Beňatina quarry, Beňatina, Sobrance District, Košice Region, Slovakiai

Regional Level Types
Beňatina quarry	- not defined -
Beňatina	Municipality
Sobrance District	District
Košice Region	Region
Slovakia	Country

Beňatina quarry, Carpathian Mountains, Europe

Summary: An abandoned quarry at Beňatina Klippe in the Pieniny Klippen Belt in eastern Slovakia shows the complete succession, which may be interpreted as a variety of the Czorsztyn Succession. It is formed by Lower Jurassic to Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) deposits well dated by ammonite fauna. The Lower Jurassic includes: sandstones and sandy marls (Dolný Mlyn Fm., ?Hettangian - Early Sinemurian), spotty limestones and marls (Allgäu Fm., Late Sinemurian – Late Domerian), glauconitic sandstones overlying marlstones (Hôrka Fm. - Late Domerian), red marls (Hŕbok Marl Fm. – new formation, Toarcian). For the latter two formations, Beňatina represents locus typicus. The Middle Jurassic part of the succession comprises thick crinoidal limestone formation (Aalenian - Bajocian), which is abruptly overlain along a marked omission surface by pelagic ammonitico-rosso type limestones of the Czorsztyn Limestone Fm. (Late Bajocian – Oxfordian). The Lower Cretaceous occurs also in the quarry. It corresponds to the Nižná Fm. and consists of various deposits such as crinoidal limestones, synsedimentary limestone breccia and marls containing abundant organodetrital material of the Urgonian shallow-water carbonate platform origin. Dolný Mlyn Formation This formation was formerly well exposed in the upper northeastern part of the quarry; recently, this face of the quarry is mostly obscured. Sandstones with thin intercalations of greenish marls prevail in the lower part of the formation. At the base there is a complex of light grey (brown on weathered surfaces) thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstones and greenish sandy marls. Sandstone “nodules” with limonitic crusts occur in thicker layers. The sand grains are mostly represented by quartz, with very rare glauconitic grains, biotite scales and tiny echinoderm ossicles. The lower “sandstone” part is succeeded by dark-grey marls and marly limestones with coquina layers. These are essentially represented by oysters (Liogryphaea layer). A 20 cm thick dark grey bioclastic limestone bed, underlying this coquina, yielded bivalves, gastropods, indeterminable fragments of arietitid ammonites and small clusters of serpulid tubes. A 20 cm thick dark grey marly limestone, lying above the Liogryphaea coquina, yielded a rich brachiopod fauna. It is a bioturbated wackestone with irregular distribution of allochems. The allochems are represented by bivalve and brachiopod shell debris, agglutinated foraminifers Ophthalmidium sp., nodosariid foraminifers, less commonly ostracods, echinoid spines and rarely thin serpulid tubes. The upper part of the Dolný Mlyn Formation consists of a few metres thick complex of dark grey to black, slightly sandy marls with layers of spotty marly limestones occurring mainly in its uppermost part. These wackestones are rich in echinoderm ossicles, ostracods, fragments of juvenile bivalves, spicules, nodosariid foraminifers and plant fragments. Ammonite fauna was collected from the marly limestone beds from the uppermost part of the formation. It consists of arietitid taxa, such as Coroniceras lyra Hyatt or C. (Paracoroniceras) cf. charlesi Donovan and numerous Arnioceras sp. and Arnioceras semicostatum (Young & Bird). Because of tectonics, the overall thickness of the formation cannot be measured. Allgäu Formation The overlying part of the sequence shows light-grey marly, sometimes spotty limestones alternating with grey-bluish to grey marls, called Allgäu Formation. Its overall thickness is not measurable, the uncovered part attains 14 metres. In the NE part of the quarry the formation is probably tectonically reduced. The upper part of this formation is also visible at the entrance to the quarry, in its western part. It is biomicrite, packstone with tiny detritus of mostly indeterminable allochems, which are mainly represented by sponge spicules, nodosariid foraminifers, echinoderm ossicles and tests of ostracods. Formation yielded numerous belemnite guards and ammonites: Partschiceras cf. striatocostatum (Meneghini), ?Juraphyllites sp., Androgynoceras sp., ?Liparoceras sp., Pleuroceras cf. solare (Phillips), Pleuroceras cf. spinatum (Bruguière), as