New Geological, Palaeobotanical and Palynological Evidence of the Carboniferous from Brandov (Krušné Hory Mts., Czech Republic)

Gas-pipeline construction around Brandov (Czech Republic) exposed pre Quaternary strata allowing more precise understanding of the regional geology. The crystalline rocks in the basement, near the Brandov Carboniferous Relict, belong to Sayda Dome rather than to the Hora Svaté Kateřiny (Katharinaberg) Dome. The lower Carboniferous unit (Westphalian – Moscovian) is of greater extent than previously estimated. In contrast, the upper unit, which is correlated with Stephanian (Kasimovian or Gzhelian) strata, is arealy less extensive than previously estimated and is devoid of fossil remains. An anthracite seam, in the lower unit, was discovered in the “North depth” some 1–1.3 km to the North from old mining activity of the “South depth”. The seam was accompanied by a flora dominated by cordaitaleans and sphenopsids (calamitaleans), and common lycopsids and ferns. Palynomorphs were isolated from mudstones for the first time and 36 genera and 51 species of miospores could be determined. A humic clayey layer was discovered in the Quaternary deposits whose palynological age is 500 – 100 years old.