Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.

32(3), July 2009, pp 215-234

215

SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE UPPER PERMIAN

ZECHSTEIN MAIN DOLOMITE CARBONATES
IN WESTERN POLAND: A NEW APPROACH
M. Slowakiewicz1* and Z. Mikolajewski2

The Upper Permian Main Dolomite in the Zechstein 2 cyclothem in the Gorzw Block (part of the
Zechstein Basin in western Poland) contains both hydrocarbon source and reservoir rocks, and is
sealed both above and below by evaporites. In this paper we propose a new sequence stratigraphic
model for the development of potential reservoir rocks in toe-of-slope locations. Data came from
detailed analyses of 35 cores from wells in and at the margins of the Wielkopolska platform, a
palaeogeographic element composed of Main Dolomite carbonates.
In basinal areas, the Main Dolomite carbonates begin with a transgressive interval overlain by
laminated dolomudstones interpreted as transgressive facies. The TST begins in the upper part of
the underlying A1g anhydrites. The dolostones are underlain by a ravinement surface on the
platform, and by a maximum regressive surface in toe-of-slope and basinal locations. In well
Gorzw Wielkopolski-2, a hardground marks the maximum flooding surface. Overlying the TST
deposits are thick intervals of intraclast-oolitic grainstones and floatstones which are interpreted
as highstand deposits and indicate highstand shedding. Toe-of-slope facies are composed of
alternating laminated dolomudstones, intraclast-oolitic grainstones, packstones and floatstones
which make up submarine fans (prisms) interpreted as falling stage facies which are capped by
dolomudstones. A subaerial unconformity was recognized on the platform, and a slope onlap
surface on the slope and toe-of-slope, respectively.
In platform areas, the Main Dolomite begins with thin intervals containing microbial complexes
deposited during the early HST, which pass into thick oolitic grainstones (HST to late HST) and
terminate as microbial-to-oolitic wackestone and mudstone complexes interpreted as falling stage
facies. Thrombolitic bioherms constitute a reference horizon which can be correlated between
wells in the study area. The beginning of the LST occurs in the upper part of the Main Dolomite.
The boundary between lowstand and transgressive deposits was identified in the lower part of the
Basal Anhydrite and is marked by sabkha and salina facies, respectively, where an erosional
ravinement surface and maximum regressive surface were identified. Thus, the upper part of the
underlying Upper Anhydrite and the upper part of the Main Dolomite deposits form a second
depositional sequence in the study area.
The depositional environment of the Main Dolomite platform carbonates was variable, and
was influenced by the topography of the pre-existing evaporitic platform. The newly proposed
sequence stratigraphic model emphasises the role of forced regressive submarine fans as potential
hydrocarbon accumulations and traps in the toe-of-slope area.
Polish Geological Institute, ul. Rakowiecka 4, 00-975
Warsaw, Poland.
* Author for correspondence, email:
mslo@pgi.gov.pl
2
Polish Oil and Gas Company, Pl. Staszica 4, 64-920 Pila,
Poland.
1

Key words: Poland, sequence stratigraphy, Main

Dolomite, sequence stratigraphic surfaces, Upper
Permian.

2009 The Authors. Journal compilation 2009 Scientific Press Ltd

216

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

INTRODUCTION
The NE part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline in Western
Poland is a major oil and gas province. The most
important reservoir rocks occur in the Upper Permian
Main Dolomite and Zechstein Limestone. Significant
hydrocarbon accumulations are present in the Main
Dolomite on the Gorzw Block, located between the
Szczecin Trough to the north and the Fore-Sudetic
Monocline to the south (Narkiewicz and Dadlez,
2008) (Fig. 1). This area was of little interest from an
exploration point of view until a minor oil
accumulation was discovered in the 1970s in a toeof-slope location next to the Sulecin Platform
(Depowski and Peryt, 1985; Karnkowski, 1999;
Jaworowski and Mikolajewski, 2007). In 2002, the
much larger Lubiatw accumulation was discovered
at the western margin of the Grotw Peninsula, a
northerly extension of the regional-scale
Wielkopoloska Platform (Fig.1c). This discovery
confirmed the prospectivity of the Main Dolomite
reservoir and encouraged further exploration. Further
discoveries were made in the area in 2003 including
the Miedzychd gasfield (with a reservoir in barrier
facies), the Sowia Gra oilfield (toe-of-slope facies)
and the Grotw oilfield (inner platform facies). The
Lubiatw and Sowia Gra fields together comprise
the second-largest oilfield complex in Poland (after
Barnwko-Mostno-Buszewo: Grski et al., 1999) and
have recoverable reserves of 46.31 MM brl oil and
0.21 TCF gas (Dyjaczynski et al., 2006; Grecki et
al., 2008).
The Main Dolomite (abbreviated here as Ca2,
following Wagner, 1994) reservoir rocks comprise
alternating medium- and coarse-grained carbonates
with different thicknesses within a carbonate mud
succession in the Polish part of the Zechstein Basin,
whose stratigraphic scheme was established by
Wagner (1994, Fig.2). These rocks have been
interpreted as redeposited material resulting from
progradation of the carbonate platform margin
(Jaworowski and Mikolajewski, 2007). An alternative
interpretation is that they are lowstand deposits
composed mostly of autochthonous material
(Zdanowski, 2003a,b, 2004a,b). Mikolajewski and
Slowakiewicz (2008) showed that, in the study area,
diagenetic modification of the dolomite and the
development of porosity occurred during both
eodiagenesis and mesodiagenesis (Fig.3). Secondary
porosity (locally up to 35%) formed due to the partial
or complete dissolution of carbonate grains, most
probably due to aggressive CO 2 -bearing fluids
originating from the transformation of organic matter
(c.f. Clark, 1980).
In this paper, we propose a new sequence
stratigraphic model for the Main Dolomite in the