well as badly preserved dactylioceratids such as ?Reynesoceras sp. and Dactylioceras sp. (cf. D. (Orthodactylites) mirabilis Fucini). Hôrka Formation Thin complex of greenish glauconitic sandstones, dark grey to greenish sandy-crinoidal limestones and glauconitic marlstones with intercalations of dark-green marls occurs between the underlying Allgaü Fm. and the overlying Hŕbok Marl Fm. From the microfacies point of view they are biomicrites, wackestones to packstones with commonly occurring echinoderm ossicles, detritus of various bivalves (including thin-shelled Bositra), ostracods, rare echinoid spines and nodosariid foraminifers. Some layers (e.g. uppermost layer) are rich in juvenile ammonites. In places, numerous Fe-oncoids and pyrite framboids were found, indicating stronger condensation and/or stratigraphic hiatus. The formation yielded poor ammonite fauna including Dactylioceras sp. (cf. (Orthdactylites) mirabilis Fucini) and badly preserved fragments of a harpoceratid ammonite (Lioceratoides). Hŕbok Marl Formation This unit consists of red, locally laminated marls with aligned small concretions and rare thin intercalations of sandy marlstones. They represent biomicrites, wackestone to packstones. Thin-shelled bivalves (Bositra sp.) dominate among the allochems; moreover, there occur calcified sponge spicules, echinoderm ossicles, ostracodes, nodosariid foraminifers, Lenticulina sp., Spirillina sp., as well as juvenile gastropods and fragments of the brachiopod shells. The allochems are often impregnated by Fe-Mn opaque minerals. A thin marlstone layer with abundant small ammonites has been observed in the lowermost part of the section. The macrofossils include fairly common belemnite guards, and rather rare ammonites. The lower part of the Hŕbok Marl Formation yielded several fragmented dactylioceratid ammonites, whereas its middle part yielded Alocolytoceras dorcadis (Meneghini), Frechiella subcarinata (Young  Bird), Hildoceras bifrons (Bruguière) and Hildoceras lusitanicum Meister. Rare fragments of grammoceratid ammonites, Lytoceras cf. sublineatum (Oppel) and Cenoceras sp. were collected from the upper part of the formation. Crinoidal limestones The main part of the sequence is built by huge mass of crinoidal limestones (40 m at least). The lower part is represented by alternations of light grey marly crinoidal limestones and grey marls, rich in crinoidal ossicles. They develop gradually from the underlying deposits of the Hŕbok Marl Fm.. Upward they continue as grey, locally slightly marly crinoidal limestones. Abundant fauna of small phosphatized ammonites was found in the marly crinoidal limestone beds. The ammonites were probably reworked from the marly intercalations as suggested by their common presence within the marly intraclasts. Among the ammonites, Phylloceras perplanum Prinz, Holcophylloceras sp.juv. [cf. H. ultramontanum (Zittel) ], ?Alocolytoceras sp., Ludwigia sp., Brasilia sp. juv. [cf. B. (B.) gr. bradfordensis (Buckman) ], were recognized. Grey, always slightly marly crinoidal limestones and creamy (yellowish) crinoidal limestones from the upper part of the member are also rich in ammonites, essentially phylloceratids Ptychophylloceras (Tatrophylloceras) cf. tatricum (Pusch), and graphoceratids: Ludwigia (Pseudographoceras) sp., Brasilia (Brasilia) cf. bradfordensis (Buckman) and Graphoceras sp. In this part, fragments of coalified wood and one large (30 cm) fragment of black biotitic mica-schist were found. From the microfacies point of view the deposits are sandy crinoidal biomicrites, packstones. The sandy admixture is mainly represented by angular quartz reaching up to pebble size. Besides the crinoidal ossicles, nodosariid foraminifers, Lenticulina sp. and various sorts of bivalve and brachiopod shells, echinoid spines, bryozoans and various agglutinated foraminifers are present. The middle part of the crinoidal limestone sequence shows a great complexity, with alternation of different facies types. Thick bedded reddish crinoidal packstones, with brown to dark red cherts, are typical for the lower 4 metres. Some beds are richer in clastic quartz. Reddish to greenish thick-bedded crinoidal packstones, with red cherts and intercalations of nodular limestone, follow in the next 6 metres. Except of some disarticulated brachiopods no macrofauna was found here. The only preserved allochems are echinoderm ossicles, bivalves, brachiopods, foraminifers