Middle Miocene palynoflora of the Legnica lignite deposit complex ...

6
20 th century. Many elaborations of plant macro-
and micro-remains were published in the second
half of 20 th century (Raniecka-Bobrowska
1952, 1962, 1970, Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka
1954, 1956b, c, Romanowicz 1961, Stachurska
et al. 1967, 1971, 1973, Sadowska 1970, 1977,
1992, 1995, Ziembińska-Tworzydło 1974, Dyjor
& Sadowska 1977, Sadowska & Zastawniak
1978, Jahn et al. 1984, Łańcucka-Środoniowa
et al. 1992, and others).
Geological studies in the Legnica region were
started by Berg (1936), however, a peculiar
interest in the Tertiary sedimentary series of
this terrain was aroused by numerous drillings
connected with a lignite prospecting. In 1950–
1966 in the Legnica–Lubin–Ścinawa region geological
and prospecting works were carried out,
and the Legnica and Ścinawa lignite deposits
were discovered (Ciuk 1961a, b, 1966). The Legnica
deposit was documented in 1968, whereas
the complex geological investigations connected
with project of a lignite mine were carried out in
the seventies of 20 th century (Szulc & Burzyński
1975). Then a series of drillings was done and
some profi les from the Legnica–Ścinawa–Lubin
Legnicki region were more or less detailed
palynologically elaborated (see catalogue by
Grabowska and Słodkowska 1993).
The Legnica lignite deposit is a platform
type deposit that extends over a large area in
the Legnica Depression. Together with neighbouring
Ścinawa deposit they form the largest
lignite-bearing area (about 15 × 30 km)
in Poland (Jaroń et al. 1978, Ciuk & Piwocki
1990). The Legnica deposit consists of three
(west, east and north) fi elds (Fig. 1). Total
thickness of coal seams is 20.6–23.6 m (Ciuk
1987). Seams of the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd groups form
the major part of the coal resources, and the
coal is considered to be one of the best quality
brown coal in Poland (Majewski 1976, Jaroń
et al. 1978).
The Ruja lignite deposit was discovered at
the beginning of the nineties of 20 th century.
It is considered to be a satellite deposit in
the Legnica–Ścinawa complex (Piwocki 1989,
Dyląg & Kasiński 1995, Jęczmyk et al. 1997).
The deposit is situated about 20 km southeast
from Legnica (Fig. 1). The 2 nd Lusatian
seam is the main one there, at some places the
2 nd A Lubin seam occurs. The 1 st Henryk seam
consists there of a few thin horizons (Dyląg
1995).
The aim of the present study was a detailed
palynological analysis of the two profi les from
the Legnica east fi eld (Legnica 41/52 and
Fig. 1. Location of the Legnica lignite deposit complex (according to Jaroń et al. 1978, Wacnik & Worobiec 2001, slightly
changed)