SOCIETATEA PALEONTOLOGILOR DIN ROMNIA ________________________________________ Str. M. Koglniceanu nr.1, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Tel. 0040-64-405300 int. 5205.

Fax. 0040-64-191906 e-mail: ibucur@bioge.ubbcluj.ro

Bul. Nr. 13

Decembrie 2004

CUPRINS
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I.I. Bucur La cumpna dintre ani.. Din activitatea grupurilor - P. ibuleac Universitatea Al. I. Cuza Iai. - E. Grdinaru Universitatea Bucureti - Mihai E. Popa Universitatea Bucuresti...................................... Apariii editoariale - I.I. Bucur Radu Olteanu: Darvinismul n cutarea ordinei sau sofismul in paleontologie........ - L. Popescu & D. Popescu Ilie Turcule: Paleontologia Jurasicului i Cretacicului din Raru............................................ - I.I. Bucur Codrea V.A., Petrescu I. & Dica E.P.: Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, vol.IV.... Manifestri tiinifice - S. Filipescu : Al 32-lea Congres Geologic InternaionalFlorena 2004................. - M.C. Melinte : Workshop IGCP 463 - Acad. Th. Neagu : Al 5-lea Simpozion al SPR........................ Membrii Societii situaia financiar.

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I.I. Bucur Turn of the year.. The activity of groups - P. ibuleac Al. I. Cuza University Iai . - E. Grdinaru University of Bucharest............................ - Mihai E. Poapa University of Bucharest Recent publications - I.I. Bucur Radu Olteanu: Darvinismul n cutarea ordinei sau sofismul in paleontologie...... - L. Popescu & D. Popescu Ilie Turcule: Paleontologia Jurasicului i Cretacicului din Raru............................................ - I.I. Bucur Codrea V.A., Petrescu I. & Dica E.P.: Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, vol.IV.... Scientific events - S. Filipescu : The 32-nd International Geological Congress, Florence 2004. - M.C. Melinte : Workshop IGCP 463 .. th - Acad. Th Neagu: The 5 Symposium of RSP. RSP - Members and financial report

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Editor,
Ioan I. Bucur
(English version: Dana Pop)

ROMANIAN SOCIETY OF PALEONTOLOGISTS

Honorary presidents: Prof. Dr. Doc. Theodor Neagu

Member of the Romanian Academy University of Bucharest.

Prof. Emeritus Dr. Liviu Ionesi Member of the Romanian Academy Al.I. Cuza University, Iai

Executive president: Prof. dr. Ioan I. Bucur, Babe Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca. Vice presidents: Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Dragastan, University of Bucharest. Prof. Dr. Vlad Codrea, Babe-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca. Lecturer Dr. Paul ibuleac, Al.I. Cuza University, Iai. Chief Research Scientist Paul Constantin, Geological Institute of Romania,
Bucharest.
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Secretariate: Prof. Dr. Mihai Brnzil, Al.I. Cuza University, Iai Dr. Mirela Popa, Babe-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca Treasurer: Asist. Ioan Tanu, Babe-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

LA CUMPNA DINTRE ANI

Dup mai multe amnri, iat, n sfrit, editat i multiplicat acet numr al buletinului SPR.. Dou cauze au determinat aceste amnri repetate: pe de o parte, lipsa unui material care s poat fi cuprins n cadrul buletinului (repetatele noastre apeluri au rmas mult timp fr ecou), iar pe de alt parte, programul ncrcat al editorului, marcat de numeroase absene din ar i de supralicitri ale unor activiti didactice i de cercetare. ntre timp, activitatea Societii s-a derulat sub acelai semn al eforturilor personale, prin participri la manifestri tiinifice, prin publicaii i proiecte de cercetare, al cror effort nsumat ar putea fi considerabil n msura n care ar fi cuantificat. V propun, de aceea, ca urmtorul numr al buletinului s conin lista bibliografic a publicaiilor membrilor SPR din ultimii 5 ani (2000-2004), un bilan care ne-ar putea da o imagine a msurii aportului nostru la cunoaterea n domeniu, pe de o parte, i ne-ar uura cunoaterea reciproc a preocuprilor i realizrilor, pe de alt parte. Este, de asemenea, momentul s v reamintesc c Societatea a lansat, acum doi ani, decernarea premiilor stabilite prin statut. Ce de al 5-lea Simpozion se apropie i dorim s continum aceast aciune. Ca atare, v rugm s adresai conducerii Societii propuneri pentru premiile SPR pe 2005. Se vor lua n considerare lucrri publicate In anii 2003-2004. V reamintesc regulamentul de acordare a premiilor, conform celor stabilite n statut i n Adunarea General a Societii din 6.09.2003 i publicate n Buletinul SPR nr. 12 din noiembrie 2003: - Exista 4 premii, decernate la intervale de 2 ani, pentru cele mai importante lucrri realizate n intervalul de timp precedent. Acestea sunt: 1. Premiul Ion Simionescu (paleozoologie) 2. Premiul Emil Pop (paleobotanic) 3. Premiul Dan Patrulius (biostratigrafie) 4. Premiul Ovidiu Miru (pentru tineri sub 35 ani)

TURN OF THE YEAR

After several postponements, finally we have edited and multiplied this new issue of the RSP Bulletin. There were two reasons for these repeated postponements: the lack of material to be included (our repeated request were unheard for a long while) on the one hand, and the busy schedule of the editor, including several trips abroad and teaching and research overload - on the other. Meanwhile, the activity of the society was marked by personal contributions, represented by participation at scientific meetings, publications and research projects, which if quantified, could show impressive results. As a consequence, my proposal for the next issue of the Newsletter is to include the reference list of the publications of the RSP members in the last five years (20002004); this bottom-line would offer an image of our contribution to the knowledge in the field, and also would enable the bilateral acquaintance with the interests and results of each of us. It is also the time for remembering you that two years ago, the Society has initiated the attribution of the awards established in the bylaws. The 5th symposium will take place close from now on and it is our intention to continue this activity. As such, we would like to ask you to submit the proposals for the RSP awards for the year 2005 to the leadership of the Society. The publications in the period 2003-2004 will be taken into account. I would like to remind you the regulations concerning the awards assignment according to the bylaws and the decisions of the General Assembly on 06.09.2003 published in the RSP Bulletin no. 12 in November 2003: - Four awards will be attributed, at an interval of two years, for the most important papers published in the preceding time interval. The awards are as follows: 1. Ion Simionescu Awards (Palaeozoology) 2. Emil Pop Award (Palaeobotanics) 3. Dan Patrulius Award (Biostratigraphy)

Premiile se pot acorda de cel mult dou ori n viaa unui specialist (prevedere de la care se pot excepta lucrrile n comun, n cazul n care un autor a fost premiat anterior). Fiecare propunere va fi fcut de ctre un grup de cel puin trei membri Intr n competiie lucrri ale cror autor (sau prim autor, n cazul unor lucrri colective) este membru SPR Lucrrile propuse pentru premiere vor fi recenzate de cel puin doi specialiti n domeniu, iar soluia definitiv va fi dat de preedinte i vicepreedini Nu pot intra n competiie membri n exerciiu (n momentul acordrii premiului) ai Comitetului de conducere al SPR

Propunerile pentru premiere se primesc pn la data de 31 aprilie 2005, urmnd ca lucrrile s fie judecate de un juriu format din preedintele i vicepreedinii Societii, pe baza unor referate fcute de specialiti n domeniu. In ateptarea propunerilor i a materialelor pentru viitorul numr al buletinului, la cumpna dintre ani, V urez tuturor putere de munc i realizri care s readuc paleontologia n atenia Lumii. Ioan I. Bucur

4. Ovidiu Miru Award (for young researchers below 35 years) The awards may be attributed not more than two times per person in a life time (except for papers with several authors, if one of the authors has been previously awarded). Each nomination will be supported by a group consisting of at least three members Only the publications of RSP members (as single, or main author) can be nominated The proposed papers will be reviewed by at least two experts in the field; the final decision belongs to the president and vice-presidents The acting members of the RSP executive committee are not eligible for the current nominations

The proposals for the awards may be submitted until April 31st 2005. The papers will be reviewed by a jury consisting of the president and the vice-presidents of the Society, based on the reports of the experts in the field. Waiting for your proposals and materials for the next issue of the Newsletter, at the bigining of the new year, I wish you all good luck with your work and many achievements in order to bring Palaeontology back into the focus of the general public! Ioan I. Bucur

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DIN ACTIVITATEA GRUPURILOR I A MEMBRILOR

Paul ibuleac (Iai) Dorset Coast sau Paleontologia ca spirit al locului
Uneori, fapte aparent fr nici o importan sau semnificaie imediat declaneaz evenimente la care, prad rutinii zilnice, nu poi gndi dect sub protecia oniricului. Cum ar fi s vizitezi Coasta Dorset, celebr pentru Jurasicul cu amoniii gigantici i primul schelet de Ichthyosaurus, unde, aa cum aveam s constat, paleontologia a devenit un mod de a fi. i se ntmpl s i gseti prieteni acolo unde nu gndeti datorit amoniilor, aceste roi ale mrilor trecute, care angreneaz fascinaia tuturor (muli cunoscui, nespecialiti, mi-au cerut entuziasmai exemplare de amonii, fr s bnuiasc truda cu care se gsesc). Aadar, cteva mesaje pe internet au fost deajuns pentru o vizit n Romnia (Ian Troth i Murray Edmunds) i apoi, alta, n Anglia, pentru mine (posibil datorit bunvoinei domnului dr. J.E.A. Marshall-School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton i celor doi colegi menionai anterior) n cadrul unui workshop asupra amoniilor liasici. Fr ndoiala, lecturile, fotografiile, mrturisirile orale despre un loc (sau persoan, obiect etc) induc ntotdeauna dimensiuni livreti exagerate ntr-un sens sau altul, fr o vin expres deoarece limita dintre realitate i imaginaie este difuz i mai uor de trecut. De aceea, confruntarea direct se petrece sub o presiune afectiv, altfel mai greu explicabil. Ceea ce s-antmplat i cu mine cnd am ajuns fr nici un fel de peripeii n Lyme Regis (una din faimoasele locaii turistice din sudul Angliei, locul unde se desfoar, n cea mai mare parte, aciunea romanului lui John Fowles i s-a turnat filmul cu acelai nume - Iubita locotenentului francez cu Meryl Streep i Jeremy Irons- datorit cruia pubul Cob Arm i pintenul de uscat sfiind apele canalului au devenit un loc de pelerinaj pentru toi turitii). Inedit este i prima impresie: parc uscatul prelungete la dimensiuni exacerbate valurile Canalului Mnecii (Canalului Englez), strzile urcnd i cobornd n pante mari i pe distane mici, mrginite de locuine sobre i, invariabil, grdini cochete. O mare de verdea, dac priveti dinspre zonele cele mai nalte ale staiunii (ceea ce nu este caracteristic pentru ntreg teritoriul Marii Britanii, cum mi-au contrat

ACTIVITY REPORTS OF GROUPS AND MEMBERS

Paul ibuleac (Iai) Dorset Coast or Palaeontology as the spirit of the place
There are cases when little facts, apparently without any importance or practical significance may lead to events hardly believable under the pressure of the daily routine, unless as day dreams. As such is a visit to the Dorset Coast, famous for its Jurassic outcrops with giant ammonites and the first skeleton of Ichthyosaurus, where I had the chance to notice on my own that Palaeontology has become a style of life. And sometimes one can encounter friends in unexpected places due to the ammonites, these wheels of the ancient seas, that fascinate everybody (many people back home, not involved in this field, have asked if I could provide specimens of ammonites, without knowing about the difficulty of finding them). Thus, an exchange of email messages lead to a visit in Romania (Ian Troth and Murray Edmunds) and then another one in the UK, for myself (made possible by the generosity of Dr. J.E.A. MarshallSchool of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton and of his two colleagues above) in the frame of a workshop on Liasic ammonites. There is no doubt that books, photographs and stories on a specific place (or person, object etc) always induce an overemphasised impression in a way or another, just because the limit between reality and imagination is diffuse and easier to break through. Thats why the direct contact bears an affective pressure, harder to explain. This happened also with me when I reached without any problems - Lyme Regis (one of the famous touristic attractions in Southern England, the place where most of the action of John Fowles novel and the movie based on it, French lieutenants lover with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons took place; as a consequence, the Cob Arm pub and the narrow piece of land between the Channel became a pilgrimage target for tourists). The first impression is unique: the land is an extension of the waves of the (English) Channel, with its streets going up and down in steep slopes on short distances, bordered by sober mansions and fancy gardens. An immense green area, as seen from the higher parts of the sea-resort (which is not typical for Great Britain, as indicated by my British colleagues). But now, back to work! The first section Ive visited was the outcrop in Pinhay Bay,

ncntarea colegii englezi). S trecem, ns, i la treab! Prima seciune vizitat a fost faleza Pinhay Bay, situat spre vest de Lyme Regis. Am plecat dintr-o parcare obinuit, dar scump (in minte asta deoarce au fost nevoie de 6 lire sterline pentru o main ntr-o zi) mpreun cu Ian Troth i Martin Foster (gazda noastr, un pasionat vntor de fosile, binecunoscut n zon, un om deosebit, singuratic, cu manifestri nete, fr jumti de msur: iubea psrile i ura pisicile, pentru care avea pregatit o pratie i bile colorate din sticl; hrnea n fiecare sear doi bursuci uriai; coleciona doar exemplarele ctorva taxoni de amonii-Liparoceras, Becheiceras etc). Martin, cel mai bun cunosctor al zonei (avea cartate i numerotate pe civa metri de hrtie toate nivelele fosilifere, de ordinul centimetrilor) ne-a condus n partea distal a falezei, unde se poate observa limita Triasic/Jurasic. Depozitele triasice sunt dezvoltate puin peste nivelul mrii, dup care urmeaz Jurasicul prin Hettangian (cu o grosime redus) i Sinemurian. Stratele nclin uor spre est-sud-est, astfel c dac urmreti aceast direcie (pe distane de ordinul kilometrilor) poi surprinde treptat dezvoltarea pe vertical a Liasicului. n faleza Pinhay Bay au fost separate dou formaiuni (vezi fig 1): Blue Lias (32 m), n baz, cuprinznd Hettangianul i nceputul Sinemurianului i Shales with Beef (21-33 m), la partea superioar. Succesiunea litologic este alctuit din cicloteme cu termenii argil-gresiicalcare formate ntr-un regim epicontinental. Fauna este dominat de amonii, biozonele taxonindex pentru Hettangian (Psiloceras planorbis, Alsatites liassicus, Schlotheimia angulata) fiind mai puin spectaculoase, deoarece exemplarele sunt aplatizate. n schimb, fascineaz biozonele index de la nceputul Sinemurianului, respectiv Arietites bucklandi, Arnioceras semicostatum i Caenisites turneri, n special prima, cu amonii ct roata carului, care apar din blocuri sau la nivelul de eroziune al mrii. Mai nti, ns, am ncercat dou stri inedite. Obinuit s caut amonii n muni, n zone mpdurite sau n puni sfrtecate ici-colo de stnci, m-a surprins plcut asocierea dintre amonii i mare (de altfel, pn la sfrit m-am bronzat destul de bine pe brae i fa). n al doilea rnd, dedat la colectarea fiecrui fragment de fosil (fr s in seama de filum) m-a frapat indiferena colegilor fa de bivalve (exemplare de Plagiostoma gigantea, Gryphaea arcuata, Entolium sp.) i chiar fa de amoniii mai mici (sau distrat, probabil, pe seama tendinei mele de sorginte miniatural n colectarea fosilelor).

