The first mid-Polish lignite seam (MPLS-1), mined in the vicinity of Konin and Turek in central Poland, has been subjected to multi-directional studies. These allowed for the deciphering of the environmental conditions in which relatively thick peat deposits were formed in the Middle Miocene. Research into organic matter alone does not allow for a complete determination of the mire type and its evolution. Much valuable additional information on this subject can be provided by a sedimentological study of siliciclastic interbeddings contained within the lignite seam. Therefore, this paper presents the results of low-rank coal lithotypes and clastic facies analysis. MPLS-1 from the Adamów–Konin Basin shows that the use of these two research methods can give satisfactory results. The lithotype analysis showed that sedimentary sub-environments (mire types: fen/open water, bush moor and forest mires, both relatively wet and dry) changed both vertically and laterally. On the other hand, sedimentological analysis of the siliciclastic sediments provides indirect evidence that the Mid-Miocene mires in central Poland existed in the vicinity of river channels. Their waters repeatedly flooded the mires, interrupted their evolution, and significantly increased the ash yield of MPLS-1. Finally, the presented results are in agreement with those obtained from palynological research.

The pre-glacial, autochthonous deposits of the S & lstrok;opiec Formation represented by the Jablonna and Radzik & oacute;w members, were identified in two new boreholes Jablonna UJK-1 and S & lstrok;opiec UJK-2-which were drilled in the S & lstrok;opiec Basin in the Holy Cross Mountains. Their sedimentary environ environment, provenance, and environmental conditions were determined using sedimentological, mineralogical-petrographic, geochemical, geophysical and palynological methods. The boundaries of the S & lstrok;opiec Formation are well defined. It lies on the Paleozoic bedrock and is overlain by glacial deposits, the precise chronostratigraphic position of which remains ender discussion. The basal Jab & lstrok;onna Member comprises lacustrine deposits (muds; silts and silts with interlayers of sands and with organic detritus, which overlie gravels), while the overlying Radzik & oacute;w Member consists of fluvial (fluvio-aeolian) deposits (sands and sands with gravels). Deposition took place in karst lakes, probably meromictic, in a cold climate. The source material came from the local weathering covers (Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Paleogene-Neogene). Palynological analysis (7 samples) revealed the presence of 118 taxa, including 23 cryptogam taxa, 20 gymnosperm taxa, 51 angiosperm taxal and 24 phytoplankton taxa, indicating significant mixing and repeated redeposition of palynomorphs from various sources. The final phase of deposition of the Jab & lstrok;onna Member occurred during the Quaternary Period. The results described provide the first detailed description of pre-glacial deposits in the Holy Cross Mountains and will serve as an important reference for future regional and extra-regional lithostratigraphic correlations.

Eocene sed i men ta tion in the Lublin re gion reached its peak in the Mid dle Eocene, fol lowed by a re gres sion in the Late Eocene, which was ac com pa nied by ac cu mu la tion of sig nif i cant am ber de pos its in the North Lublin area. These de pos its, lo cated along the south east ern coast of the Eocene, re flect the abun dant resin pro duc tion in di verse for ests dur ing the cli ma tic op ti mum of the Eocene. Re cent re search has chal lenged the ear lier no tion that am ber de pos its formed in river del tas and linked them to re gres sive ma rine fa cies. Am ber is typ i cally found in low-en ergy, re gres sive rock lay ers such as silt and sand, and its distribution could be significantly affected by environmental changes influencing its secondary occurrence. A recent study fo cus ing on the North Lublin re gion mod elled the struc tural sur face of the Up per Cre ta ceous to iden tify ar eas of am ber-bear ing de pos its. Us ing data from the PITAKA, Bank HYDRO and Cen tral Geo log i cal Ar chive da ta bases, a com pre hen sive sur face of the Up per Cre ta ceous at the sub-ba sin scale was cre ated us ing ArcGIS soft ware. This ap proach en abled a better un der stand ing of the palaeodepositional subsurface of the Paleogene de pos its. The anal y sis iden ti fied 84 dif fer ent am ber-bear ing fields cov er ing a to tal area of 891.5 km2, which cor re sponds to al most 14% of the study area in the north ern Lublin re gion. These re sults emphasise the in flu ence of the palaeomorphology of the Late Eocene ba sin on sed i ment dy nam ics in am ber-bear ing ar eas. This pa per de scribes a new depositional model for the Eocene am ber-bear ing for ma tions in the Lublin re gion and in di cates po ten tial am ber de pos its in this re gion.

