Search

A rich macroflora has been collected from Karpatian (late early Miocene) layers of the Mecsek Mts during recent decades. The bulk of the fossil assemblage consists of leaves and also fruits of angiosperms. Among the more than a hundred taxa, several endemic species were described: Leguminocarpum mecsekense Andreánszky, Ailanthus mecsekensis Hably, Nyssa gyoergyi sp. nov., Nyssa gergoei sp. nov., Nyssa sp. 1, Clematis csabae sp. nov., Gordonia sp. and Carpolithes gergoei Hably et Erdei sp. nov. Many taxa were last recorded in the Carpathian Basin, e.g. Cedrelospermum, Ziziphus. Other taxa appeared in this flora, e.g. Quercus kubinyii, Podocarpium podocarpum, Liquidambar europaea and Populus populina, and later became dominant in the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) floras or even in the late Miocene (Pannonian) floras. Four main vegetation types were determined. The most significant types are subxerophytic vegetation showing high diversity, swamp vegetation, riparian vegetation, and a vegetation type growing in habitats with higher rainfall. Thermophilous flora elements are dominant in the assemblage, although “arctotertiary” species also appear. The floristic character of the flora supports the results of an earlier quantitative climate analysis of the Magyaregregy flora, according to which mean annual temperature was 15.6–16.6°C and coldest-month and warmest-month temperatures were 5–6.2°C and 24.7–27.9°C, respectively. Generally the assemblage presented in this paper extends those climatological findings to the late early Miocene.

Winged seeds were recovered from two sites of the late early Miocene (Karpatian) flora of Magyaregregy, Mecsek Mts, W Hungary. The seeds are assigned to the fossil-genus and species, Mecsekispermum gordonioides Hably and Erdei gen. nov. et sp. nov., and are tentatively related to the family Theaceae. Based on the overall character of the winged seeds and the isodiametric surface pattern of the seed coat, the seeds are most comparable with species of Gordonia J. Ellis (s.l.,) in Theeae (Laplacea Kunth or Polyspora Sweet). A comparison with winged seeds of other fossil genera, e.g. Saportaspermum Meyer and Manchester, and winged seeds of modern genera in various families is also given. The fossil flora is preserved in the fish scale-bearing clay marl belonging to the Feked Formation and Komló Claymarl Member and dated as Karpatian (late Burdigalian, standard chronostratigraphy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a concise lithostratigraphic scheme for the lower and middle Miocene (Ottnangian - Badenian) of the northern and central Vienna Basin is proposed, which is based on the integration of core-material, well-log data and seismic information from OMV. For all formations and members type sections are proposed, geographic distribution and thickness are provided, typical depositional environments and fossils are described and age constraints are discussed. This time frame allows for a more reliable calculation of sedimentation rates. This in turn might be important for the reconstruction of the tectonic history of the Vienna Basin as we do not see fundamental differences between the piggy- back stage and the subsequent pull-apart regime. Following lithostratigraphic units are formalized herein and/or are newly introduced: Bockfließ Formation (Ottnangian), Aderklaa Formation, Gänserndorf Member and Schönkirchen Member (Karpatian), Baden Group, Rothneusiedl Formation and Mannsdorf Formation (lower Badenian), Auersthal Formation, Matzen Formation, Baden Formation, Leitha Formation (middle Badenian) and Rabensburg Formation (upper Badenian). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich macroflora has been collected from Karpatian (late early Miocene) layers of the Mecsek Mts during recent decades. The bulk of the fossil assemblage consists of leaves and also fruits of angiosperms. Among the more than a hundred taxa, several endemic species were described: Leguminocarpum mecsekense Andreánszky, Ailanthus mecsekensis Hably, Nyssa gyoergyi sp. nov., Nyssa gergoei sp. nov., Nyssa sp. 1, Clematis csabae sp. nov., Gordonia sp. and Carpolithes gergoei Hably et Erdei sp. nov. Many taxa were last recorded in the Carpathian Basin, e.g. Cedrelospermum, Ziziphus. Other taxa appeared in this flora, e.g. Quercus kubinyii, Podocarpium podocarpum, Liquidambar europaea and Populus populina, and later became dominant in the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) floras or even in the late Miocene (Pannonian) floras. Four main vegetation types were determined. The most significant types are subxerophytic vegetation showing high diversity, swamp vegetation, riparian vegetation, and a vegetation type growing in habitats with higher rainfall. Thermophilous flora elements are dominant in the assemblage, although "arctotertiary" species also appear. The floristic character of the flora supports the results of an earlier quantitative climate analysis of the Magyaregregy flora, according to which mean annual temperature was 15.6-16.6°C and coldest-month and warmest-month temperatures were 5-6.2°C and 24.7-27.9°C, respectively. Generally the assemblage presented in this paper extends those climatological findings to the late early Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed study of OMV wells throughout the Lower Austrian Molasse Basin demonstrates the existence of a distinct and synchronous upper Ottnangian (lower Miocene) stratigraphic signal, the Calcite Minimum Interval (CMI). It corresponds to the depositional phase of the Rzehakia Lake System. This signal is interpreted to be of chronostratigraphic importance as an expression of palaeoclimate and related sea-level change. It is represented by the brackish Traisen Formation, which crops out south of the Danube. The Traisen Formation correlates with sands and shales in OMV wells to the north, termed Wildendürnbach Formation. However, the CMI underlies a marine unit, the so-called "Oncophora Beds" (also known as Rzehakia Beds) as reported from OMV wells in the north at the border to the Czech Republic. We demonstrate that these former "Oncophora Beds" are younger, i.e. of Karpatian age, than originally assumed. Therefore, these deposits cannot be correlated to the late Ottnangian Traisen Formation. This may solve the problem of contradicting interpretations concerning the depositional environment of both units, which were correlated to each other in the past. As no Rzehakia bivalves (formerly Oncophora) are described from these former "Oncophora Beds", we recommend to avoid using the term for these turbiditic sands. Instead, we attribute these deposits to the fully marine Karpatian Laa Formation. These new findings, which are in accordance with published data from the Czech Republic, indicate two (in time and space) independent sedimentary systems and sand deposition centres for the Traisen Formation and the massive sands attributed as "Oncophora Beds" around Wildendürnbach. A late Ottnangian system in the south delivered the material of the Traisen Formation from the Alps and a Karpatian system delivered the clastic material of the massive sands of the Laa Formation from the east. Detaillierte Untersuchungen an OMV-Bohrungen in der niederösterreichischen Molasse-Zone konnten einen markanten und synchronen stratigrafischen Abschnitt, das Kalzit-Minimum-Intervall (CMI), nachweisen, welches einer lakustrinen Phase, dem „Rzehakia Lake System", entspricht. Es wird angenommen, dass es sich hierbei um ein synchrones Signal ausgelöst durch Klima- und Meeresspiegelschwankungen handelt. Es schließt die brackische Traisen-Formation, welche südlich der Donau aufgeschlossen ist, mit ein. Die Traisen-Formation korreliert mit Sanden und fein-geschichteten siltigen Tonen der Wildendürnbach Formation, welche weiter nördlich in OMV-Bohrungen angetroffen wurden. Allerdings unterlagert die CMI die marinen sogenannten "Oncophora Schichten" (auch Rzehakia Schichten genannt), welche aus OMV-Bohrungen im Norden an der Grenze zur Tschechischen Republik bekannt sind. Es kann gezeigt werden, dass diese "Oncophora Schichten" dem Karpatium zugeschrieben werden müssen. Demzufolge können die "Traisen-Formation" und die "Oncophora Schichten" einander zeitlich nicht entsprechen, wodurch das Problem widersprüchlicher fazieller Interpretationen dieser Ablagerungen gelöst werden kann. Da innerhalb der "Oncophora Schichten" keine namensgebenden Mollusken der Gattung Rzehakia (früher Oncophora) beschrieben sind, sollte diese Bezeichnung vermieden werden. Stattdessen sollten diese Ablagerungen der marinen, karpatischen Laa-Formation zugerechnet werden. Diese Erkenntnis sowie publizierte Daten aus dem tschechischen Teil des Molasse Beckens lassen darüber hinaus auf 2 unterschiedliche Einspeisungszentren für klastisches Material schließen. Ein Einspeisungszentrum im Süden des Molasse-Beckens liefert während des späten Ottnangiums das klastische Material der Traisen-Formation aus den Alpen. Ein zweites Einspeisungszentrum im Osten liefert im Karpatium die mächtigen Sande der Laa-Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new plant assemblage of Cerová-Lieskové from Lower Miocene (Karpatian) deposits in the Vienna Basin (western Slovakia) is preserved in a relatively deep, upper-slope marine environment. Depositional conditions with high sedimentation rates allowed exceptional preservation of plant remains. The plant assemblage consists of (1) conifers represented by foliage of Pinus hepios and Tetraclinis salicornioides, a seed cone of Pinus cf. ornata, and by pollen of the Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Pinus sp. and Cathaya sp., and (2) angiosperms represented by Cinnamomum polymorphum, Platanus neptuni, Potamogeton sp. and lauroid foliage, by pollen of Liquidambar sp., Engelhardia sp. and Craigia sp., and in particular by infructescences (so far interpreted as belonging to cereal ears). We validate genus and species assignments of the infructescences: they belong to Palaeotriticum Sitár, including P. mockii Sitár and P. carpaticum Sitár, and probably represent herbaceous monocots that inhabited coastal marshes, similar to the living grass Spartina. Similar infructescences occur in the Lower and Middle Miocene deposits of the Carpathian Foredeep (Slup in Moravia), Tunjice Hills (Žale in Slovenia), and probably also in the Swiss Molasse (Lausanne). This plant assemblage demonstrates that the paleovegetation was represented by evergreen woodland with pines and grasses in undergrowth, similar to vegetation inhabiting coastal brackish marshes today. It also indicates subtropical climatic conditions in the Vienna Basin (central Paratethys), similar to those implied by other coeval plant assemblages from Central Europe

