High-resolution stratigraphy of the Upper Jurassic section(Laptev Sea coast)

Jurassic strata are widespread through Arctic Siberia and host oil and gas fields. However, in most cases, the geology of such vast areas still remains unexplored, and study of the Jurassic stratigraphy and reconstructions of geologic history are possible only through analysis of sediment cores. In this connection, there is a clear need for detailed studies of microfaunas (foraminifera, ostracods) and palynomorphs (dinocysts, spores, and pollen). The studied reference section of the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous is located on the left side of Anabar Bay of the Laptev Sea (Nordvik Peninsula, Cape Urdyuk-Khaya). An uninterrupted and continuous section from the Upper Oxfordian to the Lower Valanginian is exposed in coastal cliffs and consists mainly of silty clay deposits with abundant macro- and microfossils. Integrated field studies (biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, sedimentology) allow a more detailed characterization of the regional geologic framework. A detailed subdivision of the section is based on the systematic composition of ammonites from Upper Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian deposits. Several foraminiferal zones of the Upper Oxfordian and Lower Volgian are defined, and some of them are denfined for the first time. The distribution of ostracods in the section is analyzed for the first time. The section is also studied using palynological analysis, that results in its detailed subdivision on palynological data and recognition of two sequences of palynostratigraphic units. The integrated stratigraphy is used to establish the precise position of stage and substage boundaries. The continuity of the section is defined based on micropaleontological and palynological data.