the Volga Region

The Albian-Cenomanian rocks compose a single complex of terrigenous deposits over the Volga Region. Delineation of the boundaries of the Cretaceous system units generally tends to cause difficulties, accounted for by rare finds of the fossils. In the northern part of the DonMedveditsa dislocations, natural outcrops of the Albian and the Cenomanian beds in the Burluk river valley have been examined since the 1950s. The authors have earlier made some case studies on the Gordienki, Krasny Yar, Melovatka and Moiseyevo sections.

Among Craticulariidae, the representatives of Postsporadopyle are peculiar for the skeleton intricate morphology determined by dichotomy and trichotomy of the primary modules. Besides the P. triloba known from the Santonian of the Volga region, two previously unknown here species are considered.

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.

Among the numerous and diversiform Late Cretaceous siliceous sponges collected throughout the Volga region, several representatives of the genus Botryosella have been encountered, previously unknown for the area. Analysis of the skeleton morphology, peculiar for massive transverse outgrowths, confirms manifestations of isomorphism in Hexactinellids and the opinion of inaccuracies available in the descriptive terminology applied to the skeletal morphology of this Porifera group.