Grotw Peninsula and Krobielewko microplatform

area. The model is based on sedimentological data
presented by Slowakiewicz and Mikolajewski (2008).
The sequence stratigraphy of the European Zechstein
Basin has been interpreted in various ways (e.g.
Tucker, 1991; Strohmenger et al., 1996a,b; Wagner
and Peryt, 1997; Leyrer et al., 1999; Kaiser, 2001;
Kaiser et al., 2003; Zdanowski, 2003a,b, 2004a,b;
Becker and Bechstdt, 2006; Warren, 2006;
Jaworowski and Mikolajewski, 2007; Slowakiewicz
and Mikolajewski, 2008). Sequence stratigraphy is
more difficult to apply in evaporite basins than in
open-marine settings because accommodation space
is controlled by rapid subsidence and by fluctuations
in brine levels which depend on evaporation rates and
rates of brine inflow-outflow (Peryt, 1992; Becker and
Bechstdt, 2006). Our studies emphasise the
application of sequence stratigraphy in mapping
potential hydrocarbon traps in toe-of-slope locations
in falling-stage deposits.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
AND REGIONAL PALAEOGEOGRAPHY
The study area is located in the western part of the
Polish Zechstein Basin (Wagner, 1994), in the east of
the European Southern Permian Basin. In
palaeogeographic terms (Fig.1c), the area lies at the
embayed northern margin of the regional-scale
Wielkopolska Platform which is composed of Main
Dolomite carbonates. A northerly extension of the
platform is known as the Grotw Peninsula, to the
west of which is the Krobielewko microplatform
(Fig.1c).
The palaeogeographic setting of the Main
Dolomite is related to the palaeotopography of the
Lower Rotliegend volcanics and underlying folded
and eroded Carboniferous rocks (Kotarba and Wagner,
2006). In Rotliegend time, this formed a palaeohigh
known as the Lubusko High (Dadlez, 2006) (Fig. 4)
which was composed of volcaniclastics and Upper
Rotliegend sedimentary rocks (Maliszewska et al.,
2003). Geissler et al. (2008) suggested that both the
pre-volcanic relief and synvolcanic tectonism
influenced the Southern Permian Basin at the cessation
of Lower Rotliegend volcanism (their Fig. 7). Late
Carboniferous - Early Permian volcanic rocks reach
thicknesses of around 400 m in well Santok-1 and
rest unconformably on eroded Carboniferous rocks
(Lorenc et al., 1995). The entire area was submerged
during the Zechstein transgression and was flooded
by a shallow epicontinental sea.
In Polish Zechstein 1 time (PZ1, Werra cyclothem),
so-called sulphate platforms developed on Lower
Rotliegend palaeohighs. Sulphates were deposited in
shallow-water conditions and have thicknesses of over

Tr
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Po

li
s

me
ra
n

ian

ell

ll

nT
ro
ug
h

Sw

ra
n ia

Fore-Sudetic Monocline

lock

Gorzw
B

cin

id

W
IT
IC
A

RZ

GO

RZEPIN BAY

CHARTW - GRZYCA
MICROPLATFORM

Ca2 profiles from the Gorzw Platform

Ca2 profiles from the study area

boreholes

Y
MAN
R
E
G
A
Y

F
G

PL
AT
H

FO

study area

bay

shallow part

deep part

Basin plain

KA PL
ATFO

lagoon

barriers

platform slope

low-energy zone

oncolite-oolite shoals
high-energy zone

RM

w
ot ld19 20
Gr ilfie18
o 17
13
16 P G 21
25
12 Mied E R
z
11 gasf ychN O
15 ield d I
T
10
N
9
14
S W 22
8
U
23
L
7
A

Carbonate platform

OPOLS

BAY

3
KROBIELEWKO
MICROPLATFORM
4
5
2

NOTE

WIELK

RM

escarpment-like platform margin

SULCIN
MICROPLATFORM

C
D

A
BW

BASIN

10 km

24

Fig.1. A. Map of Poland with the study area.

B. Geological subdivision of NW Poland at the sub-Cenozoic palaeosurface (after Narkiewicz and Dadlez, 2008);
C. Palaeogeographic map of the Main Dolomite on the Gorzw Platform and on the northern part of the Wielkopolska Platform (after Kotarba & Wagner, 2007,
updated). Boreholes from the study area: 1. Gorzw Wlkp-2; 2. Krobielewko-2; 3. Krobielewko-5; 4. Leszczyny-1; 5. Leszczyny-1K; 6. Miedzychd-2; 7. Mokrzec-1; 8. Lubiatw2; 9. Lubiatw-1; 10. Lubiatw-4; 11. Sowia Gra-1; 12. Sowia Gra-2K; 13. Sowia Gra-4; 14. Miedzychd-6; 15. Miedzychd-4; 16. Miedzychd-5; 17. Grotw-1;
18. Grotw-2; 19. Grotw-6; 20. Grotw-5; 21. Sierakw-4; 22. Sierakw-1; 23. Chrzypsko-3; 24. Gnuszyn-1; 25. Kaczlin-1. Boreholes on the Gorzw Platform: A. Marwice-3;
B. Marwice-1; C. Stanowice-2; D. Stanowice-3; E. Raclaw-1K; F. Baczyna-1; G. Baczyna-2; H. Ciecierzyce-1; I. Dzierzw-1K; J. Santok-1.

study
area

cz
e

me

Po

CYCHRY
MICROPLATFORM

ZIELIN
MICROPLATFORM

CENTRAL

ia Gra
w - Sow
Lubiat oilfield

Sz

BRUSSELS

BERLIN

WARSAW

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

217

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

POLISH ZECHSTEIN BASIN

Lower
Tp1
PZ4
PZ3

PZ2

Zechstein 4

Baltic Fm.

PZ4e
PZ4d
PZ4c
PZ4b
PZ4a

Rewal Fm.
Top
Terrigenous
Series
(PZt)

Younger Halite/Younger Potash Na3/K3

PZ1

Zechstein 1 Zechstein 2 Zechstein 3

Upper

Z E C H S T E I N

BUNTSANDSTEIN

LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY

ROTLIEGEND

STAGE
INDUAN
CAPITANIAN

WUCHIAPINGIAN

CHANGHSINGIAN

SERIES

EARLY

LOPINGIAN
P3
P2

258.0
or
260.4

GUADALUPIAN

255.0

TRIASSIC SYSTEM

251.0

GLOBAL TIME SCALE

P E R M I A N

Age [Ma]

218

Main Anhydrite A3
Platy Dolomite Ca3
Grey Pelite T3
Screening Anhydrite A2r
Screening Older Halite Na2r

Older Potash K2
Older Halite Na2
Basal Anhydrite A2
Main Dolomite Ca2
Upper Anhydrite A1g
Oldest Halite Na1
Lower Anhydrite A1d
Zechstein Limestone Ca1
Kupferschiefer T1

Notec Subgroup

Fig. 2. Lithostratigraphy of the Polish Zechstein Basin modified after Wagner (1994, 2001). Global Time Scale
after Ogg et al. (2008). Age boundaries of the Zechstein after Slowakiewicz et al. (2009); dashed line (at 260.4
Ma), and solid line (lower Zechstein boundary at 258 Ma) after Wagner (2008).

