THE PARAMONOVO FORMATION OF THE ALBIAN IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA AND ITS AGE AS INDICATED BY MICROFAUNA

Abstract

The history of the recognition and stratigraphic investigation of the Paramonovo Formation, which is related to the discovery of the Cretaceous System in the Russian platform, is described. Detailed characteristics of the formation are supplemented with data on mollusks occasionally occurring in the unit and on its foraminiferal assemblages with their age interpretation. Coexisting radiolarians are also described in detail and referred to the Porodiscus kavilkinensis-Crolanium cuneatum assemblage, whose distribution over the Russian platform is considered and correlated with coeval faunas in other regions. The data obtained are used to substantiate the late Albian age of the Paramonovo Formation.