REVIEW OF STRATIGRAPHY OF EASTERN PARATETHYS 
Azizbekov (1972), Lupov et al. (1972), Chelidze (1973), 
Karmishina (1975), Vekua (1975), Krstic (1976), Shchekina 
(1979), Imnadze & Karmishina (1980), Ali-Zade et al. (1986), 
Sirenko & Turlo (1986) and Yagmurlu & Helvaci (1994). 
Micropalaeontology. Only the non-age-diagnostic, 
quasi-marine, smaller benthonic foraminifer Elphidium 
stellatum was recorded by Imnadze & Karmishina (1980) from 
the Late Pontian (Bosporian sub-stage) of the Black Sea. 
Stratigraphically and/or palaeoenvironmentally significant 
ostracods recorded by Sheydayeva-Kuliyeva (1966) and 
Azizbekov (1972) from the Pontian of Azerbaijan (Western 
Caspian), by Karmishina (1975) from the Northern Precaspian 
and South-Eastern Kalmyk (Northern Caspian) and 
Prechernomore (Northern Black Sea), and by Vekua (1975) 
from Abkhazia (north-eastern Black Sea) include Bakunella 
dorsoacuata, Caspiolla acronasuta, Pontoniella acuminata and P. 
loczyi. Bakunella dorsoacuata and Caspiolla acronasuta are 
quasi-marine species (Yassini, 1986). Species of Leptocythere, 
Loxoconcha and Xestolebris also occur. It is possible to recognise 
three ostracod zones in the Pontian of Eastern Azerbaijan 
(Sheydayeva-Kuliyeva, 1966). It is also possible to recognise 
three corresponding mollusc zones. 
The lower part of the Continental (Cheleken) Series of 
Northern Iran and the Maragheh Bone Beds of Central Iran can 
be correlated with the Pontian on vertebrate palaeontological, 
limited malacological and ostracod evidence (Faridi, 1964; 
Stocklin & Setudehnia, 1971, 1972). 
| Palynology. Only non-age-diagnostic palynomorphs have been 
recorded from the Pontian. Pollen spectra from the Pontian of 
Georgia are characterised by relatively high incidences of 
tropical elements such as Nypa (palm) (Ramishvili, 1969). Those 
SS 
Palaeo- 
Danube 
Fig. 11 
39 
from the Late Pontian (Bosporian sub-stage) of the Ukraine are 
characterised initially by thermophilic (warm-temperate) and 
hydrophilic (moisture-loving) elements such as Taxodiaceae 
(cypresses and swamp-cypresses) and later by arid steppe and 
semi-desert elements (Shchekina, 1979; Sirenko & Turlo, 1986). 
Kimmerian (Fig. 11) 
The Kimmerian takes its name from an ancient tribe who lived 
on the shores of the Black Sea (Likharev, 1958). The Dacian (a 
stage name sometimes used in the Black Sea region) and the 
‘Eoakchagylian’ (a stage name used in the Caspian Sea region by 
Zubakov & Borzenkova (1990)) appear synonymous. 
Semenenko (1979), Pevzner & Vangengeim (1985), Skalbdyna 
(1985) and Zubakov & Borzenkova (1990) calibrate the 
Kimmerian against magnetostratigraphic polarity epochs 54, 
while Chepalyga (1985) and Chepalyga et al. (1985) calibrate it 
against polarity epoch 4 (Gilbert). Essentially on the basis of 
magnetostratigraphic evidence (including the calibration of the 
underlying Pontian against polarity epoch 5 (see above)), we 
have tentatively calibrated the major unconformity at the base of 
the Kimmerian against the 5.5Ma glacio-eustatic sea-level 
low-stand of Haq er al. (1988) and apparently coincident uplift 
around and subsidence within the Caspian (leading to a massive 
sea-level fall (of the order of 1000m) within the Caspian and the 
severance of the connection between the Caspian and the Black 
Sea). Additional unconformities in the Caspian succession 
cannot be confidently calibrated against any of the third-order 
glacio-eustatic sea-level low-stands on the Haq et al. chart, and 
may be associated with higher frequency glacio-eustatic 
low-stands or local tectonic events. Due partly to 
tectono-eustatic effects (see above), and partly to climatic effects 
Palaeo-Ural 
Palaeo-Volga 
fae 
[ 
ee 
Palaeo-Don 
— 
Palaeo-Kura 
Kimmerian Reservoirs 
in South Caspian 
Palaeogeographic reconstruction, Dacian/Kimmerian (latest Miocene to Pliocene). Key as for Fig. 7. 