300 m (Kotarba and Wagner, 2006). Small salt basins

formed locally. In neighbouring depressions, sulphates
and salts were deposited with thicknesses of < 200 m.
The Main Dolomite rocks were deposited directly on
the PZ1 sulphate platform successions (Peryt and
Dyjaczynski, 1991; Kotarba and Wagner, 2006, 2007).
A depositional model for the Main Dolomite in the
eastern part of the Gorzw Block during sea-level
highstand is shown in Fig.5. The morphology of the
Main Dolomite carbonate platform and adjoining slope
was controlled by that of the precursor sulphate
platform. The model differs from that of Jaworowski
and Mikolajewski (2007) especially in terms of the
development and interpretation of toe-of-slope deposits
which form the reservoir at the Lubiatw oilfield.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study is based on the sedimentological and
microscopic analyses of complete cores of the Main

Dolomite from 25 representative wells in the study

area and ten wells from the eastern part of the Gorzw
Platform (a total of approximately 2000 m of core)
(Fig. 1c). All cores were cut perpendicular to bedding
planes using a water-cooled saw and were logged in
detail at a macro scale using polished slabs at the
Borehole Core Storage of the Polish Oil and Gas
Company in Pila, where digital photographs of cores
were taken. Samples (every 50 cm) from all the cores
for thin sections were then collected. Petrographic
observations were carried out under a Zeiss Axioskop
microscope coupled with a Nikon Coolpix 990 digital
camera at the Petrographic Laboratory of the Polish
Oil and Gas Company in Pila.
As previously noted by Jaworowski and
Mikolajewski (2007) and confirmed in the present
study, the Main Dolomite in the Grotw Peninsula
area does not contain fabrics characteristic of tidal
environments. This was also noted by Becker and
Bechstdt (2006) who studied the Zechstein Hessian

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

219

Fig. 3. a (above left). Photomicrograph showing porosity in the Main Dolomite after dissolution of ooids and
peloids; well Lubiatw-1, depth 3243.10 m; porosity: 30 %, permeability: 0.01 mD. (b) Oomouldic and
interparticle porosity, well Miedzychd-4, depth 3096.6 m; porosity: 25 %, permeability: 1.65 mD. Toe-of-slope
and barrier facies, respectively. Scale bars are 1 mm. Well locations in Figs 1 and 4.

MYSLIBRZ
BLOCK

VD

MYSLIBRZ-GN1

WARSAW
BERLIN

STRZELCE KRAJESKIE-IG1

BRUKSELA

LUBUSKO
HIGH

R-4
ROZANSKO-1/-1A R-3K
R-2

PODLESIE-1
MYK-1

GAJEWO-1
-1
BUSZEWO-5SCIECHW-1
Z-3K/-3KBIS GRZYMIRABDAZR
NWKO-1
MA-3
Z-2
BUSZW-1
ZIELIN-1
BUSZO
EW -1 LU-LUBISZYN-1/-1K MARWICE-1/-1K
2 LK
U-3 /-3IKB S
DEBNO-1
MOSTNO-1
ST-2 BACZYNA-1
SANTOK-1
LUBNO-1
Debno WIECLAW-1 WITNICA-1
ST-3 STANOWICE-1
DZIEDUSZYCE-1
BA-2
RACLAW-1K
D-2
CIECIERZYCE-1
C-4
CYCHRY-6
NAMYSLIN-1
C-2
JEZYKI-1
GORZW WLKP-IG1
GORZW WLKP-2
CYCHRY-1
DZIERZW-1K
PLONICA-1
J-2
JENINIEC-1
J-7
BRZOZOWA-1

G-6
G-2

G5

KR-5

GROTW-1 S-4
SG-4
M-5
SG-2K
MOKRZEC-1
MIEDZYCHD-3
LESZCZYNY-1/1K SG-1
M-4
KR-2
M-6
SIERAKW-1
L-4
LUBIATW-1
KROBIELEWKO-1
CHRZYPSKO-1
L-2
CH-2
CH-3
MOKRZEC-1
GNUSZYN-1

MASZKW-1

OBRZYCKO-1

MIDZYCHD-2
PNIEWY-1

G-7 G-10
CH-6
G-4

PNIEWY-2

DROGOMIN-2
CH-3
CH-5

MIEDZYRZECZ-1A

DUGOSZYN-1
DROGOMIN-1

10

0
1

W
20 km
5

7
8

OL

SZ

TY

PAP
R

LEGEND

OC

ONO-3

ONO-IG2

SOKOLNIKI-1

PNIEWY-3

OWNICE-2
CHARTW-1

PIERSKO-1

NIE
WY
FAU
LT

GRZYCA-1

N
HI

POZNAN
BASIN

GH

ZIELONA GRA BASIN

Fig. 4. Palaeogeography of the Gorzw Block during latest Rotliegend sedimentation (after Kiersnowski, 2004,
updated from Kiersnowski, 2009; tectonics partly after Dadlez, 2006). VDF: extent of Variscan Deformation
Front. 1. Lower Rotliegend volcanic rocks directly under Zechstein deposits. 2. Proved or interpreted areas
built of Lower Rotliegend sedimentary rocks directly underlying Zechstein rocks. 3. Carboniferous
sedimentary rocks. 4. Supposed chain of palaeovolcanoes interpreted by Kiersnowski (2004). 5. Alluvial
deposits. 6. Aeolian deposits. 7. Playa deposits. 8. Supposed faults and dislocations originating in Early Permian
time. 9. Extent of the Main Dolomite carbonate platform after Kotarba and Wagner (2007).

