Geo.Cro.2-3-61-KB.pdf 297 � Ioan I. Bucur1, Bruno Granier2 and Emanoil Săsăran1 AB STRA CT A study of calcareous strata previously assigned to the Barremian-Early Aptian interval in the northwestern part of Pădurea Craiului, (Apuseni Mountains), led to the identifi cation of a micropaleontological association indicative of a Late Aptian age. Unequivocal evidence for the Late Aptian assignment of these limestones is the presence throughout the sequence of two orbitolinid species, Mesorbitolina texana (ROEMER) and Mesorbitolina subconcava (LEYMERIE). The most interesting sections are located in the neighbourhood of Subpiatră, where both outcrops and a quarry fa- cilitated detailed analyses. In this area, the Upper Aptian succession consists basically of three types of macrofacies: 1) limestone with rudists; 2) limestone with Bacinella and 3) limestone with corals, each of them showing several types of microfacies. Bacinella structures are the most common feature in the whole succession, irrespective of the macrofacies. This paper focuses on an algal association that was identifi ed in several levels within the succession. Dasycladalean algae are more frequent, and are commonly found in grain-dominated fabrics (mostly grainstone tex- tures), in association with orbitolinid foraminifera and bioclasts of corals, rudists and gastropods. However, a few species are present only in mud-dominated fabrics (i.e. lower-energy intervals). The dasycladalean association from the Upper Aptian deposits of Pădurea Craiului is of special interest, for this group registered a dramatic decline at the Lower Aptian/Upper Aptian boundary, as confi rmed by the relative scar- city of the Dasycladales in the Upper Aptian carbonate deposits. Keywor ds: calcareous algae, Upper Aptian, Pădurea Craiului, Apuseni Mountains, Romania 1 Department of Geology, Center of Geological Integrated Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University, str. M. Kogălniceanu nr.1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; ( ibucur@bioge.ubbcluj.ro; esasaran@bioge.ubbcluj.ro) 2 Département des Sciences de la Terre, UFR des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), 6, avenue Le Gorgeu, F-29238 Brest Cedex 3, France; (bgranier@univ-brest.fr) Upper Aptian calcareous algae from Pădurea Craiului (Northern Apuseni Mountains, Romania) Geologia Croatica 61/2–3 297–309 3 Figs. 3 Pls. Zagreb 2008 Geologia CroaticaGeologia Croatica � 1. INTRODUCTION, STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK The Pădurea Craiului Massif includes Mesozoic deposits of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous age. Samples were collected from several profi les in the Subpiatră quarry (near the Aleşd locality, in the northwestern part of the Pădurea Craiului Moun- tains (Fig. 1) and were assigned into the local Cretaceous suc- cession. The lowermost Cretaceous strata lie unconformably on a surface deformed by regional uplift at the end of the Upper Jurassic. The sequence begins with bauxites that are overlain by carbonate deposits assigned to discrete lithostratigraph ic units, from bottom to top as follows (Fig. 2): 1) Blid Formation (DRAGASTAN et al., 1986, 1988). This formation includes two members (COCIUBA, 2000): 1. a) The Dobreşti Member overlies bauxites or rests di- rectly on Upper Jurassic limestone. Originally, the bas- al limestone of the Dobreşti Member contains lacus- trine deposits, which are followed by brackish and fi nally by normal marine strata; in the literature they are known as “Limestone with characeans and gastropods” (PATRULIUS in IANOVICI et al., 1976). Besides characeans and gastropods, this limestone con tains dasycladalean algae and foraminifera, an assemblage Geologia Croatica Geologia Croatica 61/2–3 298 with a low value regarding its stratigraphic resolu- tion that however indicates a Berriasian–Hauterivian range. 1. b) The Coposeni Member, previously known as the “Low- er pachyodont limestone” (PATRULIUS in IANOVICI et al., 1976), is Upper Hauterivian-Barremian in age. The foraminiferal association identifi ed in the lower - middle part of this limestone contains Paracoskino- lina? jourdanensis (FOURY & MOULLADE), an in- dex foraminifer for the Upper Hauterivian p.p. and Lower Barremian. 