Albian to Turonian carbonate deposits at three different locations of the
Lower Saxony Cretaceous and thereby of the European mid-Cretaceous epeiric
shelf sea were investigated for their fossil agglutinated foraminiferal
fauna. In this study, 71 samples from two quarries and three drill cores
were treated with formic acid, which enabled the study of agglutinated
foraminiferal assemblages even in highly lithified limestones. In total, 114
species were determined and classified as belonging to nine morphogroups. In
general, four agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages are distinguished: (1) an uppermost Albian–lowermost Cenomanian assemblage from the Wunstorf drill
cores, with the dominant taxa
During the mid-Cretaceous, sedimentary sub-basins of Lower Saxony and the Subhercynian were part of a wide epeiric continental shelf sea connected with the Arctic realm, the young North Atlantic Ocean and central Atlantic Ocean, and the Tethys Ocean, which were separated by the Mid-European Island (Janetschke et al., 2015). High relative sea level (Haq, 2014) and high relative temperatures (Voigt et al., 2004) favoured carbonate deposition in wide parts of these and other basins worldwide during that time (Skelton, 2003; Voigt et al., 2008a; Janetschke et al., 2015). Long-term sea level trends and changes in bottom water temperature, nutrient availability, oxygen concentration of bottom waters, and paleoceanographical current patterns like those during the early Cenomanian transgression, Mid-Cenomanian Event (MCE), and Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2)–Cenomanian Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE) made this time interval attractive for research (Skelton, 2003; Voigt et al., 2004, 2008a). To understand the sea level and depositional sequence coupling and other paleoenvironmental changes in the Lower Saxony Basin, investigations were made for the Albian (e.g. Fenner, 1996; Tyszka, 2009; Bornemann et al., 2017), for the Cenomanian (e.g. Wilmsen, 2003, 2007; Wilmsen et al., 2005; Voigt et al., 2006), for the CTBE (e.g. Linnert et al., 2010; Hetzel et al., 2011; Blumenberg and Wiese, 2012; van Helmond et al., 2015), and for the Turonian (Wiese et al., 2015). Most of these studies approach the former conditions in the upper water layers of this Cretaceous shelf sea by focussing on planktic foraminifers and calcareous nannofossils. Thus, to get a better understanding of the paleoenvironment of the mid-Cretaceous deposits of Lower Saxony, in particular additional information of the bottom water conditions is necessary.
The reconstructions of past bottom water conditions based on agglutinated foraminifera morphogroup analyses have been established by Jones and Charnock (1985) modified by Bąk et al. (1997), Peryt et al. (1997, 2004), Van Den Akker et al. (2000), and Murray et al. (2011). Our study follows the morphogroup scheme applied on Cretaceous foraminiferal assemblages by Frenzel (2000), Cetean et al. (2011), and Setoyama et al. (2017). Agglutinated foraminifers are widely used to investigate mid-Cretaceous deep-water deposits with focus on the Arctic realm (Gradstein et al., 1999; Setoyama et al., 2017), the Atlantic Ocean (Kuhnt et al., 1989, 1992; Kuhnt and Kaminski, 1997), and the Tethyan realm (Coccioni et al., 1995; Kaminski et al., 2011) with special accentuation on the Carpathians (Geroch and Nowak, 1984; Bubík, 1995; Bąk, 2007; Józsa et al., 2017a).
A detailed stratigraphic framework of the mid-Cretaceous of Lower Saxony exists (e.g. Ernst et al., 1983; Voigt and Hilbrecht, 1997; Wilmsen and Niebuhr, 2002; Wilmsen, 2003, 2007; Voigt et al., 2008b; Wiese, 2009; Bornemann et al., 2017; Erbacher et al., 2020) and is supported by correlations of stable carbon isotope patterns of the Wunstorf drill cores conducted in this study. This framework allows a precise stratigraphic correlation of the agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages and their application as a proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstructions in a shelf setting with high carbonate production. Firstly, high lithified limestones of the Lower Saxony Cretaceous are investigated on their agglutinated foraminiferal content, whereas former studies focussed on less lithified marlstones to marly limestones (Frieg and Kemper, 1989). Therefore, the main objectives of the present study are the documentation of agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages and the linkage of the assemblage composition and palaeoenvironmental information provided by former studies. Furthermore, the biostratigraphical utility of agglutinated foraminifers for the basins is examined by applying existing biostratigraphical schemes (Geroch and Nowak, 1984; Frieg and Kemper, 1989; Hart et al., 1989; Kuhnt and Kaminski, 1997; Kaminski et al., 2011) and assessing regional biomarkers and agglutinated foraminiferal acmes.
The study area is located in the southern part of Lower Saxony (northern Germany), comprising the Lower Saxony and Subhercynian Cretaceous sub-basins (Fig. 1). These were part of a wide epicontinental shelf sea that spanned large parts of the middle to north European shelf area. This shelf sea was bordered in the south by the Mid-European Island, in the north by the Fennoscandian Shield, and in the west by several smaller land masses (Fig. 1). To the east the shelf sea reached onto the Russian Platform (Skelton, 2003; Voigt et al., 2008a; Janetschke et al., 2015). Widespread marine sediments were deposited in the Cenomanian to Turonian favoured by a major, second-order sea level highstand phase (Haq, 2014; Fig. 2). While nearshore, mainly siliciclastic–glauconitic sediments were deposited, offshore marl–limestone alternations to chalk deposits were formed.
Paleogeographical map of Europe and the study area.
Chronostratigraphy, selected events, and depositional sequences as well as interpreted sea level curve of the Lower Saxony Cretaceous. Depositional sequences, associated sequence boundaries, and sea level curve are from Janetschke et al. (2015). Age of stage boundaries are from Gradstein et al. (2020).
During the late-early Cenomanian, water depths of 20–30 m in a proximal position at Baddeckenstedt of about 30–40 km distance from the shore and ca. 50 m at about 80–100 km from the former coastline at Wunstorf are assumed by Wilmsen (2003). During the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary, a water depth of 100–150 m is proposed.
The Wunstorf-Kolenfeld quarry is located around 20 km west of Hanover with
WGS84 coordinates 52.40146
Schematic locality details of the study area of Wunstorf and position of the cores: green (Voigt et al., 2008b), blue (Erbacher et al., 2020), and red (this study). Modified from Seibertz (2013: Fig. 5).