Basin. Sedimentary structures which appeared to

indicate a tidal influence such as fine-scale lamination
probably record storm- or wave-induced changes in
water level especially in arid and semi-arid areas
(Hardie and Ginsburg, 1977; Wright, 1990). In the
absence of a tidal influence in the study area, and as
suggested by Warren (2006), tidal flats are referred to
as mudflats and the term littoral is used rather

than intertidal. Similarly, sublittoral and

supralittoral are used instead of subtidal and
supratidal.
Sedimentological descriptions in this paper in
general follow those of Jaworowski and Mikolajewski
(2007). Sequence stratigraphic terminology and
concepts follow definitions in Sarg (1988), Hunt and
Tucker (1992, 1995), Embry (2001a,b), Schlager

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

220

Lubiatw oilfield

Midzychd gasfield

Grotw oilfield
in

te
ou

ne

r
rie
ar
rb

direction of shallow-water
bottom currents

lagoon

lagoon

ba

rri

er

in

f-s
pe
lo

or
flo

o
eto

s
ba

platform

basin

lo

Fig. 5. Depositional model of the Main Dolomite facies in the Grotw Peninsula area during relative sea-level
highstand (after Jaworowski and Mikolajewski 2007, modified). Not to scale.

(2005), Embry et al. (2007), Catuneanu (2007) and

Catuneanu et al. (2009).
SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY
Stratigraphic units of the Polish Zechstein Basin were
discussed in detail by Wagner (1994, Fig. 2) who
correlated them with their counterparts in the German
Zechstein Basin. The fill of the Polish Zechstein Basin
has been divided into four Zechstein Sequences (PZ14) comprising third-order sequences with associated
systems tracts (Wagner and Peryt, 1997). The Main
Dolomite (Ca2) comprises the HST of the second
Zechstein sequence; however, the Ca2 slope facies can
be treated as the beginning of the LST of the third
Zechstein sequence (Wagner and Peryt, 1997).
Alternatively, according to Zdanowski (2003a,b,
2004a,b), the upper parts of the Ca2 toe-of-slope
deposits in the Grotw Peninsula area are
autochthonous and are of shallow platform origin
related to a sea-level lowstand; they pass upward into
extremely shallow-water sabkha facies of the Basal
Anhydrite (A2). However, this interpretation was
challenged by Jaworowski and Mikolajewski (2007)
who proposed that there is no evidence for the
emergence of the Main Dolomite platform, which is
necessary for the formation of lowstand deposits.
Instead they suggested that the toe-of-slope deposits
represent highstand and forced regressive deposits of
the preceding sequence. Slowakiewicz and
Mikolajewski (2008) agreed with this general scheme
but improved the Ca2 depositional model in the
Grotw Peninsula area. Thus they distinguished
transgressive deposits in the upper part of the Upper
Anhydrite in the basin and bay facies, lowstand
deposits in the upper part of the Ca2, and transgressive
deposits of the Basal Anhydrite. More details of this
interpretation are discussed below (Fig.6).

TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEMS TRACT

Transgressive deposits are not well developed on the
Upper Anhydrite platform. However, in slope and toeof-slope locations, there occur 60-cm to several-metre
thick successions of deposits reworked during a
transgression, but originating from a lowstand wedge.
Such a succession is observed in the eastern slope of
the Krobielewko platform in well Leszczyny-1K (Fig.
7a). Transgressive deposits in the slope and toe-ofslope are mostly composed of angular fragments (up
to 30 cm long) of nodular anhydrites forming a
matrix-to clast-supported breccia, deposited in a
sabkha setting during a lowstand of relative sea level
and subaerial exposure of the A1 sulphate platform
(Fig. 7a). Anhydrite breccias occur in the Ca2
dolomudstones and are derived from the Upper
Anhydrite anhydrites. Basinal facies, by contrast,
consist of thinly laminated anhydrites which pass into
dark laminated dolostones (Fig. 7b), indicating
continuous sedimentation in the basin and a welldeveloped maximum regressive surface (sensu
Helland-Hansen and Martinsen, 1996) which passes
towards the shoreline into a subaerial unconformity.
The timing of the maximum regressive surface (MRS)
corresponds to the end of base-level fall at the
shoreline. According to Embry (2001b), the MRS
should replace the correlative conformity because it
has low diachroneity, it is widespread throughout the
conformable succession and it joins the basinward
termination of the unconformity. This is the sense in
which the term MRS is used here.
The transition between lowstand and transgressive
platform facies of the Upper Anhydrite and Main
Dolomite is marked by an erosional and nondepositional surface recognized as a subaerial
unconformity. The surface is in general formed during
base-level fall by subaerial processes and can give

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

SLOPE

PLATFORM

221

TOE-OF-SLOPE

SU/TRS

A1g
SU
MRS
TRS

MRS

Ca2 TST
A1g LST

SLOPE

PLATFORM

TOE-OF-SLOPE

S.L.

MFS

SU/TRS

A1g
MFS
SU
MRS

MRS

TRS

SLOPE

PLATFORM

MFS

TOE-OF-SLOPE

SU

S.L.
?

MFS
SU
SOS
MFS
MRS
TRS

SU/TRS
SOS
MRS
MRS

MFS

low-density
turbidites

Fig.6. Schematic models showing development of systems tracts for the Main Dolomite in the eastern part of
the Gorzw Block. A1g Upper Anhydrite; Ca2 Main Dolomite; S.L. sea level.

Ca2 HST

deposits originated from sea-level lowstand (LST)

reworked during transgression (TST)

Ca2
A1g

A1g

Ca2

A1g

Fig.7. A. Transgressive deposits (abrasive platform) from well Leszczyny-1K, depth interval 3489-3507 m (lower part of the eastern slope of the Krobielewko
microplatform); B. Example of transition zone between laminated anhydrites of the Upper Anhydrite (A1g) and laminated dolostones of the Main Dolomite (Ca2)
from well Mokrzec-1, depth interval 3312-3315 m (bay/basinal facies). Arrow points to transition surface (maximum regressive surface).

