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Exploitable results
The project studied the evolution of faunas and their environment during the Campanian-Palaeocene interval, with special attention for bio-events (faunal turnover/mass extinctions) at the K/T transition. Especially three areas situated on the southern margin of the Upper Cretaceous White Chalk Sea, known for their stratigraphical and palaeontological importance were compared:
(1)Mangyshlak (Kazakstan)
(2) Upper Crimea (The Ukraine)
(3) the Maastricht area (Belgium - The Netherlands)
Mangyshlak outcrops were mainly studied by Naidin and his collaborators (Naidin, 1983, 1997; Naidin et al., 1984; Naidin & Kopaevich, 1988) and these results were further interpreted by members of the project.
Crimean outcrops were visited and a more detailed study was undertaken by the project, with closely taken samples in the Campanian-Danian interval. New results were obtained on Foraminifera (Alekseev & Kopaevich, 1997 - with the first SEM photographs of Crimean Upper Cretaceous forams), and further publications are being prepared, also on nannnofossils. Macrofossils, especially molluscs and echinoderms, are numerous in most Crimean outcrops. A monograph on the bivalves of Campanian, Maastrichtian and Danian age is being prepared, in which special attention is being give to good photographic illustrations.
Maastrichtian area outcrops have especially in the K/T transition recently received much attention (Brinkhuis & Smit, 1996) and results on micro- and macro-faunas were published (microfaunas: Brinkhuis & Schioler, 1996; Kuhnt, 1996; Romein, Willems & Mai, 1996; Smit & Zachariasse, 1996; macro-faunas: Jagt, 1996). Especially the Maastrichtian macrofaunas of this area are being studied further by the project (Dhondt & Jagt, 1997; Jagt et al., 1998, Kennedy & Jagt, 1998). Knowledge on macro- and micro-faunas of uppermost Cretaceous strata of Crimean outcrops has been significantly improved, especially for bivalves and foraminiferans.
In addition, a study was started of the K/T transition strata near Saratov, on the Russian platform. Preliminary results show that the microfaunas from these beds are more closely related to those form the Vistula though than the Crimean faunas (Alekseev et al., 1998).
Geochemical, geochronological, geomagnetic and sedimentological analysis and eustacy is being undertaken (Gabdullin, 1998; Guzhikov et al., 1998; Keppens, 1998; Naidin & Volkov, 1998).
A more precise image of the changes at, and around, the K/T boundary in the Maastricht area, in Crimea and Mangyshlak is now known. Similar trends in sedimentology analysis are seen: from chalk faces in Uppermost Campanian (Lower Maastrichtian in the Maastricht area) to shallow limestones, calcareous sandstones and siltic limestones (in Crimea) at the top Maastrichtian. Community structures in the Maastrichtian change: environments vary from deep to extremely shallow water.
The terminal Maastrichtian event in the Maastricht area is accompanied by a cooler water fauna with rare Belemnella kazimiroviensis, numerous bivalves (oysters, smooth pectinids). In Crimea the last Cretaceous strata (member XXIV, with a thickness of up to 5 m) form a short transgressive impulse, resulting in marls with numerous B. kazimiroviensis, large smooth pectinids, and more planktonic forams than in the very shallow-water member XXIII. In N. Mangyshlak the relatively deep-water chalk Maastrichtian sections at Kyzylsay and Koskak have a terminal chalk unit (2-2.5 m) containing an assemblage with more belemnites and planctonic foraminifera.
When present, the lowermost Danian, often separated from the Maastrichtian by a short time hiatus, as far as present in the three areas, contain a not very diversified, fairly cool water fauna. The climate must have warmed up progressively and the Upper Danian fauna especially in the Crimea is definitely a warm water fauna.
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