Correlated columnar sections of the Wunstorf cores Wu 2010/1 and Wu 2010/3 and their carbon isotope patterns. On the right correlation to the carbon isotopes of the Wunstorf Wu2011/8 core of Erbacher et al. (2020: Fig. 3) and to the Anderten-1 core of Bornemann et al. (2017: Fig. 3). Brown bar: correlation of a sequence boundary based on the isotopic pattern; green bar: correlation based on a bio-event; grey bar: correlation based on a litho-event.
Columnar section of the Wunstorf core Wu 2010/4 and its carbon isotope patterns. Correlations to the Wunstorf WK1 core of Voigt et al. (2008b: Fig. 2) are based on the isotopic patterns and the thicknesses of strata. Grey bars: correlation of carbon isotope patterns.
In the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, the
Above the Facies Change (82 m core depth), the
The abandoned quarry of Baddeckenstedt with WGS84 coordinates
52.091128
The Söhlde–Loges quarry yields around 40 m of the uppermost Cenomanian
to the upper Turonian limestones. The stratigraphic succession contains
about 1 m limestones of the Brochterbeck Formation (
Several sequence stratigraphic investigations provided a detailed stratigraphical framework for the Cretaceous deposits of Lower Saxony (e.g. Wilmsen, 2003; Janetschke et al., 2015). Based on the sequence stratigraphical analysis by Ernst et al. (1996) and Robaszynski et al. (1998), depositional sequences are bounded by unconformities called sequence boundaries (SB; Fig. 3).
Five Cenomanian depositional sequences (DSs) are noted at Baddeckenstedt and Wunstorf: DS Al–Ce 1 and DS Ce 2–5; the Turonian strata of Söhlde and Wunstorf mentioned in this study yield three complete depositional sequences: DS Ce–Tu 1 and DS Tu 2–3 (Fig. 3).
The Wunstorf cores were sampled in around 5 m intervals, and the Baddeckenstedt
and Söhlde–Loges section were sampled in about 3 m intervals. Most of the 40 samples
from Wunstorf and 31 samples from Baddeckenstedt and Söhlde consist of
limestones or marly limestones. Samples from the black shale–marlstone
interval around the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary at Wunstorf were collected
from marly limestones between the bituminous layers. Samples of about 100 g
were treated with formic acid (CH
Agglutinated foraminiferal morphogroups, morphotypes/test forms, and life environments modified after Frenzel (2000), Cetean et al. (2011), and Setoyama et al. (2017) correlated to main genera treated in this study.
The bulk-carbonate carbon isotope measurements of samples of the Wunstorf
cores Wu2010/1, Wu2010/3, and Wu2010/4 were conducted at the Museum für
Naturkunde, Berlin, using a GasBench II linked to a Thermo Fisher Scientific
DeltaV isotope ratio mass spectrometer. All values are given in per mil
(‰) versus VPDB. The analytical precision of repeated
in-house standard material (limestone) is generally better than
The classification for agglutinated foraminifers of Kaminski (2010) was used for the taxa recorded from the Wunstorf cores, Baddeckenstedt, and Söhlde sections. A total of 14 522 specimens of 90 species and taxa of a higher level of Wunstorf were determined, and 10 406 specimens consisting of 105 taxa of samples from the Baddeckenstedt and Söhlde sections were determined. Hereinafter mentioned literature contains first descriptions of taxa and information for identification used.
Class Foraminifera d'Orbigny 1826 Subclass Monothalamana Pawlowski, Holzmann and Tyszka 2013 Order Astrorhizida Lankester 1885 Suborder Astrorhizina Lankester 1885 Superfamily Astrorhizoidea Brady 1881 Family Astrorhizidae Brady 1881 Genus
One specimen from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Very rare.
Family Rhabdamminidae Brady 1884 Subfamily Rhabdammininae Brady 1884 Genus
A total of 10 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and 15 specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Subfamily Bathysiphoninae Avnimelech 1952 Genus
A total of 118 calculated specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 131 specimens from the Söhlde section, 235 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 176 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 112 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant in the uppermost Albian to lowermost Cenomanian at Wunstorf and common to rare in the Cenomanian to Turonian of Lower Saxony.
Genus
A total of 68 calculated specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 15 specimens from the Söhlde section, 235 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 70 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 31 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant in the uppermost Albian at Wunstorf, common to rare in the Cenomanian, and rare to very rare in the Turonian.
Genus
A total of 99 calculated specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 125 specimens from the Söhlde section, 100 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 65 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 68 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare.
Order Saccamminina Lankester 1885 Suborder Hemisphaerammininae Loeblich and Tappan 1961, emend Mikhalevich
1995 Genus
1957.
Four specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and six specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
1983.
Six specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and one specimen from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Suborder Saccamminoidea Brady 1884 Family Saccamminidae Brady 1884 Subfamily Saccammininae Brady 1884 Genus
1879. 1990.
A total of 17 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and two specimens from the Söhlde section.
Rare to very rare.
Genus
1898. 1990. 1993. 2005. 2011.
A total of 8 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 16 specimens from the Söhlde section, 26 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
This species is reported no earlier than Santonian (Kuhnt, 1990) but appears already in the uppermost Albian of the Wunstorf cores.
Common to rare in the uppermost Albian at Wunstorf, otherwise very rare.
Genus Fig. 6a
1902. 1993. 2005. 2011.
Late Albian to Turonian agglutinated foraminifera from the Lower
Saxonian Cretaceous; scale bars are 100
A total of 23 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 81 specimens from the Söhlde section, 82 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 32 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 55 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the uppermost Albian of Wunstorf and in the Turonian of Söhlde and rare to very rare in all other studied stratigraphical intervals.
1871.
Three specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare in the late Turonian.
Superfamily Psammosphaeroidea Haeckel 1894 Family Psammosphaeridae Haeckel 1894 Subfamily Psammosphaerinae Haeckel 1894 Genus Fig. 6b
1875. 2005.
A total of 14 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 5 specimens from the Söhlde section, 129 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 7 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Abundant in the uppermost Albian to lowermost Cenomanian of Wunstorf, otherwise very rare.
1896. 2005. Psammosphaera irregularis (Grzybowski); Kaminski and Gradstein, p. 131, pl. 9, figs. 1–9.
A total of 64 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 74 specimens from the Söhlde section, 30 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 3 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 2 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common in the uppermost Albian at Wunstorf and Turonian at Söhlde, otherwise rare to very rare.