2) Ecleja Formation (PATRULIUS, in IANOVICI et al., 1976), a succession of greyish silty marls to marly silts. It includes two members that differ in lithology from the marly suc- cession (COCIUBA, 2000): 2. a) The Gugu Breccia Member (PATRULIUS et al., 1982) and 2. b) The Valea Bobdei Limestone Member (COCIUBA, 2000). The Valea Bobdei limestone was known previ- ously as “The middle pachyodont limestone”. Most probably, its age is basal Early Aptian (early Bedou- lian). 3) The Valea Măgurii Limestone Formation (COCIUBA, 2000) rests on the Ecleja Marls and its upper limit is the site of an unconformity. This formation is also of Early Ap- tian age (most probably late Bedoulian). Both the Valea Bobdei Limestone and the Valea Măgurii Limestone in- clude the orbitolinid Palorbitolina lenticularis (BLUMEN- BACH), a fossil that ranges from the Late Barremian to the Early Aptian. 4) The Vârciorog Formation (COCIUBA, 2000) is the new designation for the previously defi ned “Formation of the glauconitic sandstones and the upper pachyodont lime- stones” (PATRULIUS in IANOVICI et al., 1976). In the Varciorog area, the limestone interbeds are 15–20 m thick and contain Mesorbitolina texana. The Vârciorog Forma- tion was assigned to the Upper Aptian (Gargasian) – Al- bian interval. The limestone of the Subpiatră quarry be- longs to this same formation. A section in the southern part of the study area was the object of a preliminary investiga- tion (DAOUD et al., 2004). 2. CARBONATE FACIES AND AGE OF THE VÂRCIOROG FORMATION LIMESTONE Macroscopically, three major facies could be identifi ed: bio- stromes with rudists, limestone with Bacinella nodules and coral bioconstructions with their associated unique facies (Fig. 3). Their study under the microscope showed several types of microfacies all characterized by an abundance of Bacinella, (its occurrence is most conspicuous in a bindstone with Baci- nella, and in a bioclastic wackestone-packstone with Bacinel- la oncoids), followed by somewhat lesser quantities in wacke- stone-packstone and coarse bioclastic grainstone, packstone and boundstone with rudists, coral boundstone and peloidal- bioclastic wackestone-packstone (Pl. 1, Figs. 1–7). Bacinella is the main component in all of these microfacies; it represents more than 30 % of the total volume. The micropalaeontological associations in the whole suc- cession include both foraminifera and algae. The following have been identifi ed: Sabaudia minuta (HOFKER), Sabaudia auruncensis CHIOCCHINI & DI NAPOLI ALIATA, Glomo- spira urgoniana ARNAUD-VANNEAU, Troglotella incrus- tans WERNLI & FOOKES, Mesorbitolina texana (ROEM- ER) (Pl. 2, Fig. 1), Mesorbitolina subconcava (LEYMERIE) (Pl. 2 fi g. 2), Pseudolituonella conica LUPERTO SINNI & MASSE, Girariarella? prismatica ARNAUD-VANNEAU. The two species of Mesorbitolina (M. texana and M. subcon- cava) in this association have a particular signifi cance for their range does not extend downward to the Gargasian (middle Aptian). Limestone beds of the same age, which were previ- ously assigned to the so-called “Upper pachyodont limesto ne”, are also known at Varciorog where they are included in the Vârciorog Formation. At this location, these beds are interbed- ded with coarse siliciclastics. They do not exceed 15–20 m in thickness and show clear evidence of gravitational fl ow. In the Subpiatră quarry, the age equivalent limestone beds are120–150 m-thick and are typical carbonate platform deposits. Presum- ably, the carbonate succession in the Subpiatră quarry area represents the Upper Aptian carbonate platform that provided the gravitational fl ows found in the Vârciorog area where ter- rigenous deposits with a “fl ysch-like” character predominate. Fi gu re 1: Location of the study area. 1 Quaternary deposits; 2 Cenozoic deposits; 3 Mesozoic deposits; 4 Location of the studied section (Subpiatră Quarry). Geologia CroaticaIoan I. Bucur et al.: Upper Aptian calcareous algae from Pădurea Craiului 299 3. THE CALCAREOUS ALGAE An algal association was identifi ed at several levels in the suc- cession. It is dominated by dasycladalean algae and it consists of: Anisoporella? cretacea (DRAGASTAN), Cylindroporella ivanovici (SOKAČ),?Clypeina sp., Dissocladella sp., Neom- eris sp., Russoella sp., Salpingoporella sp., Terquemella sp., Triploporella sp., Zittelina sp. and the microproblematicum Coptocampylodon fontis