located westwards from Lyme Regis. We started from a regular, but expensive parking lot (I remember we needed 6 pounds/car/day) together with Ian Troth and Martin Foster (our host, a passionate and well-known fossil hunter, a special lonely person with sharp preferences thus no half-measure: he loved birds and hated cats, for the latter he had weapons prepared a sling and coloured glass balls; each evening he was feeding two huge badgers; he was collecting specimens of only a few ammonite taxa Liparoceras, Becheiceras etc). Martin, the person who knew the area best (he had detailed maps and profiles, several meters long, with all the fossiliferous levels, centimetre thick) lead us to the distal part of the clliff, where the Triassic/Jurassic limit can be noticed. The Triassic deposits outcrop few above the sea level, followed by Jurassic Hettangian (very thin) and Sinemurian. The layers are slightly dipping towards east-south-east, thus one can follow the gradual vertical development of the Lias deposits kilometres along the beach. In the Pinhay Bay cliffs, two formations have been separated (fig 1): the Blue Lias (32 m) in the base, containing the Hettangian and the lower Sinemurian, and the Shales with Beef (21-33 m) at the top. The lithology consists of cyclothemes of epicontinental clay sandstone limestone. The fauna is dominated by ammonites, the biozone index-taxa of the Hettangian (Psiloceras planorbis, Alsatites liassicus, Schlotheimia angulata) being less spectacular, because the specimens are flattened. On the contrary, the biozone index from the beginning of the Sinemurian, respectively Arietites bucklandi, Arnioceras semicostatum, and Caenisites turneri are fascinating, especially the first one with ammonites large as the wagon-wheel occurring in blocks or at the sea erosional level. From the beginning, I passed through two contradictory states of spirit. Being used to look for ammonites in the mountains, in forests or grasslands spread with isolated rock blocks, I was very pleased to notice the association of ammonites with the sea (however, till the en of my stay I got quite a strong sun tint on my arms and face). Secondly, trying to collect all the fossil fragments (no matter of the phylum), I was shocked by the indifference of my local colleagues for the bivalves (specimens of Plagiostoma gigantea, Gryphaea arcuata, Entolium sp.) and even for the smaller ammonites (they might have had fun on how preoccupied was in collecting the miniatures). The explanation was, however, simple: this cliff (as well as the whole Dorset Coast) has been prospected (by experts and fossil hunters) since about 200 years, thus the possibility

Explicaia era, ns simpl: aceast falez (i ntreaga Coasta Dorset) este cercetat (de specialiti i de vntorii de fosile) de cca. 200 de ani, nct probabilitatea de a identifica o specie nemenionat tinde spre zero. De aceea, urmreau exemplare deosebite ca mrime sau constituie petrografic (sunt amonii cu interiorul cochiliilor transformate n mici geode), dei, n unele locuri, numeroase exemplare de amonii, erodate doar parial, apreau din podeaua mrii, ca nite farfurii stranii. Vnatul zilei a fost un exemplar de Paracoroniceras de aproximativ 70 cm n diametru, identificat dup marginea ventral ntrun bloc de cca. 1,5 metri cubi de calcare i care a fost adus la dimesiuni transportabile dup mai bine de o or de munc asidu. Au mai fost, de asemenea, cteva exemplare care includeau geode destul de frumoase ntr-o cromatic galbenverzuie. De altfel, Ian a avut o adevarat edin de casting, poznd de mai multe ori pe parcursul prelucrrii blocului de calcare pentru o entuziast fotograf de la New York Times (alturi de noi, alte persoane, cele mai multe aflate n vacan, i ncercau norocul, ns colegii mei erau cel mai bine informai i dotai -ciocane, aproape de toate mrimile, trncoape, dli - ceea ce a atras atenia). Am fost considerat i eu norocos pentru c am gsit o vertebr bine conservat de Ichthyosaurus (alturi de unele bivalve i mici amonii). Ulterior, am crezut c a fost un gest de politee deoarece vertebre asemntoare (dar mai puin clare ca morfologie) se gseau de cumprat la preuri nu prea mari (comparativ cu exemplare de amonii de mrimi medii), dar mi s-a explicat c la Pinhay Bay sunt mult mai rare exemplarele de reptile acvatice (de fapt am i artat cu exactitate locul unde am gsit vertebra, pentru c Martin are rbdare i va atepta/cuta i restul scheletului, care probabil se afla la o anumit nlime de la baza aflorimentului, dezvoltat aproape vertical). Urmtoarea seciune spre est este cea de la Stonebarrow Cliffs-Charmouth, unde se pot observa urmtoarele biozone taxon-index ale Sinemurianului: Caenisites turneri (doar n timpul refluxului, de obicei sub nivelul apei), Asteroceras obtusum i Echioceras raricostatum (lipsind intervalul corespunztor biozonei intermediare cu Oxynoticeras oxynotum vezi fig 2). Din punct de vedere litologic predomin marnele negricioase, bituminoase cu rare intercalaii de calcare (Cement Bed) ori noduli/lentile calcaroase de ordinul decimetrilor, care alctuiesc Formatiunea Black Ven Marls (45-72 m grosime), peste care se dispun unitile litostratigrafice Beleminte Marls (22-86 m) i doar n zonele mai nlate Green

of identifying an unknown species is close to zero. Due to this reason, my colleagues were looking for specimens of peculiar sizes or petrographical composition (some ammonites show small geodes inside their tests) even if in some places, several ammonites only partly eroded were coming up from the sea floor looking as strange plates. The trophy of the day was represented by a specimen of Paracoroniceras of about 70 cm in diameter, that has been identified from its ventral 3 size in a limestone block of about 1.5 m and that was cut into a handy fragment after more than one hour of hard work. Other valuable finds were represented by some specimens showing nicelycoloured yellowish-greenish geodes. Otherwise Ian performed a real casting session for an enthusiastic photographer from New York Times, during the cutting of the limestone block (besides us other persons, mainly tourists, tried their fortune, but my colleagues were the best informed and possessed the best equipment hammers of almost all the sizes, pick-axes, chisels and that put them under the general interest). I myself was also considered lucky due to the well-preserved vertebra of Ichthyosaurus (besides some bivalves and small ammonites) that I had found. I had the feeling that my colleagues were only polite, because similar vertebra (but less morphologically-defined) could be found in shops at decent prices (as compared to specimens of medium-sized ammonites), but I was told that at Pinhay Bay the aqueous reptiles are very scarce (in fact I had to precisely show the place where I found the vertebra, because Martin will be patient enough to look for the rest of the skeleton, which will probably occur at a certain height from the base of the almost vertical outcrop). The next section, Stonebarrow Cliffs-Charmouth, was located eastwards; the following Sinemurian biozone index-taxa could be noticed: Caenisites turneri (only at low tide, usually below the water level), Asteroceras obtusum, and Echioceras raricostatum (the interval corresponding to the intermediate biozone with Oxynoticeras oxynotum being absent - fig 2). From a lithological point of view, the black bituminous marls with rare interlayers of limestone (Cement Bed), or limestone nodules/lenses, decimetre thick are dominant, consisting the Black Ven Marls Formation (45-72 m thickness). On their top, the Belemnite Marls (22-86 m), and only in the higher areas the Green Ammonite Beds (32 m; the names of the formations are informal, according to the tradition) occur. As a rule, each nodule is fossiliferous and contains one or more specimens of ammonites. The stratigraphical succession is

Ammonite Beds (32 m; formaiunile sunt denumite informal, n spiritul tradiiei). De regul, fiecare nodul este fosilifer i ascunde unul sau mai multe exemplare de amonii. Succesiunea stratigrafic este bine cunoscut i strict, un exemplar de Asteroceras dintr-un anumit nivel (Woodstone) este sigur A. confusum sau A. obtusum (Flatstone) sau A. stellare (Nodule Beds). Mergnd spre est, stratele se afund treptat aa c se poate surprinde trecerea dintre Biozona taxon index cu Echioceras raricostatum (incomplet, fr subbiozonele din partea terminal, cu Leptechioceras macdonnelli i Paltechioceras aplanatum) i Biozonele cu Uptonia jamesoni (marcat de un interval unde predomin specii de Apoderoceras) i Tragophylloceras ibex, care atest Pliensbachianul timpuriu (Carixian). Fondul litologic este asemntor (marne gri i grinegricioase, destul de dure) alctuind Formaiunea Beleminte Marls (denumit datorit abundenei rostrumurilor de belemnii, dintre care predomin genurile Pasaloteuthis, Hastites etc). La partea superioar a seciunii (n zonele mai nalte apare Formaiunea Green ammonite Beds, care cuprinde Biozona cu Prodactylioceras davoei, ultima a Pliensbachianului timpuriu. n studierea acestei seciuni, ni s-au alturat Murray Edmunds (biolog, dar un pasionat cercettor al amoniilor liasici, posesorul unei colecii personale de invidiat de orice instituie de profil; de fapt, Murray are deja un acord cu Muzeul de tiinte Naturale din Oxford pentru includerea coleciei n patrimoniul su) i Byron Blessed (paleontolog) care are un shop de profil (http//www.fossils-uk.com) n regiunea Whitby, celebr pentru amoniii din Jurasicul trziu. Trebuie s sublinez aici i disponibilitatea englezilor de a oferi informaii detaliate att n teren, prin semnalarea nivelurilor fosilifere, a principalelor specii i caracteristici morfologice ale acestora, ct i teoretice (Ian mi-a oferit volumul The Hampshire Basin and adjoining areas de R. V. Melville & E. C. Ffeshney/1982, iar Murray The official guide to the Jurassic Coast A walk through time de Denys Brunsden 2003), ct i prin date istorice mai mult sau mai puin nostime (de exemplu, legtura amoroas dintre Mary Anning i Richard Owen) explicaii suplimentare, schie ad-hoc ale aflorimentelor sau seciuni generalizatoare. n afara noastr (colegii englezi erau, cum am mai spus, bine echipai i lumea i interpela n legatur cu cele mai propice nivele fosilifere sau ntreba despre vnat), foarte muli oameni cutau amonii: copii, tineri, aduli sau doamne respectabile, n inut lejer, de plaj, cu

well-known and very strict, for example a specimen of Asteroceras from a certain level (Woodstone) is for sure an A. confusum or A. obtusum (Flatstone), or A. stellare (Nodule Beds). Going eastwards, the layers gradually dip, thus the transition between the taxa-index biozone with Echioceras raricostatum (incomplete, without the sub-biozones from the upper part, with Leptechioceras macdonnelli and Paltechioceras aplanatum), and the Biozones with Uptonia jamesoni (marked by an interval dominated by species of Apoderoceras), and Tragophylloceras ibex, indicating the Early Pliensbachian (Carixian) can be followed. The lithology is similar (grey and greyish-blackish marls, relatively compacted), giving birth to the Belemnite Marls Formation (defined as such due to the frequent presence of the belemnite rostrums, dominated by genera Pasaloteuthis, Hastites etc). At the top of the section, in the higher areas the Green ammonite Beds Formation, including the Prodactylioceras davoei Biozone the last one of the Early Pliensbachian, crops out. For the study of this section we had a new companion, Murray Edmunds (a biologist, fascinated by the study of Liassic ammonites and owner of a rich collection; in fact the collection is the object of a donation agreement with the Natural Sciences Museum in Oxford), and Byron Blessed (palaeontologist), who owns a specialised shop (http//www.fossils-uk.com) in Whitby region, famous for the Late Jurassic ammonites. I have to underline the availability of my British hosts to offer detailed field information on the location of the fossiliferous levels, of the main species and their morphological features, theoretical information (Ian offered me the volume The Hampshire Basin and adjoining areas of R. V. Melville & E. C. Ffeshney/1982, and Murray The official guide to the Jurassic Coast A walk through time of Denys Brunsden 2003), as well as more or less funny historical data (for example, the love affair between Mary Anning and Richard Owen), supplementary explanation, ad-hoc sketches of the outcrops or synthetic profiles. Except for us (as already mentioned, my British colleagues were well-equipped and everybody else was asking them about the most suitable fossiliferous levels or the best hunt), many other people were looking for ammonites: children, young people, adults or respectable women, all informally dressed and holding geological hammers in their hands. In Charmouth, I saw more then anywhere else along the whole Dorset Coast ordinary people looking for ammonites in rocks, in situ, or along the beach, where the

un ciocan geologic n mn. n Charmouth am vzut mai mult ca oriunde pe Coasta Dorset oameni obinuii cutnd amonii n roci in situ sau pe plaj, acolo unde depozitele atribuite Biozonei Echioceras raricostatum (Watch ammonite stones datorit morfologiei relativ regulate a amonitului, care sugereaz aspectul unui ceas) sunt splate de valurile mrii. Aici se gsesc pe nisip, gata detaate, exemplare piritizate foarte frumoase i bine conservate de Echioceras. Nu am gsit dect fragmente, dar Murray a cules un exemplar (e drept cu o parte a ombilicului lips) pe care mi l-a druit. Totui, Byron a fost norocosul zilei identificnd un Asteroceras obtusum (din nivelul Flatstone) de mrime medie, dar translucid, n culori galben-verzui (i deoarece a fost primul exemplar din aceast specie pe care l-a gsit a declarat c-l va pastra pentru sine). De altfel, este destul de greu s gsesti amonii vara. Pentru vntoare este recomandat intervalul iarnanceputul primverii (lunile februarie-martie), cnd intensitatea mareelor este maxim i, practic, n fiecare zi faleza expune alt seciune. Martin mi-a spus c se obinuiete s se mearg i noaptea, cu fcliile pentru c observarea unui nodul nu este prea dificil i astfel se elimin din concuren. ntorcndu-ne spre parcarea din Charmouth (mult mai ieftin) am vizitat magazinul cu fosile i roci al lui Tony Gill, care ne-a ntmpinat zmbind n dou ipostaze: una, real, din spatele tejghelei sau din atelier i alta, mai protocolar, ntr-un articol despre un craniu de ichthyosaur de cca. 2 m, expus alturi, n vitrin. Un exemplar de-a dreptul fabulos, foarte bine conservat, cu dinii ca nite mici pumnale, care aparine speciei Temnodontosaurus platyodeon. De aici (ca i din alte locuri sau de la vntorii de fosile pe care i-am vizitat), Murray a cumprat cteva exemplare din specii de amonii care l interesau (este convins c speciile de amonii pot avea o mare variabilitate i ornamentaia poate varia mult cu stadiul ontogenetic). De altfel, din shopul lui Tony Gill nu lipseau cumprtorii sau cei care nchiriau ciocane geologice. Dup aproape o zi cutnd amonii nu eram nici unul prea curai pe haine, dar acest lucru nu a fost nici un impediment pentru a intra n cofetarii, magazine etc., dimpotriv parc era o marc de distincie (pub-ul preferat a fost Hanul Vntorilor, aproape de Lyme Regis, unde erau mncruri obinuite, dar bine pregtite; se bea limonad i bere, mai puin alcoolic i acidulat, fiecare participant dnd cte un rnd, fr s se exagereze (Suntem geololgi, e normal s bem!); cel mai mult, mi-a plcut berea irlandez-guiness, care a aprut i pe la noi).

