... Jimmy Van Itterbeeck Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Auth... more ... Jimmy Van Itterbeeck Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author , a , Emanoil Sasaran b , Vlad Codrea b , Liana Sasaran b ... The grey areas indicate the following sedimentary basins: I, Rusca Montan ; II, Strei; III, Ha eg; IV, Petro ani (modified ...
The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu... more The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been reexamined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-€ Oztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanovi c) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-€ Oztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented.
The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a ... more The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a NW-SE-oriented crest. The crest is delimited westwards by the crystalline formations of Baia de Arieş Nappe. Within these deposits, two distinctive sedimentary complexes could be separated: a) The Gosau-type facies formation, that can be correlated to the "Lower Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994), represented by alluvial/fluvial fans and shallow marine deposits; b) The flysch-type formation, that is similar with the "Upper Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994) and includes deep sea deposits (hemipelagites/turbidites).The syndepositional and postdepositional tectonics controlled the sedimentation and facies distribution; the shallow carbonate deposits are embedded in distal shelf marine ones. Isolated blocks of various sizes represent the rudist-bearing limestones (from m 2 up to hundreds of m 2). The present study focuses on the identification of facies and depositional environments of the limestones outcropping along Pleşcuţa valley, in Corni Quarry (SW from Finişel village). Based on sedimentological features and faunal associations, the following facies associations have been identified: 1) Marls and limestone with terrigenous clasts; 2) Build-ups with tubular/massive corals and rudists; 3) pillarstone-type bioaccumulations with branching/platy corals; 4) bioclastic rudstone/grainstone; 5) bioclastic floatstone/ packstone. All these facies associations indicate a coastal environment developed along a shelf margin influenced by both the terrigenous supply, and the relative sea level variations.
Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geo... more Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geological Institute, Bucharest, Romania, revealed the need for revision of its taxonomic status. The holotype and paratypes of this taxon show the diagnostic characteristics of the Family Hippuritidae, not the Radiolitidae as previously indicated. This genus should therefore be transferred to the Hippuritidae. The structure of the pillars, the ligamental ridge and the outer shell layer of the right valve as illustrated by the type material point to an affiliation either with Hippurites or with Hippuritella. We discuss this assignment by taking into account the similarities with Hippurites organisans (de Montfort), Hippuritella lapeirousei Goldfuss and Hippuritella variabilis (Munier-Chalmas). The stratigraphic framework of the study material is also discussed with respect to the Upper Cretaceous successions in the Central-Eastern Carpathians of Romania.
Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from t... more Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from the middle–upper Coniacian of Lattenberg, Germany. The re-examination of the holotype and paratypes of the type species L. hermi Lupu of this genus reveals diagnostic characters of Joufia milovanovici (Slišković), including the presence in the left valve of a single ring of radial canals in the calcitic outer shell layer, the canals having sub-rectangular cross-sectional shape flanking the myocardinal apparatus in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer, and a pair of tubular structures in its postero-ventral part, opposing the ‘pseudopillar’-like structures of the right valve. Therefore, we propose that Lattenbergites Lupu, is a junior synonym of Joufia milovanovici. J. milovanovici from the Malatya, Haymana-Polatlı Basins and eastern Pontides of Türkiye, as well as the Roşia Basin of Romania is also described and compared to Lattenbergites. The presence of J. milovanovici in the Northern Calcareous Alps during the middle–late Coniacian, Romania during the late Santonian to early–middle Campanian, and Türkiye during the late Maastrichtian, allows us to reconsider the palaeobiogeographic distribution of this species within the Mediterranean Tethys during Late Cretaceous time, as well as for the genus Joufia.