222

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

rise to large-scale stratigraphic hiatuses (HellandHansen and Martinsen, 1996; Catuneanu, 2007). In
the study area, the subaerial unconformity is replaced
by a transgressive ravinement surface (e.g. well
Leszczyny-1: Fig.8a) which is evidence for the Main
Dolomite transgression. As mentioned above, the
subaerial unconformity may or may not be replaced
by a transgressive ravinement surface (TRS) which
separates regressive strata below from transgressive
strata above (Embry 1993, 1995), and which is
characterized by a distinctive lithological change, in
this case from anhydrites to dolostones. The TRS in
the study area may be slightly diachronous because
the transgression reached areas of high sediment
supply (the carbonate platform interior) somewhat
later. However, according to Embry (1995), this
diachroneity is likely to be minor in relation to the
duration of the cycle of base level rise and fall.
The transgressive deposits represent an
accretionary-type of transgression, which implies that
accommodation of sediment took place behind a
retreating shoreline and that the transgressing
shoreline climbed upward and landward (HellandHansen, 1995; Helland-Hansen and Martinsen, 1996).
Relatively thick anhydrite breccias (up to tens of
metres in diameter; e.g. well Leszczyny-1K) at the foot
of the platform suggest subaerial erosion of the A1
sulphate platform during the sea-level lowstand and
subsequent rapid transgression which began in the
upper part of the Upper Anhydrite interval but in this
case flooded the platform slope in Main Dolomite
time.
HIGHSTAND SYSTEMS TRACT
During the sea-level highstand, the Main Dolomite
platform prograded and aggraded due to high sediment
supply. Highstand facies are marked by erosional
contacts on the platform and platform slope (Fig. 8a,b)
and were the dominant facies throughout Main
Dolomite deposition. The Upper Anhydrite platform
became gradually flooded during the sea-level
highstand in Main Dolomite time. The maximum
flooding surface marks the end of shoreline
transgression and separates transgressive
(retrograding) strata below from highstand
(prograding) strata above. It was identified as a
hardground in well Gorzw Wielkopolski-2 (Fig. 8c)
to the west of the Krobielewko Platform (Jaworowski
and Mikolajewski, 2007).
Highstand facies are mainly composed of crossstratified oolitic dolograinstones (Fig. 8d). At the end
of the relative sea-level highstand, these were shed
down the slope (highstand shedding; Schlager et
al., 1994) and initiated deposition of grain-flow fans
(prisms) driven by high-density turbidity currents at

223

toe-of-slope locations. During the early HST,

aggrading sublittoral oolitic grainstones built up a bar
or oolitic barrier complex. Platform (lagoonal) facies
begin with thin intervals of microbial complexes
passing into thick oolitic grainstones (HST to late
HST/FSST) forming grainstone/oolite shoals formed
as winnowed lag deposits on palaeohighs.
FALLING STAGE SYSTEMS TRACT
The platform facies terminate as microbial-to-oolitic
dolowackestone and dolomudstone complexes
deposited during base-level fall. They were probably
initiated during the late phase of sea-level highstand.
Microbial unlaminated and clotted thrombolitic
bioherms and mounds (biogenic boundstones) provide
a good correlative horizon, e.g. at wells Grotw-1,-2,
-5, -6, and Sierakw-4 (Fig. 8e). In the toe-of-slope
facies, alternating laminated dolomudstones,
floatstones (Fig. 8f), oolitic grainstones and
packstones which build submarine fans represent a
falling stage systems tract (FSST). They are observed
to aggrade but do not prograde towards the basin.
The submarine fans (prisms) are interpreted to be
derived from storm action or as a result of submarine
earthquakes which may periodically have shaken the
platform margin (Peryt, 1992; Slowakiewicz and
Mikolajewski, 2008). Grammer et al. (2001)
suggested that such sediments may be swept off the
top of a shallow carbonate bank by winds, as in the
case of the Great Bahama Bank. The oolitic
dolograinstones, packstones and floatstones
interbedded with dolomudstones which are interpreted
as grainflow depositss i.e. turbidites, grainflows (sensu
stricto) and debris flows (Lowe, 1976; Mullins and
Buren, 1979; Smith, 1985) constituted prisms at the
toe of the platform slope with high porosities (up to
35%). These prisms are thickest around the Lubiatw
oilfield. Similar carbonate deposits have been
described from the Permian of the Delaware Basin
(Newell et al., 1953), the Dutch Zechstein Basin
(Clark, 1980), the English Zechstein Basin (Smith,
1980), the Polish Zechstein Basin (Depowski and
Peryt, 1985) and the German Zechstein Basin (Meier,
1975; Mausfeld and Zankl, 1987). These regressive
deposits are classified as detached forced regressive
deposits sensu Posamentier and Morris (2000).
The prisms may also have developed as a result of
bottom currents flowing parallel to bathymetric
contours (Faugre and Stow, 1993), which can rework
sediments shed from the platform top (see Stanley,
1993, his Fig. 8a). The palaeoflow direction of currents
was from north to south as indicated by the greatest
thicknesses in the southern part of the Lubiatw
oilfield and also from the configuration of the
submarine fan body inferred from 3D seismic imagery.

224

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

According to Faugre and Stow (1993), these bottomcurrent-deposited fans should not be termed
contourites (Stow and Lovell, 1979; Stow et al., 1996)
which are deposited at depths of more than 500 m,
because the Zechstein Basin was only about 250 to
300 m deep (Smith, 1979).
Jaworowski and Mikolajewski (2007) noted (and
as confirmed by the present authors studies) that the
debris-flow deposits and grainflows build
accretionary-type slopes with low-angle gradients of
2-3 o (James and Mountjoy, 1983). As with the
Bahamian margins, the shallow Ca2 platform edge in
the Grotw Peninsula is separated from the main slope
by a marginal escarpment at a depth of around 50 m
(see Kotarba and Wagner 2006; Fig. 9). The
accretionary slope developed below this depth, as in
the present-day northern and western Great Bahama
Bank (Mullins et al., 1984; Grammer et al., 1993),
and also in the German Zechstein Basin and Messinian
evaporites (Schlager and Bolz, 1977). The
resedimented material was transported down the slope
through gullies on the upper slope, and was deposited
at the toe-of-slope in the form of submarine fans. The
accretionary slope began to develop during the sealevel highstand and continued during the forced
regression. Similar processes have been observed in
the Tongue of the Ocean, Exuma Sound and Little
Bahama Bank (Schlager and Chermak, 1979; Crevello
and Schlager, 1980; Harwood and Towers, 1988), and
in the Sierra Diablo Mountains, West Texas (Playton
and Kerans, 2002, 2006).
The forced regressive deposits were first
recognized by Jaworowski and Mikolajewski (2007),
whose interpretations were not consistent with those
of Zdanowski (2003a,b, 2004a,b) who proposed a
lowstand sea-level setting for the toe-of-slope deposits.
According to Jaworowski and Mikolajewski (2007),
there is no evidence of emergence of the Main
Dolomite platform. However, recent data from wells
Grotw-5, -6 and Sierakw-4 indicates that the Grotw
Peninsula was affected by fluctuations of sea-level
which in some places caused subaerial exposure. The
sea-level fluctuations were not only due to falls and
rises of relative sea-level but also to vertical
movements of the Ca2 carbonate platform of tectonic
origin (see discussion).
Our studies have confirmed that the toe-of-slope
facies are composed of material redeposited by
turbidity currents, grainflows and debris flows swept
off the slope by shallow-water (regressive) processes.
The thin beds of matrix- to clast-supported brecciated
anhydrites which lie beneath the redeposited toe-ofslope facies are evidence of the sea-level lowstand.
The forced regressive deposits consist primarily of
shallow- and deep-water facies, which accumulated
at the same time as the subaerial unconformity

