VOLUME 41 (1-3)/December 2012

Based on planktonic foraminifera, inoceramids and echinoids, we present a detailed biostratigraphic analysis of the Abderaz Formation at the 606 m thick Padeha section, NE Iran. This sequence consists mainly of gray shales and marls with four levels of chalky limestones intercalated. The lower boundary of the Abderaz Formation with the Aitamir Formation is a paraconformity, while the upper boundary with the Abtalkh Formation represents a gradual transition. Fifty four species of planktonic foraminifera from 15 genera were identified, and five zones were recognized, namely: Whiteinella archaeocretacea (Bolli) Partial-Range-Zone; Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica (Sigal) Total-Range-Zone; Marginotruncana schneegansi (Dalbiez) Interval-Range-Zone; Dicarinella concavata (Brotzen) Interval-Range-Zone; and Dicarinella asymetrica (Sigal) Total-Range-Zone. Based on these data, the age of the Abderaz Formation is determined as earliest Turonian to earliest Campanian. Inoceramid bivalves Cremnoceramus walterdorfensis walterdorfensis (Andert) and Cremnoceramus deformis deformis (Meek) were identified in the uppermost Turonian and in the middle part of the early Coniacian, respectively. Echinocorys ex. gr. scutata and Cordiceramus sp. were recorded near the Coniacian/Santonian boundary.

Integrated micropaleontological and microfacies studies on Tithonian and Berriasian pelagic carbonates of the Stara Planina–Poreč Zone (eastern Serbia) provided a new knowledge on the stratigraphic ages, depositional settings and lateral correlation with the Western Balkan Unit in Bulgaria. A total of forty calpionellid species, nineteen benthic foraminiferal species, and fourteen species of calcareous dinoflagellates have been identified in the Rosomač section in eastern Serbia. Calpionellid zones Chitinoidella, Crassicollaria, Calpionella, and Calpionellopsis have been recorded. Calcareous dinoflagellate zonation consists of Parastomiosphaera malmica, Colomisphaera fortis, and Stomiosphaerina proxima zones. The Rosomač Limestones are assigned to the Upper Tithonian and Lower Berriasian and the Ržana Clayey Limestone Beds to the Upper Berriasian. Seven distinct microfacies have been identified at the Rosomač section in eastern Serbia. Two of them, MF 1 calpionellid mudstones and MF 2 calpionellid wackestones, characterize the basinal depositional zone. Five microfacies belong to the slope facial zone, including the toe of the slope. These are: MF 3 Saccocoma wackestones, MF 4 wackestones with bioclasts, MF 5 intraclast-bioclastic grainstones, MF 6 bioclast-intraclastic floatstones, and MF 7 bioclast-intraclastic rudstones. Vertical microfacies distributions are directly correlated with the calpionellid and calcareous dinocyst zonations in sections in Serbia and Bulgaria. The pelagic carbonates in the Tithonian/Berriasian boundary interval were deposited under slope conditions at Rosomač section, and under basinal conditions at Barlya section in western Bulgaria.

The Mavri Limni Valley – “Polylimnio”, in Messinia (Greece) is developed on a hilly region, with main flow direction NE-SW to EWE-WSW. It concentrates large quantities of water throughout the year. The hypsometric difference between the beginning and the end of the most interesting, 1000 m long, part of the valley is 96 m. Downward the stream flow, numerous nick points (waterfalls) are present with their heights ranging from 0.8 m to 16 m. At the end of the falls 15 main lakes are formed. Due to the large number of lakes, the studied valley is well known as “Polylimnio”. The area belongs to the Olonos-Pindos geotectonic unit in which flysch and limestone successions dominate. The main characteristics of these limestones are their great dips (40–68°) and their alternate directions. Faults are observed parallel and perpendicular to the valley direction. The formation of the valley and its development resulted from tectonic fractures and continuous erosion in depth and width. Waterfalls development is mainly controlled by the faults. The observed retrograde erosion is an effect of relatively late tectonic uplifting of the wider area.