the deposits assigned to the Echioceras raricostatum Biozone (Watch ammonite stones due to the relatively regular morphology of the ammonite, suggesting the shape of a watch) are washed by the sea waves. Here very nice and well-preserved pyritised specimens of Echioceras can be found loose in the sand, already detached. We could find only fragments, but Murray pickedup a specimen (in fact with a missing part of the umbilicus), which he gave me. However, Byron was the luckiest person of the day, being the one who found a medium-sized, translucent, in yellowish-greenish colours Asteroceras obtusum (from the Flatstone level) (and because it was the first of this species he ever found, he declared that he will keep it for himself). In fact, it is quite difficult to find ammonites during the Summer. The best interval for the fossil hunt is Winter - beginning of Spring (February-March), when the maximum intensity of the tides is recorded, and practically in each day a new section crops out. Martin told me that it is customarily to look for fossils also during the night, with torches, because the nodules are anyhow easy to trace, but the competition is reduced. On our way back to the (much cheaper) Charmouth parking we visited the fossils & rocks shop of Tony Gill, who welcomed us smiling in two postures: one real, behind the desk or in the workshop, and a more formal one, in an article about a skull of ichthyosaurs, about 2 m long, on display in the showcase nearby. A really fabulous, well-preserved specimen, belonging to the species Temnodontosaurus platyodeon, showing teeth like small daggers. From this place (as well as from other places or fossil hunters in our way) Murray bought some specimens of ammonites which he was interested in (he is convinced that the ammonite species show a great diversity in shape and ornaments depending on their ontogeny). However, Tony Gills shop did not miss buyers or people borrowing geological hammers. After almost a whole day in search for ammonites none of us had clean cloth, but this fact did not matter for having access to shops, coffee shops etc.; on the contrary, it seemed that this was a sign of pride: the favourite pub was the Hunters Inn, close to Lyme Regis, where ordinary food was well-cooked; lemonade and low-alcohol, bubbled beer was served each was offering a round in his turn, but no excess was recorded (We are geologists, drinking is normal!); I enjoyed the most the Irish, Guinness beer, which we can also find in Romania lately). The next geological section was that of Golden Cap, where Belemnite Marls build-up the base of

Urmtoarea seciune geologic a fost cea de la Golden Cap, unde Beleminte Marls alctuiesc baza aflorimentului i se prelungesc n mare, fiind locuri cu o multitudine de rostrumuri (solidum i, uneori, cavum), urmat de formaiunile Green Ammonite Beds (32 de m grosime; silturi i argile cu intercalaii de calcare i nisipuri) i Eype Clays (38 m grosime; marne albstrui, micacee, cu intercalaii de calcare). Binenteles, colegii mei erau interesai doar de amonii, Ian dorindu-i foarte mult un exemplar de Prodactylioceras davoei, care am neles c este foarte rar (se gsesc doar cteva exemplare ntr-un an). Aici este foarte bine deschis biozona denumit dupa specia rvnit de Ian, cu cele trei subbiozone: Aegoceras maculatum, A. capricornus, Oistoceras figulinum) din Green Ammonite Beds i prima biozon a Toarcianului (prin Subbiozona Amaltheus stokesi), marcat de intervalul denumit Three Tiers (6-30 m) din Formaiunea Eype Clays. n cadrul primei biozone sunt frecvente camerele de locuit ale speciilor de amonii, care apar separate de restul cochiliilor. n aceasta zon am fost relativ mai noros gsind cteva exemplare de Tragophylloceras (unul frumos de T. loscombi) i Oistoceras (i Martin mi-a dat un exemplar de Oistoceras prins ntr-un mic nodul). De asemenea, din partea superioar am colectat un exemplar destul de mare de Amaltheus stokesi, piritizat, aproape ntreg. Dar, n general, vnatul n-a fost pe msura ateptrilor i colegii erau cam dezamgii cnd ne ndreptam spre maini. ns, ntr-o retragere fr trofee, Ian culege imediat din apropierea valurilor un nodul cu un amonit pe care l consider la prima vedere un Lytoceras, ca dup o mai atent examinare s observe spinii, elemente caracteristice pentru Prodactylioceras (trebuie s amintesc aici, c n teren este suficient s gseti indicii pentru un exemplar de amonit complet; dup aceasta, amoniii sunt dui n ateliere de prelucrare, unde cu ajutorul unei tehnici adecvate (air-pen, activate cu un motocompresor) sunt puse n eviden toate detaliile morfologice; aceasta este o alt meserie, destul de solicitant i, se pare, bnoas; costul prelucrrii unui amonit (care poate ajunge la sute de lire sterline) depinde de morfologia lui -coaste, spini, numr de ture, mrime etc; dac spinii se rup, sunt numerotai i lipii apoi n ordine). Exemplarul de Prodactylioceras a mai salvat o zi i Ian a fost mai vorbre ca niciodat, a fcut cinste cu bere fr s-l mai intereseze finala Champions League (oricum nu era nici o echipa englezeasc). n extinderea noastr spre est, timpul a impus ca limit Eype Mouth. Dintr-o zon de parcare nverzit ne-am ndreptat spre aflorimente, pe o

the outcrop and extend into the sea, many times showing plenty of rostrums (solidum and sometimes cavum), followed by the Green Ammonite Beds (32 m thick; silts and clays interlayered with limestone and sands) and Eype Clays (38 m thick; bluish mica-rich marls with limestone interlayers) Formations. For sure my colleagues were only interested in ammonites, Ian looking forward for a specimen of Prodactylioceras davoei, which is very rare (only a few specimens are to be found per year). In this outcrop the biozone defined by the Ians favourite species crops out, with its three sub-biozones: Aegoceras maculatum, A. capricornus, Oistoceras figulinum from the Green Ammonite Beds, and the first biozone of Toarcian (represented by the Amaltheus stokesi Sub-biozone), marked by the Three Tiers interval (6-30 m) from the Eype Clays Formation. In the first biozone the living chambers of the ammonite species are abundant, which are separate from the rest of the shells. I was relatively luckier in this case, being the one who found some specimens of Tragophylloceras (a nice one of T. loscombi) and Oistoceras (also Martin offered me a specimen of Oistoceras embedded into a small nodule). Also from the upper part Ive collected a relatively large, pyritised and almost complete specimen of Amaltheus stokesi. But generally speaking, the hunt was less than expected and this caused a general disappointment on our way back to the car. In the last moment of this retreat, Ian found close to the shore line an ammonite which he first considered to be Lytoceras; at a closer look, the typical spines were interpreted as a sign for Prodactylioceras (it must be mentioned that a complete ammonite specimen found in the field is then processed and prepared in the workshop by using specialised techniques (compressor-activated air-pens) which evidence all the morphological details; this is in fact a specialised, very well-paid but timeconsuming job; the cost of processing an ammonite (sometimes reaching several hundred pounds) depends on the morphology ribs, spines, number of spirals, size etc; if the spines broke down, they are numbered and then glued in order back to the shell). The specimen of Prodactylioceras had saved another day, and made Ian more talkative then ever, he offered beer and had no interest in the Champions League finals anymore (anyhow, no British team was included). In our trip to east, time restricted us to Eype Mouth. We parked into a green area and then headed to the outcrops, on a beach full of rocks of

plaj plin de blocuri de roci de diferite mrimi. n baz se afla partea terminal a Formaiunii Eype Clays, peste care se dispunea o succesiune litologic relativ variat, dintre care cele mai importante repere sunt Starfish Bed, Margaritatus Beds, Thorncombe Sands aparinnd Pliensbachianului trziu (Domerian), respectiv Biozonei taxon-index cu Amaltheus margaritatus. Succesiunea continu cu un nivel comprehensiv denumit Junction Bed, care cuprinde ntr-o grosime redus (1-2 m) primele cinci biozone ale Toarcianului (Dactylioceras tenuicostatum, Harpoceras falcifer, Hildoceras bifrons, Haugia variabilis i Grammoceras thouarcense). Acesta este, se pare, i cel mai fosilifer, deoarece am gsit numeroase exemplare de Dactylioceras, Hildoceras i Harpoceras (unul, H. falcifer, mare chiar pentru zona respectiv, mi amintete acum de pe dulap de acele zile, spre deosebire de un exemplar uria de Entolium (aproximativ ct palma), pe care l-am sfrmat n cteva buci tot ncercnd s reduc din volumul rocii). Peste Junction Bed se dispune discontinuu, n zonele mai nalte, partea superioar a Toarcianului i Aalenianului (prin Formaiunea Bridport Sands). Acestea au fost seciunile geologice din zona Dorset, la care s-a mai adugat cteva n zona Radstock, unde Liasicul este comprehensiv, dezvoltndu-se pe o grosime redus. Au mai fost vizitate muzee (Lyme Regis), ateliere de prelucrare a fosilelor, colecii particulare, shop-uri de profil. Una dintre colecii a fost a lui Martin Foster axat pe speciile ctorva genuri, iar cea dea doua (o zi i jumtate de lucru efectiv) a lui Murray Edmunds, care a descris detaliat majoritatea exemplarelor, nsoind explicaiile i cu date despre locul de colectare sau alte ntmplri (de exemplu, cnd era s-l prind refluxul sub o stnc n Isle of Raasay). n atelierele de prelucrare am vzut exemplare superbe de amonii, dar nu numai. Se prelucrau fosile din diferite zone al globului (China, Madagascar, cel mai frecvent). Am admirat dou schelete complete de ichtyosaur, care valorau dupa aprecierea proprietarilor, n jur de 12.ooo de lire sterline (gseau i prelucrau 2-3 exemplare pe an, din zone aflate sub imperiul mareelor; pentru transportul blocurilor de la locul de prelevare nchiriau elicoptere). n ultimele zile am vizitat i School of Ocean and Earth Science i oraul Southampton (cheiul, casa Tudor, Red Lion, Wellington pub etc). Domnii J.E.A. Marshall i Ian Troth mi-au prezentat birourile, laboratoarele, biblioteca, coleciile etc., ca i principalele domenii de interes n cercetare. Au fost cteva zile pline de paleontologie. Aici,

various sizes. In the base, the end of the Eype Clays Formation could be noticed, followed by a relatively varied lithological succession, marked by the Starfish Bed, the Margaritatus Beds, the Thorncombe Sands belonging to the Late Pliensbachian (Domerian), and to the biozone index-taxa with Amaltheus margaritatus. On their top, a comprehensive level, Junction Bed, including in a very thin sequence (12 m) the first five Toarcian biozones (Dactylioceras tenuicostatum, Harpoceras falcifer, Hildoceras bifrons, Haugia variabilis and Grammoceras thouarcense). This is the richest fossiliferous level, here we found numerous specimens of Dactylioceras, Hildoceras and Harpoceras (one of them, H. falcifer, of a relatively large size even for that region placed now on my shelve reminds me of those days, in contrast with a huge specimen of Entolium (of the size of a palm) which I broke into pieces trying to reduce the volume of the rock). On the top of the Junction Bed, in the higher areas, the upper part of the Toarcian and Aalenian (represented by the Bridport Sands Formation) crops out. These were the geological sections that I have visited in Dorset area, besides some from Radstock region, where the Lias is comprehensive and thin. I have also visited museums (Lyme Regis), workshops for the fossils processing private collections, specialised shops. One of the collections belonged to Martin Foster, being focused on the species of a few genera, and the second one (one and a half day of effective work) to Murray Edmunds, who described in details most of the specimens, including data on the collecting site or other events (for example about a low tide on a cliff in the Isle of Raasay). Ive seen magnificent specimens in the workshops, but not only. Fossils from various places in the world were also processed (especially from China and Madagascar). I have admired two complete ichthyosaurs skeletons, that were estimated by their owners to about 12,000 pounds (about 2-3 specimens are found per year in places submitted to tides; helicopters are needed for the transport of blocks from the outcrop to the workshop). In the last days of my stay Ive also visited School of Ocean and Earth Science and Southampton (the quay, the Tudor House, Red Lion, Wellington pub etc). Mr. J.E.A. Marshall and Mr. Ian Troth have introduced me to their offices, laboratories, library, collections etc., as well as to their main fields of research interest. I have spent several pleasant palaeontological days. Palaeontology is here more than a science, it represents a modus vivendi (including business),

este mai mult dect o disciplin sau o pasiune, este un fel de a tri (inclusive ca business), un alter-ego pentru unii oameni. Aa cum majoritatea oamenilor de la noi, din zona de munte, au puse n camere coarne de cerb i licere, aa n casele n care am intrat erau vitrine cu amonii, diplome pentru contribuii aduse cunoaterii amoniilor de ctre oameni, care nu aveau o pregtire n universiti. Se cunoteau foarte bine ntre ei, aveau opinii contrare despre filogenia lor, luau n derdere afirmaii ale unor paleontologi celebri, care au lucrat n regiune. Ajuns aici, mi fac datoria de a-i aminti (aa cum apar in Ghidul oficial pentru Coasta Dorset-o cltorie n timp: William Smith (1769-1839), ntemeietorul stratigrafiei; William Buckland (1784-1856); Adam Sedwick (1785-1873); William Conybeare (1787-1857); Gideon Mantell (1790-1852), cel care a semnalat pentru prima dat dinosaurii prin dinti de Iguanodon; Roderick Impey Murchison (17921871); Henry de la Beche (1796-1855); Charles Lyell (1797-1875); Mary Anning (1799-1847), care cercetat tiinific primele schelete de reptile marine, primul schelet de Ichthyosaurus, fiind gsit de un frate al su, aa cum este menionat n muzeul din Lyme Regis; Richard Owen, Louis Agassiz (1807-1873), Samuel Husbands Beckles (1814-1890), apoi lista poate continua pn astazi, iar n viitor este posibil s includ i pe unii dintre colegii mei englezi. ________________________________________

an alter-ego for some people. In a similar way as the people from the mountainous areas in Romania who put stag horns on display, these people have showcases with ammonites and diplomas for special contributions to the study of ammonites. Most of these people did not have any academic degree in the field. These people knew each other, they had contraadictory opinions on the ammonite phylogeny, were mocked at the statements of famous palaeontologists who had worked in the area. In this point, I have to mention some names - as presented in the Official Guide for Dorset Coast a trip to the past: William Smith (1769-1839), the father of stratigraphy; William Buckland (1784-1856); Adam Sedwick (1785-1873); William Conybeare (1787-1857); Gideon Mantell (1790-1852), who first mentioned the dinosaurs with Iguanodon teeth; Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871); Henry de la Beche (1796-1855); Charles Lyell (1797-1875); Mary Anning (1799-1847), who studied scientifically the first skeletons of marine reptiles, the first skeleton of Ichthyosaurus being found by one of her brothers as mentioned in the museum from Lyme Regis; Richard Owen, Louis Agassiz (1807-1873), Samuel Husbands Beckles (1814-1890); the list may continue in the present, and the future may bring also the names of some of my British colleagues. ________________________________________

