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 deposi ts present at Rugen, dated by acritarchs, are of late Tremadoc age. Arenig sediments have not been recorded. Most boreholes contain a succession of ro cks attributed to a Llanvirn (Aberreiddian and Llandeilian) to early Carado c age. The youngest rocks recorded in the Rugen sequence are dated by chiti nozoa and can be attributed to the middle to late Caradoc and possibly to t he early Ash-ill. Palaeobiogeographical information from both the acritarch s and the Chitinozoa indicates that the Rugen Ordovician can be attributed to high latitudes in the southern hemisphere and most probably to Avalonia.