Subclass Tubothalama Pawlowski, Holzmann and Tyszka 2013 Order Ammodiscida Mikhalevich 1980 Suborder Hippocrepinina Saidova 1981 Superfamily Hippocrepinoidea Rhumbler 1895 Family Hippocrepinidae Rhumbler 1895 Subfamily Jaculellinae Mikhalevich 1995 Genus
Five specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and one specimen from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Genus Fig. 6c
1884. 2004.
A total of 3 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and 15 specimens from the Söhlde section.
Rare to very rare in the Turonian at Söhlde, otherwise very rare.
Fig. 6d–e
Test free, bilocular. Coarsely agglutinated, thick test. Aperture
at the end of the tube as simple opening. Initial chamber is mostly not
preserved, second chamber growing rapidly in diameter. Differs from
A total of 18 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 38 specimens from the Söhlde section, 2 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 3 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 29 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Family Hyperamminidae Eimer and Fickert 1899 Subfamily Hyperammininae Eimer and Fickert 1899 Genus Fig. 6f
1950.
A total of 4 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 19 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common in the uppermost Albian at Wunstorf, otherwise very rare.
Six specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Superfamily Hormosinelloidea Rauser and Reitlinger 1986 Family Ammolagenidae Kaminski, Henderson, Cetean and Waśkowska 2009 Genus Fig. 6g–h
1860. 1987. 2005.
A total of 141 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 28 specimens from the Söhlde section, 100 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 154 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
This species usually occurs only in diverse agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages and can be used as an indicator for a low supply of clastic material (Waśkowska, 2014).
Abundant to common in the Cenomanian and rare to very rare in the Turonian.
Fig. 6i
1927. 2017.
A total of 181 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 664 specimens from the Söhlde section, 44 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 64 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 125 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the Cenomanian, abundant to common in the Turonian at Wunstorf, and very abundant to abundant in the Turonian at Söhlde.
Family Hormosinellidae Rauser and Reitlinger 1986 Genus
1923. 1993. 2005. 2011.
Five specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core.
The known stratigraphic range of this species spans from the Turonian to the Eocene (Kaminski and Gradstein, 2005), Weidich (1990) reported it from the Berriasian to the Cenomanian from the northern Calcareous Alps, while Kaminski et al. (1992) cited a similar form from the Lower Cretaceous of the Indian Ocean.
Very rare in the uppermost Albian and lowermost Cenomanian of Wunstorf.
Fig. 6j
1896. 1988. 2005. 2011.
A total of 58 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 63 specimens from the Söhlde section, 3 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 4 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare at Wunstorf and common to rare at Baddeckenstedt and Söhlde.
1901. 1988. 2005.
Five specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, nine specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and four specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Very rare in the Cenomanian.
In total 24 specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Genus
2011.
In total, 11 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Very rare in the lower Cenomanian of the Baddeckenstedt section.
Genus Fig. 6k
1896. 1988. 2005. 2011.
A total of 3 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 41 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 6 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Common in the uppermost Albian of the Wunstorf cores and very rare in the Cenomanian.
Suborder Ammodiscina Mikhalevich 1980 Superfamily Ammodiscoidea Reuss 1862 Family Ammodiscidae Reuss 1862 Subfamily Ammodiscinae Reuss 1862 Genus
1898. 1993. 2005. “ 2021.
A total of 2 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 5 specimens from the Söhlde section, 14 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 12 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 2 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
Genus Fig. 6l
1845. 1934. 1990. 2005. 2011.
A total of 107 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 100 specimens from the Söhlde section, 52 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 88 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 159 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare.
Fig. 6m
1928. 2005. 2011.
A total of 45 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 85 specimens from the Söhlde section, 42 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 71 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 166 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core
Common to very rare.
Fig. 6n
1928. 2005. 2011.
A total of 18 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 32 specimens from the Söhlde section, 46 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 42 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 94 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the Turonian, otherwise very rare.
Fig. 6o
1898. 2005.
A total of 15 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 16 specimens from the Söhlde section, 71 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 61 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 124 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval at Wunstorf, rare to very rare in other stratigraphical intervals, and very rare at Baddeckenstedt and Söhlde.
A total of 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 36 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 43 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Genus
1928. 2005. 2008. 2011.
A total of 6 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 33 specimens from the Söhlde section, 30 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 31 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 28 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Subfamily Tolypammininae Cushman 1928 Genus
A total of 15 calculated specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 8 specimens from the Söhlde section, 40 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 42 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 53 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Subfamily Usbekistaniinae Vialov 1968 Genus Fig. 6p
1946. 1984. 2005.
A total of 9 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 9 specimens from the Söhlde section, 48 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 66 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 55 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare at Wunstorf and very rare at Baddeckenstedt and at Söhlde.
Fig. 6q
1860. 1990. 2005. 2011.
A total of 57 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 71 specimens from the Söhlde section, 40 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 67 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 97 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare.
1898. 1984. 1993. 2005. “ 2011. “
A total of 14 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 39 specimens from the Söhlde section, 47 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 76 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 34 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the Cenomanian at Wunstorf, otherwise rare to very rare.
A total of 6 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 40 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 48 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Genus Fig. 6r
1860. 1990. 2001. 2011. 2017.
A total of 85 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 164 specimens from the Söhlde section, 29 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 61 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 262 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare in the Cenomanian and abundant to common in the Turonian.
Family Lituotubidae Loeblich and Tappan 1984 Genus Fig. 6s
1879. 1990. 2005. 2011.
A total of 19 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 31 specimens from the Söhlde section, 9 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 11 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 48 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Family Trochamminoidae Haynes and Nwabufo-Ene 1998 Genus
A total of 132 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 125 specimens from the Söhlde section, 23 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 36 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 69 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common.
Suborder Schlumbergerinina Mikhalevich 1980 Superfamily Rzehakinoidea Cushman 1933 Family Rzehakinidae Cushman 1933 Subfamily Rzehakininae Cushman 1933 Genus Fig. 6t
1946. 2005. 2011.
A total of 2 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 1 specimen from the Söhlde section, and 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core.
Very rare in the uppermost Albian to the upper Cenomanian of Lower Saxony.
Subclass Globothalama Pawlowski, Holzmann and Tyszka 2013 Order Lituolida Lankester 1885 Suborder Hormosinina Mikhalevich 1980 Superfamily Hormosinoidea Haeckel 1894 Family Aschemocellidae, Vialov 1966 Genus
1923. 1995. 2017.
