New data on the Serpukhovian (Carboniferous) coral assemblages from the northwestern part of the Moscow Basin (Russia)

Abstract

Research in two quarries of the Borovichi area near the Uglovka town (northwestern Moscow Basin) has provided several rugose and tabulate corals that improve the knowledge on the palaeontology of that area. The Zarech’e quarry yielded rare specimens of Syringopora reticulata and Dibunophyllum bipartitum, as well as common specimens of Actinocyathus floriformis, A. borealis and A. crassiconus. The Uglovka quarry provided also Syringopora reticulata, Dibunophyllum bipartitum but different species of colonial rugosans: Actinocyathus sp., Lonsdaleia multiseptata and Schoenophyllum sp. The palaeogeographical distribution of the recorded species indicates a good communication of the Eastern European Basin with western and eastern Palaeotethys during the Serpukhovian. The presence of the genus Schoenophyllum suggests also connection with North America, probably along the northern coast of Laurussia.