Paleontological Characterization of the Coal-Bearing Deposits of the Nikitinsky Deposit (Kuzbass)

O. A. Betekhtina

In 1951, the Lenin geological-exploration party of the “Kuzbassuglegeologiya” trust established a new coal-bearing area in the Leninsky mining-industrial district—the Nikitinsky deposit. By the present time, a considerable part of this area has already been explored; it is situated between the Kilchigiz fault in the NE and the Ura fault in the SW. Within this tectonic block, the coal-bearing deposits composing the Nikitinsky deposit occur quietly, forming a large syncline with gentle subsidiary folds, elongated from SW to NE. The productive deposits of the field belong to the Kolchugino series and contain valuable grades of coal ($G_{\mathrm{sp}}$ and PJ).

This new, promising deposit deserves detailed geological study. In this connection it is useful to characterize the organic remains found in the deposits of the field. This will allow us to propose a paleontologically substantiated subdivision and correlation of them with the deposits of the neighboring Leninsky and Belovsky deposits, i.e., to determine the position of the Nikitinsky deposit in the general stratigraphic scheme of the Kolchugino series of Kuzbass.

It is appropriate to note here that an attempt to correlate the deposits of the Nikitinsky deposit with neighboring ones [2] on the basis of the degree of coal metamorphism and their marking proved to be of little success, as was shown by the investigations of V. P. Shorin [9], who carried out a detailed comparative study of the lithology and coals of the Nikitinsky and Leninsky deposits. Such correlations must be based chiefly on paleontological material.

The study of the organic remains of each new deposit of Kuzbass, as a rule, provides additional factual material for elucidating the patterns of development of the flora and fauna within the entire Kuznetsk Basin. In particular, among the plant remains of the Nikitinsky deposit there occur new forms that supplement our ideas about the composition and character of the Kuznetsk flora.

The present communication is based on materials obtained in the processing of about 400 core samples with imprints of flora, and more rarely fauna, selected from 50 boreholes. These boreholes are located on different exploration lines, covering the entire area of the deposit from its northern boundary to its southern one. A large part of the collection was delivered to us by staff members of the “Kuzbassuglegeologiya” trust. In addition, V. P. Shorin, P. A. Fir-

[[unclear: end of preceding sentence]] and Z. F. Surzhok. We express our gratitude to all the persons listed.

The section of the Nikitinsky deposit studied by us is about 750 m thick and contains a series of coal seams, numbered from top to bottom from 13 to 30. The fauna contained in these deposits had not previously been determined or described by anyone. A small collection of flora was studied by S. G. Gorelova, whose report is held in the archives of the Kuzbassuglegeologiya Trust. In parallel with our study of the flora and fauna, V. P. Shorin studied its coals and lithology, and O. V. Udodova carried out a spectral analysis of the coals and rocks of the deposit.

The basis for the paleontological characterization of the deposits of the Nikitinsky deposit is a composite table—diagram (Fig. 1), which shows the distribution of fauna and flora through the section of the deposit.¹

The method of compiling such diagrams has already been described by us [3]. This diagram shows that the deposits of the Nikitinsky deposit are distinguished by a rich and diverse flora and by a scanty, monotonous fauna.

The fauna of the Nikitinsky deposit is represented by impressions of pelecypod and ostracod shells. Its preservation is for the most part poor: isolated fragments, incomplete impressions. Usually the fauna is present in dark siltstones with brown ferruginous spots or interbeds. Along with shell fragments, strongly damaged plant scraps occur here; rocks of this type belong to the facies of overgrowing lakes and oxbow lakes. Very rarely, fauna occurs in dark, thin siltstones without bedding, belonging to the lacustrine facies.

The species composition of the fauna is very monotonous. The most widespread are the species Abiella angustistriata (Fed.) and Microdontella subovata (Jones). The abundance of Abiella constitutes one of the distinctive features of the fauna of the deposit. Anthraconautes occur very rarely and are very poorly preserved; fragments are mainly present, while isolated, more complete specimens belong to the species Anthraconauta simplex (Khalf.), Anthr. obliqua (Khalf.). All anthraconautes are small in size. In addition to the forms listed above, representatives of the genus Palaeanodonta Amal. are present. Usually only shell fragments occur; the most complete belong to Palaeanodonta pseudolongissima Khalf. These are the largest representatives of the pelecypod fauna; all the others, even the Abiella, are small here.