The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous deposits from the Apuseni Moun... more The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous deposits from the Apuseni Mountains have been extensively studied and compared to coeval deposits from the Alpine Gosau. The former are mainly represented by conglomerates, sandstones, marls, and limestones with rudists that unconformably overlie the crystalline basement and its Permo-Mesozoic cover. Our new, detailed investigations on the rudist fauna from M agura Hill, the type locality of Pseudopolyconites hirsutus (Patrulius) and Miseia costulata Patrulius, indicate a Late SantonianeEarly Campanian age for these deposits instead of an Early Santonian one as previously suggested (Patrulius, 1974). This study also mentions for the first time the occurrences of Pseudosabinia klinghardti (Böhm) and Pseudopolyconites parvus Milovanovi c in the rudistbearing deposits from the Apuseni Mountains. We include their palaeontological features, as well as the ones for Pseudopolyconites hirsutus. Based on new biostratigraphic data, our study expand the stratigraphic range of Pseudosabinia klinghardti and Pseudopolyconites parvus e previously considered characteristic for the Early CampanianeMaastrichtian interval. Also we add new information on their palaeobiogeographic distribution within the central-eastern Mediterranean area during the Late Cretaceous.
Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from t... more Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from the middle–upper Coniacian of Lattenberg, Germany. The re-examination of the holotype and paratypes of the type species L. hermi Lupu of this genus reveals diagnostic characters of Joufia milovanovici (Slišković), including the presence in the left valve of a single ring of radial canals in the calcitic outer shell layer, the canals having sub-rectangular cross-sectional shape flanking the myocardinal apparatus in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer, and a pair of tubular structures in its postero-ventral part, opposing the ‘pseudopillar’-like structures of the right valve. Therefore, we propose that Lattenbergites Lupu, is a junior synonym of Joufia milovanovici. J. milovanovici from the Malatya, Haymana-Polatlı Basins and eastern Pontides of Türkiye, as well as the Roşia Basin of Romania is also described and compared to Lattenbergites. The presence of J. milovanovici in the Northern Calcareous Alps during the middle–late Coniacian, Romania during the late Santonian to early–middle Campanian, and Türkiye during the late Maastrichtian, allows us to reconsider the palaeobiogeographic distribution of this species within the Mediterranean Tethys during Late Cretaceous time, as well as for the genus Joufia.
The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu... more The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been reexamined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-€ Oztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanovi c) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-€ Oztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented.
The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu... more The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been reexamined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-€ Oztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanovi c) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-€ Oztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented.
The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a ... more The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a NW-SE-oriented crest. The crest is delimited westwards by the crystalline formations of Baia de Arieş Nappe. Within these deposits, two distinctive sedimentary complexes could be separated: a) The Gosau-type facies formation, that can be correlated to the "Lower Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994), represented by alluvial/fluvial fans and shallow marine deposits; b) The flysch-type formation, that is similar with the "Upper Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994) and includes deep sea deposits (hemipelagites/turbidites).The syndepositional and postdepositional tectonics controlled the sedimentation and facies distribution; the shallow carbonate deposits are embedded in distal shelf marine ones. Isolated blocks of various sizes represent the rudist-bearing limestones (from m 2 up to hundreds of m 2). The present study focuses on the identification of facies and depositional environments of the limestones outcropping along Pleşcuţa valley, in Corni Quarry (SW from Finişel village). Based on sedimentological features and faunal associations, the following facies associations have been identified: 1) Marls and limestone with terrigenous clasts; 2) Build-ups with tubular/massive corals and rudists; 3) pillarstone-type bioaccumulations with branching/platy corals; 4) bioclastic rudstone/grainstone; 5) bioclastic floatstone/ packstone. All these facies associations indicate a coastal environment developed along a shelf margin influenced by both the terrigenous supply, and the relative sea level variations.
Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geo... more Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geological Institute, Bucharest, Romania, revealed the need for revision of its taxonomic status. The holotype and paratypes of this taxon show the diagnostic characteristics of the Family Hippuritidae, not the Radiolitidae as previously indicated. This genus should therefore be transferred to the Hippuritidae. The structure of the pillars, the ligamental ridge and the outer shell layer of the right valve as illustrated by the type material point to an affiliation either with Hippurites or with Hippuritella. We discuss this assignment by taking into account the similarities with Hippurites organisans (de Montfort), Hippuritella lapeirousei Goldfuss and Hippuritella variabilis (Munier-Chalmas). The stratigraphic framework of the study material is also discussed with respect to the Upper Cretaceous successions in the Central-Eastern Carpathians of Romania.