Eocene sedimentation in the Lublin region reached its peak in the Middle Eocene, followed by a regression in the Late Eocene, which was accompanied by accumulation of significant amber deposits in the North Lublin area. These deposits, located along the south-eastern coast of the Eocene, reflect the abundant resin production in diverse forests during the climatic optimum of the Eocene. Recent research has challenged the earlier notion that amber deposits formed in river deltas and linked them to regressive marine facies. Amber is typically found in low-energy, regressive rock layers such as silt and sand, and its distribution could be significantly affected by environmental changes influencing its secondary occurrence. A recent study focusing on the North Lublin region modelled the structural surface of the Upper Cretaceous to identify areas of amber-bearing deposits. Using data from the PITAKA, Bank HYDRO and Central Geological Archive databases, a comprehensive surface of the Upper Cretaceous at the sub-basin scale was created using ArcGIS software. This approach enabled a better understanding of the paleo-depositional subsurface of the Paleogene deposits. The analysis identified 84 different amber-bearing fields covering a total area of 891.5 km², which corresponds to almost 14% of the study area in the northern Lublin region. These results emphasise the influence of the palaeomorphology of the Late Eocene basin on sediment dynamics in amber-bearing areas. This paper describes a new depositional model for the Eocene amber-bearing formations in the Lublin region and indicates potential amber deposits in this region.

W pracy główny nacisk położono na prezentację i dyskusję na temat korelacji osadów wyższej części neogenu na Niżu Polskim. W rezultacie zaproponowano nowy podział litostratygraficzny lądowych osadów wyższego neogenu w basenie niżowym. Skorygowano dane i nazewnictwo, dotyczące dotychczas stosowanych jednostek litostratygraficznych oraz wykreowano i zrewidowano kilka jednostek, które skorelowano z aktualnym podziałem chronostratygraficznym dla obszaru Europy. Zastosowano zasady podziałów litostratygraficznych zgodnie z litologicznymi kryteriami przyjętymi przy tworzeniu nowych jednostek litostratygraficznych. Ważnym zadaniem było ustalenie pozycji stratygraficznej utworów wyższej części miocenu i pliocenu ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem serii brunatnowęglowych oraz rozdzielających je osadów mineralnych. Ramy czasowe weryfikowanego odcinka neogenu są zdefiniowane przez dwa regionalne zdarzenia geologiczne, które zaznaczyły się niemal na całym obszarze Niżu Polskiego: dolną granicę badanego interwału definiuje początek sedymentacji charakterystycznych piasków adamowskich i tworzenia się węgla brunatnego I pokładu środkowopolskiego, a górną granicę stanowi początek glacjacji plejstoceńskiej. Na przeważającym obszarze Niżu Polskiego, poza Polską południowo-zachodnią, profil osadów wyższego neogenu jest na ogół pełny, z niewielką liczbą luk stratygraficznych, chociaż jest widoczne pewne zróżnicowanie regionalne osadów. Jest to spowodowane nieco odmiennym reżimem sedymentacyjnym, stymulowanym najczęściej zmianami geotektonicznymi i związanymi z nimi oscylacjami klimatu. Utwory wyższego neogenu na obszarze Niżu Polskiego są w przeważającej mierze osadami lądowymi, wykształconymi w facjach fluwialnych, limnicznych i telmatycznych.

A fungal palynomorph corresponding to the fossil-species Lirasporis intergranifer R. Potonie & S.C.D. Sah, from the Middle Miocene lignite mine in Tomislawice (central Poland), is considered as the new combination Cancellidium intergraniferum (R. Potonie & S.C.D. Sah) G. Worobiec & E. Worobiec, comb. nov. The fossil-genus Lirasporis is treated as a synonym of the modern genus Cancellidium Tubaki. Cancellidium intergraniferum from the Miocene of Poland represents the first fossil record of Cancellidium outside Asia, the first record of this genus from Europe, and the northernmost known fossil occurrence of Cancellidium. Living representatives of Cancellidium seem to prefer warm and humid climates and, being aero-aquatic hyphomycetes, are usually associated with decaying woody remains in aquatic environments. A similar ecology is suggested for the fossil C. intergraniferum, which could be a reliable fungal non-pollen palynomorph proxy for palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

