Publisher © Czech Geological Survey, ISSN: 2336-5757 (online), 0514-8057 (print)
Fauna of the Lower-Upper Coniacian at the locality Radovesice
Abstract
A discharge hopper for the Maxim Gorkij open cast mine (now Bílina mine)was opened in the area of the former village of Radovesice in 1987. During the excavation of a pit for the mine waste, late Cretaceous sediments with abundant fossils were discovered. The fossils were collected by Dr. Z. Dvořák, geologist of the Bílina mine a.s., and he gathered a large number of specimens of fauna and flora which are presently being evaluated. The flora is investigated by prof. Z. Kvaček, the fauna is described in this article. Invertebrates are represented by Porifera, Anthozoa, Vermes, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinoidea, Vertebrates by the classes Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes. In total, 57 species have been determinated. The composition of all found genera shows Coniacian age. The index fossil - Cremnoceramus brogniarti indicates Lower Coniacian and Cremnoceramus crassus indicates Middle Coniacian age. The species Goniocamax lundgreni identified in the collection, defines the base of the Coniacian in NW Europe. Palaeogical reconstruction based on the faunal study indicates the area near former Radovesice village to be dominated in Coniacian times by marine environment. Remains of terrestrial flora point out to proximity of the shore. The sea was obviously not deep, about 0-60 m. It was an environment without high turbulent flow, with slow deposition and definitely not anoxic.
