The upper Middle Devonian (Givetian) strata of the northern Holy Cross Mountains (& Lstrok;ysogory Region) in south-central Poland contain a taxonomically diverse palynomorph assemblage. This time interval is characterised by a marked reduction in microfloral taxonomic diversity, which is interpreted as a response to rapid climatic perturbations associated with the Taghanic Biocrisis. The material, coming from the Swi & eogon;tomarz-Sniadka section, comprises numerous miospore taxa, along with plant fragments, scolecodonts, acritarchs, and bioclasts of uncertain biological affinity. Palynofacies analysis suggests deposition in a shallow-shelf setting with substantial terrestrial input, influenced by transgressive-regressive cycles, thereby reflecting highly dynamic palaeoenvironmental conditions.

The sedimentary succession exposed in the Podlesna quarry near Siewierz (southern Poland) yielded the first confirmed occurrence of Devonian palynomorphs from this locality. Based on the composition of the miospore assemblages-the most abundant palynomorph group-the deposits have been assigned to the EX2 to possibly EX3 subzones of the EX Miospore Zone, corresponding to the rhenanus/varcus to latifossatus/semialternans conodont zones (Givetian). Preliminary palynofacies analysis suggests deposition in a proximal shelf setting.

A recent palaeontological investigation of Lower Devonian clastic strata from Poland has revealed the occurrence of a new type of palynomorph, which have elongate vesicles of variable proportions and exhibit bilateral symmetry. Three morphotypes were distinguished; two (Morphotypes A and B) have somewhat rounded poles without apertures, while the third (Morphotype C) has a thickened annular ring at the apex. The characteristic feature of Morphotypes A and C is a variable thickness of the vesicle at both poles, which makes the palynomorph approximately club-shaped. Morphotype B has an elongate, fusiform symmetrical shape. Some specimens are ornamented, showing irregularly distributed grains, but there are also 'naked' forms. The morphotypes generally occur as individuals but mono-taxonomic clusters were also observed. The biological affinity of these palynomorphs remains unclear. Some characters (morphology and shape) may indicate a relationship with arthropods, especially eurypterids. Other possibilities (acritarchs, testate amoebae, chitinozoa, fungi, algae) appear unlikely. The palynomorphs are from a coastal/alluvial environment, with a limited marine influence.

The first report of the Devonian non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) from the Givetian/Frasnian of Poland reveals diverse assemblages that contain chitinozoans, scolecodonts, organic tentaculitoids, animal remains, phytoplankton, plant debris, nematophytes and fungi. Analysed material provided the first documentation of chitinozoans from this time interval in Poland and the world oldest occurrence of organic tentaculitoids. These palynomorphs hold significant palaeoenvironmental value. The differentiated palynomorph assemblage indicates a deposition in a shallow water-marine environment with high terrestrial input. The age of the analysed deposits was established as "Geminospora" extensa (Ex) Miospore Zone to Geminospora aurita (Aur) Miospore Zone (conodont zones hemiansatus to lower falsiovalis).

Palynological samples from the Zar & eogon;by Beds (lower Carboniferous, Holy Cross Mountains) were inves-tigated for palynostratigraphy and palynofacies. Samples, obtained from the Jab & lstrok;onna IG 1 drill core (21 samples) and the Kowala Quarry (46 samples), allowed determinations of age, ranging from the HD (Cristatisporites hiber-nicus-Claytonispora disticta)miospore zones in the Kowala Quarry section, to the PC (Spelaeotriletes pretiosus-Raistrickia clavata) Miospore Zone in the Jab & lstrok;onna section, which corresponds to middle and late Tournaisian. This confirmed the diachronism of these sediments. Land microflora and plant remains predominated over marine phytoplankton. The sections are diachronous; the palynofacies record is rather uniform at both sites, with a small difference in age between the investigated areas. The palynofacies study reveals the deposition close to the source area for the land material. Moreover, the presence of amorphous organic matter, obtained from black shales and cherts, suggests a relatively deep and anaerobic sea bottom conditions.

