Study of the Middle Miocene (Badenian and Sarmatian) formations in the Várpalota Neogene Basin

Abstract

This study records some observations from the author's investigations into the Middle Miocene geological formations of the Várpalota Neogene Basin. Special attention was given to each stratigraphic unit with respect to geological,
stratigraphic and palaeontological features. The findings are based on data derived from surficial investigations, boreholes and mining activity. The present work is a continuation of the author's previous study on Lower Miocene,
which was supported by OTKA (Hungarian Scientific Research Fund) grant T 026440 and in which the author suggested that in the north-western part of the basin (i.e. Bántapuszta sub-basin) the Karpatian succession is unconformably
overlain by the lowermost Badenian (M4a) calcareous-coarse-clastic sequence. The latter has a rich fossil assemblage. In the boreholes, the M4a horizon can be identified in the entire basin. In this study, from Bántapuszta the author describes
the “Öskü Member” of the Lajta Limestone Formation and, from the Southern sub-basin, details of the “Berhida Member” of the Pusztamiske Formation are given. The younger lower Badenian (M4b) covers the underlying sediments
with an unconformity. An examination of Middle and Upper Badenian sediments, as well as of the facies conditions and the rich fauna of the Sarmatian was also carried out by the author.