Commune: Hyżne (pow. rzeszowski, woj. podkarpackie)
Framework element or context represented:
Biota and stratigraphy of Early Paleogene Flysh Carpathians.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
Profile of Variegated Shale represents radiolarian zonation correlated with forminiferal biozones.
Comparative assessment justification:
Standard profile with rich radiolarian assemblage in the Variegated Shale Fm.
Protection status and accessibility:
Proposed for protection.
Character of site: Natural outcrop.
Area: c. 1 ha
Altitude: 275 m a.s.l.
Lithology: gneisses, other siliceous rocks, shales, silstones, claystones
Discipline: Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, Stratigraphy of Phanerozoic
Process Age: *all periods
Bedrock Age: Paleogene, *all periods
Description of primary interest:
The site is located within the Skole Unit of the Outer Carpathians in the S limb of the Jawornik–Dubiecko overturned fold, in right-side tributary stream of the Tatyna river in Hyżne. It encompasses several small outcrops of the Variegated Shale Fm extending over some 250 m. Being susceptible to surface slumping, the outcrops of this formation undergo fast and intensive changes. The Variegated Shale Fm is about 130 m thick and represents Upper Palaeocene–lower part of Lower Eocene. Composed of muddy and clayey red shales with intercalations of green shales, the rocks contain smectite as the main mineral. Within the complex there are bentonitized tuffites, numerous microconcretions of Mn and Fe oxides, as well as concretions of Mn, Fe, Mg and Ca oxides and carbonates. Distinguished in the rank of members, the lithosomes of the Boguszówka Sandstone /Mbr/, the Kosztowa Sandstone /Mbr/, and the Stripped Chmielnik Sandstone /Mbr/ are integral components of this formation. Their lithologies are diversified and can be attributed to various centres. Close to the bottom of the Variegated Shale Fm there occurs a regional horizon of the Bircza Lithothamnium Limestone /Bed/. An additional, interesting component of the formation in question is represented by lensoidal lithosomes of the Babica Clay, being deposits of cohesive clayey-muddy flows. Four biostratygraphic zones have been distinguished within the profile of the Variegated Shale Fm and overlaying Hieroglyphic Fm on the basis of a rich assemblage of radiolarians, composed of about 50 taxa. Having determined foraminiferas, this profile has also been correlated with forminiferal biozones.
Literature:
BARWICZ-PISKORZ W. 2002–Geological outcrops of Variegated Shale with Paleogene microfaune in the Polish Flysh Carpathians. (English sum.). Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą, 58/3: 18-28. BARWICZ-PISKORZ W. & RAJCHEL J. 2004–Paleogene radiolarians in the northern margin of the Carpathian Tethys (Polish Carpathians, Skole Unit). Micrpaleontology /in press/. BĄK K., BĄK M., GEROCH S. & MANECKI M. 1997–Biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental analysis of benthic Foraminifera and radiolarians in Paleogene variegated shales in the Skole Unit, Polish Flysch Carpathians. An. Soc. Geol. Polon., 67/2-3: 135-154. FRANUS, W. & RAJCHEL, J. 1999–Malachite, Chrysocolla and Galena from Trójca Red Shale Mbr at the Variegated Shale Fm in the Skole Unit. (English sum.). Przegl. Geol., 47/12: 1108-1116. RAJCHEL J., BARWICZ-PISKORZ W. & KROBICKI M. 2000–Radiolarians from the Paleogene deposits, Skole Unit, Polish Carpathians - preliminary results. Acta Palaeon. Romaniae, 2: 441-448. RAJCHEL, J. 1990–Lithostratigraphy of the Upper Paleocene and Eocene deposits in the Scole Unit. (English sum.). Zeszyty Nauk. AGH, Geologia, 48: 1-112. RAJCHEL J. 1994–Horizons of bentonized tuffites in Paleocene and Eocene sediments of the Skole Unit (the Flysch Carpathians). (English sum.). Kwart. AGH, Geologia, 20/3: 275-300. WDOWIARZ, S. 1939–Structure géologique des Karpates Marginales au sud-est de Rzeszów (Karpates Polonaises Occidentalis). (French sum.). Biul. Państw. Inst. Geol., 11: 1-48. WIESER T. 1994–Origin of the Lower Eocene clinoptilolite-montmorillonite claystones from the Skole Unit of the Flysch Carpathians. Miner. Polon., 25: 3-20.