Ocassional Papers of the Geological Institute of Hungary, volume 205
Palynological evidence for Neogene climatic change
in Hungary
E
SZTERN
AGYGeological Institute of Hungary, 2005
A Magyar Állami Földtani Intézet 205. Alkalmi kiadványa Vol. 205 of the Occassional Papers of the Geological Institute of Hungary
© Copyright Magyar Állami Földtani intézet (Geological Institute of Hungary), 2005 Minden jog fenntartva — All rights reserved!
Sponsors:
Országos Tudományos Kutatási Alap Hungarian National Science Foundation
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia VIII. Biológiai Tudományok Osztálya, X. Földtudományok Osztálya
Hungarian Academy of Sciences VIII. Section of Biological Sciences X. Section of Earth Sciences
Reviewers:
GÉZAHÁMOR
ENIKŐMAGYARI
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MIKLÓSKÁZMÉR
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OLGAPIROS, DEZSŐSIMONYI
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OLGAPIROS
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ZOLTÁNTÓTH
Kiadja a Magyar Állami Földtani Intézet Published by the Geological Institute of Hungary
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ISBN 963 671 250 6
Introduction . . . . Methods . . . . Palaeoclimatic interpretation . . . . Early Miocene . . . . Egerian . . . . Eggenburgian . . . . Ottnangian . . . . Middle Miocene . . . . Karpatian . . . . Badenian (Lower and Middle Badenian) . . . . Upper Miocene . . . . Upper Badenian . . . . Sarmatian . . . . Pannonian (sensu PAPP1985) . . . . Pontian (sensu STEVANOVIĆ1990) . . . . Pliocene . . . . Palaeoclimatological summary . . . . Early Miocene . . . . Egerian . . . . Early Egerian climate . . . . Late Egerian climate . . . . Eggenburgian climate . . . . Ottnangian climate . . . . Early Miocene climate . . . . Middle Miocene . . . . Karpatian climate . . . . Early – Middle Badenian climate . . . . Middle Miocene climate . . . . Late Miocene . . . . Late Badenian climate . . . . Sarmatian climate . . . . Pannonian climate . . . .
Contents — Tartalom
5 6 8 8 8 13 15 22 22 28 34 34 36 41 46 51 53 53 53 53 54 54 55 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 58 58
Pontian climate . . . . Late Miocene climate . . . . Pliocene (Dacian) climate . . . . The Miocene climatic curve . . . .
***
A magyarországi neogén éghajlati adatai palinológiai kutatások alapján . . . . A téma kialakulásának körülményei . . . . A kutatás módja . . . . Értékelés . . . . Alsó-miocén . . . . Egri . . . . Eggenburgi . . . . Ottnangi . . . . Középső-miocén . . . . Kárpáti . . . . Badeni (alsó- és középső-badeni) . . . . Felső-miocén . . . . Felső-badeni . . . . Szarmata . . . . Pannóniai (sensu PAPP1985) . . . . Pontusi (sensu STEVANOVIĆ1990) . . . . Pliocén . . . . Összefoglaló értékelés . . . . Kora-miocén . . . . Egri . . . . A kora-egri éghajlata . . . . A késő-egri éghajlata . . . . Az eggenburgi éghajlata . . . . Az ottnangi éghajlata . . . . A kora-miocén éghajlata . . . . Középső-miocén . . . . A kárpáti éghajlata . . . . A kora- és középső-badeni éghajlata . . . . A középső-miocén éghajlata . . . . Késő-miocén . . . . A késő-badeni éghajlata . . . . A szarmata éghajlata . . . . A pannóniai éghajlata . . . . A pontusi éghajlata . . . . A késő-miocén éghajlata . . . . A pliocén dáciai emelet éghajlata . . . . A miocén éghajlati görbe . . . . Irodalom — References . . . .
58 58 59 59 71 72 73 75 75 75 80 82 86 86 90 94 94 96 99 102 105 107 107 107 107 108 109 109 110 111 111 112 112 113 113 113 113 114 114 114 115 116
Palynological research offers significant data for palaeoclimatological interpreta- tion. Deep appreciation of the morphology of modern pollen grains and their compar- ison with fossil counterparts of various ages offer a solid basis for recognition of their relationship, allowing to draw conclusions on past climates. During a lifetime of palaeopalynological research the author always cared to know both fossil and related Recent floras.
Besides learning from handbooks (BERTSCH1942; ERDTMAN1943, 1952, 1957, etc), I persistently made attemps to study herbaria, botanical gardens, and the vegetation itself under warmer climates. Necessarily, only limited opportunities were available for the latter. Fortunately, my initial studies concerned Quaternary pollen floras, along with the Recent local flora.
As my studies progressed towards the Neogene, I approached terra incognita: there was no previous description available on the palynoflora of the Pannonian Basin.
Besides routine work mostly on borehole sequences, I described the Neogene paly- nomorphs of Hungary (in monographs published in 1958, 1963, 1969, 1985, 1992, and in several papers published in Acta Botanica Hungarica, Pollen et Spores, Grana, etc.).
These publications contained known climatic data of supposed recent counterparts of the fossil flora, supplying geologists with palaeoclimatological data. Several of my papers (NAGY1958, 1967a, 1969, 1970, 1990, 1992a, b) offered a graphical representa- tion and palaeoclimatic interpretation of my data.
In association with Lajos Ó. Kovács, computer specialist we developed a graphical method to present climatological (temperature) data of Berhida–3 borehole (Pannonian–Pontian) (NAGYand Ó. KOVÁCS1997). Studies published in several papers by the author and others applied this method. The present study is based on the method outlined there. We attempt a reconstruction of Neogene climate based on major bore- hole successions of Hungary.
This study was supported by Hungarian National Science Foundation grant OTKA T 032201.
Introduction
The present interpretation is based on sporomorph studies throughout several decades. Naturally, the quality of data varies, due to various purposes of sampling of borehole profiles (metric subdivision, lithological changes), rarely for palynological purposes. No samples were available for each centimetre of the successions, as is cus- tomary for Holocene and Pleistocene profiles. Meeting deadlines often in a rush did not help either. As palynological research is time-consuming and expensive (chemicals, light and electron microscopy, photography), the data are valuable, and their manifold use is imperative. A lifetime of palynological studies is now reviewed, and a revised palaeoclimatological interpretation is offered (NAGYand Ó. KOVÁCS1997).
Methods
Figure 1.Outcrop and borehole localities
1. ábra. A vizsgált szelvények, fúrások „névadó” településeinek térképe
— Spore and pollen data from selected subsurface profiles and outcrops suitable for palaeoclimatological interpretation were grouped in tropical, subtropical and temperate groups. The place of the settlements nearby the boreholes and outcrops can find see Figure 1. Climatological interpretation is based mostly on WILLIS (1957, 1966) and WALTER and LIETH(1960–1967). For each sample temperature values were calculated according to NAGYand Ó. KOVÁCS(1997), illustrated in plots. The temperature values are thought to be relative, since the calculated values express not the concrete annual mean temperature of the studied period, but indicate only the character of change with time. All taxa were omitted for which no climatological data were available.
— Beyond temperature — the most significant climate data — further features were recorded, especially presence of xerophylic forms. Since preservation of sporomorphs is enhanced in humid environments, xerophylic forms are not in situ, but their presence can be assumed not far from the site of embedding. Pteridophytes are significant, being widespread under warmer climates, in the subtropics, rain forests, as I have seen in NE Queensland rain forest and in the subtropical mesophyllous forest in Southern China.
ANDREÁNSZKY (1955) and WALTER(1964) considered pteridophytes an important cli- mate indicator.
— Ecological interrelationships were considered following the principle of actual- ism. Palaeoeographical knowledge (distribution of land and sea, mountains and plains) helped to solve certain problems.
Egerian formations are relatively small in lateral extent. However, they have direct connections towards the SW, Slovenia and the Transylvanian Basin (HÁMORet al. 1988;
HÁMOR2001).
The Lower Egerian stage — of Oligocene age (HÁMOR2001) — is represented by samples from a 80 m borehole in the Wind brickyard and from outcropping Bed x (Figure 2, BÁLDI1966).
