Integrated palaeontological characteristics (ammonites, ostracods, foraminifers, dinocysts) of the Berriasian deposits of central Crimea

The Berriasian deposits of the central Crimea have been studied in order to compose a composite sequence of the stage with detailed palaeontological characterization. The Berriasian includes the Bedenekyrskaya Formation (packstones), Bechku Formation (siltstones, sandstones) and Kuchkinskaya Formation (sponge packstones, clays, siltstones, and coral-algal bioherm framestones). The Jacobi, Occitanica and Boissieri zones were identified based on ammonites found in the sections. A micropalaeontological analysis determined the following: 6 foraminiferal assemblages, the Costacythere khiamii – Hechticythere belbekensis and Costacythere drushchitzi – Reticythere marfenini ostracod assemblages, and a Phoberocysta neocomica dinocyst assemblage. Palaeoecological analysis of the ostracod and foraminiferal associations indicates a moderately warm marine basin with normal salinity and shallow depths (tens of meters). Only the sponge horizon was probably deposited in a deeper-water environment.