PATRULIUS. It includes other algal groups represented by Polystrata alba PFENDER, Paracha- etetes asvapatii (PIA) and rivulariacean-type cyanobacteria. Anisoporella? cretacea (DRAGASTAN, 1967) (Pl. 3, Fig. 7) This alga was originally described from the Pădurea Craiului area (Apuseni Mountains) as Pseudoepimastopora cretacea (DRAGASTAN, 1967). Following its emendation to the ge- nus Pseudoepimastopora (ROUX, 1979) and its subsequent invalidation (GRANIER & DELOFFRE, 1993), the alga was assigned to two other genera: Epimastoporella ROUX 1979 (BUCUR, 1992) and Anisoporella BOTTERON 1961 (BU- CUR, 1995) (see BUCUR, 2000 for a detailed discussion of Fi gu re 2: Lower Cretaceous lithostratigraphic units from the Pădurea Craiului Mountains. 1 Bauxite; 2 Limestone; 3 Breccia; 4 Marl and shale; 5 Sandstone Fi gu re 3: Succession and facies characteristics of the Upper Aptian limestones from the Subpiatră Quarry, with the location of algae-bearing samples Geologia Croatica Geologia Croatica 61/2–3 300 PLATE 1 1 Bioclastic-intraclastic rudstone with large coral fragments, rudist, bivalve, gastropod and echinid fragments, and foraminifera; 8608. 2 Coarse bioclastic packstone with gastropods and dasycladales; 9087. 3–4 Subtidal limestones formed in a high hydrodynamic environment and subsequently subaerially exposed. Stalactitic-type cement (fi g. 3, arrows) and meniscus-type cement (fi g. 4) indicating vadose diagenesis. The intergranular voids are fi lled with ostracod- and small gastropod-bearing ooze, and microbialite. Fig. 3, 8869; Fig. 4, 8865. 5 Limestone with Bacinella; 8817. 6 Coral bioconstructions, 8646. 7 Vertical succession of facies of diff erent grain-size within peritidal deposits. The subtidal deposits formed in a high energy environment (lower part) are intercalated with subtidal deposits formed in a low-energy environ- ment (upper part); 8793. Scale bar is 1 mm for all fi gures. Geologia CroaticaIoan I. Bucur et al.: Upper Aptian calcareous algae from Pădurea Craiului 301 Geologia Croatica Geologia Croatica 61/2–3 302 PLATE 2 1 Mesorbitolina texana (RÖMER); 8634. 2 Mesorbitolina subconcava (LEYMERIE); 8805. 3 Coptocampylodon fontis PATRULIUS and Terquemella sp.; 9011. 4 Polystrata alba (PFENDER); 8669. 5–6 Rivulariacean-type cyanobacteria. Fig. 5, 9014; Fig. 6, 8695 7 Parachaetetes asvapatii PIA; 8069. 8 Terquemella sp.; 8616. Scale bar is: 0.125 mm (Fig. 4); 0.25 mm (Figs. 1 and 2); 0.5 mm (Figs. 3, 5–8) Geologia CroaticaIoan I. Bucur et al.: Upper Aptian calcareous algae from Pădurea Craiului 303 Geologia Croatica Geologia Croatica 61/2–3 304 PLATE 3 1–5 Cylindroporella ivanovici (SOKAČ). Fig. 1, 8742; Figs. 2, 3, 5, 8687; Fig. 4, 8686. 6, 9 Zittelina sp. Fig. 6, 9087; Fig. 9, 8742. 7 Anisoporella? cretacea (DRAGASTAN), 8752. 8 Triploporella sp.; 8740. Scale bar is: 0.25 mm (Fig. 4); 0.5 mm (Figs. 1–3, 5–9). Geologia CroaticaIoan I. Bucur et al.: Upper Aptian calcareous algae from Pădurea Craiului 305 Geologia Croatica Geologia Croatica 61/2–3 306 synonymies and generic assignment). In fact as shown by RADOIČIĆ (2005), the affi liation of the species A.? cretacea to the genus Anisoporella was incorrect, Anisoporella-type algae have vesiculiform laterals in a euspondyl arrangement, but with double verticils (a feature not present in A.? cretacea, which has simple euspondyl verticils). As noted by BUCUR et al. (2005), the morphological features of the skeleton of this alga are closer to those of the genus Griphoporella as describ- ed and emended by BARATTOLO et al. (1993). Most prob- ably, Epimastopora cekici RADOIČIĆ (Upper Hauterivian – Lower Barremian) and Gyroporella lukicae SOKAČ & VELIĆ (Lower Aptian) are ascribable to the same genus. The clarifi cation of the systematic status of Anisoporella? cretacea is in progress, based on new fi nds in the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Alps and the Carpathians (BUCUR & SCHLAGINTWEIT, in prep.). Generalised stratigraphic range: Oxfordian–Aptian. Cylindroporella ivanovici (SOKAČ, 1987) (Pl. 3, Figs. 1–5) This dasycladalean alga is the most common species in our samples. Here too, the systematic assignment has undergone several changes. It was originally described as a species of the genus Korkyrella SOKAČ & VELIĆ, 1981 (SOKAČ, 1987), which was subsequently invalidated because the type