New Palynological Data from the Mid Eocene Sediments of the Key Outcrop Kheu River Section (Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Northern Caucasus)
Results of palynological study from the Mid–Upper Eocene of the key outcrop Kheu section are presented. Dinocyst Zones Enneadocysta arcuata, Costacysta bucina, Enneadocysta pectiniformis, Rhombodinium draco, Reticulatosphaera actinocoronata, and Talladinium? clathratum are recognized within the studied part of the section. Based on the first order calibrations with calcareous nannoplankton, their stratigraphic boundaries are established as well as the lowermost occurrences of stratigraphically important species are refined. New microplankton data suggest the early Lutetian age of the uppermost Cherkessk and Keresta Formations; the Kuma Formation is dated by late Lutetian–earliest Priabonian, while the lowermost Beloglinskaya Formation corresponds to the Priabonian. Analysis of the aquatic and terrestrial palynomorph ratio through the section permits to interpret the paleoenvironments during the Lutetian–Priabonian in the studied part of the eastern Peri-Tethys.