Microfossils from the high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Gory Sowie Mts. (Sudetes area) and their stratigraphical importance

Abstract

Unconventional micropalaeontological methods have been employed in order to examine calcareous-silicic rocks and intercalations of crystalline limestones from 7 localities of "diabasic amphibolites"* in the gneissic Góry Sowie Block. Very poorly preserved microflora and relicts of skeletal fauna, i.e. fragments of radiolarians, calcareous shells of Hyolithes, problematic conoidal forms and minut ?brachiopod shells have been found for the first time in the investigated rocks. A few specimens belonging to Archaeogastropoda, Ostracoda and ?Vermes have been identified, too. The microfossil assemblage contains also problematic taxa. The discovery of microfossils including skeletal fauna in crystalline limestones (marbles) enclosed in "schistose diabasic amphibolites" of the Góry Sowie Block has an outstanding stratigraphical importance. It is possible now to accept that the rocks are undoubtedly younger than Precambrian. The most probable age would be Cambrian. There have been over 10 isotopic datings reported for the Góry Sowie Mts. Various methods have been used and different minerals examined. Most of the ages fall within the Ordovician. There are also rather extreme results pointing to the Proterozoic and Devonian, and even to the Early Carboniferous.