Uroš Barudžija

Stratigraphic Definition and Correlation of Middle Triassic Volcaniclastic Facies in the External Dinarides: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Middle Triassic volcaniclastic depositsin the External Dinarides of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are related to the rifting of the Tethyan Ocean. Three localities in the External Dinarides: Donje Pazarište, Bosansko Grahovo and Zelovo were biostratigraphically analysed in this study. The Middle Triassic carbonate deposits with volcaniclastic interlayers in Donje Pazarište were defined by means of conodonts. Rare ammonoid specimens were collected.Recovered conodont and ammonoid taxa suggest these sections are of Early Illyrian to Early Fassanian Age. The section studied in Bosansko Grahovo is dominantly composed of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Limestone peperites were collected for conodont analysis. Two conodont zones were defined, suggesting volcanic activity in the same, from Lower Illyrian to Fassanian, time interval. The Zelovo Section was biostratigraphically investigated by several authors. The pietra verde deposits from Zelovo are referred as late Fassanian to Early Longobardian Age. Biostratigraphic correlation from mentioned three localities imply that the magmatic activity in the External Dinarides, and formation of different volcaniclastic facies lasted from Illyrian to Longobardian, similar as in the surrounding western Tethyan territories.

Characteristics, origin and geoarchaeological significance of carbonate concretions from the early Bronze Age locality „Orovački vinogradi“, (Bjelovar, Croatia)

“White horizon” archaeological units consisting of carbonate concretions occur in the archaeological settlement of “Orovacki vinogradi”, located near Bjelovar (NW Croatia). During archaeological excavation these horizons were considered to be the inhabitation-levels within the historical layering profile. Further sedimentological and mineralogical research and comparison of the profile with an anthropogenically unaffected site nearby (“Ciglenska strana”) required re-evaluation of this interpretation. These horizons of carbonate concretions are interpreted as the result of diagenetic processes developed within the Upper Pontian sequence of sands, clayey sands and sandstones. A sedimentary-diagenetic model is suggested for their formation. These results had consequences for the archaeological evaluation of the settlement and influenced further investigations at the locality.