Lenticulina sp. and rare echinoid spines. The upper part of the formation is characterized by change of limestone colour from reddish to greenish and grey/greenish and absence of nodular or nodular/crinoidal layers and red cherts. The limestones become coarser and thick-bedded (up to 1 m). They usually have a character of crinoidal packstones, but locally also of grainstones. Thin-shelled bivalves, juvenile gastropods and benthic foraminifers are common. Clastic admixture varies from 1 to 10%. It is dominated by quartz grains, abundant lithoclasts and rare glauconite grains. Dark grey to black stratiform cherts are present in the upper part of the member. Due to tectonics, the overall thickness of this sequence is not measurable, but it is 30 metres thick at least. The sequence is capped by a thin Fe/Mn crust. Czorsztyn Limestone Formation Ammonitico Rosso deposits of the Czorsztyn Limestone Formation built almost the entire southern face of the quarry. The first 20 cm of the formation have a character of pseudonodular limestone, containing dispersed crinoidal detritus in nodules and in surrounding matrix as well (crinoidal-Bositra wackestone and packstone). Coarse grains of quartz, traces of bioturbation and reworked ammonites occur near the base of the formation. Ammonite fauna comes from the next 2 metres, including almost extraordinary large specimens of Parkinsonia (P.) parkinsoni (Sowerby). In the next 5 metres the limestones are richer in marly matrix, and the nodules are smaller (up to 5 cm). The ammonites are very abundant. In majority, they are fragmented with corroded upper sides. The whole visible part of the formation consists of wackestones to packstones with Bositra microfacies and numerous mineralized intraclasts. Except the thin-shelled bivalves the allochems include calcified radiolarians, Globochaete sp., echinoderm ossicles and benthic foraminifers. Juvenile gatropods and sponge spicules appear locally in some beds. Even younger limestones are preserved only as loose blocks in the floor of the quarry. These are pseudonodular limestones very poor in marly matrix. Nodules are large and irregular, composed of wackestones with Globuligerina microfacies. Only a few badly preserved fragments of perisphinctid ammonites were found here: Perisphinctes (Kranaosphinctes, Liosphinctes) spp. Nižná Formation These deposits form few metres thick sequence in the SW part of the quarry. The full thickness of the deposits remains unknown. The deposits are in tectonic contact with nodular limestones of the Czorsztyn Limestone Formation. This variable sequence consists of thin beds (up to 30 cm) of grey organodetrital (mostly echinoderm) limestones, black marls, grey siliceous limestones and limestones with laminated cherts. Two beds also contain silicified wood fragments, locally mixed with chert debris. On the basis of the lithological variability, the formation can be subdivided into four units: 1. Creamy to grey, fine-grained crinoidal limestones with glauconite. 2. Coarse crinoidal limestone rich in lithoclasts of green, white and pink micritic limestones with some admixture of micritic clasts with glauconite and green micritic clasts with grey cherts. 3. Grey bedded limestones with cherts and wood fragments. Some wood fragments are 10-20 cm long and bear traces of Teredo-type borings filled with sediment. The limestones of this member have a character of biomicrites, packstones with skeletal detritus and various clasts. Some bioclasts point to shallow water origin of a part of detritus at least. The limestone contains numerous echinoderm ossicles (including complete crinoid calices), coralline algae, big orbitolinid foraminifers, thick layered tubes of serpulid worms, detritus of oyster-type shells, inoceramid shells, punctate brachiopods, bryozoans and agglutinated foraminifers. The intraclasts are mostly represented by marlstones, packstones with hedbergellid foraminifers or with rhaxa. Some clasts are phosphatized. 4. Bioturbated, black to dark green marls and marlstones with disturbed layers of dark limestones. In pale laminae there are marls with dispersed larger allochems, e.g. echinoderm ossicles, detritus of oyster-type bivalves and agglutinated foraminifers. The laminae also contain silty quartz admixture, rare glauconite grains and intraclasts of organodetrital carbonates to marlstones (with coralline algae).

References

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