Early Ordovician microfossils (acritarchs, chitinozoans) and graptolites from the Schwarzburg Anticline, Thuringia (Germany)

Early Ordovician acritarchs, chitinozoans and two biostratigraphically significant graptolites are identified from the Phycodes Group (post-Tremadoc/pre-Arenig: Hunneberg Stage) and the Griffelschiefer Fm. (late Arenig) of the Schwarzburg Anticline (Thuringia, Germany). The palyno-associations as well as the graptolites are attributed to the cold-climate "Mediterranean Palynoprovince" (Vavrdová 1974) or to peri-Gondwana, respectively. The low diversity assemblages indicate a restricted inshore environment for the "Thuringian Facies" with only sporadic offshore influx. The palynological differences between "Thuringian" and "Bavarian Facies" within the Ordovician of the Saxothuringian Structural Belt are discussed.