Eugen Gradinaru (Bucuresti)

Participari la reuniuni stiintifice internationale: Triassic Geochronology and Cyclostratigraphy - a field symposium. St Christina / Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy, 11-13 September 2003. Reuniunea a fost consacrata prezentarii datelor obtinute in urma unor cercetari multidisciplinare (lito-, bio-, magneto- si cronostratigrafice) derulate in cadrul programului "Seceda Coring Project". Studiile au fost efectuate de cercetatori din Elvetia, Italia, Olanda si Germania. Reuniunea a fost organizata de P.Brack (Zurich), W.Schlager (Amsterdam) si M.Stefani (Ferrara). Tema principala a reuniunii a fost calibrarea timpului in intervalul stratigrafic al Triasicului prin aplicarea unor metode independente, geocronologice (datari radiometrice) si ciclostratigrafice (calibrari orbitale). Comunicarile din prima zi a reuniunii au fost concentrate pe problema corelarii, de mare rezolutie, a depozitelor bazinale ale Formatiunii de Buchenstein cu depozitele platformei carbonatice de Latemar, acumulate in intervalul Anisian superior-Ladinian. Comunicarile prezentate in a

Eugen Gradinaru (Bucharest)

Participation to international scientific meetings: Triassic Geochronology and Cyclostratigraphy - a field symposium. St Christina / Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy, 11-13 September 2003. The meeting was focused on the presentation of the results of multidisciplinary research (litho-, bio, magneto- and chronostratigraphy) in the frame of the "Seceda Coring Project". The studies were performed by experts from Switzerland, Italy, Holland, and Germany. The meeting was organised by P. Brack (Zurich), W. Schlager (Amsterdam), and M. Stefani (Ferrara). The main topic was represented by the calibration of the Triassic by applying independent methods, geochronology (radiometric dating), and cyclostratigraphy (orbital calibrations). The presentations in the first day were focused on high resolution correlation issues in basinal deposits of Buchenstein Formation with the deposits of the carbonate platform of Latemar, accumulated during the Upper Anisian-Ladinian interval. In the second day, the major topic was the orbital control

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doua zi a reuniunii au avut ca tema majora controlul orbital al ciclurilor care caracterizeaza evolutia platformelor carbonatice din intervalul Triasicului superior. Exemplificarile si discutiile au fost focalizate in principal asupra platformei carbonatice de Latemar din Dolomiti, dar si din alte regiuni. Reuniunea a fost urmata de doua excursii, prima consacrata examinarii succesiunii stratigrafice a Formatiunii de Buchenstein, ce de a doua examinarii platformei carbonatice de Latemar. Domenii de interes in domeniul studiilor paleontologice si stratigrafice: 1- Studiul faunelor de ammoniti din Jurasicul inferior si superior al Dobrogei de Nord. 2- Studiul faunelor de ammonoidee din intervalul Spathian-Anisian inferior, cu referire la limita Triasic inferior/Triasic mediu. 3- Studiul faunelor de nautiloidee din Triasicul Dobrogei de Nord, in colaborare cu Dr.Evgeny Sobolev de la Academia Rusa de Stiinte, filiala siberiana din Novosibirsk. 4- Studiul brachiopodelor din Calcarul de Enisala (Dobrogea de Nord), in colaborare cu Dr.A.Barbulescu si E.Owen. Lucrari publicate: 1- Vraconian age of the Enisala Limestone from the Babadag Basin (North Dobrogea Orogene): Lepthoplites enisalaensis new species. Studii si cercetari de Geologie, 47 (2002), 55-63, 2 fig.-text, 1 pl. 2- Age of the Brasov Formation Jekelius, 19195, by cephalopods. Analele stiintifice ale Universitatii "Al.I.Cuza" Iasi, Geologie, 67 (2001), 135-141, 1 fig.-text, 2 pl.

of the cycles that characterised the evolution of carbonate platforms during the Upper Triassic. The examples and discussions mainly referred to the carbonate platform of Latemar from the Dolomites, but also to other regions. The meeting was followed by two field trips, the first devoted to the study of the stratigraphical succession of the Buchenstein Formation, and the second to the examination of the carbonate platform of Latemar. Fields of interest in palaeontology and stratigraphy: 1- the study of Lower and Upper Jurassic ammonites of Northern Dobrogea. 2- the study of ammonoidean fauna in the Spathian-Lower Anisian interval, mainly referring to the Lower/Middle Triassic limit. 3- the study of the nautiloidean fauna from the Triassic deposits of Northern Dobrogea, (in cooperation with Dr. Evgeny Sobolev from the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Novosibirsk Branch). 4- the study of brachiopods from the Enisala Limestone (Norther Dobrogea) (in co-operation with Dr. A. Barbulescu and E. Owen. Published papers: 1- Vraconian age of the Enisala Limestone from the Babadag Basin (North Dobrogea Orogene): Lepthoplites enisalaensis new species. Studii si cercetari de Geologie, 47 (2002), 55-63, 2 fig.-text, 1 pl. 2- Age of the Brasov Formation Jekelius, 19195, by cephalopods. Analele stiintifice ale Universitatii "Al.I.Cuza" Iasi, Geologie, 67 (2001), 135-141, 1 fig.-text, 2 pl. ________________________________________

____________________________________ Mihai E. Popa (Bucharest) Mihai E. Popa (Bucureti)

- in aprilie 2004 am avut prima intilnire de lucru la Sofia, a proiectului IGCP 469 intitulat "Late Variscans biotas and paleoenvironments", unde am prezentat o sinteza a Carboniferului din Romania. S-a organizat o excursie pe teren pe Valea Iskerului. Urmatoarea intilnire va avea loc la Freiberg, in Octombrie 2004, apoi la Cardiff, in aprilie 2005 si la Bucuresti, in septembrie 2005, prilej cu care se va organiza si o excursie de teren pentru Paleozoicul din Banat; - in mai-iunie 2004 am lucrat la Muzeul Field din Chicago, pe colectia de plante fosile colectata din Tara lui Jameson, Groenlanda de NE. Proiectul de colaborare pe tema plantelor triasice- jurasice este de lunga durata, el include vizite periodice de lucru la Field, rolul meu fiind acela de sistematician, - in April 2004 the first business meeting of IGCP 469 project on "Late Variscans biotas and paleoenvironments" took place in Sofia; there Ive presented a synthetic overview on the Carboniferous from Romania. A field trip was organised on Isker Valley. The next project meeting will be held in Freiberg, in October 2004, then in Cardiff, in April 2005 and then in Bucharest, in September 2005 when also a field trip will be organised in Banat region, regarding the Paleozoic deposits; - in May-June 2004 I worked at the Field Museum in Chicago, on the fossil plant collection from Jameson Land, NE Greenland in the frame of the long-term project concerning Triassic Jurassic Museum, where I will be involved in the systematic, taxonomic and stratigraphical study.

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taxonomist si stratigraf. Cu cazia vizitei la Chicago, am putut intreprinde o serie de excursii pe teren in Illinois, la Mazon Creek (fossile Lagerstatte) si am tinut o conferinta la colegiul DuPage; - in iulie-august 2004 am participat in Tara lui Jameson, la o expeditie finantata de NASA, pentru a colecta plante fosile, in vederea dezvoltarii unei teme majore privitoare la schimbarile globale de la limita Triasic-Jurasic. Echipa include 5 oameni, de la Copenhaga (1), Chicago (2), Oxford (1) si Bucuresti (eu). Rolul meu in echipa este acelasi (sistematica, stratigrafie, taxonomie); - din punct de vedere publicistic, lucrez acum la incheierea monografiei paleobotanice a Paleozoicului din Bazinul Resita (in limba engleza), la cursul de Palinologie si la citeva manuscrise privitoare la florele jurasice din Carpatii de sud, Suedia si Groenlanda; ________________________________________

On the occasion of my visit to Chicago, I also visited several outcrops in Illinois, at Mazon Creek (fossile Lagerstatte) and I presented a conference at DuPage College; - in July-August 2004 I took part at a NASAfinanced expedition in Jameson Land for collecting fossil plants as a preliminary documentation for a major research topic on global changes at the Triassic-Jurassic limit. The team includes 5 experts, from Copenhagen (1), Chicago (2), Oxford (1) and Bucharest (myself). My attributions in the team are the same (systematics, stratigraphy, taxonomy); - regarding the publications, I am currently finalising the monograph on Paleozoic palaeobotany in Resita Basin (in English), the Palinology textbook, and several manuscripts on the Jurassic flora from South Carpathians, Sweden and Greenland; ________________________________________

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APARITII EDITORIALE
Radu Olteanu: Darwinismul n cutarea ordinei sau sofismul n paleontologie, Editura Enciclipedic, Bucureti, 2000
Cartea scris de Dr. Radu Olteanu, eminent specialist n paleontologia ostracodelor neogene, este fr ndoial unic n peisajul publicisticii de specialitate de la noi. Doresc sa spun de la bun nceput c am citit aceast carte nu numai cu interes ci si cu o plcere intelectual deosebit. Orice teorie tiinific conine n ea un smbure de filozofie. Teoria evoluiei, prin insi substana ei, predispune la filozofare. Modul n care Radu Olteanu a reuit s folozofeze, navignd prin substana acestei teorii, este captivant. Dou lucruri m-au fascinat ndeosebi: pe de o parte balansul continuu ntre tiin i cultur (realitile tiinifice sunt frecvent pigmentate cu analogii izvorte dintr-o hran cultural de sorginte aleas) i, pe de alt parte, echilibrul ndoielii (dac mi se permite s spun aa), continua punere sub semnul ntrebrii a dogmelor, ceea ce constituie, n ultim instan, sursa progresului. n tiin, ns, teoria este ntotdeauna necesar, permindu-i cercettorului s pun ordine n haosul aparent al naturii. Sau, cum spune autorul: Din perspectiva existenei vieii ealonate pe aproape 4 miliarde de ani, de la prima monad la om, a explica totul prin jocul ntmplarii sau al inevitabilitaii legilor biologice este pn la urm opiunea cercettorului (o libertate constrns de teorie). Dar dac ntmplarea nu poate fi ordonat, istoria cunoscut a vieii sugereaz totui direcii i sensuri, deci existena unor legi generale care le guverneaz i care, n principiu, pot fi cunoscute. Faptul c tim puin despre unele sau c altele sau dovedit false, nu este un argument mptriva existenei lor. nsi biostratigrafia cu imperfeciunile ei perfectibile, este n esen o metod de a descoperii legile marilor cicluri faunistice i a continuitii vieii mereu n schimbare. Adesea, nu modul n care cutm rspunsurile difer, ci locul n care le cutm.(p.60). Raportarea pe care autorul o face la devenirea lumii vii, aa cum este ea ilustrat n nregistrarea paleontologic, este cu att mai interesant cu ct exemplul prezentat, dezvoltat pe mai mult de jumtate din carte, cel al arhipelagului Sarmaian, este unul supus

RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Radu Olteanu: Darwinismul n cutarea ordinei sau sofismul n paleontologie, Editura Enciclipedic, Bucureti, 2000 (Darwinism in the search for order, or sophism in palaeontology)
The book of Dr. Radu Olteanu, who is a well-known expert in the palaeontology of Neogene ostracods, is without any doubt unique in the specialised editorial landscape in Romania. I have to mention that from the beginning I read this book not only with interest, but also with a special intellectual delight. Any scientific theory includes a philosophical core. The evolution theory, by its intrinsic nature, involves a philosophical component. The way in which Radu Olteanu managed to mark his journey through the philosophical component of this theory is fascinating. Two things impressed me most: first, the balance between science and culture (the scientific realities are often pigmented with similarities fed from a high-quality cultural background), and secondly, the balance of doubt (if I may say so), i.e. the continuous questioning of dogmas which is, finally, the source of progress. In science however, theory is always a pre-requisite that allows the researcher to order the supposed chaos of nature. Or, as mentioned by the author: From the perspective of life spanning over 4 billion years, from the first monade to the human beings, a researcher is free to select various ways to explain either as chance or inevitable biological rules (freedom constrained by theory). But even if chance may not be ordered, the known history of life however suggests directions and senses , thus general rules that are governing and may thus be recognised. The fact that there is little knowledge in some cases or that some theories proved to be wrong is in fact not an argument against their existence. For example, biostratigraphy - with its perfectible imperfections, is basically a tool in the discovery of the rules of the great faunal cycles and of the continuity of ever-changing life. Often there is no difference in the way in which we search for answers, but in the place (p.60). The authors view on the changes in the living world, as illustrated by the palaeontological record, is extremely interesting due to his selection regarding the study case of the Sarmatian archipelago, presented on more than half of the