Through the section of the deposit the fauna is distributed unevenly. The greatest number of forms is concentrated in the lower part of the section, below seam 21. In its general appearance and in species composition, the fauna of this part of the section corresponds to a transitional type (between the normal and depressed types of fauna). Above seam 21 the number of forms noticeably decreases, the species composition becomes still poorer, and the fauna assumes a depressed type. Thus, on the basis of the general appearance and species composition of the fauna, the section of the deposit is clearly divided into two parts, the boundary between which passes along seam 21.

The plant remains of the Nikitinsky deposit are abundant and usually well preserved. The overwhelming majority consist of ferns, cordaites, and horsetails, which are distributed in approximately equal abundance. Remains of other groups of plants occur much more rarely. Plant remains are present in the most varied lithological types, even in sandstones.

¹ Some rarely occurring forms have not been included in this table.

Composite section of the Nikitinsky deposit, scale 1:2000

Stratigraphic subdivisions shown at left:

• [[unclear: suite name]] — Horizon III
• seam 13
• seam 14
• seam 15
• seam 16
• seam 17
• Yerunakovo Series — Horizon II
• seam 18
• seam 19
• seam 21
• Balakhonka Series — Horizon I
• seam 22
• seam 23
• seam 24
• seam 25
• seam 26
• seam 28
• seam 30

Taxa indicated along the top of the diagram:

• Asterophyllites angustifolia (Stb.)
• Aster sp.
• Mesocalamites suborbicularis
• Mesocalamites gigas (Wkb.)
• Mesocalamites cistiformis
• Aulacocantha sp.
• Palaeodontopteris sp.
• Trichopitys pseudobifurcata Zal.
• Odontopteris neuropteroides
• Obzata
• Myriotheca sp.
• Psygmophyllum Muensteri Radtz.
• Pecopteris sp.
• Pecopteris arborescens (Schl.)
• Neuropteris sp.
• Neuropteris sp.
• Neuropteris sp.
• Schizoneura sibirica Zal.
• Pecopteris anthriscifolia Goep.
• Pecopteris plumosa (Artis)
• Todites sibirica Radtz.
• Sphenopteris [[unclear: species name]] Zal.
• Sphenopteris Matveeva [[unclear]]
• Cardiopteris polymorpha [[unclear]]
• Cordaites sp.
• Cordaites longifolium sp.
• Peltaspermum [[unclear]]
• Noeggerathiopsis aequalis (Goep.)
• N. angustifolia Neub.
• N. obovata Radtz.
• N. crassipes Zal.
• N. condensa [[unclear]]
• N. spathulata [[unclear]]
• N. minuta Radtz.
• N. czekanowskensis Radtz.
• N. insignis Radtz.
• N. concavecta Neub. (Ms)
• Large cordaite leaves
• Small cordaite leaves
• Lepidophyllum sp.

Fig. 1. Distribution of organic remains in the section of the deposits of the Nikitinsky deposit.

Cordaites in the deposits of the Nikitinsky locality quantitatively predominate. They are rather diverse, but the large leaves, as a rule, are cut off by the boundaries of the core, and in most cases it is impossible to determine their specific affiliation. Among them have been identified leaves belonging to the species: Noeggerathiopsis candalepensis Zal. (Table I, Fig. 4) and, more rarely, to N. lanceolata Neub. The smaller leaves are diverse; among them the following species have been established: N. aequalis (Goepp.) Zal., N. angustifolia Neub., N. spatulata Gorelova et Radcz., N. insignis Radcz., N. iljinskiensis Radcz., N. Khalinii Gorelova, N. minuta Radcz. The first two species are the most widespread; the others occur considerably more rarely, sometimes as single specimens. Cordaites are distributed unevenly through the section of the deposit (Fig. 1). Large leaves clearly predominate quantitatively over small ones in the upper part of the section (up to seam 17); the species composition of cordaites in this part of the section is more uniform than below seam 17. In the middle part of the section (from seam 17 to seam 21) the relationship is the reverse: a larger number of specimens belong to small-leaved cordaites, and their species composition is somewhat richer than in the preceding interval (9 species). In the lower part of the section, below seam 21, the predominance of small leaves is retained, but the large forms again also become significantly developed. However, the total number of forms is noticeably smaller than in the preceding horizon.

