Paleocene

The results of petromagnetic and paleomagnetic studies of two sections of the Lower Syzran subformation (Paleocene) – Gremyachka and Klyuchi-2, located in the north of the Saratov Right Bank and represented by weakly magnetic silicites, are presented. Paleomagnetic data on sections, despite their low quality and fragmentation, are important for magnetostratigraphy, because they confirm the presence of a reverse polarity magnetozone (analogous to chron C27r and/or C26r) in the Lower Syzran subformation and its lateral stability.

There was explored the behavior of Rns parameter (relation between the module of natural remaining magnetization after temperature 250° to the magnetization of saturation) in the interval of Ypresian in Aktolagay plateau (West Kazakhstan). The parameters were recounted to the values of H/H0 (relation between paleointensity to the intensity of modern magnetic field).

Terminal layers of carbonate rocks of Maastrichtian and lower intervals of Paleocene aleurite-pelitic formations are accessible for investigation in Krasny Oktyabr and Bolshevik quarries (Volsk Depression). In the bottom of the Paleocene accumulation of skeletons of calcareous and siliceous sponges has been confirmed, mollusk and elasmobranch assemblage has been determined.

The features of areal distribution and stratigraphic confinement of calcareous spicular sponge forms in the southeast of East European Platform are considered. The skeletons of calcareous sponges essentially representatives of the genus Porosphaera are found in the carbonates of Turonian, Coniacian, Campanian and Maastrichtian, as well as at the base of siliceous formations of the Paleocene. The Maastrichtian calcareous sponges are characterized by the highest species diversity and a wide lateral extension.

An assemblage of chondrichthyans is described from the new locality near Serafimovich town (the western part of Volgograd region). More than 2500 fossils were collected from the basal gravel-pebble bed and phosphorite-bearing layer from the lower part of the Buzinovka formation (upper Paleocene). There are reworked Cretaceous and Paleocene chondrichthyans (6 species) and synchronous 21 species of sharks and 2 species of chimaeroids.

The results of rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic studies of two sections of the Lower Syzran subformation (Paleocene) of the Saratov Right Bank – the Syrt Mountain (Nizhnyaya Bannovka village) and Lysaya Gora (Saratov city) are presented. For the first time the possibility of obtaining paleomagnetic data on the Paleocene of the Volga region and their use for magnetostratigraphic purposes despite the partial remagnetization of rocks has been established.