Six samples of the underlying Kiscell Clay (80.3–36.2 m) contains only nearshore planktonic orgamisms, characteristic for the Oligocene (NAGY1979).
BÁLDI(1966) considered the sequence as of Egerian age from 32.2 m upwards. The following samples were studied: glauconitic, tuffitic sandstone (32.5–21.5 m, 2 sam- ples), mollusc clay (18.3–4.0 m, 10 samples), outrcopping Bed x (2 samples).
Macroflora from the latter is called ’lower flora’ by Andreánszky, Legányi and Pálfalvy. Bed xand the underlying Lower Egerian samples are called ’lower flora’ here.
Upwards there is sterile mollusc sand, overlain by clay. The enclosed macroflora is the so-called ’middle flora’, associated with rich palynoflora, Late Egerian in age.
There are no sporomorphs in the overlying 40 m succession of various sandstone and
Palaeoclimatic interpretation
Early Miocene Egerian
Figure 2.Eger, Wind brickyard profile (outcrop and borehole combined; after BÁLDI1966) 2. ábra. A Wind téglagyár udvarán létesült fúrás és feltárás szelvénye (BÁLDI1966 szerint módosítva)
sand. The next Bed u (with Unio) con- tains rich macroflora, the ’upper flora’.
Samples were taken every 20 cm; 37 samples in total from a 15-16 m profile (NAGY1979). Late Egerian is of Miocene age (HÁMOR2001).
The holostratotype profile of the Egerian stage yielded uniform tempera- ture data (Figures 3, 4). Early Egerian temperature ranged from 16.3 to 22.7 °C, Late Egerian from 16.9 to 21.9 °C. There are more tropical and subtropical than temperate elements. Occasionally tropi- cal elements are dominant.
Presence of tropical elements is the largest difference from present-day flora of the Pannonian Basin. Members of Sapotaceae family are most frequent, occurring in 16 of 42 samples (deter- mined after THOMSONand PFLUG 1953), well-known in the Rhein coal deposits since the Palaeocene. WILLIS (1966) mentions Sapotaceae as follows “35–75 ill-defined genus, 800 species, tropus.
Mostly trees.” Occurrence: “Africa, Malaysia to Pacific, Indochina, SE Asia, Australia, Solomon Islands, W. I., tr.
Am.”. Heinrich WALTER (1964, p. 105) mentions that Sapotaceae are members of the 60 m tall tree association in the Amazon tropical rain forest. Urania Pflanzenwelt writes: “cca. 800 species belong to Sapotaceae, mostly tropical or subtropical with a few exceptions only (DANERT et al. 1976). There is a single species in SW Mexico forming arid
Figure 3. The temperature curve of Lower Egerian section. Borehole, Wind brickyard, Eger 3. ábra. Az alsó-egri rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé-
je, Eger, Wind téglagyári fúrás
Figure 4. The temperature curve of Lower Egerian section. Outcrop, Wind brickyard, Eger 4. ábra. A felső-egri rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé-
je, Eger, Wind téglagyári feltárás
forests. Genus Bumeliaextends as far to the north as Illinois in the US and as far as Argentina in the south. Sapotacea mostly live in tropical rainforest and savanna (REHDER 1934, p. 732). Sapotaceae is associated with Araliaceae family (WALTER
1964). We found them together in the Lower Egerian sample 10.9–11.1 m, in Bed x,and in Upper Egerian Bed u,Sample 8.
Lowest part of rain forest at sea level is formed by palms (WALTER1964). There are palm pollens (Calamus) in the Lower Egerian profile (9.2–9.7 m), Monocolpo- pollenites tranquillis and Sabalpollenitessp. in the following 3 samples above and in Bed x. There is large amount of Calamuspollen in the upper flora (Bed u,samples 9, 10, 11, 12). Calamus occurs — together with other palm pollens — at least as single specimens in almost all samples of the succession.
Tropical fern spores are mostly from the undergrowth: Cicatricosisporites (Aneimia), Osmunda, Gleichenia, Leiotriletes (Lygodium), Polypodiaceae, Cyathea, Cibotium, Pteridium, Asplenium, and Selaginella. Some of them were possibly epi- phytes, as I have seen in the rain forest NE of Brisbane.
Pentapollenites (Dodonaea, Sapindaceae) indicates aridity among the tropical Egerian species. Several morphologically distinct species are present. It occurs togeth- er with further xerophylic species both in Lower and Upper Egerian samples.
Xerophylic species Lower Egerian Upper Egerian
Wind brickyard, borehole Wind brickyard, outcrop Dodonaea 9.2–9.7, 8.3–9.2, 7.8–8.3 xf, 8, 12
Symplocos 23
Ephedra xa
Myrtus xf, 9, 14, 23
Ilex 21.5–21.9, xa xf, k 7, 9, 32
Artemisia 9.2–9.7
Chenopodiaceae 8.3–9.2
Compositae 8.3–9.2 11
Symplocospollen occurs in relatively few samples. It occurs both in the tropics and subtropics in Asia, Australia, Polynesia, and America (WILLIS 1966). Urania Pflanzenwelt mentions (DANERT et al. 1976) green shrub in summer of the Atlantic coast to Delaware, also in North China and Japan. Symplocosoccurs in periodically changing, arid, mountain climate. These features indicate that despite many tropical elements does not indicate either rain forest or tropical environment, but warm subtrop- ical climate with an arid season.
Pollen of genus Podocarpusis very frequent (in 4 samples of 14 in Lower Egerian, in 10 samples of 16 in Upper Egerian). WILLIS (1964) informs that 100 species of Podocarpuslives from tropical to temperate zones, mostly in the southern hemisphere.
Northwards it extends to the Himalayas and Japan. WALTER(1964, p. 203) considers of typical representative of a tropical subalpine forest, together with Dacrydium. There is Podocarpusand Dacrydiumtogether in sample 9.1–9.7 m and in Bed k.
Few Engelhardtiapollens occur in both substages of Egerian, in almost all samples.
WALTER (1964) mentions Engelhardtia from zones above 1800 m in Java
(“Regenwälder bei abhähmender Temperatur”), WILLIS (1966) lists it from the Himalayas to Taiwan, in SE Asia, Malaysia, and in Mexico and Central America.
Walter found it to grow under 12 to 17 °C mean annual tempreature in Java, 3400 mm annual rainfall, and maximum 3 week long arid season. It means that Engelhardtia lives in a tropical region under subtropical conditions. That’s why it still occurs in the Pontian stage of the Pannonian Basin.
Sporomorphs do not indicate marsh environment in the Eger profile, despite fre- quent occurrence of Cyrillicae pollen. Taxodiaeceae–Cupressaceae forests are repre- sented by few pollen only (note that these plants live outside marshes, too). Myricaand Nyssa— the definitive indicators of marsh environment — are missing.
There are a few definitely subtropical species (extending to the Mediterranean belt, too), which exclude a tropical environment for the Eger profile: Ginkgo, Cedrus, Sciadopitys, and Mediterranean Pinus taeda, Zelkova pollen. Definite temperate species are rare: Alnus pollen is found from Lower Egerian. Upwards there is an increase in temperate genera: Pinus sylvestris-type conifers, Carpinus, Acer, Ostrya species. Warm temperate climate is indicated by Castanea, Juglans, Carya, Pterocarya.
Still, tropical and subtropical species dominated over temperate ones during Egerian age. There are frequent quercoid-type pollens, which are not comparable to present-day Quercus (cupuliferoid types of POTONIÉ, THOMSON and THIERGART 1950). Abiesand Piceapollen in the Eger profile are considered temperate. These genere occur above 4000 m in the tropics and subtropics.
The Eger profile is represents a warm subtropical climate, with 20 °C mean annual temperature, cca. 1500 mm annual rainfall, variable precipitation over the year. There is a short, dry period each year. 19 °C mean annual temperature was calculated for the Early, and 18.97 °C for the Late Egerian from holostratotype data.
Besides palynological studies (NAGY1963a, 1979b, 1985, 1992) macroflora was col- lected, determined and interpreted from Eger (ANDREÁNSZKY 1943a, b, 1955, 1956, 1962, 1966; PÁLFALVY 1961; NAGY and PÁLFALVY 1963; HABLY 1983; KVAČEK and HABLY1991; HABLYand FERNANDEZMARON1998).