The abundance and diversity of ferns are characteristic of the flora of the Nikitinsky locality. In addition to the usual representatives of the aggregate species Pecopteris anthriscifolia (Goepp.) Zal., which attains its greatest development here, there are present: Pecopteris leninskiensis (Chachl.), Sphenopteris Natalaeana Gorelova, Callipteris Zeilleri Zal., Callipteris altaica Zal., Callipteris jerunakovensis Gorelova, Callipteris (?) osinovskiensis (Chachl.) (Table I, Fig. 5).

Like the cordaites, the ferns are distributed unevenly through the section. The greatest number of ferns in general, and of pecopterids in particular, is confined to the lower (up to seam 21) and upper (above seam 17) parts of the section, whereas its middle part is poorer in ferns. The exception is the callipterids, which occur sporadically in the middle and lower parts of the section and are absent in the upper part.

Representatives of the species Pecopteris anthriscifolia often have very good preservation and are highly varied in the form of the pinnules. Sometimes an asymmetrical structure of the ultimate-order pinnae is observed: the pinnules on one side of the pinna are tongue-like elongated, resembling Pecopteris leninskiensis, while on the other side they are very short, as if underdeveloped.

Sphenopsids, in quantitative terms, are not inferior to the ferns, but are less diverse. In the column “Phyllotheca sp.” are placed stems of several types: the most widespread are impressions of ribbed or wrinkled stems (no more than 2 cm wide), usually lacking leaves; occasionally there occur completely smooth or weakly wrinkled stems (more than 2 cm wide) with very characteristic spines near the nodes. Several specimens with preserved leaves could be identified as representatives of the species Phyllotheca Ninaeana Radcz.

There are several impressions of narrow, smooth or slightly wrinkled stems with short, fused leaves. Such forms previously appeared in the literature under the name Juliella typica Radcz., but now, judging by the description given by G. P. Radchenko [1, p. 165],

they should be assigned to Equisetina brevifolia Radcz. Impressions of this type are present chiefly in the lower part of the section.

The jointed-stem forms of the type Phyllotheca sp. have the greatest distribution in the middle and upper parts of the section, whereas in the lower part (below bed 21) their number noticeably decreases.

Broader stems (more than 2 cm wide), with coarse ribs, have been identified by us as Paracalamites sp. (one very typical impression has been assigned to the species Paracalamites robustus Zal.). Stems of the Paracalamites sp. type are most widespread in the upper and lower parts of the section, while their number decreases sharply in the middle part (between beds 21 and 17).

Finally, there occur impressions of narrow stems that belong to the genus Koretrophyllites Radcz. Usually these are fragments of stems without leaves, and only in one case was it possible to determine the species Koretrophyllites multicostatus Radcz. Stems of this type are abundant in the upper part of the section (above bed 17); lower down their number decreases sharply. In the upper part of the section a specimen was found that represents part of the cone of Schizoneura sibirica Neub. (Table I, fig. 7).

Representatives of the genus Glottophyllum Zal. are considerably developed. They are varied in the form of the leaf blade (Glottophyllum cuneatum (Schm.) Zal., Glottophyllum elongatum Radcz.) and in their size. In some samples there are entire accumulations of leaves of this genus; they attain their greatest development in the middle part of the section.

Among the plant remains, leaves of the covering-scale type are widely distributed: Nephropsis Zal., Crassinervia Neub., Lepeophyllum Zal. Their abundance is highly characteristic of the flora of the Nikitinsky deposit. Most frequently encountered are lepeophyllums, which are represented by forms of very different sizes: the smallest barely reach 0.5 cm in width and 1.4 cm in length, while the large ones are 2.8 cm wide and 3 cm long (Table I, fig. 8). Most of them belong to the species Lep. actaeonelloides (Geinitz) Zal. and Lep. acuminatum Neub. Lepeophyllums occur more often and in greater numbers in the upper and lower parts of the section; in the middle part their number noticeably decreases. It is interesting to note that the distribution of small and large forms of lepeophyllums repeats the features of the distribution of large and small leaves of cordaites.

