Suprun I. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of Paleocene sediments from the Ukrainian Carpathians.

This Thesis paper summarizes the results of calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy studies undertaken within the Ukrainian Carpathians. The work includes the first results of spatial and temporal distribution of nannofossils in these sediments, Monographic description of the most common species, detailed biostratigraphic and paleontological characteristic of Lower Paleocene stratigraphic units from Monastyr and Vezhana nappes where the Selandian Fasciculithus tympaniformis (NP5), Late Selandian-Early Thanetian Heliolithus kleinpelliі (NP6), Early Ypresian Tribrachiatus contortus (NP10) were first defined. The Metova Formation from the Vezhana nappe contained the Early Paleocene, Danian Biantholithus sparsus (NP1) and the Fasciculithus tympaniformis (NP5, Selandian), Heliolithus kleinpelliі (NP6 of the Late Selandian-Early Thanetian), Heliolithus riedelii (NP8, Thanetian) nannozones discovered here for the first time. The biozonation of the Lower Paleogene sediment from the Ukrainian Carpathians has been upgraded. The complete succession of nannozones corresponding to the Paleocene of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart have been identified, including Markalius inversus/Biantholithus sparsus (NP1), Cruciplacolithus tenuis (NP2), Chiasmolithus danicus (NP3), Ellipsolithus macellus (NP4), Fasciculithus tympaniformis (NP5), Heliolithus kleinpelliі (NP6), Discoaster mohleri (NP7), Heliolithus riedelii (NP8), Discoaster multiradiatus (NP9) and also the lowermost Early Ypresian Eocene nannozone Tribrachiatus contortus (NP10) which has been reported from this locality for the first time. The nannofossil biozonation has been correlated with that of Foraminifera and Dinocyst biostratigraphy. The criteria’s for substantiating the Cretaceous/Paleogene, Paleocene/Eocene the boundaries within the Ukrainian Carpathians have been identified. A detailed calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of Paleocene sediments from various tectonic units of the Ukrainian Carpathians was undertaken in accordance with the latest Geological Time Scale. This enabled regional correlation of Lower Paleogene sediments with coeval formations from other adjacent areas of the Tethys province. The study has determined distinctive nannofossil assemblages that enable the justification of the correlation of these sediments, develop varied scale (various) correlation charts and confirm the presence of close links between the paleobasins within the Tethys Ocean.