Andreánszky considered the Eocene as warmest period of the Tertiary. Oligocene has seen dramatic cooling, when southern hemisphere and east Asian subtropical ele- ments increased. Tropical elements are reduced, there are less palms, while Coniferae increase. Upper flora is characterized by tropical elements, increasing broadleaved plants and ferns with increasing precipitation. Turgay elements appear. It might be con- sidered as a result of topographic changes.
Palynology offers a similar contradictory picture. Most of tropical ferns:
Cicatricosisporites lusaticus, Clavifera, Cibotiides zonatus are in Lower Egerian, and further Cicatricosisporites, Gleicheniaspecies appear in the upper flora. At the same time Coniferae also increase in abundance. Besides subtropical Coniferae (Cedrus, Pinus taeda, Cathaya, Taxodiaceae) there are temperate ones, too (Abies, Picea).
Besides Mediterranean broadleaved trees (Myrica, Olea, Zelkova) there are also tem- perate ones: Acer, Carpinus, Alnus. Warm, subtropical climate ensured the survival of tropical elements, and mountains in the background the existence of temperate vegeta- tion. HABLY(1983) corroborated the presence of temperate elements in the lower flora.
Andreánszky’s opinion is supported by palynology: increase of palms in Late Egerian indicates change in the flora, while mean annual temperature remained the same. Probably dry and wet periods alternated. Dodonaea species are one of the indi- cators of aridity, indicating relationship not only with the southern hemisphere, but with Northern Africa and Sahara, too (WALTER1964). Podocarpusis also an element of the southern hemisphere, although extending to SE Asia, too.
Presence of xerophylic Saharan Dodonaea species and results of HABLY and FERNANDEZMARRON(1998) suggests that Early Oligocene southern European subxero- phytic species survived into the Egerian in Hungary. Significant amount of Leguminosae (Tricolporopollenitesssp. fallax) supports it. More than half of macroflora species found at Eger (HABLY1991 — 30 out of 53, i.e. 56.6%) was recognized in the pollen flora.
Lower part of Fót–1 borehole (189.0–372.0 m, Szécsény Schlier Formation) is con- sidered as Upper Egerian by Hámor and Halmai. Egerian and overlying Karpatian beds can not be distinguished reliably, neither by foraminifers (GELLAIpers. comm.), nor by palynoflora. Sixty-eight samples yielded a rich flora, containing all characteristic trop- ical, subtropical and temperate species of the Egerian. Several species represent most genera (possibly due to the large number of samples and better preservation — in clay
— than in the Eger profile). There are much more planktonic organisms (Deflandrea spinulosa, Pleurozonaria manumi, P.
minor) indicating neashore, marine envi- ronment. Freshwater plankton is identical with Eger. Ferns are represented by very many species.
The climatic curve shows tempera- ture ranging from 22.5 °C to 13.3 °C.
Mean annual temperature was 17 °C (Figure 5). The curve is relatively straight. Lowest values are more than 3 degrees lower than of the holostratotype, due to an increase in Coniferae, mostly Pinus sylvestris pollen. Not counting them, total number of tropical and sub- tropical elements is larger than of tem- perate ones. Abundance of temperate element (pines) might be due to geo- graphic differences. Both localities rep- resent nearshore environment based on marine plankton, but Eger is more prox- imal to the shore: more sand samples and presence of frequent Calamus pollen indicating a delta or estuary.
Probably Fót was farther from the shore, receiving more windborne Coniferae pollen.
Figure 5. The temperature curve of Upper Egerian section, borehole Fót–1
5. ábra. A felső-egri rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Fót–1 fúrás
Tata TVG–27 borehole is to the west from the other two profiles. Two samples of te 16.5 m profile yielded pollen flora. Pollen spectra indicate typical Upper Egerian flora: Sapotaceae, Dodonaea, Cicatricosisporites sp., Polypodiaceoipollenites gracillimus.
Temperature of the Egerian ranged between 15 °C and 18 °C. Mean annual temper- ature was 19 °C in the Early Egerian (max. 22.7 °C, min. 14.8 °C). Late Egerian mean was 18 °C (max. 25.6 °C,min. 12.7 °C). Mean annual temperature for the Egerian age in total was 18.25 °C.
Eggenburgian
Eggenburgian seas were of lesser extent in Hungary than Egerian seas (HÁMORet al.
1988). Many samples were examined for pollen with meagre results due to infavourable lithology.
Eggenburgian transgression progressed from east to west, from the Transylvanian Basin towards Sajó Valley, Ózd, Cserhát, Buda Hills (HÁMOR 1997). Two boreholes, Püspökhatvan–4 and Budajenő–2, dated by marine plankton represent this age.
Eggenburgian climate is based on the study of forty samples from 185.0 to 306.0 m interval of Püspökhatvan–4 borehole (Szécsény Schlier Formation).
The temperature curve (Figure 6) oscil- lates around 18 °C with a mean value of 18.7 °C. Highest calculated temperature is 22 °C, the lowest is 13.5 °C. There are five points higher than 20 °C, and two lower than 15 °C. There are less tropical species than in the Egerian. There are no Lauraceae, Lobelia, Symplocos, Mag- nolia, Utricularia, and Calamus. There are no Osmunda, Gleichenia, Cicatrico- sisporites, and Favoisporites spores.
Spores present are Polypodiisporites his- tiopteroides, P. secundus, P. repandus, P.
clatriformis, Polypodiaceoisporites hel- veticus, P. lusaticus, Corrugatisporites paucivallatus, Dictyophyllidites pessi- nensis, Punctatisporites crassiexinus, Microfoveolatosporites sellingi. Tropical and subtropical species dominate over temperate ones in all samples. There are very few xerophylic taxa: Ephedra, Chenopodiaceae, Artemisia, Dodonaea in one sample each, Ilexin three samples.
Figure 6. The temperature curve of Eggenburgian section, borehole Püspökhatvan–4 6. ábra. Az eggenburgi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé-
je, Püspökhatvan–4 fúrás
Temperature and rainfall distribution was more even than in the Egerian. Probably there was a warm, subtropical climate, where the dry period was longer than the rainy one, while aridity was limited, possibly due to proximity of the sea. There was no strong rainy season either, indicated by low amount of fern spores.
Lithology is not favourable for sporpomorph preservation: even large pollen produc- ers like Alnusare represented by a few specimens only.
Nine samples of Budajenő–2 borehole (488.5–575.9 m) yielded 5 ones suitable for palaeoclimatic interpretation (518.5–575.9 m, Mány Formation). Highest temperature is 22.3 °C, lowest is 13.4 °C. Previously unknown elements appear: Agavaceae, Alangium, Malvaceae. Malvacearumpollis bakonyensisNAGY1962 — described from the Ottnangian of Várpalota–133 borehole is certainly tropical. Its high abundance in the Indian Lower Miocene allowed the establishment of a Malvacearumpollis bakonyensis cenozone (RAO1995, SAXENAand RAO1996). RAO(1995) suggested that M. bakonyensislived near the seashore.
Sample 575.5–575. 9 m of Budajenő–2 borehole indicates warm, rainy, subtropical seashore environment occupied by a marsh forest. A nearby land was occupied by Ephedra, while mountains in the background supported Ostrya and Juglans, mixed with Coniferae.
The terrestrial Zagyvapálfalva Formation overlies the marine succession (HÁMOR
1997). Several boreholes and outcrops were investigated, which yielded no useful paly- nological data (boreholes Egyházasgerge–1, Nógrádmegyer–1, Nógrádsipek–1, sand pits Nagybátony-Szorospatak, Zagyvapálfalva, Sóshartyán-Korpástető, Kisterenye- Aranyhegy, gravel pit Kazár, Kazár I profile, marine Eggenburgian strata at Ipolytarnóc (NAGY1992)
Tököl–1 borehole found deltaic sediments (Tordas Member of Zagyvapálfalva Formation) with poor and poorly preserved marine plankton, unsuitable for palaeocli- matic analysis.
