Biostratigraphy of Upper Jurassic of the Valy clay pit (Samarskaya Luka) by ammonites, ostracods and dinocysts

The results of integrate biostratigraphic study of Upper Jurassic deposits of the clay pit near the village of Valy (Syzran district, Samara region) are presented. For the first time a bed-by-bed description was made and the subdivision of the section into zones, subzones and biohorizons by ammonites was established. Bauhini and Kitchini zones (Bayi subzone) are established in the Lower Kimeridgian, while Upper Kimmeridgian is represented by Autissiodorensis zone only. In the Lower Volgian Sokolovi and Pseudoscythica zones were recognized, while the Middle Volgian is represented by the Panderi zone. The age of the regionally developed unconformity at the base of the Trazovo Formation has been clarified. As in the sections located to the south from studied section, this unconformity is located in the base of the Autissiodorensis zone, overlying different Oxfordian and lower Kimmeridgian. For the first time for Kimmeridgian of Central Russia in the marlstone band of the Kitchini zone (bayi biohorizon) solitary corals conditionally attributed to the genus Trochocyathus were found. Along with corals other warm-water taxa (belemnites Hibolithes, rare ammonites Taramelliceras) were found in the same bed, suggesting deposition of this bed during the short-time warming event. 6 biostratigraphic units (zone and beds with fauna) were recognized by ostracods, along with 2 dinocyst-based units (assemblage and zone) which are compared with the stratigraphic subdivisions by these groups, previously proposed for the Kimeridgian and Volgian stages of the Russian Platform. The paleo-ecological analysis has allowed to assume, that sediments have accumulated in the conditions of warm shallow eutrophic basin with depth to 50 m, with gradual increase of eutrophy through time. At some levels, short-term episodes of severe shallowing or freshening are recorded by ostracods.