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particularitilor n comparaie cu alte siteme marine clasice. A face ordine ntr-o astfel de lume duce adesea la autoritarism i dogmatism. Sau, cum superb spune autorul: Parafraznd un cunoscut filozof, am putea spune i noi c principala primejdie care amenin biostratigrafia este spiritul ei scolastic, care trateaz ceea ce este vag ca i cum ar fi precis, iar accidentului local I se atribuie valoare general. Succesiunea real a faunelor este mutilat de schem i ascuns n spatele unei gndiri care nu descoper, ci afirm eliminnd ndoiala, dar nu ambiguitatea. Confirmarea autoritii devine scop, iar cercetarea se transform n adeziune, decizia fiind mereu aprioric. Problema speciei i speciaiei este una a timpului unic, univoc i egal pentru toi, iar doctrina succesiunii i subordoneaz orice transformare individual, obnnd un beneficiu efemer. Faptul c n acelai timp pot coexista biocenoze cu ritmuri i procese diferite sau asemntoare, este eludat cu desvrire. Speciaia este privit ca un mar cazon, general i disciplinat, cu o direcie unic (p.254). Dar tocmai acest sistem aparte pare sa-i sugereze autorului cheia nelegerii fnomenelor la scar general: Fr ndoial existena ecosistemului salmastru al Paratethysului este un noroc pentru paleontologi. Studiul istoriei lui poate deconspira mecanismele <<secrete>> ale apariiilor i extinciilor, ale transformrilor i evenimentelor. Altfel spus, <<istoria vzut la lucru>> (p.307). O umbr de pesimism ncheie aceast abordare: Paratethysul a beneficiat de energia a dou generaii de paleontologi romni, rui, cehi, austrieci, francezi i bulgari care i-au descifrat secretele. Paleontologi de acelai calibru e puin probabil s mai apar ntr-o lume care nu mai tie s se mire i s se ntrebe. Paleontologia a devenit o disciplin de lux, absolut gratuit i care nu ofer nici un rspuns la ntrebarea: asta la ce folosete? (p.308) Concluzia lucrrii pare s contrazic aceast doz de pesimism prin nsi titlul ei: Ultima introducere. Chiar dac este ultima pentru unul sau altul dintre noi, o introducere este ntotdeauna un nceput. Experienta de o via n studiul sistemului Sarmaian este concentrat de autor, filozofic, n aceste rnduri: Fr nici o ndoial biostratigrafia faciesurilor salmastre se zbate n plin manierism. n dialogul ei cu fauna, biostratigrafia a reuit s se lase mbibat cu prea multe sofisme folosind aceleai metode aplicate cu succes n faciesurile marine (mai mult sau mai puin constante), unde determinismul ecologic are o implicaie minor. De

extent of the book. This particular case shows many peculiarities as compared to other classical marine systems. The attempt to order such an universe may often lead to authoritarianism and dogmatism. Or, as superbly expressed by the author: By paraphrasing a well-known philosopher, we could state that the main danger of biostratigraphy is its scholastic spirit, that interprets the vagueness as preciseness and attributes a general value to local accidents. The real succession of faunas is mutilated by paradigms and covered behind a way of thinking that does not discover, but releases statements which remove doubt but not ambiguity. The confirmation of authority becomes a goal in itself, and research turns into adhesion, the decision being always a priori. The issue of species and speciation has to be put in a unique, unequivocal, equal for all time frame, and the doctrine of succession subdues any individual transformation for an ephemeral benefit. The coexistence of biocenoses with different or similar rhythms and processes is completely forgotten. Speciation is considered as a military march, with a constant and disciplined step and a unique direction (p.254). However, this particular system seems to suggest the author the key for the understanding of phenomena at a general scale: There is no doubt that the understanding of brackish ecosystem of Paratethys has to be considered as good fortune for palaeontologists. The study of its history may reveal the <<secret>> mechanisms of occurrences and extinctions, of transformation and events. Or, said differently, <<a working history>> (p.307). A shadow of pessimism concludes this approach: Paratethys benefited of the energy of two generations of Romanian, Russian, Czech, Austrian, French and Bulgarian palaeontologists that have revealed its secrets. Researchers of a similar calibre is less probable to occur in a world that forgot to wonder and put questions. Palaeontology has become a completely free luxury science that does not offer any answer to the question: what for? (p.308) The conclusion of the book seems to contradict this pessimism through the title proper The last introduction. Even if it is the last for one or another among us, an introduction is always a starting. The life-time experience of the author in the study of the Sarmatian system is concentrated philosophically in the following lines: Undoubtedly the biostratigraphy of the brackish facies is struggling with a clear mannerism trend. In its dialogue with fauna, biostratigraphy managed to

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fapt, nsi biostratigrafia este mai nti o idee verosimil, logic n esena ei (o populaie se schimb, o comunitate se schimb, faunele n ansamblul lor se schimb n timp, deci timpul poate fi cuantificat), plecnd de la adevrul perfect logic al superpoziiei stratelor, dar i un uria sofism care vrea i uneori reuete s ofere o succesiune de uniti faunistice de la foarte vechi spre foarte nou, folosind uniti nu numai variabile, dar i inconstante. Este deci o ideologie care se susine printr-o alta, a schimbrii, dar i a evoluiei organismelor i care la rndul ei este adevrat n principiu i contestat n detalii. Specia, instrumentul de lucru al evoluiei ct i al biostratigrafiei este <<ceva real cnd nu sunt ntrebat i ireal cnd ncerc s-o definesc>> ca s-l parafrazm pe Sf. Augustin. Totul devine un metasofism care ncepe cu o dorin sau o intenie spre ordine venit din gndirea logic (structur nascut, deci bilogic), se continu cu ceva verosimil, dar care lucreaz cu vag. Ct este utopie i ct real n acest ordine imaginat? n biostratigrafie exist mai ales subiectiviti creatoare de opinii. Fosilele exist pentru c exist (<<Ceea ce este existent nu este gndit>> susinea Gorgias), dar gndirea lor este inevitabil supus unei logici specifice mai mult sau mai puin aproape de adevr. Am vzut nu puine cazuri n care <<melcul sau broasca e acelai lucru>> cum spunea un personaj al lui Eugen Ionescu (n <<Delir n doi>>). Pn la urm nici asta nu este o dram, o greaeal n paleontologie sau biostratigrafie nu omoar pe nimeni. Existena sofismului logic, a non-sensului sau a situaiilor absurde ne oblig s acceptm a ele totui exist. Dar un pseudo-raionament poate totui mpinge cercetarea ntr-o direcie fr direcie, iar demonstrarea greselii rmne imposibil inocenilor. Sub aparena certitudinii logice, sofismul contient sau nu, mascheaz sau altereaz reflexia.(p.308-309) Cartea lui Radu Olteanu este una dintre puinele cri care nu ncearc s ne conving impunndu-ne argumente, care, aa cum spune autorul, pot fi ntotdeauna supuse greelii, ci ne ndeamn la reflexie. A-i pune ntrebri valoreaz adesea mult mai mult dect a da rspunsuri. Plcerea deosebit cu care se citete aceast carte i satisfacia intelectual pe care i-o ofer spiritul ce o strbate, sunt parial umbrite de mult prea multe greeli de tipar presrate prin tot textul. O astfel de carte ar fi meritat o mai mare atenie din partea editurii, care se vrea, de altfel, una de marc. Vreau totui s cred c Darwinismul n cutarea ordinii este o carte care nvinge orice

let itself soaked with too many sophistry by using the same methods successfully applied in the study of (more or less constant) marine facies, where the ecological determinism is a minor factor. In fact, biostratigraphy is first of all a plausible idea with a logical essence (a population may change, a community may change, the assemblage of faunas may change in time, thus time may be quantified) starting from the perfectly logical truth of the superposition of strata, but in the same time it is a huge sophism that is intended sometimes successfully, to offer a succession of faunal units from very old to very new by using variable and, more than that, inconstant measures. It is thus an ideology supported by the ideology of change, but also by that of the evolution of organisms in its turn basically true but contestable in details. The species, as the tool of evolution and of biostratigraphy as well, represents <<something real when I am not questioned about, and something irreal when I try to define >>, as a paraphrase to St. Augustin. Everything is turning into metasophism starting with a desire or intention - coming from the logical way of thinking (a bi-logical, inherited structure) for ordering elements, it continues with a plausible stage, but which operates with vagueness. How much represents utopia and how much is real in this imaginative order? Biostratigraphy is mainly dominated by subjectivities that lead to trends. The fossils exist because they exist (<<What exists is not thought>> said Gorgias), but the thinking about them is inevitably exposed to a specific logic more or less close to the truth. I have seen several cases in which <<the snail or the frog are the same>> as stated by a character in a theatre play of Eugen Ionescu (<<Delirium for two>>). Finally this is not a real drama, a mistake in palaeontology or biostratigraphy does not kill anyone. The existence of logical sophism, of nonsense or absurd situations however oblige us to admit that they occur. But a pseudo-rationale may still puss research towards a direction without direction and the proof for the mistake may stay beyond of the reach of non-advised. Under the cover of logical certitude, the more or less conscientious sophism hides or alters reflection (p.308-309) The book of Radu Olteanu is among the few of its kind that does not try to convince by imposed arguments which according to the author, may always be submitted to mistakes, but invites the reader to reflection. Asking questions is often more valuable than answering them. The special delight of the reader of this book and the intellectual satisfaction brought by the spirit of

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pesimism i demonstreaz c paleontologia este i va fi viabil, fie i numai ca act de cultur.

(Ioan I. Bucur) ___________________________________

the book are partly shadowed by the too numerous and ubiquitous spelling mistakes. Such a book would have deserved a more careful treatment from the publisher, which however considers itself a prestigious one. I still would like to believe that Darwinism in the search for order may conquer any kind of pessimism and prove that palaeontology still is, and will continue to be viable, even if only as a cultural approach.

(Ioan I. Bucur) ____________________________________ Ilie Turcule: Paleontologia Jurasicului i Cretacicului din Raru, Editura Junimea Iai, 2004
Studiile paleontologice din anul 2004 s-au mbogit cu nc o lucrare deosebit a distinsului prof.dr. Ilie Turcule, de la Catedra de GeologiePaleontologie, a Facultii de Geografie-Geologie din cadrul Universitii Al. I. Cuza Iai. Materialul, adunat n decenii de teren, este sintetizat n trei capitole care trateaz Jurasicul i Cretacicul din Raru. Primul capitol se refer la biostratigrafia depozitelor jurasice i cretacice din arii carpatice, cu referire special asupra Sinclinalului RaruBreaza. Este prezentat o sintez a datelor litobiostratigrafice a acestor depozite din Pnza Bucovinic i Pnzele Transilvane. Jurasicul Pnzei bucovinice este prezentat diferit pe cele dou flancuri dup cum urmeaz: Doggerul de pe flancul intern, n sectorul Breaza-Ttarca i din sectorul Tarnia-Clifele, de unde a fost identificat o faun bogat de molute, punndu-se accent pe inventarul bionomic; Malmul, dezvoltat pe flancul extern, n Sinclinalul Raru-Breaza ct i Hghima, punndu-se accent pe Formaiunea cu Aptychus din Sinclinalul Raru-Breaza, de unde autorul a identificat o bogat faun de aptihi, dar i taxoni de tintinide, amonii, foraminifere, cefalopode i plante. Cretacicul Pnzei Bucovinice este prezentat din dou uniti: brecia subconglomeratic de pe Valea Moldovei, unde a fost completat fauna deja cunoscut prin cteva specii de belemnii (Terebratulina cf. biauriculata dOrb i Duvalia aff.gquillantona Bessaire; wildfliul care constituie cea mai mare parte din umplutura sinclinalelor Raru i Hghima.

Ilie Turcule: Paleontologia Jurasicului i Cretacicului din Raru, Editura Junimea Iai, 2004 (Palaeontology of Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits from Raru)
The palaeontological studies of the year 2004 were enriched by a special publication of the distinguished Prof. dr. Ilie Turcule, from the Department of Geology-Palaeontology, of the Faculty of Geography-Geology, Al. I. Cuza University in Iai. The material was gathered during decades of field work and is synthesised into three chapters that refer to the Jurassic and Cretaceous in the Raru area. The first chapter concerns the biostratigraphy of the Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits in the Carpathians, with a special reference to the Raru-Breaza Syncline. A synthetic presentation of the litho-biostratigraphical data referring to these deposits in the fice a Bucovinic and Transylvanian Nappes is presented. The Jurassic of the Bucovinic Nappe is treated differently for the two flanks, as follows: - the Dogger on the internal flank, in the BreazaTtarca, and Tarnia-Clifele sectors, where a rich mollusk fauna has been identified. The focus is set on the bionomic inventory; - the Malm, developed along the external flank, in both Raru-Breaza, and Hghima Synclines, with a special focus on the Aptychus Formation in the Raru-Breaza Syncline, where the author had identified a rich fauna of aptychus, but also taxa of tintinids, ammonites, foraminifers, cephalopods and plants. The Cretaceous of the Bucovinic Nappe is presented from two units: - the subconglomeratic breccia from Moldovei Valley, where the already-known fauna was completed by several belemnite species (Terebratulina cf. biauriculata dOrb and Duvalia