Balaton–26 borehole (521.1–604.2 m) is Eggeburgian (Pétervására Sandstone Formation). Five samples from the marine environment of 581.5–585.5 m yielded sporomorphs indicating 19 °C mean annual temperature.
Terrestrial environments (Pápa–2 borehole in the northern Bakony, Szászvár–2 borehole in Mecsek Mts) are characterized by freshwater algae. Selective fossilization yielded a flora consisting solely very thick walled spores in Pápa–2 borehole — all of tropical origin, unsuitable for palaeoclimatic interpretation. Eggenburgian section of Szászvár–8 borehole did not yield useful data. Tekeres–1 borehole (1020.7–1024.2 m, Szászvár Formation) yielded a few sporomorphs, indicating 19.5 °C mean annual tem- perature. For a discussion of stratigraphy see HÁMOR(1997).
Twenty-one samples from 1029.3–1393.7 m section of Lajoskomárom–1 borehole at Mezőföld (eastern Transdanubia) were studied (Budafa Formation). Six of them yielded sporomorphs. Highest mean annual temperature is 19.8 °C, lowest 13.2 °C.
Pleurozonaria digitataoccurs in most samples, Micrhystridiumsp. in the topmost one, indicating marine environment. Botryococcus braunii occurring with Pleurozonaria indicated freshwater influx. Tropical elements are Sapotaceae, Engelhardtia, Monocolpopollenites tranquillus, Cibotiides zonatus, Leiotriletes maxoides maximus,
subtropicals are Tricolporopollenites cin- gulum pusillus, Taxodiaceae, Myrica, temperate ones are Pinuspollenites lab- dacus, T. cingulum oviformis, and Alnipollenites verus. Temperature curve is very similar to Püspökhatvan–4 plot (Figure 7).
Summarizing data on Eggenburgian climate one can say that there was evenly warm subtropical climate, 18 °C mean annual temperature, a relatively long dry season, 1200–1500 mm annual precipita- tion.
Ottnangian
Extent of Ottnangian sediments is much smaller than of Eggenburgian in Hungary (HÁMOR et al. 1988, HÁMOR
1997). The lower boundary is easily rec- ognized by the “lower rhyolite tuff”
(19.6±1.4 My). Repeated trangression pro- gressed from SE to NE (HÁMOR 1997, 2001), reaching the longitude of Salgótarján only. At the Sajó river the Salgótarján Lignite Formation was deposited in marine, paralic environment, changing towards lacustrine northwest- ward. At Salgótarján only the uppermost Bed I is paralic (HÁMOR1997). Terrestrial settings are either limnic or fluviatile.
The first palynological study of Salgótarján Lignite Formation was made by SIMONCSICS (1959, 1960). The author’s efforts were part of a team
Figure 7. The temperature curve of Eggenburgian section, borehole
Lajoskomárom–1
7. ábra. Az eggenburgi rétegek hőmérsékleti gör- béje, Lajoskomárom–1 fúrás
Figure 8. The temperature curve of underlayer Eggenburgian section, borehole Kurittyán–630 8. ábra. A fekü eggenburgi rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Kurittyán–630 fúrás
studying the Borsod coal region for five years (NAGY and RÁKOSI 1993, BOHN- HAVAS et al. 1998). A composite profile in eastern Borsod Basin — suitable for palaeoclimatic interpretation — repre- sents the region.
Underlying Eggenburgian sediments were hit by Kurittyán–630 borehole (189.1–262.6 m). Six samples provided 18.4 °C mean annual temperature (Figure 8).
The lowermost Seam 5 (Feketevölgy, Sajókaza). Thirty-nine samples were examined from the 4 m thick coal bed.
The coal contains clay and sand lami- nae, top is silicified. Only 28 samples were suitable for interpretation. There are few freshwater plankton (Spirogyra) in samples 9 and 3, where an associated Avicenniaindicates mangrove. Dominant marsh forests produced organic matter for coal formation: Taxodiaceae, My- rica, Cyrilla, less Nyssa. This subtropi- cal marsh forest describes climate parameters (Figure 9). Highest mean annual temperature is shown in samples from the bottom of the coal bed: 17.5 °C (sample 2), lowest in the middle: 12.5
°C (sample 20). Mean temperature aver- aged from all samples of the coal bed is 15.5 °C. There was a wet an a dry sea- son. Dry season has seen leafs of the Taxodiaceae forest fall when xerophylic Ephedra, Dodonaea and palm pollens easily spread into the forest. Calamus, a
Figure 9. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, Seam V (Feketevölgy, Sajókaza) 9. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé-
je, Sajókaza, Feketevölgy V. telep
Figure 10. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, barren, borehole Tardona–30 10. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti gör-
béje, Tardona–30 fúrás meddő
climbing palm in Taxodiaceae forests occurs. There are few tropical species, low in individuals. Besides the mentioned palms and Dodonaea there are few Sapotaceae, Engelhardtia, Araliaceae, Leguminosae. A few Cycas indicates mountain environ- ment nearby. There is subtropical Ginkgoand Zelkova, too. Temperate Ulmus, Alnus, Carya, Pterocarya, Salix, and quercoid species grew in a lake- or riverside forest with fern undergrowth. Mean annual temperature was 15.9 °C with 1000–1500 mm precipitation, dry and wet seasons alternating, situated close to the sea.
Clastic sediments above the coal of Bed V are represented by five samples of Tardona–30 borehole (327.0–340.0 m) (Figure 10). Swamp forest elements (Taxodiaceae, Myrica, Nyssa) disappear, while tropical elements increase. Elements of a mountain forest (Pinaceae, Cedrus) appear, reducing mean temperature values.
There are Podocarpaceae, Sapotaceae, single Cycas, Dacrydium and in almost all samples Araliaceae pollen grains, and tropical fern spores. Pollen of southeast Asian plants — Ginkgo, Sciadopitys, Liquidambar és Lonicera — are present, too.
Alternating dry and wet seasons are proven by temperate genera (Salix, Acer, Carya).
Mean annual temperature calculated from pollen spectra of the clastics is somewhat higher than of the coal beds: mean 17.2 °C maximum 20 °C, minimum 13.6 °C.
Diósgyőr–366 borehole (333.8–350.5 m) represents the overburden of Bed V, as shown by a comparison of Figures 10
and 11.
Bed IV, 2 m thick, is mined at Lyukóbánya. Fourteen of 20 samples taken were used for interpretation. This bed is less coalified than Bed V, there- fore contains more sporomorphs.
Tropical elements are identical, while fern spores exceed those in Bed V.
Besides a very rich swamp forest ele- ments of mangrove were present. There are traces of marine influence: sample 9 contains marine plankton. Sample 20 contains freshwater Botryococcus brau- nii, marine plankton, and mangrove pollen. Marine inundation occurred above Sample 2. There are tropical Podocarpus, Engelhardtia, Cycas, ele- ments of a subtropical, temperate mixed forest and gallery forest. Highest tem- perature calculated for the succession is 17.6 °C, lowest is 14.3 °C, mean temper- ature is 15.8 °C, somewhat higher than that of Bed V. There are no major excur- sions in the temperature curve (Figure 12).
Figure 11. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, borehole Diósgyőr–366 11. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje,
Diósgyőr–366 fúrás
Layers between seams III and IV are represented by 10 samples from Tardona–72 borehole (182.5–314. 6 m). Mean temperature was 14.65 °C, highest value 17.6 °C, low- est value 107 °C. The temperature curve is more variable than of Seam IV (Figure 13), although it might be due to its greater thickness (129.1 m).
There are no samples from Seam III.
Layers between Seams III and II are represented by a single sample of Diósgyőr–366 borehole (233.5 m). Temperature was 16.6 °C.
Seam II is represented by a 1 m thick coal bed in Edelény, shaft IV. There are almost no sporomorphs in the 14 samples taken. The temperature curve is almost linear (Figure 14). Mean temperature — based on 3 samples — was 15.4 °C. Tropical elements are Cycas, Podocarpus, Cyrilla, Polypodiaceoiporitescf. gracillimus. Subtropical swamp forests are represented by Taxodiaceae, Myrica,mountain environment by Podocarpus, Pinus sylvestristípus, Abietinaepollenites microalatus, Cedrus, freshwater open forest by Carya, Ulmus, andRhus.
