Ordovician palynomorphs from the subsurface of Rugen (NE-Germany): review and perspectives

Palynomorphs (acritarchs and Chitinozoa) provide useful biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical information concerning the subsurface Ordovician of the Rugen Island (NE-Germany, Baltic Sea). The oldest sedimentary deposits present at Rugen, dated by acritarchs, are of late Tremadoc age. Arenig sediments have not been recorded. Most boreholes contain a succession of rocks attributed to a Llanvirn (Aberreiddian and Llandeilian) to early Caradoc age. The youngest rocks recorded in the Rugen sequence are dated by chitinozoa and can be attributed to the middle to late Caradoc and possibly to the early Ash-ill. Palaeobiogeographical information from both the acritarchs and the Chitinozoa indicates that the Rugen Ordovician can be attributed to high latitudes in the southern hemisphere and most probably to Avalonia