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n depozitele de wildfli, se gsesc biohermi de diferite dimensiuni (calcare de tip urgonian) n care s-au evideniat corali, pachiodonte, brachiopode i echinoderme. Este prezentat o list cumulativ a taxonilor menionai de diferii autori, dar i taxoni care vor fi descrii att din Sinclinalul RaruBreaza ct i din Sinclinalul Hghima (prul Oii). Pnzele Transilvane aparin Liasicului i Doggerului, fiind prezentate n funcie de vrsta i poziia pe care o are klippa sau blocul exotic descris. Este de menionat faptul c prezentarea se face doar pentru faunele noi identificate. Pentru klippa sinemurian din Dealul Praca (Sinemurian), foarte bogat n amonii, pe lng taxonii descrii de ali autori se mai adaug apte specii: Limea acuticostata Quenst., Modilolus (Modiolus) giganteus Quenst., Lucinola aff. tenuilimata Cossm., Astarta (Lecamptonia) aff. chartroni Cossm., Zygopleura (Allocosmia) sp., Calliphylloceras sp.2, i Holectypus sp. (gr. H. depressus Leske). Klippa de calcare de pe prul Praca (Pliensbachian) are o bogat faun de belemnii, foraminifere, brachiopode, crinoizi, la care se adaug 5 specii: Pissirhynchia sp., Moisseievia sp., Spiriferina cf. alpina Opp., Nannobelus acutus Mill. i Acrocoelites cf. subrostriformis Vor. Blocurile exotice de pe prul Izvorul Malului (Toarcian) cuprind o scurt descriere a faunei prezentat anterior, la care se adaug 4 speci: Peronoceras aff. subormatum Y&B, Dumortieria sp. (gr. D. levesquei dOrb), Grammoceras sp. i Passaloteuthis sp. (gr. P. bruguierianus dOrb). Klippa de pe panta NV a Dealului mgura (Toarcian-Aalenian) care cuprinde o bogat faun cu amonii, care a fost completat cu 3 specii: Leioceras lineatum Buckman, Leioceras cf. costosum Quenst. i Hudlesonia aff. serodens Buckman. Klippa de greso-calcare de pe prul Fundu Pojortei (Bajocian) care cuprinde o bogie remarcabil de fosile, la care autorul mai adaug 31 de taxoni: Morrisithyris uniformis Seifert, Trigonia (Trigonia) elongata Sow, Mactromya cf. varicosa Sow etc. Klippa de calcare oolitice, negre de pe Valea Seac (Bathonian) cu numeroase resturi de molute (Oxycerites fallax radiatiformis Wetzel etc, la care autorul completeaz inventarul cu nc 9 specii: Sharpirhynchia aff. acutiplicata Brown, Goniorhychia buneti Dav. etc. Capitolul doi al lucrrii cuprinde cteva probleme de ocrotire i conservare a siturilor geologice de vrst jurasic i cretacic din Sinclinalul Raru.

aff.gquillantona Bessaire); - the wildflysch, constituting most of the filling of the Raru, and Hghima Synclines. Within the wildflysch deposits bioherms of various sizes can be found (urgonian-type limestones) consisting of corals, pachyodonts, brachiopods and echinoderms. A cumulative list of the taxa mentioned by various authors is presented, but also taxa that are described from both RaruBreaza, and Hghima (Oii brook) synclines. The Transylvanian Nappes belong to the Lias and Dogger, being presented according to the age and the relative position of the described klippe or erratic block. It is worth to mention that the presentation refers only to the newly-identified fauna. In the case of the Sinemurian klippe from Praca Hill, very rich in ammonites, besides the taxa described by other authors, 7 species were added: Limea acuticostata Quenst., Modilolus (Modiolus) giganteus Quenst., Lucinola aff. tenuilimata Cossm., Astarta (Lecamptonia) aff. chartroni Cossm., Zygopleura (Allocosmia) sp., Calliphylloceras sp.2, and Holectypus sp. (gr. H. depressus Leske). The limestone klippe from Praca brook (Pliensbachian) shows a rich belemnite, foraminifer, brachiopod, and crinoid fauna, besides which 5 new species were added: Pissirhynchia sp., Moisseievia sp., Spiriferina cf. alpina Opp., Nannobelus acutus Mill., and Acrocoelites cf. subrostriformis Vor. The erratic blocks from the Izvorul Malului brook (Toarcian) include a fauna containing some of the above-mentioned species, to which 4 new species were added: Peronoceras aff. subormatum Y&B, Dumortieria sp. (gr. D. levesquei dOrb), Grammoceras sp., and Passaloteuthis sp. (gr. P. bruguierianus dOrb). The klippe from the NWrn slope of Mgura Hill (Toarcian-Aalenian) including a rich ammonite fauna was extended with 3 new species: Leioceras lineatum Buckman, Leioceras cf. costosum Quenst., and Hudlesonia aff. serodens Buckman. The sandstone-limestone klippe from Fundu Pojortei brook (Bajocian) is very rich in fossils. To the previous list, the authors adds 31 taxa: Morrisithyris uniformis Seifert, Trigonia (Trigonia) elongata Sow, Mactromya cf. varicosa Sow etc. The oolitic black limestone klippe from Valea Seac (Bathonian) showing numerous mollusk rests (Oxycerites fallax radiatiformis Wetzel etc, is now enriched with 9 new species described by the author: Sharpirhynchia aff. acutiplicata Brown, Goniorhychia buneti Dav. etc.

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Autorul justific acest deziderat de conservare a acestora ndeosebi prin faptul c multe din aflorimente au o faun unic n Carpaii Orientali. Al treilea capitol este de sistematic i prezint peste 400 de taxoni, pentru fiecare fiind specificat numrul de exemplare, colecia din care provine, formaiunea n care a fost gsit, vrsta i plana pe care poate fi vzut. Este cel mai important i complex capitol al lucrrii unde cei interesai pot gsi toate detaliile privind materialul prezentat. Urmeaz apoi o bibliografie cu 184 de titluri, un index alfabetic al taxonilor descrii, o schi geologic a sectorului sudic al Sinclinalului RaruBreaza i 32 de plane cu bogatul material ilustrativ descris n lucrare. Cuvintele noastre reprezint un mod prea umil pentru a putea descrie volumul de munc adunat n aceast lucrare, iar emoia de a scrie cteva rnduri despre profesorul Ilie Turcule ne copleete. Credem cu trie c prin noutile aduse aceast lume a formelor de mult apuse va putea fi ndrgit i de generaiile viitoare, pasionate de lumea minunat a fosilelor.

(Liviu Popescu, Daniela Popescu)

_________________________________
Codrea A.V., Petrescu I. & Dica E.P. (eds.) Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, vol.IV. Editura Supergraph, Cluj-Napoca, 2004.
Lucrrile celui de-al 4-lea Simpozion Romn de Paleontologie au aprut, la ceva mai bine de un an de la desfsurarea manifestrii, constituind o activitate editorial dvenit deja tradiional i ntregind activitatea Societii pe ultimii doi ani. Pe parcursul a 502 pagini (din care 107 plane cu fotografii !) se desfoar coninutul a 46 de contribuii, aranjate n volum n ordinea alfabetic a autorilor. Tematica lucrarilor cuprinde ntreaga gam a domeniului paleontologic, de la paleobotanic la paleontologia nevertebratelor i vertebratelor, la micropaleontologie, biostratigrafie, sistematic i evoluie, paleoecologie i reconstituiri de paleomedii. Valoarea intrinsec a volumului este ridicat n mod evident de publicarea nor taxoni (genuri i specii) noi, e.g. lucrrile lui Iamandei & Iamandei (p.137), Neagu & Crnaru (p.269, p.277), Popescu & Crihan (p.403), Schlagintweit & Dragastan (p. 455). Prin revizuirea articolelor de ctre cel puin un referent (dar cel mai adesea de ctre doi) s-a urmrit de asemenea pstrarea calitii publicatiei. Dac adugm la

The second chapter of the book contains some aspects related to the preservation and conservation of the Jurassic and Cretaceous geological sites from Raru Syncline. The authors arguments are related to the fact that many of these outcrops contain a unique fauna within the East Carpathians. The third chapter is a systematic presentation of more than 400 taxa, for each of them the number of specimens, collection, geological formation, age and illustrative plate being indicated. It represents the most important and complex chapter of the book, where those interested may find all the details on the presented material. A reference list containing 184 titles, an alphabetic index of the described taxa, a geological sketch of the southern part of the Raru-Breaza Syncline, and 32 plates illustrating the material include, follow. Our words are too humble to describe the volume of work gathered into this book, and we are also overwhelmed by emotion when writing about Prof. Ilie Turcule. We strongly believe that the new data in the volume will be greatly appreciated also by the future generations passionate by the wonderful world of fossils.

(Liviu Popescu, Daniela Popescu)

_________________________________
Codrea A.V., Petrescu I. & Dica E.P. (eds.) Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, vol.IV. Editura Supergraph, Cluj-Napoca, 2004.
The contributions to the 4th Romanian Palaeontological Symposium have been published after more than one year from the meeting, as one of the traditional editorial events that fulfil the activity of the Society in the last two years. The volume contains 46 papers representing 502 pages (of which 107 plates with photographs !), arranged in an alphabetical order of the authors. The topics cover the full range of Palaeontology, from Palaeobotanics to Invertebrate and Vertebrate Palaeontology, to Micropalaeontology, Biostratigraphy, Systematics and Evolution, Palaeoecology and Environmental Reconstruction. The intrinsic value of the volume is obviously increased by the publication of new taxa (genera and species), e.g. in the papers of Iamandei & Iamandei (p.137), Neagu & Crnaru (p.269, p.277), Popescu & Crihan (p.403), Schlagintweit & Dragastan (p. 455). The papers have been reviewed by at least one expert (but in most cases

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acestea calitatea grafic excelent, putem afirma c ne aflm n faa unei realizri de excepie, care se nscrie ca cel mai semnificativ eveniment al Societii n 2004. Singurul repro care li s-ar putea aduce editorilor este faptul c nu au oferit autorilor posibilitatea unei relecturi a manuscrisului n pre-print, pentru a elimina eventuale ultime inconsistene (repro pe care l putem face, de altfel, i editorilor volumelor I i III). Dincolo de aceasta, ns, eforturile legate de organizarea i editarea materialului, ca i abilitatea de a obine forndurile necesare publicrii volumului, constituie, pe lng valoarea acestuia i aspectul lui grafic, motive eseniale pentru care echipa editoarial merit din plin laudele i mulumirile noastre.

(Ioan I. Bucur)

by two), in the intention of preserving the quality of the publication. If adding also the excellent graphical presentation, we can conclude that the volume and exceptional achievement and thus the most significant event of the Society in 2004. The only criticism one may bring to the editors is the fact that the authors did not have the opportunity of re-reading the manuscript in the pre-print, for removing the last possible inconsistencies (the same can be said to the editors of the volumes I and III). However, the efforts related to the organisation and editing of the materials, as well as the editors ability of obtaining the needed funds for the publication constitute - besides the intrinsic scientific value and graphical presentation - essential arguments for congratulating and acknowledging the editorial team.

(Ioan I. Bucur)
________________________________________

________________________________________

MANIFESTARI TIINIFICE
Al 32-lea Congres Geologic Internaional Florena, august 2004
Un eveniment att de amplu i important, organizat n centrul istoric al Florenei, a fost un real succes att ca participare (peste 7000 participani), ct i ca organizare (un progres clar fa de congresul anterior desfurat la Rio de Janeiro). Geologia romneasc a fost reprezentat de cteva zeci de persoane venite de la universiti i institute de cercetare, dar i de la firme din industrie. n spaiul generos de la Fortezza da Basso s-a organizat un spaiu expoziional cuprinznd standuri ale rilor participante, ale instituiilor cu profil geologic i editurilor de prestigiu. Comunicrile au fost organizate in cteva zeci de sli moderne, echipate cu toate facilitile necesare, unele dintre ele reuit convertite din spaii iniial cu destinaie militar. Numrul comunicrilor interesante a fost extrem de mare, avnd att subiecte din domeniile clasice ale geologiei, ct i din domenii de tranziie sau relativ recent iniiate, inclusiv nouti absolute asupra geologiei planetei Marte. Chiar dac a prut n regres fa de alte subiecte, paleontologia aplicat s-a regsit n numeroase

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS
The 32nd International Geological Congress Florence, August 2004
This ample and important event, organised in the historical centre of Florence represented a real success as far as the participation (more than 7000 persons), and the organisation work (a real progress as compared to the previous congress that took place in Rio de Janeiro) are concerned. The Romanian geology was represented by some tens of persons coming from universities and research institutes, but also from industrial companies. The generous environment from Fortezza da Basso hosted an exhibition consisting of boots of the participating countries, including the geological institutions and printing houses. The presentations were hosted by tens of modern rooms, perfectlyequipped, some of them being previously used for military purposes. The number of interesting presentation was very high, referring to both classical topics in geology, but also to transitional or relatively recent ones, including absolute news on the geology of Mars. Even if apparently less represented as compared to other topics, the applied Palaeontology was present in numerous poster and oral presentation

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comunicri i postere din domenii foarte variate. Alturi de clasicele aplicaii din stratigrafie i paleoecologie, studiul fosilelor a interferat de multe ori cu subiecte din fizic, chimie, matematic, protecia mediului, arheologie, etc. Workshopurile pe teme specifice de interes major i excursiile, care au mbinat strlucit geologia cu istoria, cultura i pitorescul Italiei, au consolidat succesul congresului.

(Sorin Filipescu) ____________________________________

in a wide range of different fields. Besides the classical applications in Stratigraphy and Palaeoecology, the study of fossils often interfered with subject from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Environmental protection, Archaeology etc. Workshops on specific major topics and the field trips that brilliantly have combined geology with history, culture and picturesque landscape of Italy have consolidated the success of the congress.

