Geochemical and faunal proxies in the Westphalian A (Langsettian) marine horizon of the Lublin Coal Basin

Abstract

The uppermost Westphalian marine horizon (Dunbarella horizon) is especially important for correlation of Carboniferous deposits in the Lublin Coal Basin and in other basins of the Northwest European Carboniferous Basin. The Dunbarella horizon is characterized by cyclic sedimentation and consequent faunal spectrum variability, typical for Westphalian marine horizons of northwestern Europe. Palaeontological study of the Dunbarella horizon showed the presence of macrofauna representing different palaeoenvironments, from marine to brackish (non-marine) and freshwater conditions. The vertical sea level fluctuations and changes in seawater salinity resulting in palaeontological record changes do not link with geochemical proxies. TOC, redox-sensitive trace element concentrations, and V/Cr, Ni/Co and V/(V + Ni) ratios generally suggest that the Dunbarella horizon sediments were deposited under predominantly oxic conditions (with local exceptions during the initial phase of the Dunbarella ingression; Kopina 1 borehole).