developed. A slope onlap surface (SOS: Embry, 1995,

2001a, 2008) has been recognized in the Ca2 deposits
on the platform top and in the marine portion of the
basin (slope and toe-of-slope). The SOS developed
when the Ca2 carbonate slope was exposed and the
slope was starved of marine regressive-derived
sediments. High- and low-density turbidites onlap the
lower portion of the slope (toe-of-slope facies) and
are composed of platform-derived deposits. The SOS
continued to develop during the subsequent sea-level
lowstand.
Forced regressive strata were deposited as
detached forced-regressive deposits, but the basinal
parts of the Main Dolomite did not receive sediments
from the nearby slopes at toe-of-slope locations.
Therefore, the typical facies can be characterized as
dark, organic-rich laminated dolomudstones,
interpreted by Kotarba and Wagner (2007) as source
rocks for hydrocarbons. Basinal facies during the
forced regression continued to be deposited as they
were during the sea-level highstand. Moreover, due
to the limited circulation and high salinity of seawater,
evaporites were laid down on the basin floor and
alternate with dololaminites (well Gnuszyn-1: Fig. 8h).
In some cases, evaporite crystal moulds are observed
in cores, and originate from minerals which
precipitated from interstitial waters on bedding planes.
Similar facies have been described from the Permian
Delaware Basin of West Texas (Ward et al., 1986;
Tinker, 1998), and from restricted basins (Kendall,
1988; Becker and Bechstdt, 2006). Characteristic of
the FSST are shallow-marine deposits with prograding
and offlaping stacking patterns (Hunt and Tucker,
1992; Plint and Nummedal, 2000), as well as
megabreccias such as those described from the
Cambrian of North Greenland (Ineson and Surlyk,
2000). The toe-of-slope deposits do not record
progradation, but the offlaping pattern of the Ca2
platform during the forced regression and its ageequivalent basinal submarine fans were recognized.
In combination, these observations indicate that the
toe-of-slope deposits mainly developed during a
forced regression of the Ca2 sea.
LOWSTAND SYSTEMS TRACT
As the forced regression continued, the Ca2 platform
top became subaerially exposed. During the relative
sea-level lowstand, the carbonates underwent
weathering processes and dissolution because the
carbonate factory was shut down following subaerial
exposure. Aggressive waters containing H2CO3, which
dissociates into H+ and HCO3- (resulting from the
interaction of meteoric waters with atmospheric and
soil-derived CO2) caused lowstand karstification of
the exposed carbonates (Handford and Loucks, 1993).

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

225

Ca2

Ca2

A1g

1cm

A1g

1cm

1cm

1cm

A2

Ca2

A2
MRS ?

1cm
1cm

1cm

Ca2

1cm

Fig. 8. A. Erosional contact (arrow indicates subaerial unconformity replaced by a transgressive ravinement
surface) between A1g and Ca2 at the platform slope zone in well Leszczyny-1 at a depth of 3244.80 m.
A1g: Upper Anhydrite, Ca2: Main Dolomite.
B. Erosional contact (arrow indicates subaerial unconformity/transgressive ravinement surface) of the barrier
facies in well Sierakw-1 at a depth of 3223.35 m.
C. Hardground marking the maximum flooding surface in the bay facies in well Gorzw Wielkopolski-2 at a
depth of 3168 m.
D. Cross-stratified oolitic grainstones deposited during sea-level highstand. Barrier facies. Well Miedzychd-5,
depth 3168 m.
E. Fragment of clotted thrombolitic bioherms, well Grotw-5, depth 3286.10 m.
F. Forced regressive breccias deposited at the toe of the platform slope, well Lubiatw-4, depth 3217 m.
G. Erosional surface (arrow marks subaerial unconformity/transgressive ravinement surface) separating the
Main Dolomite (Ca2) toe-of-slope dolomitic turbidites and dololaminites originating from forced regression/
sea-level lowstand from transgressive sabkha facies of the Basal Anhydrite (A2) sulphates. Well Sowia Gra-2K,
depth 3309.60 m.
H. Transition zone (possible occurrence of maximum regressive surface MRS within the Ca2 carbonates)
between the Main Dolomite (Ca2) dololaminites and laminated anhydrites of the Basal Anhydrite (A2) basinal
facies. Dololaminites pass into anhydrites (chemical transition). Note small nodules of replacive anhydrite.
Well Gnuszyn-1, depth 3484.60 m.