The North Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) experienced rapidly changing palaeoenvironmental conditions at the end of the Early Miocene (middle-to-late Burdigalian, Paratethys stages Ottnangian and Karpatian), with transformation of fully marine settings into brackish and eventually freshwater environments. These changes were related to global sea-level fluctuations, climate oscillations, and tectonic processes associated with the uplift of the Alps. This study presents a new and comprehensive data set, derived from 13 boreholes and 491 core samples from the Molasse Basin of southwest Germany, that provides a significantly better understanding of late Early Miocene palaeoenvironments in the NAFB. Based on lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and palaeoecological interpretation of rich fauna and flora assemblages, we show that the upper Burdigalian sediments comprise a regressive lower segment (Grimmelfingen Formation and equivalents), as indicated by the occurrence of the bivalve Rzehakia , and a transgressive upper component (Kirchberg Formation and equivalents) characterized by the advent of new fish and mollusc assemblages. Furthermore, we present a new lithostratigraphic concept for the Kirchberg Formation, which forms an important part of the Upper Brackish Molasse (OBM). Based on biostratigraphic constraints and recently published magnetostratigraphic data, it appears that the regressive segment of the upper Burdigalian OBM sediments correlates with the end of the global third-order sea-level cycle Bur 3, while the transgressive component reflects the Karpatian transgression at the beginning of sea-level cycle Bur 4. This implies that the Karpatian transgression actually affected the Molasse Basin of southern Germany and Upper Austria, whereas previous studies had considered this part of the NAFB as terrestrial during that time span. The new results are depicted in three palaeogeographic maps for the NAFB at 18 Ma, 17.5–17.1 Ma and 17 Ma, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kroměříž Formation (Miocene, Late Karpatian) is formed by clays, mudstones, sands, sandstones, gravels and conglomerates. This formation was deposited along the active margin of the Carpathian Foredeep in front of the Western Carpathian flysch nappes. The deposits of the Kroměříž Formation are divided into the variegated deposits, and the Holešov conglomerates. The variegated deposits are represented by "pebbly mudstones", and are formed by an admixture of sand and gravel fractions in the clay matrix. The Holešov conglomerates can be described as "marginal clastics" and historically they were labelled with several local names, e.g., Nítkovice gravels and sands or gravels of the Zborovice type. The variegated deposits and the Holešov conglomerates differ from each other not only by lithology and petrography, but also by different source area. The provenance of deposits of the Kroměříž Formation can be specified by the chemistry of detrital garnets. The Holešov conglomerates do not reveal any significantly dominant type of detrital garnets, whereas the variegated deposits are characteristic of significant content of Alm-Prp garnets with pyrope component up to 20 vol. %. To specify the provenance, a statistical comparison of detrital garnets was carried out using the Statistica software. Based on the chemistry of detrital garnets the Silesian and Ždánice and Subsilesian units can be considered as the main source of material for the variegated deposits, and also for the Holešov conglomerates. The older Karpatian deposits (depositional units II and III sensu Francírek - Nehyba 2016) can be regarded as another potential source of the Kroměříž Formation deposits. The similarity of the older Karpatian deposits and the Kroměříž Formation deposits is demonstrated by the statistical comparison. This comparison also shows that the Lower Badenian deposits (locality Lobodice) are similar to the Kroměříž Formation deposits (locality Símře). Both the locality Lobodice and the locality Símře have a source of material from the Western Carpathian flysch nappes, but probably also from the Moravian-Silesian Paleozoic cover of the Bohemian Massif. The statistical comparison allows to distinguish the source of material for the Holešov conglomerates, and the variegated deposits. The Holešov conglomerates were supplied by material from the Ždánice and Subsilesian units (Ždánice-Hustopeče Formation), whereas the material of the variegated deposits was derived from the Silesian Unit (Krosno Formation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the autochthonic Carpathian in the mining area of Trojanovice, its geological structure, main stratigraphicfinds and the current situation in this area. This mining area was thoroughly explored in the past due to the presence of an importantblack coal site and hence it is feasible to assume the existence of a natural oil and gas site which could be a potential target for futuregas and oil drilling.