The wildflysh sequence identified within the Upper Cretaceous deposits outcropping on the eastern... more The wildflysh sequence identified within the Upper Cretaceous deposits outcropping on the eastern border of the Gilău Mountains consist of rock blocks of different lithologies surrounded by a predominantly marly matrix. Three main groups of calcareous olistoliths were separated, related to limestone age: Tithonian, Berriassian and Barremian-Aptian. Each group is characterized by its micropaleontological content. Tithonian limestones are rare among the limestone olistoliths. Only one sample of allodapic packstone was identified. The Berriasian-Valanginian olistoliths have more variable facies types: coarse to moderately coarse bioclastic grainstone; peloidal-bioclastic, oolithic-bioclastic, or intraclastic-bioclastic grainstone; charophytebearing wackestone, and ostracode-bearing wackestone-packstone. The Barremian-Aptian olistoliths are not only the most frequent, but have also the largest spectrum of facies types: coarse bioclastic grainstone; peloidal-bioclastic or intraclastic grainstone; bioclastic or intraclastic packstone; bioclastic-peloidal grainstone/packstone; bioclastic wackestone or wackestone/packstone; peloidal-bioclastic grapestone; fenestral mudstone, and Bacinella-Lithocodium bindstone. The main aim of the present study is a detailed inventory of the microfossils within the limestone olistoliths, together with an attempt to identify their provenance.
The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression repre-sent, fo... more The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression repre-sent, for the Northern Apuseni Mountains, a well-known cropping out area for Gosau-type facies with rudists, which is similar to the typical Eastern Alps section. The investigated stratigraphic succession in-cluded both carbonate and siliciclastic deposits. The carbonate deposits with rudists (hippuritids) bio-constructions crop out in the base of the succession. The upper part is dominated by siliciclastic se-quences that contain, at various levels, bioaccumulations mainly consisting of radiolitids. The rudist as-semblages identified from these deposits include both species typical for the Gosau facies, as well as distinctive species (Miseia, Gorjanovicia, Mitrocaprina) characterising south-European, Mediterranean areas. These latter species are now first mentioned for the Upper Cretaceous deposits in the area under study.
ABSTRACT a b s t r a c t The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous depos... more ABSTRACT a b s t r a c t The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous deposits from the Apuseni Mountains have been extensively studied and compared to coeval deposits from the Alpine Gosau. The former are mainly represented by conglomerates, sandstones, marls, and limestones with rudists that unconform-ably overlie the crystalline basement and its Permo-Mesozoic cover. Our new, detailed investigations on the rudist fauna from M agura Hill, the type locality of Pseudopolyconites hirsutus (Patrulius) and Miseia costulata Patrulius, indicate a Late SantonianeEarly Campanian age for these deposits instead of an Early Santonian one as previously suggested (Patrulius, 1974). This study also mentions for the first time the occurrences of Pseudosabinia klinghardti (Böhm) and Pseudopolyconites parvus Milovanovi c in the rudist-bearing deposits from the Apuseni Mountains. We include their palaeontological features, as well as the ones for Pseudopolyconites hirsutus. Based on new biostratigraphic data, our study expand the strati-graphic range of Pseudosabinia klinghardti and Pseudopolyconites parvus e previously considered char-acteristic for the Early CampanianeMaastrichtian interval. Also we add new information on their palaeobiogeographic distribution within the central-eastern Mediterranean area during the Late Cretaceous.
The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression represent, for... more The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression represent, for the Northern Apuseni Mountains, a well-known cropping out area for Gosau-type facies with rudists, which is similar to the typical Eastern Alps section. The investigated stratigraphic succession included both carbonate and siliciclastic deposits. The carbonate deposits with rudists (hippuritids) bioconstructions crop out in the base of the succession. The upper part is dominated by siliciclastic sequences that contain, at various levels, bioaccumulations mainly consisting of radiolitids. The rudist assemblages identified from these deposits include both species typical for the Gosau facies, as well as distinctive species (Miseia, Gorjanovicia, Mitrocaprina) characterising south-European, Mediterranean areas. These latter species are now first mentioned for the Upper Cretaceous deposits in the area under study.