There are no samples from Seam I.
Overburden succession is represented by 5 samples from Diósgyőr–366 borehole (31.6–208.1 m). Calculated mean temperature was 14.8 °C, with 16.65 °C maximum and 14.2 °C minimum (Figure 15).
Figure 12. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, Seam IV Lyukóbánya
12. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé- je, Lyukóbánya IV. telep
Figure 13. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, borehole Tardona–72
13. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé- je, Tardona–72 fúrás
Averages are shown below:
Average values:
overburden Diósgyőr–366 14.80 °C
Seam II Edelény 15.40 °C
barren zone Diósgyőr–366 16.60 °C
Seam III –
barren zone Tardona–72 14.65 °C
Seam IV Lyukóbánya 15.89 °C
barren zone Tardona–30 17.20 °C
Seam V Feketevölgy 15.90 °C
underlying beds Kurittyán 18.40 °C
There is minor decrease of temperature with time, both in the seams and in barren rock.
Alsóvadász–1 borehole (867.8–1034.6 m) is the easternmost studied Ottnangian profile. Eight of eleven samples were suitable for temperature calculations. There is significant amount of tropical taxa. Total of subtropical and tropical elements is always higher than of temperate ones. Frequently forests of coal swamps dominate (Taxodiaexea, Myrica). There are less Sapotaceae and more Engelhardtia than in Borsod in the west. Sporomorph association is rather similar to Seam IV, esp. due to
Figure 14. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, Seam II, shaft IV, Edelény 14. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé-
je, II. telep, Edelény IV. akna
Figure 15. The temperature curve of Ottnangian beds, overburden, borehole Diósgyőr–366 15. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbé-
je, Diósgyőr–366 fúrás, fedő
the rich fern vegetation. No comparison can be made with Seam V due to its high coal rank. Maximum calculated temperature is 21.6 °C, minimum 16.5 °C, mean 17.98 °C.
There were a few profiles from Mátra and Nógrád region, poor in sporomorphs, unsuitable for numerical analysis.
Two samples of Tököl–1 borehole (1108.0–1110.0 m and 973.3–982.5 m) contain Ottnangian sporomorphs. There are marine planktonic organisms, Pleurozonaria concinna, and Hystrichosphaera. The lower sample there are tropical sporomorhs, Sapotaceae, Engelhardtia, Cyrillaceaepollenites megaexactus and fern spores. A very rare form, Myrtaceidites myrtiformis occurs, described by SIMONCSICS (1964) from Katalin Shaft not far away. Mean temperature indicated by the lower sample is 17.6 °C, of the upper sample 17.25 °C, mean value is 17.4 °C, similar to Ottnangian values gained from elsewhere.
Probably there was little or no sedimentation in the Transdanubian Range during Ottnangian; Bántapuszta Formation is Karpatian (HÁMOR1997).
Várpalota–133 borehole (175.6–226.3 m) is considered Ottnangian by Kókay.
There is no Mecsekisporites, which occurs in the Karpatian. Six of eight samples taken from this 50.7 m thick succession were suitable for numerical analysis. There are many interesting tropical taxa: Malvacearumpollis bakonyensis, Alangiopollis barghoornianum, Acaciapollenites var- palotaënsis, Magnoliaepollenites sp., Monocolpopollenites tranquillus and very much tropical fern. RAO (1995) established a Malvacearumpollis bako- nyensis cenozone (Lower Miocene) from an abundant occurrence of this species. There are very few planktonic organisms in the lower samples. A sam- ple from 214.2–217.6 m contains Botryococcus braunii KÜTZ. and Micrhystridium sp. In samples taken from 208.0–175.5 m interval there are Pleurozonaria concinna (COOKS. et MAN.) MÄDL. and Hystrichosphaeridae sp. planktonic organisms, characteristic for nearshore environments. There are even temperature values, never exceed- ing 18 °C, caused by the presence pollen of subtropical and temperate conifers and marsh forests. Highest temperature value attained is 18 °C, lowest id 15.9, mean temperature is 16.9 °C (Figure 16).
Twenty of 26 samples taken from Tekeres–1 borehole (845.0–962.8 m)
Figure 16. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, borehole Várpalota–133
16. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Várpalota–133 fúrás
(Szászvár Formation, Mecseknádasd Member) yielded a 19.4 °C maximum for the lower part of the succession, and a 12.4 °C minimum for the upper part (Figure 17). Mean is relatively low: 14.5
°C (14.6 °C between seams III and IV in Borsod). Tropical elements are unchanged (Podocarpus, Engelhardtia, Sapotaceae, Symplocos, Dodonaea, Cyrilla, Ara- liaceae, Magnolia, Ilex, Malvacea- rumpollis bakonyensis, pálmák, Cycas).
There are less fern species, but more sub- tropical pollen (Taxodiaceae, Myrica), temperate conifers and species living in gallery forests (Carya, Alnus). These fea- tures are characteristic for Ottnangian coal swamps.
A few Ottnangian samples were stud- ied from Szászvár–8 borehole in Eastern Mecsek Hills (1 sample from 26.0–27.0 m, 7 samples from 432.5–438.7 m, s samples from 530.0–531.4 m; Szászvár Formation, Mánfa Member). Pollen spectrum is characterized by Lower Miocene (Ottnangian) tropical species (Cycas, Monocolpopollenites tranquil-
lus, Malvacearumpollis bakonyensis). There are subtropical elements, too: Ginkgo, Cedrus, Sciadopitys, Zelkova, and temperate conifers. Taxa of swamp woodlands are present in high percentage; there are a few temperate species only (Carya, Ulmus).
Maximal temperature was 23.7 °C in the 26.0–27.0 m interval. This very high value is probably due to selective fossilization of fern spores (thick exosporia). Otherwise the highest calculated temperature is 18.7 °C, the lowest one is 15.3 °C, mean is 16.7
°C. A few Spirogyraindicate freshwater.
Pusztakisfalu–VI is an Ottnangian profile in Eastern Mecsek. Six samples of 18 taken from the 5.2 51.8 m limnic, sandy, carbonaceous interval (Szászvár Formation, Mecseknádasd Member) yielded 21.4 °C maximum, 14 °C minimum, and 17.4 °C mean temperature (Figure 18). Samples are dominated by spores of tropical ferns. The few tree belong to a swamp forest (Taxodiaceae). There are a few tropical pollen taxa:
Engelhardtia, Cycas, Sapotaceae, Protea, Araliaceae, Magnolia, Ilex és Palmae.
Subtropical elements are Ginkgo, Castanopsis, Zelkova, temperate are Coniferae, Pinus sylvestris-type, Picea, and few Salix, Castanea, Platycaryapollen. There was subtrop- ical climate in this freshwater swamp.
Three samples of 7 taken from 16.0–21.2 m interval of Zengővárkony–45 borehole (Szászvár Formation, Mecseknádasd Member). 22.2 °C maximum, 18.2 °C minimum
Figure 17. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, borehole Tekeres–1
17. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Tekeres–1 fúrás
and 19.8 °C mean temperatures were cal- culated. This association has few tropical elements, was dominated by swamp forest of subtropical, temperate taxa.
Ottnangian sediments are moderately extensive in Hungary. Even less yielded wel-preserved sporomorphs. The ancient vegetation was variable, characteristic, therefore well-suited for palaeoclimatic analysis. Mean temperature was 16.7 °C, while involving a variety of local cli- mates. There was warm subtropical cli- mate with two seasons: a warmer, humid and a cooler, arid season, similar to the climate of present-day swamp forests.
Precipitation was in the range of 1000–1500 mm.
Middle Miocene Karpatian
Karpatian was a markedly more marine stage in Hungary than Ottnangian, with marine direct connections mostly towards the southwest instead of the southeast (HÁMOR1997, 2001).
Several boreholes containing Karpatian sediments were studied in the Mecsek Hills. Two samples of fifteen taken from Zengővárkony–59 borehole (46.8–94.7 m;
Budafa Formation, Komló Marl Member) were unsuitable for climatological interpre- tation. The lowermost one (92.0–94.7 m) is full of Botryococcus braunii, another (73.0–73.5 m) is rhyolite tuff. Almost all samples yielded 16–17 °C mean annual tem- perature, with 21 °C maximum and 14 °C minimum values (Figure 19). This succes- sion is characterized by sporomorphs embedded in freshwater sediments, recording a small swamp forest (Taxodiaceae, Myrica) or open forest (Salix, Alnus, Betula). A new fern genus, Mecsekisporitesappears, an index fossil for Middle Miocene (NAGY1992).
