THE MEDITERRANEAN LOWER CRETACEOUS

15. YUGOSLAVIA
The Lower Cretaceous has wide distribution in Yugoslavia and it is represented in
all its stages. It is widespread in the following palaeogeographic zones: Slovenian
Depression, Dinarides, Kosovo, Sumadia and Eastern Serbia.
15.1. Slovenian Depression
This depression is developed south of the Julian Alps, in the boundary zone between
the Southern Alps and the Dinarides. Particularly characteristic is the extensive
development (from the Late Triassic to the Berriasian) of pelagic carbonate sediments,
shaly or silicified radiolarities,which are in contrast to the neritic formations
in the adjacent regions (С a г о n, Cousin, 1973).
In the middle part of the valiey of Kneza river the Lower Cretaceous is connected
with'the Kobilia unit. The Berriasian rocks show a transition from Tithonian
ones. They are represented by limestones with flint, developed in the Biancone facies;
the limestones are slightly clayey and micritic. They contain Calpionella alpina
L о г., С. elliptica С a d., Crassicollaria parvula R e m., Remaniella cadischiana
(С о 1.), Tintinnopsella carpathica (ML, F.), Globochaeie alpina (Lomb.) and radiolaria,
which characterize the Lower Berriasian.
Calcareous breccias with remnants of rudists, Orbitolinidae, algae (Lithocodium
aggregation E 1 1., Gayeuxia sp. and Bacinella irregularis R a d.), Hydrozoa, rare
Hedbergella and primitive Talmaniella, which define the Aptian-Albian age, overlie
transgressively but concordantly the Berriasian limestones.
Above the breccias there are breccia-like limestones; limestones with flint containing
Ticinella and Hedbergella; mottled marls, silicified in some places; lenses
of red or black flint and marls with intercalations of intraclastic limestones with flint
among which Hedbergella planispira (T a p p) (Albian) has been discovered.
The described succession, with the great hiatus (Upper Berriasian-Barremian)
is observed in other sections of the Slovenian Depression as well (С a r о n, Cous
i n, 1973).
15.2. Dinaric Mountains
In the Dalmatian zone, in the High Karst zone and in the Prekarst zubzone the
Lower Cretaceous is developed exclusively in carbonate facies, in the Bosnia zone —
in flysch facies (B 1 a n с h e t, 1972).
In the Dalmatian zone there are powerful sandy and bioclastic limestones,
rich in algae and foraminifera (Codiaceae, Dasycladacea, Gayeuxia sp., Salpingoporella
annula/a С а г., S. dinarica R a d., Litholidae, Textularidae and Miliolidae),
as well as remnants of gastropods, echinoderms and corals.
In the High Karst the series is built of limestones and dolomitized limestones
(800 m), rich in algae, foraminifera, ostracods and coprolites.
Similar carbonates are developed in the Prekarst subzonc as well, where sandy
limestones with Orbitolinidae also occur.
In the Bosnia zone the Lower Cretaceous is represented by flysch (Tithonian-
Lower Cretaceous). Flysch sediments are traced from the localities southeast of
Banja Luka in Dinarides direction towards Sarajevo and from there to the southeast
to Albania (В 1 a n с h e t et al., 1970).
The flysch is formed by rhythmic alternation of sandstones and sandy limestones
with intercalations of clayey limestones, limestones and breccias. The existence
of successions of calpionellids and foraminifera (including Orbitolinidae) defines
the stratigraphie volume of the flysch from the Upper Tithonian to the Lower
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