Foraminiferal colonization related to the Zechstein (Lopingian) transgression in the western part of the Wolsztyn Palaeo-Ridge area, Western Poland

The basal Zechstein succession in SW Poland is dominated by breccias and/or conglomerates or extraclast-bearing bioclastic limestones, which were deposited during rapid flooding of the pre-existing intracontinental basin in the early Lopingian (Late Permian). Of these, the boulder-cobble breccias and conglomerates are interpreted as deposited in a rocky shore-zone where density flows and upwelling prevailed. The breccias gradually pass up into bryozoan (or other bioclastics) grainstones. The matrix-supported breccias were deposited as large extraclasts and blocks of Carboniferous rock were rolled down or detached from a cliff and were then either embedded into a carbonate sand or formed a framework supplying voids that could be colonized by tubular encrusting foraminifers. These foraminifers abound in all basal Zechstein facies (except in the debris-flow deposits) and are attributed to Palaeonubecularia. The associated faunas include other foraminifers (uniserial and hemigordiopsids), bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, and microbial deposits. The prolific growth of tubular encrusting foraminifers has resulted from nutrient supply from the basin by upwelling. Botryoidal aragonite cements (also interpreted as due to upwelling) also characterize the basal Zechstein strata, although they were previously reported only from the upper Zechstein Limestone. The ẟI3C values of the basal Zechstein deposits show small variation and oscillated around 4.0%o, suggesting that these deposits are younger than the Kupferschiefer.