ASGP (2016), vol. 86: 85–110

LITHOLOGIC-PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SILURIAN ROCKS IN THE NIESTACHÓW PROFILE HOLY CROSS MOUNTAINS)

Jan MALEC (1), Maria KULETA (2) & Zdzisław M. MIGASZEWSKI (3)

1) Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Zgoda 21, 25-953 Kielce, Poland; e-mail: jan.malec at pgi.gov.pl
2) Chopina 13/33, 25-356 Kielce, Poland
3) Geochemistry and the Environment Div., Institute of Chemistry, Jan Kochanowski University, Świętokrzyska 15G, 25-406 Kielce, Poland; e-mail: Zdzislaw.Migaszewski at ujk.edu.pl

Malec, J., Kuleta, M. & Migaszewski, Z., 2016. Lithologic-petrographic characterization of Silurian rocks in the Niestachów profile (Holy Cross Mountains). Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 86: 85–110.

Abstract: The Niestachów profile is located in the southwestern part of the Holy Cross Mountains and exposes lower Ludlovian greywacke sediments of the Niewachlów Beds that occur above graptolitic claystones of the Prągowiec Beds. Within the sequence of lithologically diversified Niewachlów Beds, more than 400 m thick, 11 characteristic lithologic complexes were identified. The lower and upper parts of the Niewachlów Beds comprise fine- and medium-grained greywacke sandstones with mudstone interbeds, whereas the middle part contains coarse-grained greywacke sandstones and conglomerates. The sediments were transported by “turbiditic currents” from the southwest. Petrographic examination of the upper part of the Prągowiec Beds and the Niewachlów Beds indicates that the greywacke conglomerates and sandstones of the Niewachlów Beds are composed primarily of volcanic and sedimentary lithoclasts, with subordinate metamorphic and scarce plutonic lithoclasts. The sandstones and conglomerates were derived from an orogen containing sandstones and mudstones as well as from the magmatic rocks of a continental volcanic arc, characterized by acidic-intermediate volcanism.

Manuscript received 13 October 2014, accepted 15 May 2015