New Bifacialisporitesspecies, new Bryophyta (Anthocerataceae), Hepaticeae (Riccia) species indicate environmental change (NAGY1968). Mosses are mostly subtropical, while liverworts prefer temperate climate, suggesting somewhat arid summer and wet winter. Aridity is indicated by Ephedra and Ilex as well. Cycadales and Zamiaceae
Figure 18. The temperature curve of Ottnangian section, borehole Várpalota–133 18. ábra. Az ottnangi rétegek hőmérsékleti gör-
béje, Várpalota–133 fúrás
epidermis occurs in the uppermost sample, bearing stomata; probably Zamia, Macrozamia according to Prof. Greguss (NAGY 1969). WALTER (1968) mentions Macrozamia fraserifrom the Mediterranean-like climate zone of SW Australia. These data collectively indicate lower temperature than in the Ottnangian and a Mediterranean character of climate, while still subtropical and tropical elements dom- inate the pollen spectra.
Two samples from 13.2–14.5 m interval of Zengővárkony–45 borehole are Karpatian, supported by the presence of Bifacialisporites. One of the samples yielded a 16 °C mean annual temperature.
Eighteen of 23 samples from Komló–120 borehole (10.0–374.7 m; Budafa Formation, Mánfa and Komló Members) yielded maximum temperature was 18.4 °C, minimum 12.5 °C, mean 15 °C. Relatively low temperatures were due to the locality being surrounded by mountains; pollen of mostly temperate mixed-coniferous forests dominate the spectra (Figure 20). Coniferae pollens mostly indicate temperate climate (Pinus sylvestris, Abiespollenites absolutus, Piceapollenites), vagy szubtrópusiak (Abietinaepollenites microalatus, Keteleeriaepollenites komloënsis, Cedripites sp.).
Most samples contain freshwater plankton: Botryococcus braunii, Spirogyra, Pediastrum.There is marine plankton in 135.89–141.0 m interval: Hystrychokolpoma
Figure 19. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Zengővárkony–59 19. ábra. Akárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje,
Zengővárkony–59 fúrás
Figure 20. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Komló–120 20. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje,
Komló–120 fúrás
poculum MEIER 1959 and an undeter- minable Hystrichosphaeridae fragment.
Five of seven samples yielded palaeo- climatological data from the Karpatian section of Hidas–53 borehole (763.3–
1039.5 m; Budafa Formation, Komló Marl Member). Highest temperature was 18.8 °C, lowest 14 °C, mean 16.7 °C (Figure 21). There are many Coniferae pollen with air sacs. There are spores of zonal index Bifacialisporites sp. and Phaeocerosporitessp., and typical spores of the Hungarian Middle Miocene:
Cibotiides zonatus, Polypodiisporites histiopteroides. There are a few plankton- ic forms in the lowermost samples:
Micrhystridium sp., Tythodiscus, and microforaminifera.
Two samples were studied from 161.0–167.7 m of Várpalota–133 borehole (Garáb Schlier Formation). There are marine plankton organisms in the sam- ple. The lower sample (166.0–167.0 m) contains the pioneer Hyppophaë: it lives on the seashore, and disappears with the growth of other plants, trees. There are many tropical forms: Podocarpus, Cyrilla, Sapotaceae, Acacia, Ilex, Meandripollis (Pacourina), páfrányok (Leiotriletes, Polypodiidites histiopteroides and the zónal index Mecsekisporites). Subtropical (Keteleeria, Cedrus,Taxodiaceae, Myrica) and temperate (Abies, Pinus, Tsuga, Ulmus, Carya, Pterocarya, Betula, Ericaceae, Caprifoliaceae) forms are subordinate. This locality — probably surrounded by mountains — suggests Mediterranean-like climate, somewhat warmer than in the Ottnangian (due to the lack of swamp forests). Mean tem- perature was 17.8 °C.
Study of Berhida–3 borehole succession has a special significance in the author’s research. It is a link between the well-studied Mecsek and Northern Hungarian sedi- mentary basins. Sediments in the nearby Bakony region are very rich floristically.
Karpatian sediments of Berhida–3 were described by KÓKAYet al. (1991). Thirty of 34 samples were suitable for palaeoclimatic interpretation (496.5–671.8 m; Garáb Schlier Formation, Budafa Formation). The succession represents mangrove vegeta- tion from the lowermost sample throughout (NAGY and KÓKAY 1991). Nearshore marine depositional environment is indicated by Pleurozonaria concinnaand micro- foraminifera. Often Botryococcus braunii and rare Spirogyra, Dinoflagellata were found. Temperature varies from 13.1 °C to 22.7 °C, with a mean of 18 °C (Figure 22).
Figure 21. The temperature curve of Karpatian sec- tion, borehole Hidas–53
21. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Hidas–53 fúrás
Sporomorphs of both Várpalota–133 and Berhida–3 indicate higher tempera- ture than we found in the Mecsek. High number of tropical taxa, despite lack of several characteristic species of the Lower Miocene (Protea, Cicatricosi- sporites chattensis, etc.). There is a lot of mangrove forms, despite Avicennia, a typical mangrove-froming genus having very low pollen yield (BESSEDIK 1981, 1985). There are no or very restricted swamp forests only. Certain aridity indi- cators (Chenopodiaceae) yield lots of pollen; these forms are associated with other xerophylic elements (Dodonaea:
Pentapollenites). Ratio of temperate conifers heavily influences temperature values: where it is high, calculated tem- perature is lower. The protected Vár- palota Basin, surrounded by hills, received conifer pollen, except when removed by northern winds.
Section 291.0–328.0 m of Fe- hérvárcsurgó–160 borehole is Kar- patian, overlain by Badenian sedi- ments. The four examined samples did not yield any taxa of zonal value. There
are a few freshwater Botryococcus, a single Tetraporina quadrata, a freswather planktonic form. The few tropical elements indicate Lower and Middle Miocene:
Podocarpus, Pentapollenites, Symplocos, Tripcolporopollenites liblarensis, Ilexpollenites iliacus. Subtropical taxa are Abietinaepollenites microalatus, Cedrus, Taxodiaceae, Myrica, Zelkova, Olea, and Liquidambar.Temperate sporo- morphs are frequent: Pinus sylvestris, Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus, Ulmus, Carya, Pterocarya, Acer. Maximum temperature was 14.38 °C, minimum 13 °C, mean 13.46 °C.
The section of Fót–1 borehole above 145.0 m depth is considered Karpatian by field geologists (Fót Formation). Two samples are palynologically barren: there a single Mecsekisporites zengővárkonyensiswas found at 36.0 m, and a Ricciaesporitesmoss spore at 130.5–131.5 m. Both are zonal indices. Fifteen samples were suitable for inter- pretation between 115.0–139.0 m, with high number of tropical taxa, low in numbers.
There are no palms and Ilex, and there are a few ferns only. Rarely there are temperate conifers. Planktonic organisms indicate nearshore environment. There are a lot of rede- posited Mesozoic microorganisms. Hight temperature was 18.3 °C, lowest 11.5 °C, mean 16.18 °C (Figure 23).
Figure 22. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Berhida–3
22. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Berhida–3 fúrás
Ten marly samples of 16 examined from 124.4–176.0 m of Püspökhatvan–4 bore- hole (Garáb Schlier Formation) yielded very few pollen of tropical taxa: Podocarpus, Sapotaceae, Cyrilla, Tetracentron, Engelhardtia, Dodonaeapollen, subtropical Pinus haploxylon-type pollen, a P. omorica, P. taeda, Cedrus, Keteleeria, Taxodiaceae, and Rhuspollen. Pollen of temperate coniferous forests are standard participants of pollen spectra. Sometimes only the latter and nearshore planktonic organisms are represented in the spectrum. Highest temprature value is 14.8 °C, lowest 11 °C, mean 12.15 °C (Figure 24).