One specimen from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Very rare in the middle Cenomanian of Baddeckenstedt.
Family Reophacidae Cushman 1927 Genus
1884. 2011.
Five specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, one specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and one specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
Genus
1968.
The reported stratigraphic range of this species spans from the Campanian to the Paleocene (Kaminski and Gradstein, 2005). Beckmann (1994) described it from Cenomanian strata of Trinidad.
In total 19 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Very rare in the lower to middle Cenomanian at Baddeckenstedt.
1808. 1971.
Four specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Very rare in the lower Cenomanian at Baddeckenstedt.
Fig. 6a
1933. 2005.
A total of 13 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 2 specimens from the Söhlde section, and 96 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core.
Abundant to common in the uppermost Albian and lowermost Cenomanian at Wunstorf, otherwise very rare.
Family Hormosinidae Haeckel 1894 Subfamily Hormosininae Haeckel 1894 Genus Fig. 7b
1879. 2005. 2017.
Late Albian to Turonian agglutinated foraminifers from the Lower
Saxonian Cretaceous; scale bars are 100
A total of 48 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 72 specimens from the Söhlde section, 27 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 84 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
First occurrence in the lower Cenomanian of Wunstorf above The Rib. Abundant to common in the upper Cenomanian at Baddeckenstedt and Söhlde and in the middle Turonian at Wunstorf, otherwise rare to very rare.
Fig. 7c
1966. 1995. 2011. 2017.
A total of 9 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 53 specimens from the Söhlde section, 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 19 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 79 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
First occurrence in the lowermost Cenomanian of Wunstorf and common in the lowermost Turonian of Söhlde, otherwise rare to very rare.
Fig. 7d
1960. 1995.
A total of 35 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 9 specimens from the Söhlde section, 20 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 24 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 10 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare in the Cenomanian. Last occurrence in the uppermost Cenomanian at Söhlde and lowermost Turonian at Wunstorf.
Suborder Lituolina Lankester 1885 Superfamily Lituolidea Blainville 1827 Family Haplophragmoididae Maync 1952 Genus
2008.
A total of 20 specimens from the Söhlde section, 17 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 5 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 31 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
This species was subsequently recorded from the Campanian to Eocene (Setoyama et al., 2011). Our findings extend the known stratigraphic range to early Cenomanian.
Lower Cenomanian to middle Turonian of Wunstorf. Uppermost
Cenomanian (
1926. 2005.
A total of 37 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 20 specimens from the Söhlde section, 20 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 30 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 19 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
1973.
Two specimens from the Wu2010/1 core and four specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Very rare in the lower Cenomanian at Wunstorf.
1955. 1988. 2005.
Two specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare in the middle Turonian at Wunstorf.
1898. 1993. 2005.
Five specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, four specimens from the Söhlde section, two specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, five specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and seven specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
Fig. 6e
1896. 1988.
A total of 22 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 4 specimens from the Söhlde section, 13 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 60 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 32 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare.
Fig. 7f
1993. 2005.
A total of 15 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 17 specimens from the Söhlde section, 46 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 53 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 27 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the Cenomanian at Wunstorf, otherwise very rare.
A total of 2 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 27 specimens from the Söhlde section, 17 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 21 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Family Lituolidae Blainville 1827 Subfamily Ammomarginulininae Podobina 1978 Genus Fig. 7g
1846. 1952. 2005.
A total of 45 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 202 specimens from the Söhlde section, 6 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 16 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 6 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the Turonian of Söhlde, otherwise common to very rare.
Fig. 7h
1960. 2010.
Four specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, six specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and three specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
A total of 2 specimens from the Söhlde section, 12 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 3 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 3 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Mainly fragmented specimens not further determined.
Very rare.
Family Ammobaculinidae Saidova 1981 Subfamily Ammobaculininae Saidova 1981 Genus Fig. 7i
1962. 1970. 1990. 1990. 2011.
A total of 3 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 746 specimens from the Söhlde section, 270 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 22 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 969 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very abundant at the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval, very abundant to common in the Turonian at Söhlde, common to rare in the Cenomanian at Wunstorf, and very rare at Baddeckenstedt.
Family Placopsilinidae Rhumbler 1913 Subfamily Placopsilininae Rhumbler 1913 Genus
1850. 1993.
Two specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Very rare.
One specimen from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Genus
1944. 1987.
A total of 33 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section.
Abundant at the sponge beds in the lower Cenomanian at Baddeckenstedt, otherwise rare to very rare at Baddeckenstedt.
Superfamily Recurvoidoidea Alekseychik-Mitskevich 1973 Family Ammosphaeroidinidae Cushman 1927 Subfamily Ammosphaeroidininae Cushman 1927 Genus
1966. 1988. 2011.
A total of 38 specimens from the Söhlde section.
Common to very rare in the middle and upper Turonian at Söhlde.
Genus
Two specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare in the middle Turonian of Söhlde.
Subfamily Recurvoidinae Alekseychik-Mitskevich 1973 Genus
A total of 10 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and five specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Suborder Spiroplectamminina Mikhalevich 1992 Superfamily Spiroplectamminoidea Cushman 1927 Family Spiroplectamminidae Cushman 1927 Subfamily Spiroplectammininae Cushman 1927 Genus Fig. 7j
1932. 1989. 2005. 2017.
A total of 70 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 338 specimens from the Söhlde section, 8 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 285 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
First occurrence in the lower Cenomanian above The Rib. Very abundant in the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval at Wunstorf and in the upper Turonian at Söhlde, abundant to common in the upper Cenomanian to Turonian, and very rare in the lower to middle Cenomanian.
In total eight specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Genus Fig. 7k
1932. 1972. 1997.
A total of 29 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 4 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 2 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Rare to very rare in the lower and middle Cenomanian of Lower Saxony.
Family Textulariopsidae Loeblich and Tappan 1982 Genus Fig. 7l
1974. 1990. 2008. 2011.
A total of 4 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 29 specimens from the Söhlde section, 2 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 40 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Rare to very rare.
Genus
1974. 1990. 2008. 2011.
One specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core and one specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
Genus
1926. 1982.
One specimen from the Baddeckenstedt and three specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core.
Very rare.
One specimen from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Family Pseudobolivinidae Wiesner 1931 Genus Fig. 7m
1990. 2008. 2011.
A total of 2 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 93 specimens from the Söhlde section, 7 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 95 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the middle Turonian, otherwise rare to very rare.