The Upper Cretaceous deposits exposed in the eastern part of Borod Basin (Corniţel village area, ... more The Upper Cretaceous deposits exposed in the eastern part of Borod Basin (Corniţel village area, at the con-fluence of Strâmturii Valley and Cioroi-Negru Brook) unconformably overlie rhyolitic lavas. The most common li-thologies are represented by alternance of marls, sandstones and conglomerates with intercalated two carbonate litho-somes rich in rudists. Rhyolitic tuffs cap the examined section. The rudist fauna comprises the next genera: Bournonia, Gorjanovicia, Praeradiolites, Radiolites, Sphaerulites, Hippuritella and Vaccinites. A number of species belonging to the fore-mentioned genera have been recognized and taxonomically described. Rudist communities thrived in open shelf environments strongly influenced by high energy regimes and siliciclastic sedimentation during the Upper Cretaceous. Gravity flows were responsible for the processes of reworking and transport of rudists towards the slope or to the shelf slope toe.
Mammal and dinosaur localities in the Hat xeg Basin belonging to the Upper Cretaceous Saˆnpetru a... more Mammal and dinosaur localities in the Hat xeg Basin belonging to the Upper Cretaceous Saˆnpetru and Densus x-Ciula formations have been known since the beginning of the last century. Recently, two new exposures with a comparable fauna have been discovered in the Raˆul Mare valley. The sediments at these new sites, Totes xti-baraj and Na˘lat x-Vad, have been compared with the sediments at the previously known Pui site. At all three sites the deposits reflect a fluvial environment with coarse-grained channel deposits channelized in fine-grained floodplain deposits with calcrete palaeosols. However, the nature of the calcrete palaeosols is different at the three sites. At Totes xti-baraj and Na˘lat x-Vad, hydromorphic calcic vertisols have been observed, and locally these grade into groundwater calcretes. At Pui, the calcretes are associated with redbed deposits. Considering the similar palaeogeographical situation and age of the deposits at the three sites, the difference in soil type should not be interpreted as a climatic difference but rather as a difference in the height of the palaeogroundwater table. The soils at Pui are indicative of a general semi-arid climate. Those at Totes xti-baraj and Na˘lat x-Vad do not directly reflect the climate, but rather the high seasonal groundwater table. Differences in palaeohydrology between the sites are reflected in the fossil content with humidity-loving species only occurring at the Raˆul Mare sites.
The sequence of 137 m thickness is composed in the lower part of 80 m (Santonian) deep marine sed... more The sequence of 137 m thickness is composed in the lower part of 80 m (Santonian) deep marine sediments of a flysh basin and in the upper part (Lower Campanian) of 57 m thick mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sediments of an Upper slope position. The flysh contains some intercalations of thinbedded, graded bioclastic grainstones. The carbonate sediments of the upper slope contain collapsed reef blocks from the shelf edge, avalanche-type deposits from the shelf margin, flow deposits and sediments of submarine fans. Regarding the associations of calcareous nannoplankton, the most resistant species are prevailing. The main component of the association is represented by Watzanaueria barnaese followed by Retecapsa crenulata, Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii, Eiffelithus eximius, Micula staurophora. Seldom forms of Nannoconus, Russelia and Arkhangelskiella have also been noted. The marker species Micula staurophora (CC14 Zone), Calculites obscurus (CC17 Zone) and Broinsonia parca (CC18 Zone) indicate Santonian-Campanian age according the zonations of Perch-Nielsen (1985).
... Jimmy Van Itterbeeck Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Auth... more ... Jimmy Van Itterbeeck Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author , a , Emanoil Sasaran b , Vlad Codrea b , Liana Sasaran b ... The grey areas indicate the following sedimentary basins: I, Rusca Montan ; II, Strei; III, Ha eg; IV, Petro ani (modified ...
The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu... more The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been reexamined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-€ Oztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanovi c) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-€ Oztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented.