Palynological analysis of the Tomislawice opencast mine deposits has allowed reconstruction of the plant communities and investigation of the evolution of sedimentary environments at various stages of lignite-forming marsh development, recorded in the composition of pollen assemblages from deposits of the 1st Mid-Polish lignite seam (MPLS-1). Rich pollen communities from an similar to 9 m thick section has enabled study of the succession of plant communities and of the evolution of phytogenic sedimentation. The pollen succession indicates that the as semblages in the whole lignite seam rep resent the VIII Celtipollenites verus pollen Zone. Slight differences in the composition of the communities reflect different stages of basin development, depending more on the variable water dynamics than on climatic oscillations. Lignite of the MPLS-1 developed in a continental regime on alluvial plains. Changes in the succession of plant communities in the Tomislawice section record flooding-drainage cycles caused by groundwater level oscillations. Peat bog accumulation took place in river basins, in which the lack of siliciclastic intercalations within the massive lignite seams points to weak fluvial dynamics. A rise in groundwater level and/or surface water resulted in flooding of the marshes and the formation of an extensive shallow lake basin, as shown by the presence of freshwater algae and pollen of aquatic plants. The section as a whole does not record an in creased contribution of thermophilic plant taxa. The flora was generally domi nated by warm-temperate and thermophilic species, without the participation of strongly thermophilic vegetation, which indicates that the lignite seam in the Tomislawice opencast mine was formed in the generally stable conditions of a warm temperate climate.

On overview of over a hundred years of history of Polish palaeobotanical research on the Paleogene and Neogene (formerly Tertiary) is provided. Profiles of the researchers who laid the foundations for the development of paleofloristic research are presented. In particular, we describe individuals who have made significant research contributions, including M. Raciborski, J. Zabłocki, M. Kostyniuk, H. Czeczott, and W. Szafer. Research centers that were revived after World War II gathered scientists who continued and extended work in the field, including M. Łańucka-Środońowa, J. Oszast, A. Skirgiełło, J. Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka, J. Stachurska, and J. Mamczar. This tradition was maintained and developed by researchers of the next generation: L. Stuchlik, E. Zastawniak, A. Sadowska, M. Ziembińska-Tworzydło, I. Grabowska, H. Ważyńska, A. Hummel, Z. Baranowska-Zarzycka, and A. Kohlman-Adamska. Currently, the fourth generation of Polish palaeobotanists, including B. Słodkowska, E. Worobiec, G. Worobiec, P. Gedl, M. Garecka, E. Durska, and R. Kowalski, conduct multifaceted palaeobotanical research, with links to various fields of knowledge, including botany, geology, and palaeoclimatology. Studies of past changes in plant cover provide important insight current climate change.

A b s t r a c t.In the northern Lublin region, the Eocene amber-bearing association has been recognized.It is a group of clastic deposits in which amber crumbs are scattered, and the characteristic feature of the association is the content of glauconite.The sedimentological and lithofacies studies allowed determining the conditions necessary for amber deposition.Accumulation of amber-bearing sediments took place in the Middle and Late Eocene.The Upper Eocene formations in this area occur in isolated patches.Amber accumulations are found in marine sediments associated with regressive facies, usually in depressions of the Cretaceous basement.Understanding the correct distribution of amber in the sediment and determining the dynamics of the Eocene sedimentary basin in the Lublin region have a practical aspect, and are the basis for developing the characteristics of the geological economic conditions for the occurrence of amber-bearing deposits.The recently drilled boreholes confirmed amber resource prospectivity in the Lubartów area and the recognition of new deposits with amber reserves.