The subaerial unconformity surface was partly

removed by the transgressive ravinement surface
during the subsequent Basal Anhydrite transgression.
This erosional surface is clearly visible in cores of
the platform facies, and forms a sharp-to-wavy-totransitional contact with the underlying forced
regressive strata. The boundary between lowstand and

transgressive deposits is marked by changes in

evaporite texture from sabkha-like to salina-like
anhydrites. This suggests that the next evaporite
transgression came in early Basal Anhydrite time and
is marked by a maximum regressive surface. This is
evidenced by a change from shallowing- to deepeningupwards, i.e. from sabkha to salina facies on the

226

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

platform. The slope was further onlapped by salinalike anhydrites during the early part of the
transgression. Thus, the boundary between the second
and third sequences of the Polish Zechstein is between
the Main Dolomite and the Basal Anhydrite. Basal
Anhydrite facies on the platform are nodular and partly
reworked anhydrites (due to the transgression),
whereas sedimentation was continuous in the basin
(Fig. 8h). The dark dololaminites are overlain by
laminated anhydrites, a sedimentary style which was
initiated during the FSST. Relative sea-level did not
fall below the forced regressive toe-of-slope fans as
evidenced by the lack of a subaerial exposure surface
however in their uppermost parts (e.g. wells Sowa
Gra-2K, Lubiatw-2: Figs.6 and 8g). Subaerial
exposure of the platform top and slope of the Ca2
carbonate platform continued during subsequent
normal lowstand regression, which is why the fallingstage to lowstand interval may be studied as a single
stage (Catuneanu, 2007). This principle can only be
applied to rimmed platforms (MacNeil and Jones,
2006), such as the Main Dolomite.
Cores from wells Grotw-5 and Grotw-6 show
that the Main Dolomite sea expanded and contracted
several times (Peryt and Dyjaczynski, 1991) in the
Grotw Peninsula area. In our material, however, this
is confirmed by the occurrence of only one recorded
beach facies interval containing characteristic
blackened lithoclasts and black pebbles of unknown
origin which were later flooded by oolitic
dolograinstone facies. In general, black pebbles and
blackened lithoclasts are associated with subaerial
exposure surfaces (Strasser, 1984; Shinn and Lidz,
1988), and are evidence of small-scale regressivetransgressive fluctuations in sea level. Correlation of
wells Grotw-1 and -6 (Fig. 10) confirms this
interpretation, and shows that sedimentation in well
Grotw-6 took place in platform depressions whereas
sedimentation in well Grotw-1 was on a local high.
Hence, well Grotw-1 does not contain the lower part
of the Grotw-6 profile.
PETROLEUM POTENTIAL IN THE
GROTW PENINSULA
Dololaminites with high organic matter contents,
preserved due to restricted marine circulation and
anoxic and reducing conditions on the basin floor, may
have source rock potential (Kotarba and Wagner,
2007; Wagner et al., 2008).
The detached forced regressive system described
above and the associated submarine fans at the foot
of the Grotw Peninsula may form stratigraphic traps
for hydrocarbons. This model has been suggested
previously (e.g. Posamentier et al., 1992; Posamentier
and Morris, 2000; Grammer et al., 2001; Sarg, 2001;

Zdanowski, 2004a; Jaworowski and Mikolajewski,

2007), and has been described from different locations
(e.g. Ziegler, 1989; Ainsworth et al., 2000). Detached
forced regressive deposits composed mainly of grainy
sediments can have high porosities and may be sealed
by evaporites. The submarine fans did not prograde
towards the basin, and it is therefore important to
determine potential trapping configurations using
sequence stratigraphic modelling. Future hydrocarbon
exploration in the northern part of the Fore-Sudetic
Monocline and the southern part of the Grzow Block
should therefore focus on mapping forced regressive
fans at the foot of the Main Dolomite carbonate
platform.
In addition to toe-of-slope traps, the platform
interior in the Grotw Peninsula area may also have
exploration potential. Potential reservoir rocks here
are characterized by intervals (35-80 m thick) of oolitic
dolograinstones deposited in high-energy conditions
which represent platform flat (lagoonal-to-oolite
shoal) facies. These facies form reservoirs at the
Miedzychd gasfield, Grotw oilfield and Chrzypsko
oilfield, with significant oil shows in the Sierakw
area. This suggests that hydrocarbon generation
occurred not only in basinal (slope) conditions but
also in the platform interior, suggesting two petroleum
systems (Kotarba and Wagner, 2006, 2007).
According to Kotarba and Wagner (2007),
microbial-algal source rocks in the Main Dolomite
began to generate hydrocarbons in the Late Triassic
to Early Jurassic. Later generation of condensates and
high-temperature gas began in the Late Triassic and
continued to the end of the Late Jurassic or perhaps
Late Cretaceous. Hydrocarbon generation followed
two stages: (i) a single-stage process, in which full
generation of hydrocarbons occurred in the Late
Triassic; and (ii) a two-stage process, in which 8090% of hydrocarbons (by mass) were generated by
the end of the Jurassic, with generation completed in
the post-Cretaceous. Consequently, oil accumulated
in traps at the end of the Triassic and Jurassic, and
gas saturation of oil acumulations took place by the
Late Jurassic, with final gas generation in the
Palaeogene and Neogene (Kotarba and Wagner,
2007).
DISCUSSION
Zdanowski (2004a) interpreted lowstand fans as
redeposited material (intervals 1 m thick) overlain by
lowstand wedges composed of PZ1 anhydrites and
highstand Ca2 carbonates deposited on the slope and
at toe-of-slope locations. The profile of the lowstand
wedges begins with laminated carbonates (?) with
intercalations of redeposited dolomudstones
interpreted as low-density mass flow deposits. These

Na1

marginal
escarpment

Na3

Miedzychd-4

Z1

Fig.9. Seismic section across the Lubiatw oilfield at the foot of the carbonate platform slope and Miedzychd gasfield on the carbonate platform (3D seismic surveys
in the Miedzychd-Sierakw area, Geofizyka Torun 2001-2002). Z1- base Zechstein cyclothem 1 (Werra), Z2 top Basal Anhydrite, Na1 Oldest Halite, Na2 Older
Halite, Na3 Younger Halite.

Z2

Na2

Lubiatw-1

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

227

escarpment-like platform margin

boreholes

Basin plain

biostabilization

A2

Na2

API

GRS

API

100

100

Porosity

Calcite

Dolomite

Anhydrite

Clay rate

Bulk analysis of
lithological composition

H
H

Lithology
H H

Sedimentary
textures

Lithofacies log

LST

Subaerial exposure
of the PZ1 sulphate platform

A1g

3230

3220

3210

3200

GG

Fig.10. Correlation of the Grotw-1 and Grotw-6 wells in the Grotw Peninsula.

