Integrated stratigraphy of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary succession of the Middle Vistula River (central Poland) section; introduction

The Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary interval of the Middle Vistula River valley section (central Poland) represents a continuous, lithologically monotonous, fossiliferous succession, with a good stable isotope and palaeomagnetic signal. It yields all the biostratigraphically critical macro- and microfossil groups: ammonites, belemnites, inoceramid bivalves, foraminifera, nannofossils and dinoflagellates. Additionally, it is located in the transitional zone between the Boreal and Tethyan biogeographic provinces, as well as between the western and eastern biogeographic areas of Europe. The section supplements the data on the interval acquired recently from the basal Maastrichtian stratotypic section in Tercis, south-west France, and from the interval reference section in Kronsmoor, northern Germany.