species, originally named Salpingoporella texana, was considered to be invalid. The species K. ivanovici has also been considered a junior synonym of the species Pseudoepimastopora pedun- culata JAFFREZO et al., 1980 (in the new combination Cyl- indroporella pedunculata, see LUPERTO SINNI & MASSE, 1993; BODROGI et al., 1994; BUCUR, 2000; SOTAK & MIŠIK, 1993) or it has been transferred to the genus Cylin- droporella (C. ivanovici) (see MANCINELLI, 1992; MASSE & ISINTEK, 2000). SOKAČ (2004) has revised the genus Kor- kyrella by designating a lectotype for Salpingoporella texana JOHNSON, 1965 and has redefi ned the species Korkyrella texana (a taxonomic procedure that may cause a homonymy thus leading to another invalidation of the genus Korkyrella). The relationship between Cylindroporella ivanovici and Cylin- droporella barnesii JOHNSON (1954), has been discussed by BUCUR (2000), who shows that often the two species have been distinguished on the basis of “stratigraphic” criteria and may represent, in fact, a single species (see also CONRAD, 1982). But to confi rm this, a careful review of the type species would be required. Griphoporella aurigerica CONRAD & PEYBER- NES (1976) may be another synonym of this species. Generalised stratigraphic range: Hauterivian–Albian Terquemella sp. (Pl. 2, Figs. 3pars, 8) A number of small objects in association with fossil algae have been described in the palaeoalgological literature and named either Acicularia, or Terquemella, both considered as the re- productive bodies (gametophores) of some dasycladales in deposits of Late Jurassic – Early Creataceous age (e.g. Ter- quemella antiqua, PIA, 1936; Acicularia elongata, CARO- ZZI, 1947; Acicularia jurassica, JOHNSON, 1961; Acicula- ria americana, KONISHI & EPIS, 1962; Acicularia endoi, PRATURLON, 1964; Acicularia intermedia, DRAGASTAN, 1967; Terquemella concava, BERNIER, 1979). As a rule, the assignment of these objects to either one of the two organo- genera was based on ambiguous or subjective criteria. Most of them have been assigned to the genus Acicularia. Howev- er, some have been reconsidered and assigned to the genus Terquemella (e.g. T. endoi and T. antiqua, see MASSE, 1995; MASSE & ARNAUD-VANNEAU, 1999). Here again a com- plete review is needed to clarify the taxonomy of the group. In our opinion, there is a simple and effi cient morphological criterion that may be used to differentiate the two genera: the presence of “club-shaped” longitudinal sections clearly links the gametophores’ construction to the reproductive disk of Acicularia (e.g. Acicularia sp., KUSS & HERBIG, 1993). If the shape is spheroidal, ovoidal or discoid an affi liation with the genus Terquemella is much more probable. This distinc- tion is obvious when a large number of specimens are found in one sample (fossil assemblage), as is the case of the Upper Aptian limestone samples from Pădurea Craiului: they show discoid morphologies. The specimens illustrated in Pl. 2, fi g. 8 represent, most probably, a new species. Zittelina sp. (Pl. 3, Figs. 6, 9) The genus Zittelina is represented in Lower Cretaceous de- posits by only one species (Zittelina hispanica MASSE et al., 1993) that was identifi ed fi rst in the Hauterivian of Spain and then recorded in the Barremian-Aptian deposits of the Reşiţa Zone (Southern Carpathians, Romania, cf. BUCUR, 2001). However, the specimens identifi ed in the Upper Aptian of the Pădurea Craiului area differ from Zittelina hispanica in sev- eral morphological and dimensional parameters, so they may be a separate new species. Similar specimens have been illus- trated by CAMOIN (1982, pl. 1, fi gs. 2–3) under the name Triploporella cf. decastroi and Triploporella cf. matesina from Barremian-Aptian deposits in Sicily. MASSE & ARNAUD- VANNEAU (1995) have also illustrated Zittelina sp. from Al- bian deposits on a “guyot” of the northwestern Pacifi c Ocean. These authors consider their specimen to be a new species. It is similar to the form we described from Pădurea Craiului. The study of this alga is in progress based on additional material recently collected from the Subpiatră quarry (Pădurea Crai- ului). We have identifi ed several other dasycladalean algae from single specimens or from a limited numbers of specimens, so these sparsely represented forms have been assigned only at the