The genus Crassinervia Neub. occurs chiefly in the lower part of the section; here there are long and narrow forms resembling Crassinervia tungusica Schw. Nephropses are the least widespread. They are recorded as single specimens in the lower part of the section and have been assigned to the species Nephropsis cf. cordata Radcz.

Among the other plant remains it is necessary to note the presence of representatives of leafy-stem mosses, formerly assigned to the species Walchia (?) spinulifolia Zal., and now to the new genus Polyssaievia Neuburg. These impressions are confined chiefly to the lower parts of the section (below bed 21); their presence is also very characteristic of the Nikitinsky deposit. Rather frequently, in comparison with other sections, impressions of Gaussia tarda Bet. occur here (in the lower part of the section), as does Niazonaria stellata (Radcz.) (passing through the entire section).

Among the plant impressions of the Nikitinsky deposit, several interesting new forms have been found that had not previously been described among the plants of Kuzbass. These include very large, apparently leathery leaves, in general appearance and partly in venation very reminiscent of glossopterid leaves. Although at present we do not

we cannot precisely establish the generic affiliation of these forms, we consider it useful to give their description, which is provided at the end of the article.

From the brief paleontological characterization of the deposits of the Nikitinsky deposit given above, the following conclusions may be drawn.

1. The fauna of the Nikitinsky deposit belongs to impoverished and transitional types, which is characteristic of all deposits of the Prisalaire group and, in particular, of the Belovo deposit, with which, as already indicated, the deposit described here is situated in a single tectonic block.

2. The flora is distinguished by richness, diversity, and good preservation. It is characterized by: a) the broad development and diversity of ferns; b) the broad development of leaves of the bud-scale type, especially in the upper parts of the section; c) the considerable distribution of such rare forms as Gaussia, Niazonaria, Polyssaievia; d) the presence of new forms previously unknown in the sediments of the Kolchugino series.

The flora of the Nikitinsky deposit has much in common with the flora of the Belovo deposit, chiefly its Babanakovo sector, where the upper horizons of the Ilyinsky suite are exposed. In the deposits of the Babanakovo sector there are likewise many ferns and leaves of the bud-scale type; Gaussia, Niazonaria, and Polyssaievia are present in considerable numbers. Not only the general appearance, but also the species composition of the floras of these two deposits is very close. Common features are also found with the flora of the Leninsky deposit.

1. The organic remains of the Nikitinsky deposit are distributed unevenly through the section. Three paleontological horizons are clearly distinguished, whose boundaries are beds 17 and 21. In the lower part of the section, below bed 28, one more paleontological horizon is suggested, but the insufficient amount of material still makes its separation difficult. It should be noted that the boundaries of the horizons we have distinguished coincide with the boundaries proposed by V. P. Shorin on the basis of facies assemblages and by O. V. Udodova on the basis of spectral-analysis data.

2. The boundaries of the indicated horizons are very easily established from the general appearance of the flora and fauna. The boundary between horizons I and II (at bed 21) is determined by: a) a noticeable reduction in the amount of fauna in general and the disappearance of palaeonodonts; b) a distinct increase in the number of jointed stems of the Phyllotheca sp. type; c) a noticeable reduction in the number of ferns of the Pecopteris anthriscifolia type; d) an increase in small leaves of cordaites; e) a noticeable increase in the number of callipterids and glossophyllums; f) the disappearance of representatives of Polyssaievia spinulifolia.

The boundary between horizons II and III (at bed 17) is determined by:

a) the almost complete disappearance of fauna (above bed 17—only isolated rare fragments);

b) an increase in the number of ferns Pecopteris anthriscifolia;

c) an increase in the number of coarsely ribbed stems of the Paracalamites sp. type;

d) a noticeable increase in the number of narrow stems of the Koretrophyllites sp. type;

e) an increase in the number of large leaves of cordaites.

From the characterization of the boundaries of the horizons it is clear that these horizons are easily established from the general appearance of the flora and fauna; moreover, they are rather readily discerned not only in the summary table, but also in descriptions of individual boreholes. This makes it possible to use the indicated horizons in practical field work when correlating sections from bore-

deposits, especially since such observations on the general character of the flora and fauna are accessible to every collector.