We reconstruct palaeoenvironmental conditions during the formation of the first Mid-Polish Lignite Seam (MPLS-1) of the Konin Basin of central Poland, which is of mid-Miocene age. In terms of macropetrography, the MPLS-1 comprises different lithotype associations, predominantly xylodetritic lignite, and represents the peat deposits of mires most likely inhabited by Myricaceae-Cyrillaceae shrubs. Palynological assemblages obtained from the MPLS-1 at the Adamow Lignite Opencast Mine indicate the existence of wetland/palustrine and mesophytic vegetation during the accumulation of the peat. Applying the Coexistence Approach to the palynological assemblages, climate is inferred to have been warm temperate and humid with a mean annual temperature (MAT) of 15.7-18.0 degrees C with plant communities similar to modern pocosins developed on coastal plains in southeastern USA. The palynological assemblages from the MPLS-1 at Jozwin IIB Lignite Opencast Mine show palaeofloristic cyclicality. In the studied section, five cycles were identified, dominated by swamp forests (Taxodium/Glyptostrobus-Nyssa) similar to modern forests in southeastern USA and China. The climate at that time was warm temperate and humid (MAT = 15.7-20.5 degrees C) based on CA application. This is consistent with the significant contribution of warm temperate plants, typical of mixed mesophilous forests, which grew in the vicinity of the swamp forests. The results of geochemical analyses are generally in agreement with palaeobotanical studies, indicating angiosperm dominated the peat-forming vegetation. However, the geochemically-derived average temperature ranges of ca. 24.2-25.0 degrees C, based on the carbon preference index (CPI), is significantly higher. These differences between palynologically- and geochemically-derived MATs can be explained by the influence of changes in vegetation on the CPI values. The periodic contribution of algae and microorganisms to the biomass while the water table was raised is indicated by elevated abundances of short-chain n-FAs. In contrast, under acidic conditions, bacterial activity was limited, as indicated by beta beta/(beta beta + alpha beta) hopane ratios and low sulfur content. Based on sedimentological data, the MPLS-1 was mainly formed either proximal (Jozwin IIB, Tomislawice) or more distal (Adamow) to the river channels as evidenced by the presence or absence of siliciclastic partings within the MPLS-1. In summary, the MPLS-1 accumulated mostly as low-lying mires under freshwater conditions, corresponding to the last peak of the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum and to the period thereafter when the climate showed a cooling trend. Our findings are placed in the context of palaeotectonics and palaeoclimates at regional and global scales.

Many geological problems have not been convincingly explained so far and are debatable, for instance the origin and changes of the Neogene depositional environments in central Poland. Therefore, these changes have been reconstructed in terms of global to local tectonic and climatic fluctuations. The examined Neogene deposits are divided into a sub-lignite unit (Koźmin Formation), a lignite-bearing unit (Grey Clays Member), and a supra-lignite unit (Wielkopolska Member). The two lithostratigraphic members constitute the Poznań Formation. The results of facies analysis show that the Koźmin Formation was deposited by relatively high-gradient and well-drained braided rivers. Most likely, they encompassed widespread alluvial plains. In the case of the Grey Clays Member, the type of river in close proximity to which the mid-Miocene low-lying mires existed and then were transformed into the first Mid-Miocene Lignite Seam (MPLS-1), has not been resolved. The obtained results confirm the formation of the Wielkopolska Member by low-gradient, but mostly well-drained anastomosing or anastomosing-to-meandering rivers. The depositional evolution of the examined successions depended on tectonic and climatic changes that may be closely related to the mid-Miocene great tectonic remodelling of the Alpine-Carpathian orogen. This resulted in palaeogeographic changes in its foreland in the form of limiting the flow of wet air and water masses from the south and vertical tectonic movements.

Lithological and palynological studies of Paleogene siliciclastic deposits from the Yantarny P-1 borehole located on the western coast of the Sambian Peninsula (Kaliningrad region, Russia) show that the succession is characterized by numerous sedimentary discontinuities related to lithification horizons and erosional surfaces. Sedimentary gaps are emphasised by hardgrounds. Palynological data suggest the Selandian-Priabonian age of the succession and indicate a number of significant stratigraphic gaps. An important change in heavy mineral composition is recognized between the Paleocene and Eocene deposits in the area studied. A significant number of reworked Cretaceous microfossils is observed in the Selandian part of the succession studied.

On 24-25 November 2015, the Polish Geological Institute - National Research Institute in Warsaw organized the second scientific conference "Climate Change in the geological past". The conference was attended by more than eighty active participants, presenting 48 lectures and 13 posters.. Great interest and broad themes caused that the conference took place in two parallel groups in eight thematic sessions. Lectures of universal and synthetic character were presented in two plenary sessions.

