A1, B1,C,D–plain-polarized light; A2,B2 –crossed-polarized light.</p

Microscopic view of wackestone/packstone with <i>Stopmiosphaerina bakae</i> sp. nov.

Stopmiosphaerina bakae sp. nov. (red arrow) is accompanied by common Pithonella ovalis (Kaufmann in Heer 1865) Lorenz 1902 (green arrows). Thin section, plain-polarized light, Sample Dub 17.</p

Scanning electron microscope photomicrograph of transversal sections of <i>Stomiosphaerina bakae</i> sp. nov.

cyst. A1,B1 –showing the structure of the wall, composed of thick outer (yellow arrow) and thinner inner (green arrow) layers. The outer layer is composed of coarse, long and wide, regular plate-shaped calcite crystals, radially arranged to the cyst surface; note calcite plate-like (tabular) crystals with a distinct, pyramid-like top (pink arrow) on a proximal margin of the outer layer. The inner layer is composed of thin, short, fibrous calcite crystals, without preferential orientation to the cyst surface, enlarged in A2 and B2. A2,B2 –enlarged images from A1 and B1, respectively, showing details of inner layer with chaotically arranged, thin, short, fibrous calcite crystals (green arrows). Rock chips. Dub 17.</p

<i>Stomiosphaerina bakae</i> sp. nov. diagram showing the elongation coefficient (Ec = L/W).

Stomiosphaerina bakae sp. nov. diagram showing the elongation coefficient (Ec = L/W).</p