Palynological and microfossil biostratigraphy and palaeoecology over the Paleocene–Eocene transition, Femern Bælt, northern Germany

Abstract

A palynological and micropalaeontological biostratigraphic and palaeoecological investigation has been carried out on the Paleocene–Eocene transition of core 10.A.057 from the Femern Bælt (Fig. 1). Initial investigations of boreholes from the Femern Bælt indicated that core 10.A.057 included a thick succession of Upper Paleocene – Lower Eocene clay (Sheldon & Nøhr Hansen 2010; Rambøll Arup JV 2011; Fig 2). Complete Paleocene–Eocene sections have been described from Jylland and the Storebælt (Heilmann-Clausen 1985, Laursen & Andersen 1997; Laursen & King 2000, Nielsen et al. 1986), but no detailed studies have been published on these successions from the Femern Bælt. Boreholes were drilled on Lolland in Denmark, under the Femern Bælt and on Fehmarn island, Germany from 2009 to 2011 as part of geological and geophysical investigations performed in preparation for the construction of a fixed road and rail link connecting Denmark and Germany. The boreholes penetrated Campanian – Upper Eocene strata, overlain by Quaternary deposits. Borehole 10.A.057 is located in the southern part of the Femern Bælt (Figs 1, 2).