Pol len anal y sis has re vealed the pres ence of the edmundi morphotype in the Paleogene and Neo gene sed i ments of Cen tral Eu rope. Its spe cies, char ac ter ized by dif fer ent morphologies, are mainly as signed to two fam i lies of ex tant plants – the Araliaceae and the Mastixiaceae – and com pared to pol len of some gen era (Diplopanax and Mastixia from the Mastixiaceae, and Aralia, Fatsia and Schefflera from the Araliaceae). The most sig nif i cant ge nus for palaeoclimate re con struc tions is the ex tant Diplopanax, whose seeds, sim i larly as the seeds of other rep re sen ta tives of the Mastixiaceae, ap pear in the warm phases of the Neo gene. The type spe cies of Edmundipollis (E. edmundi) has been com pared to Diplopanax pol len. Based on sim i lar i ties with ex tant plants, the CA (Co ex is tence Ap proach) was de ter mined. The re sults in di cate a very warm and hu mid sub trop i cal cli mate (Cfa–Cwa) ac cord ing to the Köppen clas si fi ca tion.

Pollen analysis has revealed the presence of the edmundi morphotype in the Paleogene and Neogene sediments of Central Europe. Its species, characterized by different morphologies, are mainly assigned to two families of extant plants – the Araliaceae and the Mastixiaceae – and compared to pollen of some genera ( Diplopanax and Mastixia from the Mastixiaceae, and Aralia , Fatsia and Schefflera from the Araliaceae). The most significant genus for palaeoclimate reconstructions is the extant Diplopanax , whose seeds, similarly as the seeds of other representatives of the Mastixiaceae, appear in the warm phases of the Neogene. The type species of Edmundipollis ( E. edmundi ) has been compared to Diplopanax pollen. Based on similarities with extant plants, the CA (Coexistence Approach) was determined. The results indicate a very warm and humid subtropical climate (Cfa–Cwa) according to the Koppen classification.

The accumulation of large amounts of phytogenic matter, leading to the formation of lignite deposits of economic importance, has been determined by two groups of external factors: (a) climatic factors determining the indispensable production of organic matter and (b) geological factors allowing preservation of this matter in the sediment and its diagenetic transformation in the process of coalification. The overriding item among climatic factors was obviously the production of suitable amounts of phytogenic matter. It could be accumulated only under favourable vegetation conditions and therefore a warm and humid climate was a condition sine qua non for the intensive production of phytogenic matter. Problems of lignite origin do not generally relate to the lack of production of phytogenic material, but to preventing preservation in the sediment due to rapid oxidation of this material in very warm conditions. Therefore, the coal-forming process was constrained by two critical temperature values, which had to be neither too low nor too high, wherein sufficiently high humidity persisted throughout the process. Therefore, the range of mean annual temperature, which ensured favourable conditions for the growth and preservation of phytogenic matter, was from approx. 15.5 to 24 degrees C. In the Cenozoic, such conditions commenced in the Early Oligocene and persisted up to the later Miocene - this was the interval of the most intense anthracogenesis in the Polish Lowlands. In the widespread lowland areas, lush swamp forests and peat fens developed, and thick lignite seams reflect the accumulation of phytogenic matter. This interval began with the cooling at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary and terminated at the beginning of the next cooling and drying phase known as that of the "C4 grassland" in the Late Miocene. Both the critical points are related to the surpassing of temperature limits: too high for the preservation of phytogenic deposits, and too low for the extensive development of lignite-forming vegetation. An important condition for the emergence of a large thickness of phytogenic sediments is primarily an existence of the accomodation space, where a considerable amount of plant matter might accumulate. This occurred only in conditions of dynamic equilibrium between the growth of plant matter and the lowering of the depositional surface, which ensured stabilization of the groundwater level. The rate of subsidence of the depositional surface must be balanced by the rate of vegetation growth. Therefore, no single lignite seam corresponding in age to the whole period of potential accumulation was formed at that time. Rather, a few lignite seams, separated by thick successions of mineral deposits, then formed. The vegetation of the wetlands which created the individual lignite seams was similar, this being mostly a fades element. Differences in the composition of vegetation are found mainly in plant communities outside peat-fens and it is the plants outside of the wetlands which allowed for subsequent dating of the lignite seams. The thermophilous vegetation was replaced by plants of lower thermal requirements during the progressive climate cooling towards the end of the Miocene. The ultimate cooling and completion of peat/lignite production was generated by the Middle Miocene uplift of the Carpathians arc in the Alpine orogeny. This natural barrier considerably limited the circulation of warm and humid air masses from the south to the Polish Lowlands area.