The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a ... more The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a NW-SE-oriented crest. The crest is delimited westwards by the crystalline formations of Baia de Arieş Nappe. Within these deposits, two distinctive sedimentary complexes could be separated: a) The Gosau-type facies formation, that can be correlated to the "Lower Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994), represented by alluvial/fluvial fans and shallow marine deposits; b) The flysch-type formation, that is similar with the "Upper Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994) and includes deep sea deposits (hemipelagites/turbidites).The syndepositional and postdepositional tectonics controlled the sedimentation and facies distribution; the shallow carbonate deposits are embedded in distal shelf marine ones. Isolated blocks of various sizes represent the rudist-bearing limestones (from m 2 up to hundreds of m 2). The present study focuses on the identification of facies and depositional environments of the limestones outcropping along Pleşcuţa valley, in Corni Quarry (SW from Finişel village). Based on sedimentological features and faunal associations, the following facies associations have been identified: 1) Marls and limestone with terrigenous clasts; 2) Build-ups with tubular/massive corals and rudists; 3) pillarstone-type bioaccumulations with branching/platy corals; 4) bioclastic rudstone/grainstone; 5) bioclastic floatstone/ packstone. All these facies associations indicate a coastal environment developed along a shelf margin influenced by both the terrigenous supply, and the relative sea level variations.
Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geo... more Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geological Institute, Bucharest, Romania, revealed the need for revision of its taxonomic status. The holotype and paratypes of this taxon show the diagnostic characteristics of the Family Hippuritidae, not the Radiolitidae as previously indicated. This genus should therefore be transferred to the Hippuritidae. The structure of the pillars, the ligamental ridge and the outer shell layer of the right valve as illustrated by the type material point to an affiliation either with Hippurites or with Hippuritella. We discuss this assignment by taking into account the similarities with Hippurites organisans (de Montfort), Hippuritella lapeirousei Goldfuss and Hippuritella variabilis (Munier-Chalmas). The stratigraphic framework of the study material is also discussed with respect to the Upper Cretaceous successions in the Central-Eastern Carpathians of Romania.
Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from t... more Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from the middle–upper Coniacian of Lattenberg, Germany. The re-examination of the holotype and paratypes of the type species L. hermi Lupu of this genus reveals diagnostic characters of Joufia milovanovici (Slišković), including the presence in the left valve of a single ring of radial canals in the calcitic outer shell layer, the canals having sub-rectangular cross-sectional shape flanking the myocardinal apparatus in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer, and a pair of tubular structures in its postero-ventral part, opposing the ‘pseudopillar’-like structures of the right valve. Therefore, we propose that Lattenbergites Lupu, is a junior synonym of Joufia milovanovici. J. milovanovici from the Malatya, Haymana-Polatlı Basins and eastern Pontides of Türkiye, as well as the Roşia Basin of Romania is also described and compared to Lattenbergites. The presence of J. milovanovici in the Northern Calcareous Alps during the middle–late Coniacian, Romania during the late Santonian to early–middle Campanian, and Türkiye during the late Maastrichtian, allows us to reconsider the palaeobiogeographic distribution of this species within the Mediterranean Tethys during Late Cretaceous time, as well as for the genus Joufia.
The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous deposits from the Apuseni Moun... more The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous deposits from the Apuseni Mountains have been extensively studied and compared to coeval deposits from the Alpine Gosau. The former are mainly represented by conglomerates, sandstones, marls, and limestones with rudists that unconformably overlie the crystalline basement and its Permo-Mesozoic cover. Our new, detailed investigations on the rudist fauna from M agura Hill, the type locality of Pseudopolyconites hirsutus (Patrulius) and Miseia costulata Patrulius, indicate a Late SantonianeEarly Campanian age for these deposits instead of an Early Santonian one as previously suggested (Patrulius, 1974). This study also mentions for the first time the occurrences of Pseudosabinia klinghardti (Böhm) and Pseudopolyconites parvus Milovanovi c in the rudistbearing deposits from the Apuseni Mountains. We include their palaeontological features, as well as the ones for Pseudopolyconites hirsutus. Based on new biostratigraphic data, our study expand the stratigraphic range of Pseudosabinia klinghardti and Pseudopolyconites parvus e previously considered characteristic for the Early CampanianeMaastrichtian interval. Also we add new information on their palaeobiogeographic distribution within the central-eastern Mediterranean area during the Late Cretaceous.
Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from t... more Lattenbergites Lupu was previously considered to be a new genus of canaliculate radiolitid from the middle–upper Coniacian of Lattenberg, Germany. The re-examination of the holotype and paratypes of the type species L. hermi Lupu of this genus reveals diagnostic characters of Joufia milovanovici (Slišković), including the presence in the left valve of a single ring of radial canals in the calcitic outer shell layer, the canals having sub-rectangular cross-sectional shape flanking the myocardinal apparatus in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer, and a pair of tubular structures in its postero-ventral part, opposing the ‘pseudopillar’-like structures of the right valve. Therefore, we propose that Lattenbergites Lupu, is a junior synonym of Joufia milovanovici. J. milovanovici from the Malatya, Haymana-Polatlı Basins and eastern Pontides of Türkiye, as well as the Roşia Basin of Romania is also described and compared to Lattenbergites. The presence of J. milovanovici in the Northern Calcareous Alps during the middle–late Coniacian, Romania during the late Santonian to early–middle Campanian, and Türkiye during the late Maastrichtian, allows us to reconsider the palaeobiogeographic distribution of this species within the Mediterranean Tethys during Late Cretaceous time, as well as for the genus Joufia.
The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu... more The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been reexamined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-€ Oztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanovi c) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-€ Oztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented.
The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu... more The genera Balabania Karacabey-€ Oztemür, Branislavia Sladi c-Trifunovi c and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been reexamined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-€ Oztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanovi c) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-€ Oztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented.
The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a ... more The Late Cretaceous deposits outcropping along the northeastern border of Gilău Mountains form a NW-SE-oriented crest. The crest is delimited westwards by the crystalline formations of Baia de Arieş Nappe. Within these deposits, two distinctive sedimentary complexes could be separated: a) The Gosau-type facies formation, that can be correlated to the "Lower Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994), represented by alluvial/fluvial fans and shallow marine deposits; b) The flysch-type formation, that is similar with the "Upper Gosau Subgroup" (Wagreich & Faupl, 1994) and includes deep sea deposits (hemipelagites/turbidites).The syndepositional and postdepositional tectonics controlled the sedimentation and facies distribution; the shallow carbonate deposits are embedded in distal shelf marine ones. Isolated blocks of various sizes represent the rudist-bearing limestones (from m 2 up to hundreds of m 2). The present study focuses on the identification of facies and depositional environments of the limestones outcropping along Pleşcuţa valley, in Corni Quarry (SW from Finişel village). Based on sedimentological features and faunal associations, the following facies associations have been identified: 1) Marls and limestone with terrigenous clasts; 2) Build-ups with tubular/massive corals and rudists; 3) pillarstone-type bioaccumulations with branching/platy corals; 4) bioclastic rudstone/grainstone; 5) bioclastic floatstone/ packstone. All these facies associations indicate a coastal environment developed along a shelf margin influenced by both the terrigenous supply, and the relative sea level variations.
Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geo... more Re-examination of the Orestella Lupu, 1982 (formerly Orestia Lupu, 1972) type material in the Geological Institute, Bucharest, Romania, revealed the need for revision of its taxonomic status. The holotype and paratypes of this taxon show the diagnostic characteristics of the Family Hippuritidae, not the Radiolitidae as previously indicated. This genus should therefore be transferred to the Hippuritidae. The structure of the pillars, the ligamental ridge and the outer shell layer of the right valve as illustrated by the type material point to an affiliation either with Hippurites or with Hippuritella. We discuss this assignment by taking into account the similarities with Hippurites organisans (de Montfort), Hippuritella lapeirousei Goldfuss and Hippuritella variabilis (Munier-Chalmas). The stratigraphic framework of the study material is also discussed with respect to the Upper Cretaceous successions in the Central-Eastern Carpathians of Romania.
The wildflysh sequence identified within the Upper Cretaceous deposits outcropping on the eastern... more The wildflysh sequence identified within the Upper Cretaceous deposits outcropping on the eastern border of the Gilău Mountains consist of rock blocks of different lithologies surrounded by a predominantly marly matrix. Three main groups of calcareous olistoliths were separated, related to limestone age: Tithonian, Berriassian and Barremian-Aptian. Each group is characterized by its micropaleontological content. Tithonian limestones are rare among the limestone olistoliths. Only one sample of allodapic packstone was identified. The Berriasian-Valanginian olistoliths have more variable facies types: coarse to moderately coarse bioclastic grainstone; peloidal-bioclastic, oolithic-bioclastic, or intraclastic-bioclastic grainstone; charophytebearing wackestone, and ostracode-bearing wackestone-packstone. The Barremian-Aptian olistoliths are not only the most frequent, but have also the largest spectrum of facies types: coarse bioclastic grainstone; peloidal-bioclastic or intraclastic grainstone; bioclastic or intraclastic packstone; bioclastic-peloidal grainstone/packstone; bioclastic wackestone or wackestone/packstone; peloidal-bioclastic grapestone; fenestral mudstone, and Bacinella-Lithocodium bindstone. The main aim of the present study is a detailed inventory of the microfossils within the limestone olistoliths, together with an attempt to identify their provenance.