Silesia, Poland). Geologorum Poloniae, Abstract: Upper Triassic fossil plants are well documented from the Keuper of Europe. Carnian and Rhaetian flo-ras are rich in a variety of plant taxa, whereas in comparison, the Norian is limited to a few localities with poorly preserved fossil plant communities showing low diversification. The Norian Grabowa Formation in Zawiercie-Marciszow, Upper Silesia, southern Poland, contains fossils of arborescent gymnosperms, including petrified coni-fer trunks. In this study, we present a fossil plant assemblage, containing fragmented plant parts in multiple forms of preservation, i.e., permineralised trunks and rooting structures, stems compressions, dispersed cuticles, and me-gaspores. Analysis of the macromorphological characters proved the presence of gymnosperms, including the ar-borescent conifer Agathoxylon cf. keuperianum, known already from this locality from fragments of charcoalified wood. Sphenophytes are represented by disarticulated stems of Equisetites sp., and Neocalamites sp. The variation in plant fossils indicates the possibility of higher plant diversity. Analysis of cuticles, macerated from different plant-bearing lithologies, revealed a variety of conifer foliage, expressed as five cuticulae dispersae morphotypes (needle-leaf Elatocladus-type and scale-leaf Pagio- Brachyphyllum-like). Plant fossils at Zawiercie-Marciszow are preserved in calcareous mudstones and micritic limestone concretions, developed in a fluvial environment. The presence of sphenophyte stems (Equisetites and Neocalamites) indicates that local conditions were more humid and suitable for spore-producing plants, appearing in the mid-Norian tectonic-pluvial episode, recorded in the Grabowa Fm.

ABSTRACT The Middle and Upper Devonian (Givetian and Frasnian) deposits of the Łysogóry-Radom and Lublin basins (south-central Poland) presented a diversified palynomorph assemblage. Numerous miospore taxa were documented and also contained well-preserved and varied plant remains, scolecodonts, acritarchs, chitinozoans, organic tentaculitoids, and bioclasts of uncertain biological affinity. Aneurospora extensa, Geminospora aurita, Samarisporites triangulatus and other documented taxa allowed us to establish two local miospore zones: the Givetian ‘Geminospora’ extensa zone and the Givetian–Frasnian Geminospora aurita zone. The time interval of these two zones shows the impoverishment in taxonomic diversity of microflora related to the rapid climate changes that are associated with the global Taghanic Event. The palynofacies analysis indicated a shallow-shelf environment with significant terrestrial input that was controlled by transgressive-regressive cycles, which confirmed the dynamic palaeoenvironmental changes. The new miospore taxon Retusotriletes radomskii is described.

The acritarch Teleostomata rackii gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Middle Devonian Skaly Beds that outcrop at Miloszow, Holy Cross Mountains, Poland. At the type locality, its stratigraphical range is within the 'Geminospora' extensa (Ex) Miospore Zone (= hemiansatus-varcus Conodont Zones), which correspond to the early and middle Givetian. The same acritarch has been illustrated from the Eifelian strata of the Gondwanan shelf in Tunisia, but it was unnamed at the time. This acritarch from MitoszOw can be distinguished from other phytoplankton genera of tetrahedral shape because of its broad processes with distal pore-like openings.

Givetian samples from Miłoszów (Holy Cross Mountains, Poland) are characterized by a disparity of palynomorph assemblages including miospores, acritarchs, prasinophytes and chitinozoans. Based on the miospores, the age of the investigated deposits was tentatively established as Givetian. The Geminospora extensa Zone (MT and CV subzones) was documented, which corresponds with the local palynostratigraphical division (“Geminospora” extensa Zone, Ex1 and Ex2 subzones). This involves conodont zones from hemiansatus to Middle varcus. Also, due to the differences of understanding the definition of the important taxon Samarisporites triangulatus its morphological features are taken under discussion. Palynofacies analysis indicates intrashelf, deep-marine depositional environment with slight signal of transgression in the uppermost part of succession.