Fifteen of 38 samples from 213.0–290.0 m section of Nógrádszakál–1 borehole (Garáb Schlier: silty marl with tuffite layers) yielded palaeoclimatological results.
Maximum value of the temperature curve is 21 °C, minimum 12.5 °C, mean 16.2 °C (Figure 25). All samples contain nearshore planktonic organisms, and Triassic, Cretaceous, Palaeogene resedimented fossils. Contemporaneous sporomorphs suffered selective fossilisation.
117 samples were examined from Litke–17 borehole (37.6–265.0 m section; Garáb Schlier Formation). Lithology is micaceous siltstone, silty marl, calcareous marl, there- fore samples contain very few sporomorphs of poor preservation. Less than hundred palynomorphs could be used for interpretation. Mecsekisporites and Bifacialisporites
Figure 23. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Fót–1
23. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Fót–1 fúrás
Figure 24. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Püspökhatvan–4 24. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje,
Püspökhatvan–4 fúrás
zonal indices occur repeatedly in the succession, associated with nearshore planktonic organisms. There are no traces of seashore swamp. Ephedraand Ilexindicate arid cli- mate in the lowermost samples. Highest temperature is 22 °C, lowest 11.9 °C, mean 15.9 °C (Figure 26). Climate was subtropical with Sapotaceae, Dodonaea, Engelhardtia, Araliaceae, temperate with open forests of Salix, Carya, Betula, and mountain coniferous forests.
Seventeen samples of Piliny–8 borehole were examined (Garáb Schlier Formation).
All of them are barren down to 86.0 m. Despite schlier lithology like in Litke–17, sporomophs yielded good results. Mecsekisporites miocaenicus and Bifacialisporites sp., and Saxosporis gracilis moss spore zonal indices are present. Presence of Menandripollis velatus indicates connections to Várpalota and Berhida. Tropical ele- ments are identical to those in western Hungary. Maximum temperature value is 22.2 ° C, minimum 13.5 ° C, mean 17.8 ° C (Figure 27).
Szilvásvárad is the easternmost Karpatian profile in my study. Seven of 10 samples from 145.0 to 436.0 m (Garáb Schlier Formation) yielded sporomorphs suitable for inter- pretation. There are a few Bifacialisporiteszonal indices. Most samples contain nearshore planktonic organisms and much redeposited Palaeozoic fossils. There are a few tropical elements (Podocarpus, Sapotaceae, Cyrilla, Tricolporopollenites fusus, Ilex, Araliaceoi-
Figure 25. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Nógrádszakál–1 25. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje,
Nógrádszakál–1 fúrás
Figure 26. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Litke–17
26. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Litke–17 fúrás
pollenites edmundiand ferns). Subtropical forms indicate Mediterranean (Zelkova, Olea) and East Asian (Ginkgo, Casta- nopsis, Sciadopitys) climate. There are temperate forms, too (Pinus, Picea, Betula, Carya, Pterocarya, Carpinus, Castanea). Arid climate is indicated by few Ephedra, Ilex, Araliaceae. Maximum temperature was 17.7 °C, minimum 14.6
°C, mean 16.6 °C.
Karpatian climate was equivocally sub- tropical with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C. Ecology and climate dictates a threefold subdivision of Karpatian. In the southwest (Mecsek) there was a riverside environment rich in palms, similar to the Mediterranean. Relief-influenced climate had a relatively low-temperature, summer- dry, winter-wet environment. Certain bore- holes (Zengővárkony–45, –59) yielded freshwater plankton only, while others contain marine plankton as well.
The second group of localities (Ber- hida–3) contains mangrove embedded with marine plankton, with relatively high mean temperature (17.9 °C). The last group is in northern Hungary (Fót–1 borehole and eastwards) was relatively dry, with (Ephedra, Chenopodiaceae, Dodonaea, Ilex, less fern). These ones indicate a cli- mate similar to the Eastern Medietrranean.
Badenian (Lower and Middle Badenian)
Badenian marine connections were mostly to the southwest, like in the Karpatian (HÁMOR 1997, 2001). Lower Badenian sediments cover larger area than Karpatian (HÁMOR1997, p. 241).
Seven samples of 10 taken from the Lower Badenian section of Zengővárkony–59 borehole (24.8–46.8 m; Tekeres Schlier Formation) yielded the zonal index Mecsekisporites miocaenicus, a Bifacialisporites insularis, B. medius, a B. murensis, and B. oculus species. Lowermost samples contain freshwater plankton Botryococcus braunii, while the upper ones (34.0–37.5 m) marine Pleurozonaria concinna and Tythodiscus sp. Tropical elements are few Podocarpus, Sapotaceae, Symplocos, Araliaceae, Ilex, Engelhardtia, Palmae and large amount of fern spores. There are very few subtropical species only; there was no swamp forest. Most of subtropical pollen are
Figure 27. The temperature curve of Karpatian section, borehole Piliny–8
27. ábra. A kárpáti rétegek hőmérsékleti görbéje, Piliny–8 fúrás
of Pinus haploxylon-type. Maximum temperature was 20 °C, minimum 16.7 °C. Mean was 16 °C, identical with the Karpatian value (Figure 28).
Four samples of 5 taken from Hidas–53 borehole (735.0–763.3 m; interfingering Pécsszabolcs and Baden Clay Formations) contain the zonal indes Mecsekisporites aequ- usand Bifacialisporites murensis minor. Hidas is considered a marine depositional envi- ronment by HÁMOR (1997), corroborated by the occurrence of marine plankton:
Cystidiopsis certus, Hystrichosphaeridae, and microforaminifera (NAGY 1965, 1966, 1967). Tropical and subtropical elements exceed temperate ones in number. Tropical ones are Podocarpus, Sapotaceae, Araliaceae, and Engelhardtia. Lower part of the succession is dominated by tropical, Asian elements: Cedrus, Castanopsis, Zelkova, few fern spores and sporomorphs of a minor swamp forest. Temperate taxa are Coniferae, Acer, Carya, Platycarya, Ulmus, Alnus, Ericaceae. Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia pollen indicate aridity. Maximum temperature was 17.4 °C, minimum 14 °C, mean 16.1 °C (Figure 29).
Middle part of Hidas–53 borehole (590.2–713.0 m; Hidas Lignite Formation) is con- sidered Middle Badenian. The succession — below 699 m — contains mostly marine plankton with less sporomorphs. Upwards there are lignite beds with freshwater algae (Botryococcus braunii). Sample 658.8–659.1 m contains the freshwater alga Tetraporina quadrata. Section from 630.8 to 659.1 m is dominated by pollen of a subtropical swamp
Figure 28. The temperature curve of Lower Badenian section, borehole Zengővárkony–59 28. ábra. Az alsó-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Zengővárkony–59 fúrás
Figure 29. The temperature curve of Lower Badenian section, borehole Hidas–53 29. ábra. Az alsó-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Hidas–53 fúrás
forest. Besides subtropical conifers (Cedrus, Pinus haploxylon, Keteleeria, Sciadopitys) there are deciduous trees, too (Zelkova). Temperate taxa are Pinus sylvestris, Tsuga, Picea, Alnus, Carya, Pterocarya. Microforaminifers reappear at the top, indicatiing transgression.
Maximum temperature was 20.9 °C, min- imum 13.6 °C, mean 17.2 °C (Figure 30).
Several samples were studied from Hidas coal mine (NAGY 1957). Ádám Grósz offered 10 samples of 3 profiles from seams IV, V, and VI, and samples from boreholes Hidas–88: 248.0–333.3 m (12 samples), Hidas–89: 266.5–317.0 m (13 samples), Hidas–91: 284.0–325.2 m (15 samples), Hidas–105: 311.0–356.8 m (9 db), 59 samples in total for study.
All samples displayed selective fos- silization according to degree of coalifi- cation. Certain coal samples do not con- tain any sporomorphs, while others con- tain a few freshwater plankton only.
Temperature interpretation is heavily burdened by this deficiency.
Combined temperature values of Hidas mine seams II, IV, V, and VI is 15.23 °C, lower than in the Borsod Ottnangian coal seams.