Foraminiferal assemblages were studied in the Miocene sediments in the Carpathian Foredeep from the borehole Brus 1 nearby Prostějov, Central Moravia (Fig. 1). Other fossils, such as fragments of the plates and spines of echinoids occur in the upper part of the profile (150-330 cm). Fragments of sponge spicules occur in the depth 580-1350 cm, especially. Most of Teleostei teeth and otoliths were found in the depth 1690-1980 cm. Bivalves were observed in the whole profile occasionally. Bryozoans generally occur in the whole profile, they predominate in its upper part (150-750 cm). Analysis of foraminiferal assemblages was based on 15 samples from borehole Brus 1, using sample-wash residua and a NIKON binocular microscope. Palaeoecological interpretations were made according to Murray (2006), foraminiferal biostratigraphy was based on Cicha et al. (1998). Results of a systematic sampling of the core are presented in Table 1. Occurrence of planktonic foraminifers was rare (Fig. 2). Relatively numerous and diversified assemblages of coastal and shallow water foraminifers were documented in borehole Brus 1. Benthos taxa Hanzawaia boueana (Orb.), Asterigerinata planorbis (Orb.), Ammonia viennensis (Orb.), Porosononion granosum (Orb.) and of Elphidium div. sp. dominated. Locally foraminifers indicate marine paleoenvironment with unstable contents of oxygen and changing salinity. At the basis of the profile foraminiferal tests are usually more damaged. Asterigerinata planorbis (Orb.) and Hanzawaia boueana (Orb.) predominate at the central part of the borehole (450-1150 cm). In quantity, big foraminifers (Planostegina div. sp.) were documented at the depth interval 750-1150 cm. Assemblages of genera Hanzawaia-Asterigerinata-Lenticulina (750-850 cm) perhaps document mixing of shallow (warm) water and deeper (cold) water (Hladilová et al. 2014). At the top of the succession, numerous elphidias, which inhabit warm and shallow sea waters, were observed. Based on sporadic occurrence of foraminifers Cassigerinella boudecensis Pok., Globigerina ottnangiensis Rögl, Pappina breviformis (Papp et Turn.) and ostracods Cytheridea paracuminata Koll., sediments in the depth 1150-1350 m were correlated with Karpatian-Lower Badenian boundary. This boundary is also associated with decrease of oxygen; it is indicated by more abundant occurrence of euryoxybiont foraminifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Early Miocene acidic tuff that accumulated in a small tectonic graben at the south-eastern margin of the Bohemian Massif in north-eastern Austria was dated by means of 40Ar/39Ar dating. Feldspar crystals from the tuff have an inverse isochron age of 17.23 ± 0.18 Ma, which is interpreted to reflect its crystallisation age. The tuff shows a reversed palaeomagnetic polarity and can be correlated with chron C5Cr of the late Burdigalian (early Karpatian) and with the lowstand systems tract (LST) of the Bur 4 global 3rd order sea level cycle. The tephra originates from acid (rhyodacitic to dacitic) calc-alkaline arc volcanism. Our study demonstrates that the investigated volcaniclastics are significantly different from other Burdigalian (Eggenburgian, Ottnangian) and Langhian (early Badenian) tephra from the area with regard to their volcanic zircon and Rare Earth element (REE) composition. The volcanic source of the Straning tuffs might be traced back to the western Inner Carpathian volcanic arc. The tuffs are most likely genetically related to the Middle Rhyolite Tuff (late Burdigalian, Karpatian) of northern Hungary and southern Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pollen analyses have been proven to possess the possibility to decipher rapid vegetational and climate shifts in Neogene sedimentary records. Herein, a c. 21-kyr-long transgression–regression cycle from the Lower Austrian locality Stetten is analysed in detail to evaluate climatic benchmarks for the early phase of the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum and to estimate the pace of environmental change. Based on the Coexistence Approach, a very clear signal of seasonality can be reconstructed. A warm and wet summer season with c. 204–236mm precipitation