Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 35/2. (2015)
Paleontology
THE BADENIAN MARINE FAUNA FROM NEAGONEA VALLEY (MEHEDINJI COUNTY) Fiorina DIACONU Muzeul Regiunii Porplor de Fier — Secfia §tiin{ele Naturii, str. Independenjei nr. 2, RO-220171 DrobetaTurnu Severin, Mehedinp, florinadiaconu@yahoo.com Abstract: The paper presents the results of research on the marine fauna from the Badenian deposits located in the Neagonea Valley (southwestern Romania, Mehedinti District). From taxonomical point of view, the Badenian fauna assemblage includes mainly molluscs and corals. The fauna of Neagonea hydrographic basin and adjacent areas has affinities with the Badenian faunas from Bahna and Toplifa, but lesser to the one in eastern Oltenia (Jiu and Oltet area) or one from Buituri (Hunedoara District). Three species are new for this area: Corbula carinata, Pecten revolutus and Laevicardium herculeus. Keywords: molluscs, corals, Badenian, Mehedinp, Romania Introduction This study is focused on data issued from the research on marine fauna from the Badenian deposits located in the Neagonea Valley. This valley is situated 12 km northeast from DrobetaTurnu Severin, Mehedinp District, being part of the Mehedinp Plateau Geopark. From taxonomical point of view the marine macrofauna is rich and varied, dominated by molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) and corals. Previous researches §tefanescu (1897) described in the Badenian marls of Oga§ul cu Paráu at Iloväp 24 species of gastropods and bivalves. Marinescu et al. (1962) collected and studied the Badenian fauna of the Párlagele area up to Co§uftea, including the hydrographic basin of Neagonea Valley and reported a list of 42 species of bivalves and 97 species of gastropods. In his monography “Neogene stratigraphy of the Western Dacic Basin' Marinescu (1978) describes the illustrative sections of the western Dacic Basin, including logs at the Sarmatian/Badenian boundary, which can be observed on the left tributaries of the Neagonea Valley. Far later, 10 mollusc species originating from deposits cropping out on the left slope of the Neagonea Valley were identified by Diaconu & Meilescu (2011). Diaconu & Meilescu (2012) proposed a track for people interested on geology, on this valley, the first of its kind in Mehedinp District. This track would encourage the scientific tourism, as an initiative to promote and support the research targeted towards the preservation of the natural heritage of the Mehedinp Plateau Geopark area. M A RI S I A, XXXV, p. 143-154