The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression repre-sent, fo... more The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression repre-sent, for the Northern Apuseni Mountains, a well-known cropping out area for Gosau-type facies with rudists, which is similar to the typical Eastern Alps section. The investigated stratigraphic succession in-cluded both carbonate and siliciclastic deposits. The carbonate deposits with rudists (hippuritids) bio-constructions crop out in the base of the succession. The upper part is dominated by siliciclastic se-quences that contain, at various levels, bioaccumulations mainly consisting of radiolitids. The rudist as-semblages identified from these deposits include both species typical for the Gosau facies, as well as distinctive species (Miseia, Gorjanovicia, Mitrocaprina) characterising south-European, Mediterranean areas. These latter species are now first mentioned for the Upper Cretaceous deposits in the area under study.
ABSTRACT a b s t r a c t The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous depos... more ABSTRACT a b s t r a c t The shallow-marine, mixed siliciclastic-calcareous Late Cretaceous deposits from the Apuseni Mountains have been extensively studied and compared to coeval deposits from the Alpine Gosau. The former are mainly represented by conglomerates, sandstones, marls, and limestones with rudists that unconform-ably overlie the crystalline basement and its Permo-Mesozoic cover. Our new, detailed investigations on the rudist fauna from M agura Hill, the type locality of Pseudopolyconites hirsutus (Patrulius) and Miseia costulata Patrulius, indicate a Late SantonianeEarly Campanian age for these deposits instead of an Early Santonian one as previously suggested (Patrulius, 1974). This study also mentions for the first time the occurrences of Pseudosabinia klinghardti (Böhm) and Pseudopolyconites parvus Milovanovi c in the rudist-bearing deposits from the Apuseni Mountains. We include their palaeontological features, as well as the ones for Pseudopolyconites hirsutus. Based on new biostratigraphic data, our study expand the strati-graphic range of Pseudosabinia klinghardti and Pseudopolyconites parvus e previously considered char-acteristic for the Early CampanianeMaastrichtian interval. Also we add new information on their palaeobiogeographic distribution within the central-eastern Mediterranean area during the Late Cretaceous.
The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression represent, for... more The Upper Cretaceous deposits located in the eastern extremity of Borod Depression represent, for the Northern Apuseni Mountains, a well-known cropping out area for Gosau-type facies with rudists, which is similar to the typical Eastern Alps section. The investigated stratigraphic succession included both carbonate and siliciclastic deposits. The carbonate deposits with rudists (hippuritids) bioconstructions crop out in the base of the succession. The upper part is dominated by siliciclastic sequences that contain, at various levels, bioaccumulations mainly consisting of radiolitids. The rudist assemblages identified from these deposits include both species typical for the Gosau facies, as well as distinctive species (Miseia, Gorjanovicia, Mitrocaprina) characterising south-European, Mediterranean areas. These latter species are now first mentioned for the Upper Cretaceous deposits in the area under study.
The Upper Cretaceous deposits exposed in the eastern part of Borod Basin (Corniţel village area, ... more The Upper Cretaceous deposits exposed in the eastern part of Borod Basin (Corniţel village area, at the con-fluence of Strâmturii Valley and Cioroi-Negru Brook) unconformably overlie rhyolitic lavas. The most common li-thologies are represented by alternance of marls, sandstones and conglomerates with intercalated two carbonate litho-somes rich in rudists. Rhyolitic tuffs cap the examined section. The rudist fauna comprises the next genera: Bournonia, Gorjanovicia, Praeradiolites, Radiolites, Sphaerulites, Hippuritella and Vaccinites. A number of species belonging to the fore-mentioned genera have been recognized and taxonomically described. Rudist communities thrived in open shelf environments strongly influenced by high energy regimes and siliciclastic sedimentation during the Upper Cretaceous. Gravity flows were responsible for the processes of reworking and transport of rudists towards the slope or to the shelf slope toe.
