New data contributing to the palynological characteristics of the Eletsk deposits of the Famennian stage of the Upper Devonian in the Don deposit (Lipetsk Region)

Abstract

Introduction: A geological excursion to the Don quarry in the Lipetsk Region provided new material from the II level of the Eletsk deposits of the Famennian stage of the Upper Devonian. Initially, a carbonate section of the I level was studied and eight lithologic units and three miospore complexes were identified, two of which were designated as belonging to the miospore zone Lagenoisporites immensus. The palynological study of the II level rocks of the Don deposit allowed adding new data to the existing characteristic of these deposits in the entire sequence with the data for the I level and to correlate them with the same-age analogues within the Central Devonian Field. Methods: Samples (7) from 6 layer of the II level were studied in detail. Lithological and palynological analyses and optical microscopy were carried out. Results and discussion: The palynocomplex comprising of 5 layer of limestones was set in an interbed of carbonate clays and had common features with the Va complex (both complexes are from the Don quarry deposits) and with the XX complex allocated for the Eletsk deposits of the Tambov Region. The systematic composition of complex 5 had the Lagenoisporites immensus index species, which allowed attributing the studied sediments to the Im zone allocated for the Eastern European Platform. Conclusions: A palynocomplex of the Eletsk deposits was identified from the II level of the Don quarry and its relationship with palynocomplex Va from the I level of this quarry was traced. Their relationship in the entire sequence of the Famennian depositional environment was traced.