generic level (?Clypeina sp., Dissocladella sp., Neomeris sp. – most probably a fragment of Neomeris cretacea, Russo- ella sp., Salpingoporella sp., Triploporella sp. – Pl. 3, Fig. 8). Coptocampylodon fontis (PATRULIUS, 1966) (Pl. 2, Fig. 3pars) This incertae sedis microfossil is very common in the Barre- mian–Aptian deposits of the Tethyan domain. The clarifi ca- tion of its taxonomy is beyond the scope of this paper. It would require a complex investigation that could clarify the status of Geologia CroaticaIoan I. Bucur et al.: Upper Aptian calcareous algae from Pădurea Craiului 307 the genus Coptocampylodon and the possible affi liation of the species C. fontis to this genus or to Carpathoporella DRA- GASTAN 1967. The most recent papers diverge in their points of view on this subject (e.g. MASSE & ARNAUD VANNE AU, 1999; RADOIČIĆ, 2005). Remarks on the taxonomy and de- tailed synonymy of Coptocampylodon are given in SCHLAG- INTWEIT et al. (2002). Beyond this aspect, it is notable that in the Pădurea Craiului area C. fontis is abundant in the Ap- tian-Albian allodapic limestones that are interbeds in the Vâr- ciorog Formation. The association identifi ed in the Upper Aptian limestones of Pădurea Craiului includes two red algae: Polystrata alba (PFENDER) and Parachaetetes asvapatii PIA. Polystrata alba (Pl. 2, Fig. 4) is a peyssonneliacean alga occurring frequently in reef or para-reef deposits within the Hauterivian-Oligocene (?Miocene) time interval. Recent articles on this alga are by BASSI (1997) and AGUIRRE & BRAGA (1999). Paracha- etetes asvapatii (Pl. 2, Fig. 7) is usually assigned to the sole- noporaceans, and as a rule it has been found in Upper Creta- ceous – Palaeocene deposits, but it was identifi ed in Lower Cretaceous strata (GRANIER et al., 1991), and probably, also in the Upper Jurassic (BUCUR et al., 2005). Recent papers on Parachaetetes asvapatii were published by STOKAR (2000) and AGUIRRE & BARATTOLO (2001); the latter’s article questioned the affi liation of this alga to the solenoporaceans. Elianella elegans PFENDER & BASSE 1948 has been con- sidered by several authors as a recent synonym of Paracha- etetes asvapatii (e.g. MOUSSAVIAN, 1989). Recently, BUČEK & KÖLER (2005), based on material from the Slovakian Pal- aeocene, reconsidered this synonymy, favouring the preserva- tion of two separate species. Finally, concerning the rivulariacean-type cyanobacteria (Pl. 2, Figs. 5–6) we can state only that they are present in some shallow subtidal or intertidal facies Concerning the palaeoenvironment of the Upper Aptian algae in the Pădurea Craiului area, the dasycladalean algae have been found mainly in coarse-grained facies that include fragments of corals, rudists and gastropods. Only Terquemel- la sp. is present in facies representing low energy environ- ments. However, Polystrata alba and Parachaetetes asvapatii occur in reef facies, the fi rst as crusts associated with Bacinel- la, rudists or corals; the second is more common in environ- ments dominated by corals. 4. CONCLUSION The Upper Aptian carbonate deposits cropping out in the Sub- piatră quarry area (Aleşd, Pădurea Craiului Mountains) most probably represent the carbonate platform from which the al- lodapic interbeds of the Vârciorog Formation were derived. We have identifi ed in these deposits an association of calcar- eous algae dominated by dasycladaleans, and accompanied by red algae and rivulariacean-type cyanobacteria. Among the dasycladaleans, two species (Terquemella sp. and Zittelina sp.) are most probably new. Given the dramatic decline in both numbers and species of the calcareous algae (dasycladales in particular) in the vicinity of the Lower Aptian/Upper Aptian boundary (BUCUR, 1999), the dasycladalean association from the Upper Aptian of Pădurea Craiului described here acquires a special palaeontological and palaeogeographical signifi cance. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We thank Dana Pop and Nestor Sander for reviewing the English text. We also thank the two reviewers, Marc A. Conrad (Geneve) and Tonći Grgasović (Zagreb) for the useful comments on the paper. This research was partially supported by the CNCSIS grants 1330 (I. I. Bucur) and CEEX 13 (E. Săsăran). REFERENCES AGUIRRE, J. & BARATTOLO, F. 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