Mammal and dinosaur localities in the Hat xeg Basin belonging to the Upper Cretaceous Saˆnpetru a... more Mammal and dinosaur localities in the Hat xeg Basin belonging to the Upper Cretaceous Saˆnpetru and Densus x-Ciula formations have been known since the beginning of the last century. Recently, two new exposures with a comparable fauna have been discovered in the Raˆul Mare valley. The sediments at these new sites, Totes xti-baraj and Na˘lat x-Vad, have been compared with the sediments at the previously known Pui site. At all three sites the deposits reflect a fluvial environment with coarse-grained channel deposits channelized in fine-grained floodplain deposits with calcrete palaeosols. However, the nature of the calcrete palaeosols is different at the three sites. At Totes xti-baraj and Na˘lat x-Vad, hydromorphic calcic vertisols have been observed, and locally these grade into groundwater calcretes. At Pui, the calcretes are associated with redbed deposits. Considering the similar palaeogeographical situation and age of the deposits at the three sites, the difference in soil type should not be interpreted as a climatic difference but rather as a difference in the height of the palaeogroundwater table. The soils at Pui are indicative of a general semi-arid climate. Those at Totes xti-baraj and Na˘lat x-Vad do not directly reflect the climate, but rather the high seasonal groundwater table. Differences in palaeohydrology between the sites are reflected in the fossil content with humidity-loving species only occurring at the Raˆul Mare sites.
The sequence of 137 m thickness is composed in the lower part of 80 m (Santonian) deep marine sed... more The sequence of 137 m thickness is composed in the lower part of 80 m (Santonian) deep marine sediments of a flysh basin and in the upper part (Lower Campanian) of 57 m thick mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sediments of an Upper slope position. The flysh contains some intercalations of thinbedded, graded bioclastic grainstones. The carbonate sediments of the upper slope contain collapsed reef blocks from the shelf edge, avalanche-type deposits from the shelf margin, flow deposits and sediments of submarine fans. Regarding the associations of calcareous nannoplankton, the most resistant species are prevailing. The main component of the association is represented by Watzanaueria barnaese followed by Retecapsa crenulata, Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii, Eiffelithus eximius, Micula staurophora. Seldom forms of Nannoconus, Russelia and Arkhangelskiella have also been noted. The marker species Micula staurophora (CC14 Zone), Calculites obscurus (CC17 Zone) and Broinsonia parca (CC18 Zone) indicate Santonian-Campanian age according the zonations of Perch-Nielsen (1985).
Field trip guide for Tenth Romanian Symposium on Paleontology, 16-17 Octomber 2015, Cluj-Napoca... more Field trip guide for Tenth Romanian Symposium on Paleontology, 16-17 Octomber 2015, Cluj-Napoca The Upper Cretaceous rudist-bearing shallow-marine deposits widely exposed in the southeastern part of Borod Basin, close to the Valea Crişului village, consists of conglomerates, microconglomerates and bioclastic sandstones intercalated with rudist-bearing limestones. These sequences rest unconformably on the Jurassic deposits by an erosional surface at the bottom, and are covered by Sarmatian marls at the top. Two rudist assemblages belonging to the Radiolitidae, Hippuritidae and Plagiopthychidae family have been identified, indicating Santonian-Campanian age.
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Papers by Liana Sasaran
The Upper Cretaceous rudist-bearing shallow-marine deposits widely exposed in the southeastern part
of Borod Basin, close to the Valea Crişului village, consists of conglomerates, microconglomerates
and bioclastic sandstones intercalated with rudist-bearing limestones. These sequences rest
unconformably on the Jurassic deposits by an erosional surface at the bottom, and are covered by
Sarmatian marls at the top. Two rudist assemblages belonging to the Radiolitidae, Hippuritidae and
Plagiopthychidae family have been identified, indicating Santonian-Campanian age.