Suborder Trochamminina Saidova 1981 Superfamily Trochamminoidea Schwager 1877 Family Trochamminidae Schwager 1877 Subfamily Trochammininae Schwager 1877 Genus
A total of 39 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 124 specimens from the Söhlde section, 20 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 42 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 35 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare.
Suborder Verneuilinina Mikhalevich and Kaminski 2004 Superfamily Verneuilinoidea Cushman 1911 Family Prolixoplectidae Loeblich and Tappan 1985 Genus Fig. 7n
2008.
A total of specimen from the Baddeckenstedt section, 17 specimens from the Söhlde section, 2 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 5 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
Fig. 7o
1947. 1970. 2008. 2011.
A total of 11 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 101 specimens from the Söhlde section, 5 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 6 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 278 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very abundant in the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval, abundant to rare in the Turonian, and very rare in the Cenomanian.
Genus Fig. 7p
2010. 2011.
A total of 55 specimens from the Söhlde section, 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 80 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the Turonian, very rare in the Cenomanian, and absent in Baddeckenstedt.
Genus Fig. 7q
1990.
A total of 56 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 168 specimens from the Söhlde section, 8 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 10 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 194 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare in the Cenomanian up to lower Turonian and abundant to rare in the middle and upper Turonian.
Genus Fig. 7t
1880. 1972. 1997.
A total 86 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 4 specimens from the Söhlde section, 168 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 149 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 12 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Uppermost Albian and Cenomanian, abundant to common in the Cenomanian at Wunstorf, and common to rare at Baddeckenstedt.
Genus Fig. 7r
1977. 1980.
A total 345 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 15 specimens from the Söhlde section, 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 127 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 17 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the lower Cenomanian from the
Fig. 7s
1928. 1937. 1977. 1980.
A total of 102 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 2 specimens from the Söhlde section, 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 15 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 8 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare in the lower Cenomanian from the
Family Tritaxiidae Plotnikova 1979 Genus Fig. 8a
1948. 1970.
Late Albian to Turonian agglutinated foraminifers from the Lower
Saxonian Cretaceous; scale bars are 100
A total of 123 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core and 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the lower Cenomanian at Wunstorf between
the
Fig. 8b
1936.
A total of 39 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core and three specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Always smaller than
Mass occurrence (abundant) in the lower Cenomanian of Wunstorf
around the
Fig. 8c
1845. 1863. 1892. 1972. 1980.
A total of 722 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 14 specimens from the Söhlde section, 387 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 371 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 86 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Frieg (1980) showed a clear transition of the suture angles between
Very abundant to common in the Cenomanian, abundant to very rare in the Turonian at Wunstorf, and rare to very rare at Söhlde.
Family Verneuilinidae Cushman 1911 Subfamily Verneuilinoidinae Suleymanov 1973 Genus Fig. 8d–e
1840. 1972.
A total of 275 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 92 specimens from the Söhlde section, 59 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 62 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 46 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare at Wunstorf, abundant to common at Baddeckenstedt, and common to very rare at Söhlde.
Fig. 8f
1950. 1975.
A total of 282 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 51 specimens from the Söhlde section, 121 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 75 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 14 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the Cenomanian and rare to very rare in the Turonian.
Genus Fig. 8g
1950.
A total of 35 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 253 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 213 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 1 specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
The systematic position, occurrence, and paleogeographical
distribution of
Abundant to common in the uppermost Albian up to the upper Cenomanian until below the Facies Change at Wunstorf and common to very rare in the Cenomanian at Baddeckenstedt.
Genus
1880. 1937. 1993.
A total of 34 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 13 specimens from the Söhlde section, 25 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 7 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Rare to very rare in the uppermost Albian to upper Cenomanian.
Genus Fig. 8i
A total of 35 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 92 specimens from the Söhlde section, 3 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 48 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare.
Genus Fig. 8j
1936. 1969. 1972. 1977. 1982. 1989.
A total of 443 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 38 specimens from the Söhlde section, 297 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 269 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 19 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Initially described as
Very abundant to common in the uppermost Albian up to the upper
Cenomanian. Last occurrence below the Facies Change at Söhlde and
Baddeckenstedt and in the
Family Reophacellidae Mikhalevich and Kaminski 2004 Genus Fig. 8h
A total of 108 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 7 specimens from the Söhlde section, 24 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 66 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 5 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Test free, elongate, triserial and triangular in section, biserial part reduced, finely to medium-grained agglutinated, chambers are inflated, and sutures commonly distinct.
Common to rare in the Cenomanian until below the Facies Change.
Genus
1943. 1995. 2011. 2017.
A total of 17 specimens from the Söhlde section.
Rare to very rare in the middle and upper Turonian of Söhlde.
Subfamily Spiroplectinatinae Cushman 1928 Genus
1959.
One specimen from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Very rare in the lower Cenomanian.
Subfamily Verneuilininae Cushman 1911 Genus
1943. 1990.
A total of 39 specimens from the Söhlde section.
Rare to very rare in the middle and upper Turonian of Söhlde.
Order Loftusiida Kaminski and Mikhalevich 2004 Suborder Ataxophragmiina Fursenko 1958 Superfamily Ataxophragmioidea Schwager 1877 Family Ataxophragmiidae Schwager 1877 Subfamily Ataxophragmiinae Schwager 1877 Genus
1982. 1989.
A total of 81 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 15 specimens from the Söhlde section, 121 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 75 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 9 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common in the uppermost Albian and lower Cenomanian of Wunstorf, otherwise rare to very rare.
Fig. 8k
1980. 1989.
A total of 16 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 75 specimens from the Söhlde section, 16 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 25 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 162 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to rare in the Turonian and very rare in the Cenomanian.
1972. 1982.
A total of 18 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Very rare in the lower Cenomanian of Wunstorf above The Rib.
Fig. 8l
1845. 1972. 1982. 1989.
A total of 135 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 75 specimens from the Söhlde section, 79 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 75 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 345 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very abundant to common in the Turonian at Wunstorf, otherwise
common to very rare. First occurrence between
Fig. 8m
1844. 1937.
A total of 217 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 132 specimens from the Söhlde section, 314 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 162 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 227 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common and absent at the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval.
A total of 113 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 29 specimens from the Söhlde section, 332 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 306 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 131 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Broken, indeterminable specimens.
Common to very rare.
Genus
1936.
Two specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and two specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Very rare.