We present a preliminary assessment of a new Lower Devonian biota from an exposure of the Zagórze Formation at Bukowa Góra quarry in the Łysogóry Region of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland. Abundant plant macrofossils preserved as carbonaceous compressions, adpressions, and permineralizations occur alongside a diverse assemblage of microfossils. Palynostratigraphic analysis places the fossiliferous sequences in the narrow Pro. Zone within the AP Zone of the douglastownense-eurypterota Miospore Zone, which corresponds to the upper part of the Emsian. Palynofacies analysis confirms that these sediments formed in a shallow-water, alluvial environment. The biota contains a rich assemblage of freshwater and brackish water organisms and fully terrestrial ones. Common elements include filamentous green algae, arthropods, terrestrial fungi-like filaments, nematophytes and abundant land plants. Scolecodonts and acritarchs are much rarer, suggesting limited marine influence. The new flora contains stem-group vascular plants, lycophytes and euphyllophytes. Among the permineralized remains is some of the earliest evidence of complex vascular systems, including cruciform and plate-like stelar organizations and secondary wood. We record the earliest fossil evidence of a dissected stele of the cladoxylopsid type. Innovations such as these were fundamental to the later evolution of arborescent growth in plants and the development of forest ecosystems. The biota complements and extends our knowledge of Emsian biotas in Euramerica just prior to the rapid changes that marked the Middle Devonian. It provides insights into a diverse early terrestrial community and raises further questions about the affinities and roles of arthropods and nematophytales in these ecosystems.

A tephra-rich cherty-clayey Famennian succession within the major Brzeinica olistostrome in the Bardo Mountains, Central Sudetes, SW Poland, preserves a record of the lost ocean later incorporated into the Variscan orogenic belt. Fluctuating but mostly oligotrophic regimes and low primary production levels were influenced by weak up-welling below the perennial oxygen minimum zone, which controlled the interplay between biosiliceous and siliciclastic deposition in the oceanic basin, with episodic oxygen deficiency. The Hangenberg Black Shale has been identified in this oceanic setting based on its characteristics described worldwide (including mercury enrichments). A tectonic uplift of the sediment source area near the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary, recorded in the distinguishing provenance signal of old continental crust, was paired with a global transgression, anoxia, and volcanic episode in an interglacial interval. Assuming paleogeographic affinity with the Bavarian facies of the Saxothuringian terrane, we interpret the allochthonous sediments as part of an accretionary prism that was gravitationally redeposited into the late orogenic basin in front of advancing Variscan nappes. The oceanic basin parental to the Bardo pelagic succession is therefore thought to represent a tract of the waning Saxothuringian Ocean in the Peri-Gondwanan paleogeographic domain that was eventually subducted beneath the Brunovistulian margin of Laurussia. The sediments of the Bardo Ocean basin also include a distal record of Famennian explosive volcanic activity that was likely related to a continental magmatic arc whose remnants are preserved as the Vrbno Group of the East Sudetes.

The middle and upper parts of the Skaly Fm, Early to Middle Givetian in age, were investigated in four sections at Miloszow Wood in the Lysogory Region (northern region of the Holy Cross Mountains, central Poland). The dating is based on conodonts (Polygnathus timorensis Zone to the later part of the Polygnathus varcus/Polygnathus rhenanus Zone; early Polygnathus ansatus Zone cannot be excluded) and spores (Ex1-2 subzones) and, coupled with cartographic analysis and geophysical investigation, allows correlation within the strongly faulted succession. Significant lateral facies variations within the carbonate ramp depositional system in comparison with the better studied Grzegorzowice-Skaly section, about 3 km distant, are documented, thanks to conodont-based correlation of both successions. Foraminifers, fungi, sponges, rugose and tabulate corals, medu-sozoans, microconchids and cornulitids, polychaetes (scolecodonts), molluscs (bivalves, rostroconchs, and gas-tropods), arthropods (trilobites and ostracods), bryozoans, hederelloids, ascodictyids, brachiopods, echinoderms (mostly crinoids, rare echinoids, holuthurians, and ophiocistoids), conodonts, fish, plants (prasinophytes, chloro-phycophytes, and land plant spores), and acritarchs are present. Brachiopods are the most diverse phylum pres-ent (68 species), other richly represented groups are bryozoans and echinoderms; in contrast, cephalopods and trilobites are low in diversity and abundance. The muddy, middle to outer ramp biota (200 marine taxa, including 170 species of marine animals, 22 photoautotrophs, 6 forams) represents a mixture of allochthonous shallower -wa-ter communities (upper BA3), including storm-and possibly tsunami-affected coral mounds, and autochthonous deep-water soft-bottom brachiopod (e.g., Bifida-Echinocoelia) communities (BA 4-5). The richness and diversity of the Miloszow biota is relatively high, comparable with other approximately coeval pre-Taghanic ecosystems during the Devonian climatic deterioration (cooling). Preliminary data indicate that in the Holy Cross Mountains, no large-scale replacement of brachiopod (and probably many other benthic ones, like crinoids) communities took place between the Early-Middle Givetian and the Early Frasnian, in contrast to the demise of the Hamilton/ Upper Tully fauna in the Appalachian Basin. Such a similarity of pre-and post-Taghanic faunas does not exclude the occurrence of environmental perturbations and transient community turnovers, caused by immigrations during the Taghanic Biocrisis, but evidences the successful recovery of the indigenous biota.