1. The boundary between the Erunakovskaya and Ilyinskaya formations, according to the scheme of 1954–1956 [4, p. 248], in the section of the Nikitinsky deposit should pass along seam 21. The basis for this is the following: the replacement of the horizon with a transitional fauna (horizon I) by a horizon with a depauperate fauna (horizon II) [3], the presence in horizon I of the genus Palaeanodonta Amal. and of such representatives of the flora as Polyssaievia spinulifolia, N. iljinskiensis, Crassinervia tungusica. The general composition of the flora is close to the II Chertinsky complex of the Prisalaire group of deposits.

This position of the boundary between the formations is confirmed not only by the change in fauna and flora, but also by the change in the character of coal-bearing capacity and by the replacement of facies complexes, i.e., it corresponds to some important boundary in the history of the development of the deposit. The boundary at seam 17 is less distinct and, apparently, has a more local character.

1. In accordance with the biostratigraphic analysis presented above, it is possible to correlate the section of the Nikitinsky deposit with the deposits of the Leninsky and Belovsky deposits: the lower horizon of the Nikitinsky deposit corresponds to the lower part of the section of the Belovsky deposit up to seam 23 and to the lower part of the section of the Leninsky deposit up to the Serebryanikovsky seam. Such a correlation with the Leninsky deposit sharply diverges from the correlation proposed by N. M. Belyanin [2].

As was already indicated above, the basis for his correlations is the degree of metamorphism of the coals and the character of coal-bearing capacity—quantities that are highly variable and dependent on very many conditions. The proposed correlation is based on the successive replacement of complexes of flora and fauna, which in general outline are the same throughout the entire basin, since they correspond to the main stages in the development of the organic world of the basin during Kolchugino time.

Description of Some Plant Impressions

Specimen I. Collection of the Tomsk Polytechnic Institute, museum number 665. Nikitinsky deposit, Ilyinskaya formation, borehole 2526, below seam 28; pl. I, fig. 1.

Description. We have at our disposal one good, although incomplete, impression and counter-impression of a large, dense, evidently coriaceous leaf (the impressions are well preserved in coarse siltstone). The dimensions are very large; therefore the leaves are cut off by the boundaries of the core, and the full form of the leaf cannot be established. The margins of the leaf are slightly wavy.

The venation of the leaf is extremely characteristic. Along its axis, on the upper side of the leaf, there is a deep and rather broad (up to 2 mm) groove, within which runs a bundle of parallel veins. From this bundle thin lateral veins depart, at first at a very acute angle, as if “avoiding” the median groove, then turning sharply, almost at an angle of 90° toward the margins of the leaf. Approximately 1 cm from the midline of the leaf the veins are arranged almost perpendicular to the margins of the leaf, recalling in this respect the venation of the genus Taeniopteris Brongn. At this turn they dichotomize for the first time, and then several more times. The veins are not straight, but slightly wavy; they sometimes touch and merge with one another, forming peculiar loops that resemble the network of glossopterid leaves.

This interweaving of the veins is clearly visible in the middle part of the leaf, where the veins are coarser. Farther from the middle the veins become very thin, but the loop-like venation is preserved, only the loops are less distinct,

since they are very narrow and strongly elongated along the veins. At the margin of the leaf there are 8–10 veins per 0.5 cm.

Leaf dimensions: width—9 cm; length considerably more than 7 cm (the diameter of the core).

Specimen II. Collection of the Tomsk Polytechnic Institute, museum number 664. Nikitinsky deposit, Ilyinskaya suite, borehole 2526, below seam 28; Plate I, fig. 2.

Description. The dimensions of the second imprint, which is located in the same core sample at a distance of about 5 cm from the preceding one, are somewhat smaller than those of the first. It can be established, as is seen in fig. 2, that the leaf narrows somewhat toward the base. The margins of the leaf have a distinct waviness. In the middle part of the leaf there is likewise a deep groove with a bundle of parallel veins. The preservation of the leaf is somewhat poorer than in the first imprint, and therefore the venation is less distinct.