Fig. 8n–o
1882. 1937. 1972. 1980.
A total of 51 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 4 specimens from the Söhlde section, and 13 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare.
Three specimens from the Söhlde section.
Broken, indeterminable specimens.
Very rare.
Genus Fig. 8p
1840. 1972. 1982. 1989.
A total of 187 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 88 specimens from the Söhlde section, 33 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 61 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 169 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Abundant to common in the Cenomanian of Baddeckenstedt and in the Turonian of Wunstorf, otherwise rare to very rare.
1851. 1937. 1982.
A total of 90 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 16 specimens from the Söhlde section, 18 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 52 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 31 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
Common to very rare in the Cenomanian to the upper Turonian.
Subfamily Pernerininae Loeblich and Tappan 1984 Genus Fig. 8q
1936. 1969. 1977. Arenobulimina advena (Cushman); Carter and Hart, p. 14, pl. 2, fig. 4. 1982. 1989.
A total of 216 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 199 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 184 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
This study follows the intensively discussed generic affiliation of this species by Frieg and Kemper (1989).
Abundant to common in the uppermost Albian to middle Cenomanian and rare to very rare in the upper Cenomanian below the Facies Change.
Fig. 8r
1936. 1982. 1989.
A total of 159 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 5 specimens from the Söhlde section, 146 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 88 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
This study follows the intensively discussed generic affiliation of this species by Frieg and Kemper (1989).
Abundant to common in the lower Cenomanian and middle Cenomanian and rare to very rare in the upper Cenomanian.
1845. 1937. 1969. 1982. 1989.
Nine specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, two specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and seven specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
This study follows the intensively discussed generic affiliation of this species by Frieg and Kemper (1989).
Very rare in the Cenomanian.
Family Cuneolinidae Saidova 1981 Subfamily Cuneolininae Saidova 1981 Genus Fig. 8s
1932. 1989.
A total of 139 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 1 specimen from the Söhlde section, 5 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, 35 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, and 4 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core.
This species is used as index fossil for the Cenomanian of the
English chalk (Hart et al., 1989), but Frieg (1989) already proved its
existence in the lower part of the Albian. Our findings of four specimens in
the middle Turonian of Wunstorf extends the stratigraphical range of this
species and supports the idea of Frieg (1989) of a facies related appearance
of
Abundant to common in the lower and middle Cenomanian at Baddeckenstedt, rare to very rare in the Cenomanian and Turonian of Wunstorf, and absent in the Turonian of Söhlde.
Order Textulariida Delage and Hérouard 1896, emended Kaminski 2004 Suborder Textulariina Delage and Hérouard 1896 Superfamily Eggerelloidea Cushman 1937 Family Eggerellidae Cushman 1937 Subfamily Dorothiinae Balakhmatova 1972 Genus Fig. 8u
1936. 1953.
A total of 42 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section, 32 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core, and 11 specimens from the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core.
Lower Cenomanian. Abundant at the sponge beds at Baddeckenstedt and at The Rib at Wunstorf, otherwise very rare.
1840. 1953.
Three specimens from the Söhlde section.
Like suggested by Leary (1987),
Very rare.
Subfamily Pseudogaudryinae Loeblich and Tappan 1985 Genus
A total of 15 specimens from the Baddeckenstedt section and four specimens from the Söhlde section.
Very rare.
Columnar section of the Albian to Cenomanian part of the Wunstorf core Wu 2010/1 with agglutinated foraminiferal morphogroups, Fisher alpha index, species richness, and foraminiferal events (acmes) indicated by arrows. For log legend, see Fig. 3.
The Albian–Cenomanian boundary is only accessible in the Wunstorf Wu2010/1
core. It reaches from the base of the core towards the
At a depth of 59.05 m the taxa
The interval yields an increased proportion of straight tubular taxa, M1: 3.8 %–33.6 %; shallow infaunal taxa M2a: 14.9 %–20.6 %; and deep infaunal taxa M4b: 43.6 %–77.7 % (Fig. 9). It can be assigned to the low-latitude to mid-latitude slope biofacies proposed by Kuhnt et al. (1989). The diversity is moderate with Fisher alpha index values between 6.3 and 9.4 and SR values between 25 and 33 (Fig. 9).
The Cenomanian agglutinated foraminiferal assemblage occurs from the
In the Wunstorf Wu2010/1 core,
Columnar section of the Lower Cenomanian part of the Wunstorf core Wu 2010/3 with agglutinated foraminiferal morphogroups, Fisher alpha index, species richness, and foraminiferal events (acmes) indicated by arrows. For log legend, see Fig. 3.
In general, the Cenomanian agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages consist of extremely high relative abundances of the morphogroup M4b with values up to 95 % and enhanced abundances of morphogroups M3a and/or M3b of up to 25 % (Figs. 9 to 11). M1 values range between 10 and 20 %, M2a and M2b values are below 5 %, and M3b and M4a values reach up to 10 % (Figs. 9 to 11). At Baddeckenstedt increased relative abundances of shallow infaunal living taxa (M3b) are noted, while at Wunstorf, numbers of epifaunal living taxa (M3a) are enhanced (Figs. 9 to 11). Furthermore, the relative abundances of deep infaunal living taxa (M4b) are between 10 %–20 % higher at Baddeckenstedt than at Wunstorf (Figs. 9 to 11). The Fisher alpha index of the Cenomanian agglutinated foraminiferal assemblage fluctuates between 7.4 and 20 while SR values are between 39 and 61 (Figs. 9 to 11).
This interval spans from the prominent Facies Change including the
Several taxa vanish with the Facies Change. In the Söhlde section as
also in the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core,
Columnar section of the Cenomanian part of the Baddeckenstedt quarry with agglutinated foraminiferal morphogroups, Fisher alpha index, species richness, and foraminiferal events (acmes) indicated by arrows. For log legend, see Fig. 3; log redrawn after Wilmsen (2003: Fig. 8).
Foraminiferal assemblages of this interval yield increased relative
abundances of morphogroup M4b with up to 88.8 %. At Wunstorf, increased
relative abundances of M2c, e.g.