(Sorin Filipescu) ____________________________________ Workshop of IGCP 463, Romania, August 15-18, 2004 Lithology and biostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous red marine formations in the Carpathian area.
During 15-18.08.2004, GEOECOMAR has organised the Workshop IGCP 463, Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds: Response to Ocean/Climate Global Change (CORBs) in the frame of UNESCO. The workshop consisted in one day of scientific presentations, followed by three days of field work. The 30 participants came from Austria, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Columbia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and USA. The official opening took place at the Geological Museum in 15.08.2004. The welcome was given by Prof. Dr. Nicolae Panin, correspondent member of the Romanian Academy, General Director of the organising institution. Academician Prof. Dr. Theodor Neagu presented the topics related to the Upper Cretaceous red marine formations in Romania and micropalaeontologicalrelated dating methods. Afterwards, 15 oral presentations and 10 posters were presented. Dr. Robert Scott (USA), one of the co-leaders of the IGCP463 project, has presented the integrated chronostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous red marine formations that cover in the Tethys are the CenomanianMaastrichtian interval, selecting representative sections from the Apennines (Italy), Alps (Austria), Carpathians (Poland and Romania), Caucasus and Tibet as case studies. Prof. Wang Chengshan (China), the other co-leader of IGCP463, introduced new outcrops of red marine formations, recently discovered Tibet. Jaume Gallemi (Spain) and Mihaela Carmen Melinte(Romania) have analysed the carbonate echinids and nannofossils from Formation Capa Rojas (Spain provincesJaen, Murcia and Alicante). The echinid

Workshop of IGCP 463, Romania, August 15-18, 2004 Litologia si biostratigrafia formatiunilor rosii marine Cretacic superioare din arealul carpatic.
In perioada 15-18.08.2004, GEOECOMAR a organizat, sub egida UNESCO, Workshopul IGCP 463, Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds: Response to Ocean/Climate Global Change (CORBs), care a constat dintr-o zi de comunicari stiintifice, urmata de trei zile de teren. Au participat 30 de cercetatori din Austria, Bulgaria, China, Cehia, Columbia, Germania, Polonia, Romania, Spania, Turcia si SUA. Deschiderea festiva a avut loc la Muzeul Geologic, pe data de 15.08.2004. Prof. Dr. Nicolae Panin, m.c. al Academiei Romne, Director General al institutiei organizatore, a urat bun venit participantilor. Academician Prof. Dr. Theodor Neagu a prezentat problematica legata de formatiunile rosii marine cretacic superioare din Romania si modalitati de datare pe baze micropaleontologice. In continuare, au fost prezentate 15 comunicari orale si 10 postere. Dr. Robert Scott (USA), unul dintre co-leaderii IGCP463, a pezentat cronostratigrafia integrata a formatiunilor rosii marine cretacic superioare, distribuite in arealul Tethys in intervalul Cenomanian-Maastrichtian, selectand sectiuni reprezentative din Apenini (Italia), Alpi (Austria), Carpati (Polonia si Romania), Caucaz si Tibet. Prof. Wang Chengshan (China), celalalt co-leader al IGCP463, a facut o prezentare a unor noi aflorimente de formatiuni rosii marine, recent descoperite in Tibet. Jaume Gallemi (Spain) si Mihaela Carmen Melinte (Romania) au analizat echinidele si nannofosilele calcaroase din Formation Capa Rojas (Spania provinciile Jaen, Murcia si Alicante). Asociatia de echinide

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contine frecvent taxonii Rispolia subtrigonata, Homoeaster auberti, Ovulaster gauthieri, O. zignoanus, O. obtusus, Stenonaster tuberculata and Infulaster sp., iar nannofosilele calcaroase indica prezenta Coniacianului (Biozona UC10) si a limitei Coniacian/Santonian (UC11c). Xiumian Hu (China) si Lilian vbenick (Cehia) au prezentat lito- si biostratigrafia formatiunii Rio Fardes (NE Granada, Spania), caracterizata prin prezenta Turonianului (Biozona UC7), a Coniacianului mediu (UC10) si a limitei Coniacian mediu/superior (UC10/?UC11). Ines Wendler (Germania), Stephanie Neuhuber si Michael Wagreich (Austria) au analizat geochimic si biostratigrafic formatiunilor rosii marine din Alpi. Ewa Malata a prezentat foraminiferele din zona externa a Carpatilor Vestici (Polonia). Cea mai veche specie index determinata este Bulbobaculites problematicus (Cenomanian Coniacian inferior). Miroslav Bubik (Cehia) a facut o analiza a paleomediului de sedimentare, pe baza asociatiilor de foraminifere identificate in Unitatea Sileziana (Moravia, Cehia). Mihaela Carmen Melinte, Titus Brustur, Dan Jipa si Stefan Szobotka (Romania) au analizat ocurentele de formatiuni rosii marine din Carpatii Orientali, ajungand la concluzia ca cele mai vechi formatiuni de acest tip debuteaza in Vraconian (in cuprinsul Zonei de Amoniti Stoliczkaia dispar), fiind apoi depuse in intreg in Cretacicul superior (inclusiv in intervalul limitei K/T). In opinia lui smail mer Ylmaz (Turkey) trecerea de la sisturi negre la strate rosii marine indica modificari de la un regim anoxic la unul oxic, ciclicitatea recunoscuta in sectiuni din Anatolia fiind insa caracteristica ciclurilor Milankovitch (durata unui ciclu in sectiunile prezentate fiind intre 34 ka si 57 ka). Asociatii de dinoflagelate caracteristice intervalului Santonian-Campanian au fost identificate de catre Polina Pavlishina (Bulgaria), in formatiunile rosii marine din zona Srednogorie (Bulgaria). In perioada 16-18. 08.2004 participantii la Workshopul IGCP 463 s-au deplasat pe teren, in arealul carpatic, pentru a examina mai multe sectiuni caracteristice formatiunilor rosii marine, descrise in ghidul elaborat de catre Mihaela Carmen Melinte, Titus Brustur, Dan Jipa si Stefan Szobotka Upper Cretaceous marine red beds from Romanian Carpathians a tool for palaeoenvironmental changes si editat de catre GEOECOMAR. In prima zi de teren, participantii au examinat Formatiunea de Gura Beliei la stratotip (Gura Beliei Valea Prahovei) si in sectiunea Pietrosita (Valea Ialomiei), unde marnele rosii au fost sedimentate in intervalul Campanian superior

association frequently contains the taxa Rispolia subtrigonata, Homoeaster auberti, Ovulaster gauthieri, O. zignoanus, O. obtusus, Stenonaster tuberculata and Infulaster sp., and the calcareous nannofossils indicate the presence of Coniacian (Biozone UC10) and of the Coniacian/Santonian limit (UC11c). Xiumian Hu (China) and Lilian vbenick (Czech Republic) have presented the litho- and biostratigraphy of the Rio Fardes Formation (NE Granada, Spain), characterised by the presence of Turonian (Biozone UC7), of Middle Coniacian (UC10) and of the Middle/Upper Coniacian limit (UC10/?UC11). Ines Wendler (Germany), Stephanie Neuhuber and Michael Wagreich (Austria) have investigated the geochemistry and biostratigraphy of the red marine formations in the Alps. Ewa Malata presented the foraminifers in the external area of Western Carpathians (Poland). The oldest index species identified is Bulbobaculites problematicus (Cenomanian Lower Coniacian). Miroslav Bubik (Czech Republic) analysed the sedimentary palaeoenvironment based on the foraminifers association identified in the Silesian Unit (Moravia, Czech Republic). Mihaela Carmen Melinte, Titus Brustur, Dan Jipa and Stefan Szobotka (Romania) have analysed the marine red outcrops in the East Cerpathians and concluded that the oldest formations of this type started in Vraconian (within the Stoliczkaia Ammonite Zone they cease), being subsequently deposited in full during the Upper Cretaceous (including the K/T limit interval). According to smail mer Ylmaz (Turkey) the passage from black schists to red marine beds indicates the transition from an anoxic to an oxic regime, a cyclic pattern that was identified in sections from Anatolia, but being typical for the Milankovitch cycles (in the presented sections, the duration of a cycle being 34 k.y. - 57 k.y.). Typical dinoflagellate associations for the SantonianCampanian interval have been identified by Polina Pavlishina (Bulgaria) in the red marine formations from Srednogorie area (Bulgaria). Between 16-18. 08.2004 the participants to the IGCP 463 Workshop took part to a field trip in the Carpathian area, for a direct examination of several sections typical for the red marine formations, described in the guide written by Mihaela Carmen Melinte, Titus Brustur, Dan Jipa and Stefan Szobotka: Upper Cretaceous marine red beds from Romanian Carpathians a tool for palaeoenvironmental changes and edited by GEOECOMAR. In the first day, the Gura Beliei Formation was investigated in its stratotype (Gura Beliei Prahovei Valley) and in the Pietrosita section

21

Paleocen bazal (asa cum indica asociatiile de foraminifere planctonice si nannofosile calcaroase). Au fost prelevate probe pentru studii geochimice si izotopice. In a doua zi de teren, participantii s-au deplasat pe traseul Timisul de Sus Targu Secuiesc-CernatuCovasna-Brasov. Au fost examinate formatiuni rosii marine apartinand panzei de Teleajen si panzei de Tarcau, dar si formatiunilr subjacente (sisturile negre). Datarea formatiunilor rosii marine din zonele anterior mentionate s-a reaizat pe baza asociatiilor de foraminifere identificate de catre Jana Ion. In timpul ultimei zile de teren (a treia zi), au fost examinate sectiuni reprezentative ale formatiunilor rosii cretacic superioare, care afloreaza in bazinul Vaii Buzaului, in cadrul mai multor unitati tectonice (Panza de Bobu, Panza de Teleajen si Panza de Audia) ale Flisului Extern al Carpatilor Orientali. Poiana Florilor Teliu (unde depozitele Formatiunii de Dumbravioara au fost datate pe baza foraminiferelor planctonice de catre Theodor Neagu), stratele rosii ale Formatiunii de BotaBotita (datate pe baza nannofosilelor calcaroase de catre Mihaela Carmen Melinte) sunt doar cateva dintre sectiunile care au fost examinate si probate, pentru studii geochimice si izotopice. Workshopul IGCP463 s-a terminat pe data de 18.08.2004, cand participantii s-au intors la Bucuresti.

(Ialomiei Valley), where the red marls have been sedimented during the Upper Campanian Basal Paleocene interval (as indicated by the planktonic foraminifers and calcareous nannofossils associations) Samples were collected for geochemical and isotopic studies. The second days route was Timisul de Sus Targu Secuiesc Cernatu Covasna - Brasov. Red marine formations belonging to the Teleajen and Tarcau Nappes have been investigated, but also the subjacent ones (black schists). The dating of the marine red formation in the previously mentioned area was done based on the foraminifers associations identified by Jana Ion. During the last day (the third one) several representative sections for the red Upper Cretaceous formations cropping out in the Buzaului Valley Basin have been investigated, belonging to several tectonic units (Bobu, Teleajen, and Audia Nappes) in the External Flysch of the East Carpathians. Poiana Florilor Teliu (where the deposits in the Dumbravioara Formation have been dated based on the plankton foraminifers by Theodor Neagu), and the red beds of the Bota-Botita Formation (dated based on calcareous nannofossils by Mihaela Carmen Melinte) represent only some of the sections that have been examined and sampled for geochemical and isotopic investigatios. The IGCP463 workshop ended on 18.08.2004, when the participants have returned to Bucharest.

(Mihaela Carmen Melinte) ____________________________________

(Mihaela Carmen Melinte) ____________________________________ Al 5-lea Simpozion al Societii Paleontologilor din Romnia, septembrie 2005
In august 2005 Laboratorul de Paleontologie al Uniersitii Bucureti, care a devenit apoi prima catedr de Paleontologie din SE Europei, mplineste 100 de ani. Membrii laboratorului vor srbtorii acest eveniment ntre 15-20 septembrie 2005 .In acela interval de timp va avea loc si cel de al V-lea Simpozion al Societii Paleontologilor din Romania (Acad. Th. Neagu) ________________________________________

The 5th Symposium of the Romanian Society of Palaeontologists, September 2005

In August 2005, the Laboratory of Palaeontology of the University of Bucharest, subsequently transformed into the first Department of Palaeontology in SE Europe, celebrates 100 years from its foundation. The members of the laboratory will celebrate this event between September 1520, 2005. In the same interval, the 5th Symposium of the Romanian Society of Palaeontologists will take place (Acad. Th. Neagu)

____________________________________ Other Events

June 2005: 5th Micropaleontological Workshop MIKRO-2005, web site: www.ing.pan.pl/micropal, to be held in Poland (near Krakow) September 2005: 7th Cretaceous Symposium, web site: www.unine.ch/geologie/isc7, to be held in Switzerland, at Neuchatel. (Mihaela

Alte manifestari
Iunie 2005: 5th Micropaleontological Workshop MIKRO-2005, web site: www.ing.pan.pl/micropal, are loc in Polonia (langa Cracovia) Septembrie 2005: 7th Cretaceous Symposium, web site: www.unine.ch/geologie/isc7,

are loc in Elvetia, la Neuchatel. (Mihaela

Carmen Melinte)

Carmen Melinte)

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THE 5TH NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF PALEONTOLOGY, DEDICATED TO THE CENTENNIAL OF THE LABORATORY OF PALEONTOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST

First Circular Place and date: Bucharest, Laboratory of Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, Blvd. N. Balcescu 1 - 16-19 September 2005. Dear friends Next year the Laboratory of Paleontology of the University of Bucharest celebrates its 100 years. At the time of its foundation the Laboratory of Paleontology was the first department specialized in the field of paleontological education and research in Romania. Several prominent scientists, forerunners of the Romanian Geology and Paleontology were members of this Department during its century of activity. Gregoriu Stefanescu was the first Professor of Geology at the newly created University of Bucharest (in 1864); he was also founder of the first geological research institute in Romania under which the first geological map of Romania was elaborated (1898) and author of several papers on Cenozoic mammals, including those on Deinotherium gigantissimum and Camellus alutensis. Sabba Stefanescu, the first head of the Laboratory of Paleontology, created in 1905, well known through its studies on Tertiary mollusks and Pliocene and Pleistocene proboscideans. Ion Simionescu, whose paleontological studies cover almost all the major groups of fossil animals, from corals to ammonites, fishes, Mesozoic reptiles and Cenozoic mammals, up to the fossil men. These forerunners were succeeded by other eminent professors and researchers: M. G. Filipescu, Emilia Saulea, I. Z. Barbu, Th. Neagu, Aurelia Barbulescu, Ioana Pana, Elisabeta Hanganu. Actually a small, but enthusiastic group of researchers continues this tradition. The domains covered by the members of the Laboratory are: Paleobotany - calcareous Mesozoic algae, paleophytic and mesophytic floras, Micropaleontology - foraminifera and ostracods, Invertebrates - Mesozoic ammonites, bivalves, brachiopods, Cenozoic mollusks, Vertebrates - Cretaceous dinosaurs and micromammals, Neogene marine mammals. Preliminary Program
th The venue is planned for Wednesday, September15th or Thursday 16 in the morning.

