Commune: Krzeszowice (pow. krakowski, woj. małopolskie)
Framework element or context represented:
Visean bio/lithostratigraphy.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
Visean detritical and organodetritical limestones, rich in macro- and microfauna, typical shallow-marine deposits.
Comparative assessment justification:
Upper Viseanian shallow marine deposits are typical of the Cracow Variscan Branch. Microfacies correspond with Upper Visean in Scotland and Donbass (Ukraine). The intraformational conglomerates are in similar stratigraphic position as breccias in the Dinant Coal Basin. Holly Cross Mts. - outcrop in Gałęzice (less important).
Protection status and accessibility:
Candidate for protection, accessible but the observation is limited by the vegetation succession.
Character of site: Outcrop along the stream.
Area: 2 ha
Altitude: 345 m a.s.l.
Lithology: conglomerates, breccias, limestones
Discipline: Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, Stratigraphy of Phanerozoic
Process Age: *all periods
Bedrock Age: Carboniferous, *all periods
Description of primary interest:
The outcrop, 200 m long, is situated at the left bank of the Czernka stream valley within the eastern border of the Silesian Coal Basin. The sequence of Visean deposits dipping 130/40° SW is composed of reddish-grey limestones and marly limestones with numerous brachiopodes (a.e. Gigantoproductus giganteus), grey organodetritical limestones, intraformational conglomerates and dark-grey bituminous limestones. The whole thickness of these deposits is about 30 m. Several microfacies characterized by microfossils (Calcisphaera, Foraminifera, Ostracoda) and remains of Echinodermata, Brachiopoda and Bryozoa were distinguished. The rich fauna of Foraminifera encloses about 50 taxa and indicates the Upper Visean age. The locality presents the standard sequence of youngest part of Lower Carboniferous Dinant limestones of Southern Poland, abounding in fossils and typical of shallow-marine environment.
Literature:
ALEXANDROWICZ S. 1957–The Lower Buntsandstein in Czerna near Krzeszowice (Cracow Region). Instytut Geologiczny. Bul. 115. Mater. Geologii Obszaru Śląsko-Krakowskiego 4: 5-25. ALEXANDROWICZ S.W., ALEXANDROWICZ Z. 1999–Selected geosites of the Cracow Upland. Polish Geol. Institute. Special Papers 2: 53-60. ALEXANDROWICZ S.W. & MAMET B.L. 1973–Microfacies du Carbonifere infernieur du Dome de Dębnik (Pologne Meridionale). Revista Espagn. Micropal., 5: 447-466. ALEXANDROWICZ S.W. & SIEDLECKA A. 1964–Lithological profile of Dinantian limestones at Czerna near Krzeszowice (English sum.). Rocz. Pol. Tow. Geol., 34, 3: 395-423. JEZIOROWSKA M. 1981–Ostracods from the Lower Carboniferous Marls, Czerna Region (English sum.). Geologia 7, 3: 63-98. SOBOŃ-PODGÓRSKA J. 1975–The stratigraphy of the Lower Corboniferous at Czerna, near Krzeszowice, on the basis of microfauna (English sum.). Biul. Inst. Geol. 282: 249-271. ZAJĄCZKOWSKI W.A. 1975–Stratigraphy and lithology of the Dinatian limestones from Czerna near Krzeszowice (English sum.). Biul. Inst. Geol. 282: 273-328.