Magnetostratigraphy and Biostratigraphy of the Valanginian in the Crimean Mountains

Preliminary results of the study aiming to construct a magnetostratigraphic scheme of the Valanginian of the Crimean Mountains are presented. Paleomagnetic and petromagnetic data were obtained on oriented samples taken from 363 stratigraphic levels of 10 sections in East and Southwest Crimea. Studied Valanginian sediments are generally a rather unfavorable object for paleomagnetic research because of several factors such as landslide deformations, hypergenous rock alteration, presence of condensed series, etc. Despite that, careful analysis of obtained data allows us to evaluate their magnetic polarity and to propose a first draft composite magnetostratigraphic section of the Valanginian for the Crimean Mountains. For the Valanginian sediments of the Southwest Crimea, new data were obtained on the foraminifers and ostracods which control the magnetostratigraphic correlation paleontologically.