Badenian discoasters from the section in Lenart (Northeast Slovenia, Central Paratethys)

Abstract

In Slovenske gorice, south of Lenart, a 20 m profile of Middle Miocene strata has been exposed. During previous research numerous discoasters have been found among other coccoliths. In Slovenia Miocene discoasters have only been found in Badenian sediments in Slovenske gorice and they are particularly useful for paleoecological reconstructions. Additional samples were taken from three selected sections in the middle part of the profile, targeting strata with the greatest abundance of discoasters. In two of the three examined sections 9 species of discoasters were identified, the most abundant being D. exilis and D. variabilis. Even though warm water species were found in samples from all three sections, discoasters only occured in two short intervals. This pattern is not a result of temperature changes and is in our opinion connected with the changes in nutrient levels of seawater.