The lateral veins are “descending,” dichotomizing repeatedly along their course, and also form small loops, as in the preceding imprint. At a distance of approximately 0.5 cm from the midvein they bend rather sharply toward the margin of the leaf, but the angle of their inclination to the axis of the leaf differs in different parts of the lamina: in the proximal, narrowed part of it, the veins assume a position almost perpendicular to the margin of the leaf only at the very edge; with increasing distance from the base of the leaf, where the lamina widens, the veins acquire such a direction approximately halfway from the axis of the leaf to its margin. At the margin of the leaf there are 8–10 veins per 1 cm. Leaf dimensions: width from 4 to 6 cm, length considerably more than 7 cm.

Specimen III. Collection of the Tomsk Polytechnic Institute, museum number 666. Nikitinsky deposit, Ilyinskaya suite, below seam 28; Plate I, fig. 3.

Description. At our disposal is an interesting imprint of an extremely large leathery leaf. During burial the leaf proved to be folded along its axis; moreover, both its halves in the core are separated by a thin interlayer of rock, the thickness of which increases from the axial part of the leaf toward its margins, where it reaches 0.3 cm.

Such a state of preservation makes it difficult to resolve the question of the character of the axial part of the leaf; the impression is created that a very thick midvein passes here, but this must be verified additionally. The lateral veins, departing from the axial part of the leaf at an acute angle, at their very base bend slightly toward the margin of the leaf and on the whole follow at an angle of about 60° to its axis. Along their entire course they remain very coarse, slightly wavy, dichotomize several times, and form peculiar loops, strongly resembling in general the venation described by M. D. Zalessky [14] in Glossopteris uralica Zal. from the Bardian stage of the Urals.

The small diameter of the core does not allow one to judge the form of the leaf and its dimensions. It can only be said that its width is more than 12 cm, and its length much more than 7 cm (the diameter of the core).

Remarks and comparisons. An exact determination of the generic affiliation of the forms described above is difficult because of the fragmentary nature of the material available to us. But it can be said with confidence that plants of such a character have not hitherto been described from the coal-bearing deposits of Kuzbass. This prompted us to provide their description and illustrations, which we shall supplement with some comparisons.

We consider imprints I and II to belong to a single species, and the differences between them, in our opinion, are determined by the dimensions of the leaves. In the shape of the leaf and in the character of the venation, these imprints in its

at the margins, at first glance very much resemble certain species of the genus Taeniopteris Brong., for example those described by T. Halle [12] from the Permian deposits of China. However, the venation in our form in fact differs substantially from the venation of this genus. Taeniopteris has a median convex vein; in our impressions there is a broad groove with a bundle of veins; the lateral veins in the middle part of the leaf have a different character than in taeniopterids: they are sinuous, deviate sharply toward the margin of the leaf, and, moreover, produce a characteristic loop-like reticulate venation. Such venation is not characteristic of taeniopterids.

Our impressions have a great external similarity to impressions of leaves of Glossopteris stricta Bunb.\(^1\) [10, pl. XXXVIIA, figs. 1–4], but differ in the absence of a median vein. This species has a network very characteristic of glossopterids, whereas it is absent from our impressions. The external appearance of the impressions described is very close to Danaeopsis Hughesii Feistm. This form was described by Feistmantel [11] from the Gondwana system of India. It is a very large compound leaf, and its individual segments are very similar to our impressions, but this genus too has a median vein, which our impressions lack.

Similar large leaves, as already noted, have not been described from the deposits of Kuzbass. The only leaf close in size and external outlines was described by G. P. Radchenko [8] from the deposits of the Ostashkin Hills as Taeniopteris Norinii (?) f. magna Radcz. But our impressions differ from this form in the same way as from other species of the genus Taeniopteris Brong. (see above).

The closest form in the character of venation is Glossopteris uralica Zal. M. F. Neuburg [5] believes that typical representatives of the Gondwana flora (in particular, glossopterids) do not occur in Kuzbass and that, within Angaraland, the genus Zamiopteris Schm. replaces the genus Glossopteris Brongn. Provisionally, we assign the first two impressions (pl. 1, figs. 1, 2) to the genus Zamiopteris (?), and impression III (pl. 1, fig. 3), in view of its great similarity to Glossopteris uralica, likewise provisionally assign to Glossopteris (?).\(^2\)

CITED LITERATURE

1. Atlas of guide forms of the fossil flora and fauna of the Permian deposits of the Kuznetsk Basin. Gostoptekhizdat, Moscow, 1956.