The Frasnian carbonate-siliciclastic depos its of the Stipinai Formation exposed in two quarries at Petraeinnai and Klovainiai (northern Lithuania) show considerable verticalfacies changes. The lower part of this succession is dominated by argillaceous dolomitic facies with subordinate fine siliciclastic deposits. They display haloturbation and bioturbation structures, represent a hypersaline lagoonal environment, and record the beginning of the transgression. The middle part of the succession consists of secondary dolostones containing moulds of brachiopods, tetracorals, stromatoporoids and trace fossils of deposit feeders; these were deposited in a shallow subtidal marine environment and represent the deepest sedimentary environment of this succession. This was followed by a lagoonal environment (episodic hypersaline), represented by dolomudstones and marly dolomudstones. The up per part of the succession is built of bedded dolostones which document a shallowing trend. Intercalations of clays and palaeosol horizons record emergence events. Palynostratigraphic data tentatively in dicate that the Stipinai Formation represents the Upper Frasnian. The succession can be interpreted as a record of the upper part of a T-R cycle (related to the semichatovae transgression) in the Main Devonian Field of the East European Platform. The Stipinai Formation is distributed across western and central Latvia and has a correlative in the Pomerania Basin (northern Poland).

A palynological investigation was carried out on samples obtained from the Givetian/Frasnian interval in the formation comprising stromatoporoid-coral dolomites and limestones from the Kowala 1 borehole (south-central Poland). These carbonate bank to reef deposits have not previously been subjected to palynological studies. The analysed samples revealed the presence of organic tentaculitoids, which are particularly uncommon. According to their morphological features all observed forms were classified into the subclass Dacryoconarida, of which only representatives from the order Nowakiida were recognised. An organic tentaculite with an associated partially preserved mineral shell was found for the first time. Palynological investigation allowed the palynostratigraphy of this interval to be established as Cristatisporites optivus-Spelaeotriletes krestovnikovii, from the East European Miospore zonation (late varcus up to transitans conodont zones).

Two Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous sections, namely the Bulongguoer and Haer (Gennaren area) in the Junggar Basin, Central Asian Orogenic Belt, in northwestern China were examined with regard to ichnology and palynology. The deposits of the Hongguleleng Formation and Namu Member of the Heishantou Formation, respectively, are mostly unbioturbated or poorly bioturbated, with poorly diversified trace fossils, which indicate unfavourable conditions for the burrowing benthic community during the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous. The main factor governing the growth of the bioturbating population was the rapid sedimentation of fine-grained, volcanic material documented as tempestites, which buried the benthic fauna. In the Bulongguoer section, the presence of miospores Teichertospora torquata and Grandispora gracilis enabled identification of the broad Teichertospora torquata-Grandispora gracilis Miospore Zone from the transitional Frasnian/Famennian interval. More accurate identification of palynostratigraphical levels (DE and CZ Miospore zones) is only tentative. On the basis of palynofacies analysis, samples from the lower Bulongguoer section indicate deposition in more proximal conditions, whereas samples from the top of the section indicate deposition in a more distal environment. In the Haer section, only a general biostratigraphic indication for the Tournaisian was possible, owing to poor preservation of organic matter.

Coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin vanish within the Carboniferous Upper Silesian Sandstone Series and below an unconformity marking the Carboniferous top surface. Changes in the geochemical, mineralogical, petrological and palynological characteristics of gangue rocks associated with the vanished seams record what happened. The observed changes could have been caused by (1) coal-seam paleofire, (2) peat combustion, (3) igneous intrusion, (4) metasomatism and/or (5) weathering. Multifaceted research on samples collected at the Jas-Mos mining area, a part of the operating Jastrzębie-Bzie Coal Mine that are representative of different geological settings in the northern and southern parts of the mining area, point to intra-deposit paleofire as the most plausible reason for the disappearance. Biomarkers enabled recognition of differences in heating duration and oxygen access. Coal seams in the south burned quickly with abundant oxygen supply. Seams in the north pyrolyzed for an extended time under conditions of limited oxygen. Though other methods used proved less sensitive, all confirmed low (100–150 °C) paleotemperature heating. Overall, the reason for the local disappearance of the coal seams, making their exploitation difficult and unprofitable, can be assigned to a variety of different processes in a complex overlapping history of variable weathering, heating due to local endogenic fires and, probably, earlier peat combustion.

Palynological investigations of the upper Emsian rocks from the Bukowa Góra Quarry (Holy Cross Mountains; Poland) revealed an organic fraction classified as remains of filamentous algae. Individual cells were arranged linearly and contacted each other. Specimens occurred as short filaments having no branches. Cell walls appeared single-layered, very thin and translucent. Cell surfaces were sometimes covered with very delicate striations, possibly generated by compressional folding. A comparison of the main features of the described taxa with extant algae indicated closest relationship with the chlorophycean green algal orders Ulotrichales and Cladophorales. Representatives of these orders occupy mainly freshwater environments. Palynofacies investigation revealed high content of land origin palynomorphs with complete lack of marine components. The presence of such delicate organisms as algae in sediments might indicate very fast deposition in a proximal, very near-shore, possibly shallow water/lagoonal or alluvial environment.

A wide range of proxies (organic and inorganic geochemistry, gamma-ray spectrometry, microfacies, framboidal pyrite analysis) were applied in order to decipher changes in depositional conditions during the mid-Tournaisian anoxic event, referred to as the Lower Alum Shale Event (LASE) in the Polish part of the Laurussia basin. The LASE part of the section, unlike older Tournaisian deposits, is characterised by high concentrations of isorenieratane, palaeorenieratane, and their diagenetic derivatives, the occurrence of 2-methyl-3-iso-butyl-maleimides, and high values of the sterane-to-hopane ratio. The predominance of tiny pyrite framboids, inorganic data such as low values of the Th/U and high values of the Corg/P and V/Cr ratios, and generally higher enrichments of redox-sensitive metals such as U, V, Mo, Pb, and Zn and depletion in Mn, all suggest anoxic/euxinic conditions on the sea-bottom. The results of our investigations, especially Co, Mn, Cd, and Mo distribution patterns, demonstrate that enhanced primary productivity in the water column was responsible for a high degree of organic carbon burial rather than preservation in restricted conditions on the seafloor. This elevated productivity may have been generated by the upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water, an increase in volcanic activity and volcanogenic oceanic fertilisation, or both. Volcanically driven mid-Tournaisian climatic changes (warming), as manifested by high Zr concentrations and Hg anomalies, may have been responsible for the deglaciation of Gondwana resulting in the global crenulata transgression. The global rise in sea level and high level of organic productivity were responsible for the development of anoxic conditions and the halt of carbonate production, as reflected by drastic changes of facies not only in the sections investigated, but in many other parts of the world as well.

Palynological investigation carried on the samples from the Unit 1 of the Sappington Formation (Upper Famennian, Montana, USA) reveals a presence of rich phytoplankton and microflora assemblages. The presence of spheroidal vesicles approx. 20 mu m in diameter having a rigid smooth wall and frequently arranged in clusters connected by an external coating are proposed as a new taxon named Involusphaeridium gutschicki gen. et sp. nov. The coating on individual vesicles and colonies of I. gutschicki gen. et sp. nov. suggests a link with algal or fungal groups but also, with the eggs of arthropods. Hence, it is considered as incertae sedis (acritarch group). (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.