As seams of both coalfields derive from Taxodiaceae-Myricaceae swamp, temperature differences can be explained by external factors only, as shown by reduction of tropical and subtropical elements and increase of temperate elements at Hidas. Deteriorating cli- mate might be responsible for it.
Tropical taxa are few Sapotaceae, Symplocos, Ilex, Engelhardtia,Palmae and very few ferns. Suptropical conifers and broadleaved trees are rare as well. Temperate conifers increase in percentage.
Mean temperature values:
Hidas–88 15.3 °C
Hidas–89 15.7 °C Mean: 15.59 °C
Hidas–91 15.5 °C
Hidas–105 15.8 °C
Temperature curves are even, mostly below 18 °C (Figures 31, 32).
Tengelic–2 borehole is between Mecsek Hills and Transdanubian Range. A section between 680.8 and 863.6 m was studied. A sample from 861.8–963.6 m interval contains corroded sporomorphs, among others Botryococcus braunii and the zonal index Bifacialisporites sp. The Badenian section (723.1–853.3 m) belongs to Szilágy Marl
Figure 30. The temperature curve of Middle Badenian section, borehole Hidas–53 30. ábra. A középső-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Hidas–53 fúrás
Formation (HALMAIet al. 1982); alternatively it represents the upper part of the stage only (HALMAIet al. 1982). Lower Badenian strata start with a regressive freshwater environ- ment (823.4–851.3 m). Appearance of marine plankton indicates Early Badenian trans- gression between 845.0–847.0 m). Mecsekisporitessp. and Bifacialisporites mediuszonal indices occur in Lower Badenian strata. There are very few tropical taxa (Podocarpus, Dacrydium, Sapotaceae, Engelhardtia, Araliaceae). Occasionally there are more fern spores than other palynomorphs. There are few tropical and Mediterranean elements only, while temperate conifers occur in greater abundance. Maximum temperature is 18 °C, minimum 12.2 °C, mean is 15.3 °C, lower than in Mecsek Hills (Figure 33).
Succession of Berhida–3 borehole is particularly well-studied, and radiometric data are available. Four samples of six taken from the Lower Badenian (472.0–491.0 m) sec- tion were studied. Three of them contain the zonal index Bifacialisporites szokolyaën- sis. Botryococcusis an indicator of freshwater environment in the lowermost, terrestri- al sample, while there is large amount of microforaminifera indicating marine environ- ment above. Significant amount of Sapotaceae, Dodonaea, Engelhardtiaand ferns of the undergrowth represent tropical elements. There is negligible amount of subtropical taxa, or these ones are missing. There was no swamp forest. Forests are temperate sub- mountain forests and open forests.
Figure 31. The temperature curve of Middle Badenian section, borehole Hidas–89 31. ábra. A középső-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Hidas–89 fúrás
Figure 32. The temperature curve of Lower Badenian section, borehole Hidas–91 32. ábra. Az alsó-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Hidas–91 fúrás
Section 444.6–463.8 is Middle Badenian (Kókay J.). Two of four sam- ples contain Botryococcus (neashore or terrestrial environment). The spectrum contains few tropical taxa, mostly ferns, less subtropical elements and several temperate species.
Early Badenian temperature curve shows conspicuously high values: 22.3
°C maximum, 17.6 °C minimum, and 19.9 °C mean temperature. Middle Badenian mean temperature is 18.3 °C (two samples, Figure 34). These values are due to higher amount of tropical ferns and low number of total sporomorphs.
Local climate certainly influenced tem- perature values: embayment open to the south, surrounded by mountains (as rec- ognized by Kókay J.).
Szokolya boreholes in the southern part of Börzsöny Mts contain Baden Clay Formation. Several of them were studied:
the longest profile of Szokolya–2 borehole yielded the best preserved palynomorphs.
Eighty-three samples of hundred and seven taken were suitable for palaeocli- matic interpretation. The 2.8 m to 28.8 m calcareous, sandy, and sandstone interval is almost barren of sporomorphs. Other samples contain much zonal index Bifacialisporites (badenensis, grandis, magnus, mecsekensis, murensis, szoko- lyaënsis) and Mecsekisporites(cerebralis, zengoevarkonyensis). Tropical elements are reduced. A few samples contain fern
Figure 33. The temperature curve of Lower Badenian section, borehole Tengelic–2 33. ábra. Az alsó-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Tengelic–2 fúrás
Figure 34. The temperature curve of Middle Badenian section, borehole Berhida–3 34. ábra. A középső-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Berhida–3 fúrás
spores only. There are few palms only. Temperature taxa increase, but there are few pollen, probably derived from faraway localities and submountain forests (Acer, Ulmus, Castanea). Coniferae (Pinus, Picea, Abies) derived from higher elevation forests. Local environment of this very variable and rich flora was similar to that of Berhida, occupy- ing a similar, but more open terrain. The locality was protected by the mountains from the north, and there was a nearby sea in the south, moderating climate extremes, both pro- viding for similar, rich vegetation.
A subtropical, Mediterranean climate was characterized by wet winters and dry summers. Xerophylic plants (Ephedra, Chenopodiaceae, Artemisia) include tropical elements as well (Dodonaea, Ilex).Temperature was not particularly variable: highest value is 22 °C, lowest 12.45 °C, mean 16.2 °C (Figure 35).
Twenty-five samples of 52 taken from Nógrádszakál–2 borehole (23.7–213.0 m;
Nógrádszakál Formation) were subjected for palaeoclimatological interpretation.
Andesitic volcanism precluded the interpretation of the rest. K/Ar age of andesites is 16.5±2.0 million years. The zonal index Bifacialisporites nogradensisoccurs in most samples. There are relatively high amount of tropical taxa, mostly ferns, less subtropi- cal elements. Temperate vegetation consisted of mountain conifers and broadleaved trees forming open woodland. In the upper part of the succession temperature never
Figure 35. The temperature curve of Lower Badenian section, borehole Szokolya–2 35. ábra. Az alsó-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Szokolya–2 fúrás
Figure 36. The temperature curve of Badenian section, borehole Nógrádszakál–2 36. ábra. Az alsó-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Nógrádszakál–2 fúrás
decreases below 18 °C; there is more variability below. Maximum was 22 °C, minimum 10.7 °C, mean was 15.46 °C (Figure 36).
The easternmost borehole studied is Alsóvadász–1. Five samples were inter- preted out of eight taken from the 723.6–875.2 m section. Only the upper- most sample contains at least hundred spormoprhs. There is marine plankton in the four topmost samples and swamp for- est remains. There are no zonal indices.
Tropical and subtropical elements are few, while Pinus sylvestris-type temper- ate pollen is rather abundant. There are single pollens of Tsuga, Abies, Picea, plus waterside deciiduous trees, and xeryophylic Chenopodiacea, Compositae pollen. Temperature curve is even: maxi- mum value is 18 °C, minimum 15 °C, mean 16.3 °C (Figure 37).
Lower Badenian climate is only slightly different from Karpatian cli- mate. Mean value calculated from all studied profiles of 16.2 °C for the Early Badenian, while 16.2 °C in the Karpatian. This is probably due to extensive Middle Badenian swamp forests.
Tropical elements are somewhat reduced, although undergrowth ferns increase.
Formation of high mountains in the Pannonian Basin due to orogenesis and volcan- ism increased the ratio of temperate vegetation. At the same time elevated mountains protected the vegetation against climatic extremities, and provided space for forma- tion of new species.
Upper Miocene
Upper Badenian
Two samples were studied from Hidas–53 borehole (558.0–575.0 m; Szilágy Marl Formation) The lower flora resembles the Middle Badenian one (Taxodium swamp:
Taxodiaceae, Nyssa, Cyrilla). The upper flora witnessed reduction of swamp environ- ment, progress of mountain Coniferae (Pinus sylvestris, P. haploxylon-type) and appearance of foraminifers (after Ilona Korecz-Laky) indicates marine transgression.
Temperature ranged from 15.9–18.2 °C, with a mean value of 17 °C.
Figure 37. The temperature curve of Middle Badenian section, borehole Alsóvadász–1 37. ábra. A középső-badeni rétegek hőmérsékleti
görbéje, Alsóvadász–1 fúrás