The Anniversary Festivity and the Opening of the Symposium is planned for the afternoon of 16th September. Two full days are reserved for the communications (20 minutes for each speaker, including 5 minutes for questions/comments) and posters on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th of September. According to the number and topics of submitted communications we intend to have several different sections: Paleobotany and Palynology, Micropaleontology, Invertebrate Paleontology, Vertebrate Paleontology, Stratigraphy and Paleoecology, Geoconservation. Participants are free to decide on the subjects they will present: taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, biostratigraphy, paleoecology. We encourage the participants to present syntheses of their works, new significant discoveries, new methods and based on interdisciplinary approaches, geosite protection measures and their valorization through education and geotourism. A special issue of Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae (probably in two volumes) will be published after the Symposium. Field trip: Post-symposium fieldtrips will be organized. Details regarding these fieldtrips will follow in the second circular. Media information;

23

For your presentation you may use: 35 mm slide projector, overhead projector, video-projector (Power-Point presentations). Accommodation: Bucharest offers a large choice of hotels. A list of these will be provided in the 2nd circular. We intend to reserve also less expensive rooms in the University Hotel and in the Students hostels from the University campus. (The prices are around 30 Euro in the University Hotel and 8 Euro in the student hostels). Costs The symposium fee is 75 Euro; it covers the abstract volume, published volumes after the Symposium, an excursion field guide, coffee breaks and the symposium dinner. The fieldtrip will have to be paid separately. Members of the Romanian Paleontological Society will benefit the usual discount rates. If you wish to participate (we would be very glad if so!) please send us an e-mail to: dinozoli@geo.edu.ro or iulia_lazar@k.ro, with the following information: First name: Family name: Address: Tel.: e-mail: I wish to present a paper (preliminary title): Yes/No I wish to present a poster (preliminary title): Yes/No I will participate in the field trip: Yes/No/Probably th Please send us your answer no later than 15 of October 2004. Only those answering to the 1st Circular will receive the 2nd Circular. The deadline for the abstracts will be 15th June 2005. Instructions for the authors will follow in the 2nd Circular. See you in Bucharest, September 2005! Contact persons Zoltan Csiki Laboratory of Paleontology Faculty of Geology and Geophysics 1 N. Balcescu Blvd. 010041 Bucharest, Romania 40722844810 dinozoli@geo.edu.ro

Iuliana Lazar Laboratory of Paleontology Faculty of Geology and Geophysics 1 N. Balcescu Blvd. 010041 Bucharest, Romania 40213143508, ext. 250 iulia_lazar@k.ro

Organizing committee Honorary presidents: Prof. dr. doc. Theodor Neagu, Member of the Romanian Academy of Sciences Prof. dr. doc. Liviu Ionesi, Member of the Romanian Academy of Sciences Head of the supporting committee: Dr. Iuliana Stratulat, ANRM Executive president: Prof. dr. Dan Grigorescu Vice-presidents: Prof. dr. Ovidiu Dragastan, Conf. dr. Eugen Grdinaru Prof. dr. Ioan Bucur, Prof. dr. Iustinian Petrescu, Prof. dr. Mihai Brnzil, Prof. dr. Leonard Olaru, Dr. Gheorghe Popescu, Dr. Titus Brustur, General Secretary: Prof. dr. Nicolae icleanu, Lect. dr. Iuliana Stoica, Assist. Zoltan Csiki, Geol. Ioan Coconu treasurer. Members: Conf. dr. Dragomir-Petru Basarab, Conf. dr. Rsvan Damian, Lect. Alexandru Andranu, Lect. dr. Mihai Popa, Lect. dr. Marius Stoica, Asisst. Victor Barbu. Techical staff: Radu Dumitreascu, Dan Jana, Florance Botea, Dan Palcu

24

TABEL NOMINAL CU MEMBRII SOCIETII PALEONTOLOGILOR DIN ROMNIA Nr. crt. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. Numele si prenumele Adam Drago Ailinci Ana-Maria Aipatoaiei Iuliana Andranu Alexandru Apvloaie Roxana (N) Ardelean Laura (N) Asoltanei Anca Averescu Raluca Avram Emil Baciu Clin Balint Ramona (N) Barbu Ovidiu Barbu Victor Blaj Vasile Blteanu Cristian (N) Brbulescu Aurelia Blc Ramona Blidaru Ioan Botez-Butu Ionu (N) Brnzil Mihai Brian Nicoleta Bruchental Clin (N) Brustur Titus Bucur I. Ioan Budac Traian Budescu Traian Bugaciu Iulian Gabriel Butnariu Mdlina Caraiman Alina (N) Cpraru Vasile (N) Cernat Anca Mirabela (N) Costan Mihaela (N) Cozmuleanu Dorina (N) Chira Carmen Chiril Gabriel Chiimu Vasile Ciobanu Laureniu Ciobanu Rodica Crnaru Pamfil Cociuba Ioan Codrea Vlad Constantin Paul Corneanu Gabriel Corneanu Mihaela Crihan Monica Csiki Zoltan Damian Rzvan Dnil Adrian Filiala / Loca-litate / Institut Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (IGR) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) Bucuresti (UB) Cluj (IP Oradea) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB) Cluj (UBB) (s) Cluj (IMB Oradea) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) Cluj (UBB) Cluj (UBB) Buc. (IGR-INGMG) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Buc.IGR)( Roman) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UCDC Sibiu) Bucureti (UB) Cluj (IGR) Cluj (UBB) Bucureti (IGR) Cluj (Univ. Craiova) Cluj (Univ. Craiova) Buc.(IGR)(PloietiIPG) Bucureti (UB) Bucureti (UB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cotiz 2001 20.000 40.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 Cotiz 2002 50.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 40.000 40.000 50.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 25.000 25.000 Cotiz 2003 30.000 30.000 60.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 50.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 Cotiz 2004 30.000 100.000 30.000 100.000 30.000 50.000 100.000 30.000 100.000 30.000 100.000 30.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 100.000

20.000

40.000 20.000 40.000 20.000 50.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 40.000

50.000 25.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 50.000

60.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 -

100.000 100.000

40.000 40.000 40.000 20.000

50.000 50.000 50.000 -

100.000 100.000 100.000

25

49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100.

Dsclescu Marilena (N) de Lapparent de Broin F. Diaconu Florina Dica Paul Dragastan Ovidiu Dragomir Basarab-Petru Dumitric Paulian Edelstein Oscar Enache Constantin Frca Cristina Frca Sorina Filipescu Sorin Florea Fanica Folie Annelise Frey Eberhart Galan Alexandru Cezar Garcia Geraldine Gheerbrant Emmanuel Ghinea Georgeta Cristina(N) Ghiua Ana-Maria Givulescu Razvan Gontineac Gabriela Grdianu Ionu Grdinaru Eugen Grigore Dan Grigore Sebastian (N) Grigorescu Dan Guu Dina-Romina (N) Harasemciuc Constantin(N) Hncu Diana Cristina Heisu Valentin (N) Holbe Ioana Horaicu Corneliu Iamandei Eugenia Iamandei Stnil Ianoliu Constantin Iftimiciuc Marina Igrian Alin (N) Ilac Oana (N) Ion Jana Ionesi Bica Ionesi Liviu Ionesi Viorel Jianu Coralia-Maria Jipa Catalin Kaminski Mike Kovacs Szilamer (N) Lazr Iuliana Macale Rodica Mruneanu Mariana Meilescu Cornel (N) Melinte Mihaela

Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (MNHN Paris) Cluj (Muz. T. Severin) Cluj (UBB) (s) Bucureti (UB) Bucureti (UB) Buc. (IGR)-Berna Cluj (Baia Mare) Cluj (Craiova) Cluj (UBB) (s) Cluj (ICB) Cluj (UBB) Iasi (UAIC) Cluj (IRSNBruxelles) Cluj (Karlshuhe) Iai (UAIC) Cluj (Univ. Poitiers) Cluj (MNHNParis) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) Iasi (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB) Bucureti (IGR) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB)(s) Iai (UAIC) Bucureti (IGR) Bucureti (IGR) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) IGR Iai (UAIC) Iai (UAIC) Iai (UAIC) Cluj (Muz. Deva) Cluj (UBB )(s) Cluj (UC London) Cluj (UBB) Bucureti (UB) Bucureti (IGR) Bucureti (IGR) Bucureti (IGR)

30.000 60.000 60.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 150.000 110.000 60.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 20.000 25.000 60.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 30.000 60.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 30.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 100.000 160.000 30.000 100.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 30.000 100.000 30.000 60.000 50.000 50.000 100.000 50.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000

20.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 40.000

25.000 50.000

40.000 40.000 40.000 40.000

50.000 50.000 50.000 50.000

60.000 60.000 60.000 110.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 -

160.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 100.000 100.000 100.000

26

101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150.

Mera Ovidiu Mihilescu Irina (N) Munteanu Manuela Munteanu Emilia Munteanu Raluca (N) Murariu Alexandru Nstase Gabriela (N) Neagu Theodor Nicusan Drago Ni Ramona Elena Olaru Leonard Olteanu Radu Opria Adriana (N) Palade Daniel Pan Ioana Paraschiv Valentin Pascal Ana (N) Ptruoiu Ioan Pestrea Simona Petrescu Iustinian Popa Mihai Popa Mirela Popescu Ana Maria Popescu Aurelian Popescu Daniela Popescu Gheorghe Popescu Liviu Posmoanu Erika Pric Ioana Rotaru Narcis (N) Rusu Anatol Ssran Emanoil Ssran Liana Silye Lorand (N) Simionescu Anca Smith Thierry Splncan Rare Sptaru Anca (N) Stnculete Aurelia-Ionela Stoica Marian (N) Stoica Marius Strugaru Gabriela Suciu Anca Andreea(N) erban Diana taut Elena tiuc Emil Tanu Ioan Toma Mdlina (N) Tudos Iustina (N) Turcule Ilie

Cluj ( Salina Turda) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iasi (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (IGR) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) Bucureti (IGR) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) Bucureti (UB) Bucureti (UB) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (ICITPML,Craiova) Buc(UB) (Marseille) Cluj (UBB) Bucureti (UB) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (Muz. Craiova) Iai (USCM Suceava) Bucureti (IGR) Iai (USCM Suceava) Cluj (Muz. Oradea) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (IGR) Cluj (UBB) Cluj (UBB) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (Univ. Bruxelles) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (UB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UT) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Bucureti (IGR-IS) Cluj (UBB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC)

40.000

50.000 -

60.000 30.000 30.000

100.000 30.000 30.000 30.000

40.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 20.000 40.000 20.000 50.000 40.000 40.000 40.000 40.000

50.000 25.000 50.000 40.000 40.000 50.000 50.000 50.000 50.000

50.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 50.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 60.000 30.000 60.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 60.000 30.000

30.000 50.000 50.000 ? 30.000 100.000 50.000 30.000

100.000 100.000 100.000 30.000 100.000 100.000

40.000 40.000 40.000 20.000 40.000 20.000 20.000 20.000

50.000 50.000 50.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 25.000 25.000

100.000 30.000 110.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 30.000 30.000 30.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 30.000 160.000 100.000 30.000 30.000 50.000

40.000 20.000 20.000 40.000 40.000 40.000

50.000 25.000 50.000 50.000 50.000

60.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 60.000

27

151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163.

abr Daniel ibuleac Paul icleanu Nicolae ru Cristina Ungureanu Ionel (N) Ua Andreea Vaida Marioara Venczel Marton Vremir Matei Vulc Anamaria Wanek Franz Zabrovski Michal Zota Ramona (N)

Iai (UAIC) Iai (UAIC) Bucureti (UB) Iai (UAIC) (s) Iai (UAIC) (s) Cluj (UBB) (s) Bucureti (IGR) Cluj (Muz.Oradea) Cluj (UBB) Cluj (UBB) (s) Cluj (IGR) Buc.(IGR) (Wraczlaw) Iai (UAIC) (s)

40.000 40.000

50.000 50.000 50.000

60.000 60.000 60.000 30.000 30.000 60.000 30.000 60.000

100.000 100.000 100.000 30.000 30.000

40.000 40.000 40.000

50.000 50.000 50.000

100.000 100.000 30.000

UB = Universitatea Bucureti UBB = Universitatea Babe-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca UAIC = Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iai UCDC = Universitatea Cretin Dimitrie Cantemir, Sibiu USCM = Universitatea tefan cel Mare din Suceava UT = Universitatea Tehnic Cluj IGR = Institutul de Geologie i Geofizic Bucureti (Institutul Geologic al Romniei) INGMG = Institutul National de Geologie Marin i Geoecologie Bucureti (GEOECOMAR) ICB = Institutul de Cercetri Biologice Cluj-Napoca ISER = Institutul de Speologie Emil Racovi Bucureti IP = Institutul de Proiectri IMB = Inspectoratul Minier Bihor s = student N = membru nou, din 2004 ___________________________________________ _____________________________________

Situatia financiara la 10 ianuarie 2005:

Casa : Incasari : - cotizatii 2004 : 7.630.000 lei - rest din 2003: 328.000 lei --------------------------------Total: 7.958.000 lei Cheltuieli: 4.730.000 lei, din care 2.490.000 lei pentru diverse (1.378.000 lei - taxe depunere bilant 2003; 1.078.000* cheltuieli editare volumul 5; 33.000 taxe postale), iar 2.240.000 lei pentru editarea Buletinului nr. 13 (toner, carton si hartie. Rest in casa: 3.228.000 In cont CEC: 9.900.000 lei (din care 1 milion reprezinta un rest dintr-o sponsorizare*). * In cont a intrat o sponsorizare de 2 milioane (obtinuta pentru editarea volumului 5 din Acta Paleontologica Romaniae). Din aceasta a fost cheltuit 1 mil. pentru publicarea volumului respectiv, banii fiind platiti din casa.

28

Vasile Cpraru

Ramona Zota

Geotravelogie sau Autoportret n timp

Domnul P. T. Leac de meserie pietrar de-ar fi aa cum pretinde zilnic cltorete n timp dac unii rd fiind catalogai printre ignorani crcotai ncuiai n cel mai bun caz nu n aceast ordine prelungind peste ani irul celor care nu credeau nici n ocolul Pmntului ar trebui s-l ascultai pe meter cum consider pueril ideea unei maini a timpului de-acum i din totdeauna nimic altceva dect faza primar de evoluie a conceptului i fenomenului cnd nu se putea disocia cltoria n timp de cea n spaiu Aadar domnul P. T. Leac pietrar ar pretinde c-ar fi inventat cltoria n timp prin pietre trind de un numr nsemnat de ani a reuit s le domesticeasc n dormitor buctrie geni buzunare pantofi are pietre care-l ascult (unii vorbesc c i-n cap are pietre) i devin limpezi n faa lui le aeaz n cerc ntr-o anumit ordine doar de el tiut i le privete cu o vitez anume pstrat n mare secret pietrele eclozeaz timpul din miezul lor pentru ca meterul s treac prin zeci i sute de milioane de ani n voie va surmonta i bariera de unu sau dou miliarde de ani dac va primi piatra promis din malul fluviului Saint Laurent Pentru viitor domnul P. T. Leac pietrar va fi preconizat estimarea formei timpului (mai precis disforma innd seama de disocierea att de important pentru conceptul i fenomenul n spe) mai mult chiar vom putea face ocolul timpului ntr-un numr oarecare de metri i dac dup toate acestea mai rdei sau mcar zmbii domnul P. T. Leac pietrar cum este uzeaz de argumentul su forte: v va oferi o piatr dintr-ale sale s-o privii pn va deveni limpede

Paul ibuleac