Upper Cretaceous "Echinoidlagerstätten" in the Kraków area
Abstract
Nagromadzenia pancerzy jeżowców w górnej kredzie okolic Krakowa
Accumulations of echinoid tests, the most numerous and characteristic macrofossils of Upper Cretaceous of Kraków area, appear in form which can be classified as “Echinoidlagerstätten”. Geometric and microfacies relationships between the fossils and the sediment, and the results of palaeoenvironmental analysis point out the strict dependence of this accumulations on energy conditions of their depositionary environment. Echinoid assemblages were deposited: in high energy-environment of their life or after short transport (Cenomanian), in rather quiet environment of their life after very short distance or no post-mortal transport (Turonian), redeposited (Santonian), in quiet sedimentation environment of their life (Campanian). An analysis of paleoenvironments allows to correlate the Cretaceous environments with modern echinofacies from eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Cenomanian assemblage (Phymosoma, Pyrina, Pygaulus) may be correlated with Arbacia+Paracentrotus, Paracentrotus, and/or Sphaerechinus facies, the Turonian assemblage (mainly Comilus) with Echinocardium+Spatangus facies, the Santonian (Micraster, Echinocorys, Conulus albogalerus) and Campanian (Micraster, Echinocorys) assemblages should be placed deeper and/or farther from the shore than Echinocardium+Spatangus facies.
Accumulations of echinoid tests, the most numerous and characteristic macrofossils of Upper Cretaceous of Kraków area, appear in form which can be classified as “Echinoidlagerstätten”. Geometric and microfacies relationships between the fossils and the sediment, and the results of palaeoenvironmental analysis point out the strict dependence of this accumulations on energy conditions of their depositionary environment. Echinoid assemblages were deposited: in high energy-environment of their life or after short transport (Cenomanian), in rather quiet environment of their life after very short distance or no post-mortal transport (Turonian), redeposited (Santonian), in quiet sedimentation environment of their life (Campanian). An analysis of paleoenvironments allows to correlate the Cretaceous environments with modern echinofacies from eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Cenomanian assemblage (Phymosoma, Pyrina, Pygaulus) may be correlated with Arbacia+Paracentrotus, Paracentrotus, and/or Sphaerechinus facies, the Turonian assemblage (mainly Comilus) with Echinocardium+Spatangus facies, the Santonian (Micraster, Echinocorys, Conulus albogalerus) and Campanian (Micraster, Echinocorys) assemblages should be placed deeper and/or farther from the shore than Echinocardium+Spatangus facies.