Science and earth science

Acta Geologica Polonica

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Acta Geologica Polonica | 2024 | vol. 74 | No 1

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Abstract

The well-known Pleuronectia badensis Fontannes, 1882 (currently classified as Cristatopecten cristatus badense) is declared as a n omen protectum against the older synonym Pecten burdigalensis var. polonica Pusch, 1837 considered a nomen oblitum. It ranges from the early to the late Miocene (Burdigalian–Messinian) of the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the Central Paratethys it appeared in the early Miocene (Karpatian, correlating with the latest Burdigalian) and became extinct in the middle Miocene (Late Badenian, correlating with the early Serravallian). In Poland – the northernmost part of Central Paratethys – the occurrence of this taxon is limited to the late Early Badenian (late Langhian).
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Authors and Affiliations

Barbara Studencka
1

  1. Polish Academy of Sciences Museum of the Earth in Warsaw, Al. Na Skarpie 20/26, 00-488 Warszawa
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Abstract

Understanding the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of grabens rich in lignite is important in the context of the accumulation of ~40–650 m of peat, as well as the exploitation of later formed lignite seams with a thickness of ~20–250 m. Six such areas were selected for a detailed palaeotectonic analysis: the Gostyń, Szamotuły, Legnica, Zittau, Lubstów, and Kleszczów grabens. During the analysis, borehole data were used, taking into account the compaction of peat at the transition to lignite, in order to reconstruct the magnitude of the total subsidence. This made it possible to distinguish between regional (covering areas also outside the grabens) and local (occurring only in the grabens) tectonic movements, and among the latter, tectonic and compactional subsidence. The hypothetical palaeosurface of the mires was reconstructed based on the lignite decompaction. As a result, it was possible to determine whether the examined peat/lignite seams underwent post-depositional uplift and/or subsidence. Between one (Gostyń Graben) and four (Zittau Basin and Kleszczów Graben) stages of tectonic subsidence were distinguished in the studied lignite-bearing areas. In the case of the Zittau Basin, as well as the Lubstów and Kleszczów grabens, post-depositional stages of tectonic uplift were also indicated. Like the boundaries of lithostratigraphic units, the successive stages of the Cenozoic tectonic development of the examined grabens are diachronic.
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Authors and Affiliations

Marek Widera
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Krygowski 12, 61-680 Poznań, Poland
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Abstract

In the region of the Caucasus considered herein two large structural complexes have been identified: an autochthone, including the Gagra-Java zone (GJZ) of the Greater Caucasus fold-and-thrust belt, the Kura foreland basin (KFB), and an allochthone consisting of the Utsera-Pavleuri, Alisisgori-Chinchvelta, Sadzeguri- Shakhvetila, Zhinvali-Pkhoveli nappes and Ksani-Arkala parautochthone. The nappes are established on the basis of paleogeographic reconstructions, structural data, as well as drilling and geophysical data. The leading mechanism for the nappe formation is the advancement to the north and the underthrusting of the autochthone under the Greater Caucasus (A-type subduction). The nappes were formed mainly in the Late Alpine time (Late Eocene–Early Pliocene) and include only the sedimentary cover of the Earth’s crust (thin-skinned nappes). However the basal detachment (décollement) of the nappes, according to seismic data, penetrates deeply and cuts the pre-Jurassic crystalline basement, and even the entire Earth’s crust representing thick-skinned deformation. The total horizontal displacement of the flysch nappes of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus in their eastern (Kakhetian) part is 90–100 km. While, considering the folding of the entire Greater Caucasus, the total transverse shortening of the Earth‘s crust within its limits is equal to 190–200 km.
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Authors and Affiliations

Irakli Gamkrelidze
1
Kakha Koiava
1
Ferando Maisadze
1
Giorgi Chichua
2

  1. Alexandre Janelidze Institute of Geology, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University,31 Politkovskaia St., 0186, Tbilisi, Georgia
  2. National Agency for Oil and Gaz, 45 Kazbegi av., 0177, Tbilisi, Georgia
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Abstract