In Turonian strata above the black shale–marlstone alternation of the
Hesseltal Formation at Wunstorf (Fig. 12) and above the Cenomanian–Turonian
boundary interval at Söhlde (Fig. 13), the species
While no FOs or LOs are recorded in the post-CTBE strata in Wunstorf, in
Söhlde
Above the black shale–marlstone alternation of the Hesseltal Formation, in deposits with slumping structures, high relative abundances of the morphogroup M4b (96.9 %) are noted at Wunstorf (Fig. 12). In strata of the Söhlde Formation, agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages are characterized by a medium high Fisher alpha index (12.19–15.94) and high species richness (45–49) at Wunstorf (Fig. 12). Relative abundances of the morphogroup M3a range between 24.3 %–34.1 %, while relative abundances of M4b between 40.7 %–56.8 % are noticed (Fig. 12). Above the CTBE, the Fisher alpha index rises towards 22.5 in the late Turonian of Söhlde, while species richness increases to 52 (Fig. 13). Relative abundances are recorded of morphogroup M3a between 8.6 %–14.5 %, M3b between 7.4 %–27.8 %, and M4b between 26–52.3 (Fig. 13).
Columnar section of the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary and the Lower and Middle Turonian part of the Wunstorf core Wu 2010/4 with agglutinated foraminiferal morphogroups, Fisher alpha index, species richness, and foraminiferal events (acmes) indicated by arrows. For log legend, see Fig. 4.
Columnar section of the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary and the Lower to Upper Turonian part of the Söhlde–Loges quarry with agglutinated foraminiferal morphogroups, Fisher alpha index, species richness, and foraminiferal events (acmes) indicated by arrows. For log legend, see Fig. 4; log redrawn after Wiese (2009: Fig. 6).
The Wunstorf core Wu 2010/1 starts with 9 m of marly claystone (Fig. 4), which belongs to the uppermost Albian to lowermost Cenomanian Bemerode
Member of the Herbram Formation (cf. Hiss et al., 2007a). The observed
lithology matches that found nearby in the Anderten cores, covering the
same sedimentation period (Bornemann et al., 2017). In proximal settings of
central Europe, the transgressive
The basal metres of the core Wunstorf Wu2010/4 (Fig. 5) are built by pure
limestones of the Brochterbeck Formation (cf. Hiss et al., 2007b). Above
the notable Facies Change, the black shale–marlstone alternation of the
Hesseltal Formation (cf. Hiss et al., 2007c; see Voigt et al., 2008b)
ranges from 82.5 to 63.5 m depth (Seibertz, 2013; Fig. 5). The recorded
thickness is surprisingly low compared to other studies (e.g. Erbacher et
al., 2007; Voigt et al., 2008b). About 12 m of Turonian strata is
completely missing, likely induced by a prominent fault at 68 m core depth
(Fig. 5). Above the
The basal part of the studied stratigraphic sequence is expressed through
the Albian–Cenomanian boundary interval (ACBI), which yields four distinct
peaks of positive
The strong increase in
The Albian–Cenomanian boundary at Wunstorf is reflected by the first
occurrence (FO) of the species
Albian, Cenomanian, and Turonian FOs and LOs (first – and last occurrences) of selected agglutinated foraminifers from Lower Saxony (Wunstorf, Baddeckenstedt, Söhlde), the Münsterland (Frieg and Kemper, 1989) and the English Chalk (Hart et al., 1989), and the DWAF (deep-water agglutinated foraminifera) zonation of the western Tethys (Coccioni et al., 1995; Kaminski et al., 2011).
In the overlying Turonian strata,
Due to a high number of infaunal and deep infaunal specimens (M4b, Fig. 9),
but also increased relative abundances of filter feeding tubular living
specimens (M1, Fig. 9), slightly eutrophic bottom water conditions can be
assumed (Fig. 15) by applying the TROX model after Jorissen et al. (1995),
van der Zwaan et al. (1999), and Setoyama et al. (2017). This is supported by
a mass occurrence of the species
Albian, Cenomanian, and Turonian micro-bioevents, their subtypes defined by agglutinated foraminifers, and interpreted bottom-water nutrient regimes in the Lower Saxony Cretaceous as well as in the Subhercynian subbasins. Micro-bioevent subtypes correlate with one or more acmes of specific agglutinated foraminiferal species. Depositional sequences and their stratigraphical relations are from Janetschke et al. (2015: Fig. 6).
Following the TROX model (Jorissen et al., 1995; Van der Zwaan et al., 1999; Setoyama et al., 2017) bottom water conditions during the lower to middle Cenomanian time were mesotrophic to eutrophic (Fig. 15), indicated by a continuous record of morphogroup M1 and increased relative abundances of morphogroups M3a–M3b and M4b (Figs. 9 to 11). Rising relative abundances of shallow infaunal morphogroup M3a and epifaunal morphogroup M3b from below 5 % in the lower Cenomanian to up to 20 % in the upper Cenomanian (Figs. 9 to 11) are likely explained by a shift from more eutrophic to more mesotrophic conditions during the Cenomanian. This is in accordance with the lithological succession (e.g. rising carbonate content) and proposed sea level fluctuations by Wilmsen (2003) and Janetschke et al. (2015; Fig. 3). The food influx during the early to early-middle Cenomanian in the Lower Saxony and Subhercynian sub-basins was mainly controlled by fluvial inlet and so depended on the distance to the shore (Wilmsen, 2003). Higher relative abundances of deep infaunal morphogroup M4b at Baddeckenstedt (Fig. 11) are likely induced by the more proximal position of Baddeckenstedt (Fig. 1) and therefore a higher food supply.
At Wunstorf, about 7 m above the
For the late-middle to late Cenomanian times, a shift to more oligotrophic conditions in the Lower Saxony basin due to a breakdown of a shelf–front system is proposed (Wilmsen, 2003). Following the paleoceanographical models by Linnert et al. (2010) and Püttmann and Mutterlose (2021), nutrients are mainly delivered by oceanic currents or are provided by mixing processes during stormy seasons (Linnert et al., 2010). Decreased relative abundances of deep infaunal taxa of morphogroup M4b during this time interval are likely induced by this lower food availability. Increased abundances of M4b during this interval are likely affected by regressional trends such as the periodical reinstallment of the shelf–front system or by enhanced vertical and lateral mixing of the water column during stormy seasons. Applying the TROX model to recorded foraminiferal assemblages, mesotrophic bottom water conditions during this interval (Fig. 15) but in general lower food availability than during the early to early-middle Cenomanian are assumed.
The strata, containing the Mid-Cenomanian Event sensu Ernst et al. (1983), yield a distinct decline in M4b relative abundance and high numbers of group M3a–M3b in Baddeckenstedt (Fig. 11). Wilmsen (2003) placed the maximum flooding zone of the DS Ce 4 exactly at this level. Decreased food availability during that interval is inferred based on the agglutinated foraminifers applying the TROX model established by Jorissen et al. (1995), van der Zwaan et al. (1999), and Setoyama et al. (2017).