2. Belyanin, N. M. Subdivision and correlation of sections of the Erunakovskaya suite of Kuzbass. In: Problems of the Geology of Kuzbass, vol. I. Ugletekhizdat, Moscow, 1956.

3. Betekhtina, O. A. On the boundary between the Ilyinskaya and Erunakovskaya suites and the subdivision of the latter. Ibid., 1956.

4. Problems of the Geology of Kuzbass, vol. I. Ugletekhizdat, Moscow, 1956.

5. Neuburg, M. F. An attempt at a phytostratigraphic correlation of the Upper Paleozoic deposits of Angaraland and Gondwana (India). In: Problems of the Geology of Asia, vol. I. Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1954.

6. Neuburg, M. F. Discovery of leafy-stemmed mosses in the Permian deposits of the USSR. Reports of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, vol. 107, no. 2, 1956.

7. Radchenko, G. P., and Shvedov, N. Upper Paleozoic flora of the coal-bearing deposits of the western part of the basin of the Lower Tunguska River. Transactions of the Arctic Institute, vol. 157, 1940.

8. Radchenko, G. P. Some plant remains from the area of the Ostashkin Hills in the Kuznetsk Basin. Materials on the Geology of the West Siberian Territory, issue 35, 1936.

9. Shorin, V. P. Petrography of coals and conditions of formation of coal-bearing strata of the Leninskoe and Nikitinskoe deposits of Kuzbass. Author’s abstract, Tomsk, 1956.

\(^1\) Gondwana series, Raniganj suite (Permian).

\(^2\) After the present article had been submitted for publication, we had the opportunity to become acquainted with the work of V. A. Bobrov and M. F. Neuburg (Reports of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, vol. 114, no. 3, 1957), in which, under the names Pursongia mongolica Neub. and P. tunguskiana Neub., leaves analogous to ours are figured; they come from the Upper Permian deposits of Mongolia and the Tunguska Basin. Our specimens I and II show a very great similarity to the species P. tunguskiana Neub.

1. Feistmantel O. The Fossil Flora of Gondwana System. Palaeont. Indica, vol. 3, pt. 3. 1881.

2. Feistmantel O. Idem. Ibidem, vol. 4, pt. 1—2. 1886.

3. Halle T. Palaeozoic Plants Flora central Schansi. Palaeontologia Sinica, ser. A, vol. II, fasc. 1. 1927.

4. Zalessky M. Flores permiennes de la Plaine Russie, de l’Oural et du Bassin de Kousnetzk et les corrélations des dépôts qui les contiennent. Problems of Paleontology, vol. 2—3. 1937.

5. Zalessky M. Sur la distinction de l’étage Bardien dans le Permien de l’Oural et sur flora fossile. Problems of Paleontology, vol. 2—3. 1937.

Tomsk Polytechnic Institute
named after S. M. Kirov

Explanation to the Plate of Photographic Illustrations

For technical reasons, all images in the plate are given with a slight reduction.

Figs. 1, 2. Zamiopteris (?) kusbassica sp. n. Specimens 664, 665, borehole 2526, depth 292.4 m, Ilyinskaya suite, below seam 28.

Fig. 3. Glossopteris (?) nikitinskiensis sp. n. Specimen 666, borehole 2526, depth 320.15 m, Ilyinskaya suite, below seam 28.

Fig. 4. Noeggerathiopsis condalepensis Zal. Specimen 714, borehole 4016, depth 303.1 m, Erunakovo suite, above seam 20.

Fig. 5. Callipteris (?) osinowskiensis Neub. Specimen 669, borehole 2650, depth 288.55 m, Ilyinskaya suite, above seam 26.

Fig. 6. Glottophyllum cf. elongatum Radcz. Specimen 606, borehole 2550, depth 288.55 m, Erunakovo suite, above seam 16.

Fig. 7. Schizoneura sibirica Neub. Specimen 636, borehole 2568, depth 116 m, Erunakovo suite, below seam 13.

Fig. 8. Lepeophyllum (?) cf. brevifolium (Radcz). Specimen 109, Ilyinskaya suite, below seam 23.

Table I