Martes wenzensis Stach, 1959 is the only European Pliocene marten and possible ancestor of an evolutionary lineage leading through Martes vetus Kretzoi, 1942 to Martes martes Linnæus, 1758. Its occurrence ranged between c. 3.6–2.2 Ma and its presence is recorded herein from four sites: three Polish and one Bulgarian (Varshets). The oldest record from Węże 1, dated to 3.6–3.2 Ma, is also the most abundant and the type locality for this species. Only isolated teeth came from two other Polish sites, Węże 2 and Rębielice Królewskie 1A, dated to 2.5–2.2 Ma. The visceocranium from Varshets (c. 2.5 Ma) shows intermediate features between the type specimen from Węże 1 and the Early Pleistocene M. vetus, its possible descendant. The palaeontological records corroborate well with molecular data. The comparison of marten crania from Węże 1 and Varshets shows decrease in size and massiveness of teeth during the evolution of the species. Martes wenzensis shows an admixture of features inherent to M. vetus, M. martes, and M. foina Erxleben, 1777. The species resembles more M. vetus and M. martes than M. foina. It is described as a large, robust marten, with a flat forehead, short and broad viscerocranium, wide snout, robust canines, elongated and narrow premolars and enlarged carnassials.
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Authors and Affiliations

Adrian Marciszak
1
ORCID: ORCID
Grzegorz Lipecki
2
ORCID: ORCID
Nikolai Spassov
3
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Department of Palaeozoology, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland
  2. Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17,31-016 Kraków, Poland
  3. National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tzar Osvoboditel 1, 1000 Sofia,Bulgaria
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Abstract

The Suborder Clupeoidei Bleeker, 1859 comprises mostly marine fishes, which form large schools feeding on plankton. The fossil record of the suborder in the Late Paleogene reveals that clupeoids were abundant in the Western, Central, as well as Eastern Paratethys. Clupeoid descriptions from the Polish Outer Carpathians (SE Poland, Central Paratethys) remain incomplete due to usage of ‘collective species’, taxonomical inaccuracies, and lack of clear links between extinct and extant representatives. In this paper we present a new clupeoid, † Beksinskiella gen. nov., from the Oligocene of the Outer Carpathians, Poland. The new genus encompasses the nominal species † Maicopiella longimana (Heckel, 1850). † Beksinskiella gen. nov. has a unique combination of characters (skull roof with frontoparietal striae; smooth opercle; 6–7 branchiostegal rays; 42–48 vertebrae; dorsal and anal fins with 21–23 rays; the last two rays of the anal fin being elongated, and the presence of a complete series of abdominal scutes with the postpelvic ones poorly developed), supporting recognition of a new genus of the Suborder Clupeoidei. Similarities and differences between fossil and extant genera of Cluepoidei are discussed to shed light on their relationship.
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Authors and Affiliations

Mateusz Granica
1
Małgorzata Bieńkowska-Wasiluk
1
Marcin Pałdyna
1

  1. University of Warsaw, Faculty of Geology, Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland
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Abstract

This paper presents the results of seismostratigraphic interpretation of the Upper Cretaceous sedimentary succession preserved within two synclines flanking the Szamotuły diapir in northwestern Poland. This succession is characterized by a complex Santonian–Campanian internal geometry characteristic of contourites – that is, deposits formed by contour (bottom) currents. The aim of the present paper is to document these contourites using 2D seismic reflection profiles calibrated by the Obrzycko 1 well. The contourite drifts in the immediate vicinity of the Szamotuły structure exhibit elongated mounded shapes, with adjacent concave moats. At greater distances from the diapir, gradual aggradational patterns are observed. The formation of these Santonian– Campanian contourites was associated with growth of the Szamotuły diapir during regional compression and Polish Basin inversion. These contour currents and associated contourites formed an integral part of a regional axial depositional system developed within the flanks of the Mid-Polish Anticlinorium. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential role of contourites as palaeomorphological indicators of palaeoslopes in varied geodynamics settings, such as inverting sedimentary basins, as opposed to the passive margins upon which they have been most commonly documented.
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Authors and Affiliations

Aleksandra Stachowska
1
Piotr Krzywiec
1

  1. Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland

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