The strata about 1 m below the
In general, the discussed time interval is characterized by bottom water conditions changing from eutrophic–mesotrophic to clearly mesotrophic. This likely corresponds to the Cenomanian eustatic sea level rise (Fig. 3) stated by Haq et al. (1987) and Haq (2014).
Low diverse agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages from the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval at Wunstorf and Söhlde indicate unfavourable living conditions. The dominance of infaunal to deep infaunal taxa and low diversities like recorded at Wunstorf and Söhlde (Figs. 12 and 13) are indicative for periodically anoxic bottom water conditions (cf. Kaminski et al., 1995). Eutrophic conditions are likely (Fig. 15), following the TROX model.
The middle Turonian and basal part of the upper Turonian bears relatively low abundances of the morphogroup M4b and comparably high abundances of the morphogroups M3a and/or M3b and medium high diversities (Figs. 12 and 13). This likely supports a shift to more oligotrophic bottom water conditions during the Turonian (Fig. 15). Assumptions made for surface water conditions in the Cretaceous shelf sea reflect a similar trend (Wiese et al., 2015).
In all sections, “Lazarus” species from the genera
Increased relative abundances of the morphogroup M4b above the Weiße Grenzbank at Söhlde and Wunstorf (Figs. 12 and 13) likely reflect higher food availability in the bottom water. This likely corresponds to the SB Tu 2 proposed by Janetschke et al. (2015; Fig. 3).
The agglutinated foraminiferal fauna from the Albian–Cenomanian boundary
within the Herbram Formation is classified to be the low-latitude to mid-latitude
slope biofacies as proposed by Kuhnt et al. (1989). In contrast to this, the
recorded Cenomanian to Turonian agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages of
the Lower Saxony Cretaceous are different including planktic, calcareous
benthic foraminifers, and calcareous-cemented species, such as some
In the Cenomanian, three types of macro-bioevents occurred: early transgressive bioevents (ETBs), maximum flooding bioevents (MFBs), and late highstand bioevents (LHBs; Wilmsen, 2003, 2012). These bioevents are in accordance with sea-level-driven depositional sequences. ETBs form either due to winnowing fines and thus accumulation of resistant hard parts, called lag subtype, or due to migration events of uncommon or exotic taxa, called migration subtype. MFBs yield assemblages of taxa adapted to a low water energy, a low food supply, and often soft substrates (Wilmsen, 2003, 2012). LHBs occur as accumulated biogenic hard parts due to a reduced accumulation space at the end of a sea level highstand (Wilmsen, 2003, 2012). Similar bioevents, expressed through acmes, occur in the foraminiferal record of this research (Fig. 15).
Below the
Synchronously to the
At the
A possible ETB of DS Ce 3 with high amounts of the species
In the Wunstorf Wu2010/3 core, increased relative abundances of
Increased relative abundances of
Below the
An acme of
A possible LHB shortly above the
During the interval of the CTBE,
As a possible MFB,
Increased relative abundances of different species of
Above this interval, an acme of
Robust arenobuliminid tests occur in huge amounts slightly above marl M0 in the Wunstorf Wu2010/4 core (Figs. 12 and 15), which is likely to be the ETB of DS Tu 3 by Janetschke et al. (2015).
Another acme of
High numbers of
Agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages have been studied from the Albian to
Turonian deposits of the European shelf in northern Germany. With respect to
assemblage compositions, we propose a new biofacies called the mid-latitude
shelf biofacies, clearly differing in relative abundances from other
contemporaneous sections. The main faunal elements of this biofacies are
typical shelf-related elongate morphogroups such as Increased relative abundances of deep infaunal morphogroups during the
latest Albian to early-middle Cenomanian reflect a relatively higher food
supply, while decreased ones indicate lower food availability. As the main
food source during this time interval is riverine inlet from the coast,
maxima of relative abundances of deep infaunal morphogroups likely indicate
low relative water depth, and minima probably are related to maximum
flooding intervals. Increased relative abundances of deep infaunal morphogroups due to a
relatively high food availability during the early-middle Cenomanian to
Turonian likely reflect stronger vertical mixing during stormy seasons as
the main food source is currents from offshore. In proximal settings the relative abundances of deep infaunal
morphogroups are higher than recorded in distal positions, which indicates a
higher food supply in proximal settings. Proximal foraminiferal assemblages
contain higher numbers of attached epifaunal morphogroups while in distal
positions free epifaunal taxa occur more often. Strata deposited during intervals of periodical anoxia at the bottom
water layers such as related to the OAE2, or during strong synsedimentary
redeposition of sediment mostly linked to tectonic events as recorded in
parts of the Turonian at Söhlde and at Wunstorf, contain low diverse
foraminiferal assemblages. These are composed of mainly deep infaunal taxa
such as
While macro-bioevents are one of the most important features of the often-applied event stratigraphy, these events are also reflected by microfossils such as agglutinated foraminifers.
Data related to this study are provided in the Supplement.
The supplement related to this article is available online at:
RMB collected all samples and studied the agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages. US performed the lab analysis of stable carbon isotopes. ES studied the lithology of the Wunstorf cores and provided the event stratigraphic scheme. All authors wrote and edited the manuscript as well as edited the figures.
The contact author has declared that neither they nor their co-authors have any competing interests.
Publisher’s note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
First, we would like to thank Birgit Niebuhr (Dresden) for a lot of effort in discussing and improving this study. Tobias Püttmann (Krefeld) and Štefan Józsa (Bratislava) provided constructive reviews that we highly appreciate and substantially improved this paper. We appreciate the possibility of access to the Wunstorf cores provided by Bernd-Henning Reupke (Hannover) and the Holcim (Deutschland) GmbH Höver and access to the working quarry in Söhlde given by the Loges Kalk- und Kreidewerk. We thank Benjamin Besen and Patrick Göhring (both Hildesheim) for their assistance in the field, Edina Merdan (Berlin) for help in core sampling and digital imaging, and Jan Evers (Berlin) to support the photography of foraminifers. Finally, we would like to thank Florian Witzmann (Berlin) for the professional editorial work.
This paper was edited by Florian Witzmann and reviewed by Tobias Püttmann and Stefan Jozsa.