during the wettest month was opposed by a rather dry winter season with precipitation of c. 9–24mm during the driest month. The mean annual temperature ranged between 15.7 and 20.8°C, with about 9.6–13.3°C during the cold season and 24.7–27.9°C during the warmest month. In contrast, today''s climate of this area, with an annual temperature of 9.8°C and 660mm rainfall, is characterized by the winter season (mean temperature: −1.4°C, mean precipitation: 39mm) and a summer mean temperature of 19.9°C (mean precipitation: 84mm). Different modes of environmental shifts shaped the composition of the vegetation. Within few millennia, marshes and salt marshes with abundant Cyperaceae rapidly graded into Taxodiaceae swamps. This quick but gradual process was interrupted by swift marine ingressions which took place on a decadal to centennial scale. The transgression is accompanied by blooms of dinoflagellates and of the green alga Prasinophyta and an increase in Abies and Picea. Afterwards, the retreat of the sea and the progradation of estuarine and wetland settings were a gradual progress again. Despite a clear sedimentological cyclicity, which is related to the 21-kyr precessional forcing, the climate data show little variation. This missing pattern might be due to the buffering of the precessional-related climate signal by the subtropical vegetation. Another explanation could be the method-inherent broad range of climate-parameter estimates that could cover small scale climatic changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Mauensee section in the Molasse Basin (North Alpine Foreland Basin) of central Switzerland represents one of the best continuously exposed outcrops of the St. Gallen Formation of the Upper Marine Molasse. A similarly well-exposed section is at Schmiedrued, situated about 15 km to the north. Biostratigraphic analysis of mammal and fish faunas shows that both sections are of Early Karpatian age. Palaeoecological analysis of the biota indicates an oligohaline intercalation within the marine part of the sections. This is additionally confirmed by the oxygen isotopic compositions of fish otoliths from the Mauensee section. The overlying marine sequence may represent a fourth cycle in the St. Gallen Formation that might perhaps indicate a Karpatian transgression from the Mediterranean Sea, which has not previously been recognized. Biostratigraphic comparison shows that the sedimentation of the Upper Freshwater Molasse began at the base of the Karpatian in southwest Germany and eastern Switzerland, and in the Middle Karpatian in central Switzerland. The presence of a Karpatian marine sedimentation area in central Switzerland may explain that the terrestrial sedimentation of the Upper Freshwater Molasse began at such different times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the paleobiogeography and ecology of benthic and planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton during the Karpatian (Latest  Burdigalian) in the Austrian part of the Central Paratethys. Results are based on quantitative data of assemblages from the Molasse and Styrian Basins. Our data suggest that, although adjacent, the two basins underwent different paleoceanographic evolution during the Karpatian. Dysoxic bottom waters characterized the Molasse Basin, together with reducing environments, which produced the formation of pyritized levels. In the Styrian Basin, intense volcanic activity enriched surface waters in nutrient and produced strong primary productivity. Reduced planktonic foraminiferal abundance and dominance of agglutinated benthic forms in the Styrian Basin can be attributed to paleoceanographic conditions. The planktonic-depleted assemblages bias the paleodepth estimation by 100P(P + B) in the Styrian Basin and new tools for assessing paleodepth are needed. This study shows that paleobiogeography of foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton is strictly related to local ecological conditions in enclosed basins and demonstrates that quantitative ecological studies are the best way to monitor the biogeographic evolution of enclosed basins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]