A1g - Upper Anhydrite

no core recovery

A2 - Basal Anhydrite

Sedimentary textures

platform slope

oolite shoals

5 km

CHRZYPSKO-1

Na2 - Older Halite

bay

lagoon

barriers

deeper part

shallower part

Carbonate platform

CHRZYPSKO-3

CHRZYPSKO-2

SIERAKOW-1

KACZLIN-1

wackestones
packstones/grainstones
floatstones + rudstones
bindstones/framestones

anhydrites

dolostones

Lithology

after Kotarba and Wagner (2007)

Legend

MOKRZEC-1

MIEDZYCHOD-4

GROTOW
PENINSULA

SIERAKOW-4

GROTOW-5

MIEDZYCHOD-6

MIEDZYCHOD-5

MIEDZYCHOD-3

LUBIATOW-2

LUBIATOW-1

LUBIATOW-4

SOWIA GORA-1

SOWIA GORA-2k

SOWIA GORA-4

GROTOW-1

GROTOW-2

GROTOW-6

DEPTH (m.)

TST?

early

HST

late

FSST/LST

Grotw-6

A2

Na2

A1g

3380

3370

3360

3350

3340

3330

3320

3310

3300

DEPTH (m.)

Grotw-1
STRATIGRAPHY

DOLOMITE
MAIN

STRATIGRAPHY

DOLOMITE
MAIN

API

GRS

API

GG

100

100

Porosity

Calcite

Dolomite

Anhydrite

Clay rate

Bulk analysis of
lithological composition

Lithology
H H H
H
H H H

Sedimentary
textures

Lithofacies log

228

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

M. Slowakiewicz and Z. Mikolajewski

A
systems tracts HST

fall
FSST

TST

A2

TST
LST PZS3
FSST
HST

PZ2 Ca2

rise

HST

rise

LST

relative
sea-level

229

relative
sea-level
curve

A1g
PZ1 Na1 subaerial exposure
A1d

TST PZS2
H

LST

Fig.11. A. Sinusoidal sea-level curve showing systems tracts for the Main Dolomite carbonates.
HST highstand systems tract, FSST falling-stage systems tract, LST lowstand systems tract,
TST transgressive systems tract.
B. Sequence stratigraphy model of the Main Dolomite carbonates in eastern part of the Gorzw Block.

are overlain by shallow-water grain-rich carbonates.

A Ca2 profile is terminated by low-energy, bioturbated
facies deposited in restricted lagoonal and/or mudflat settings. These deposits pass gradually into
shallow-water anhydrites of the Basal Anhydrite (A2)
deposited in a sabkha environment.
However, our studies have shown that this model
differs in terms of sedimentologic lithofacies and
sequence stratigraphic interpretation. Thus, the Ca2
platform on the Gorzw Block was subaerially
exposed due to fluctuations of relative sea-level due
most probably according to our interpretation to
tectonic movements. However, exposure of the NW
part of the Main Dolomite platform, where caliche,
desiccation cracks and fenestrae fabrics are common
in the upper parts of the Ca2 profiles, was more
significant than in the NE where microkarst and
microbial mounds occur. Therefore, the Gorzw Block
in Main Dolomite time was probably inclined to the
NE which caused the eastern part of the Ca2 carbonate
platform to be partly submerged whereas the western
part was exposed.
As interpreted by Zdanowski (2004a,b), lowstand
wedges built of oolitic dolograinstones in fact began
to be deposited during a relative sea-level highstand
and continued during the forced regression. This is
evidenced by the lack of any eroded or subaerial
material within these facies deposited at the foot of
the Grotw Peninsula. Indeed, subaerial exposure has
been recorded in platform interior wells (Grotw-5, 6 and Sierakw-4), and can be interpreted as being
deposited during relative sea-level lowstand but
related only to local small-scale fluctuations in sea
level.
The lowstand systems tract forms during the early
stages of base-level rise (Hunt and Tucker, 1992). In
our studies, this is recorded in the uppermost part of
the Ca2 carbonates on the platform and in the

lowermost part of sabkha-like Basal Anhydrite

sulphates. This is also evidenced by the sharp and
wavy surface (subaerial unconformity) marking the
boundary between forced regressive and lowstand
deposits on the platform.
The next transgression occurred in the lower part
of the Basal Anhydrite evaporites. It is characterized
by sabkha-like nodular anhydrites and is indicated by
a transgressive ravinement surface or maximum
regressive surface on the top of, and in the basinal
parts of, the Ca2 platform. In late Main Dolomite time,
relative-sea levels dropped by at least 100 m with no
glacial mechanism (Zdanowski, 2004a,b) but mostly
as a result of evaporative drawdown (e.g. Maiklem,
1971; Mesolella et al., 1974; Smith 1980; Warren,
2006), which led to extensive subaerial exposure of
platform tops.
During normal highstand regression, most
accommodation space was filled, leading to shedding
of oolitic dolograinstones down the slope. When the
Main Dolomite sea-level gradually fell, this led to a
rapid forced regression and the subaerial exposure of
the platform top, which continued during the
subsequent lowstand regression. Thus, the fallingstage to lowstand interval may be studied by a single
stage (see Catuneanu, 2007 and stage 2 in Fig. 6.49).
This principle can only be applied to escarpment-like
rimmed platforms such as the Ca2 platform (MacNeil
and James, 2006).
Subaerial exposure recognized in the uppermost
part of the Ca2 carbonates marks a second sequence
boundary (sensu Wagner and Peryt, 1997) which
corresponds to the lowest position of relative sea-level
(Hunt and Tucker, 1995). Strata deposited during
falling relative sea-level may be included in the late
highstand systems tract (Van Wagoner et al., 1990).
According to Hunt and Tucker (1992, 1995) and
Pomar and Ward (1994), they correspond to the

230

Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in Western Poland

falling-stage systems tract. Kaiser et al. (2003) were

the first to recognize late highstand (i.e. forced
regressive) deposits in the Zechstein German Basin.
Their late highstand facies correspond to the oolitic
grainstone facies shed down the platform slope and
deposited at the toe of the slope of the Grotw
Peninsula as potential traps for hydrocarbons. Hunt
and Tucker (1995) noted that early and late
lowstand systems tracts (Posamentier et al., 1992;
Posamentier and Allen, 1993) are in fact falling-stage
systems tracts and lowstand systems tracts,
respectively. In conclusion, Figs. 11a and 11b illustrate
a new sequence stratigraphy model for the Main
Dolomite deposition.
Peryt and Dyjaczynski (1991) and Kotarba and
Wagner (2006, 2007) proposed that the Ca2 carbonate
platform morphology and facies were controlled by
the configuration of the underlying A1sulphate
platforms. However, at the end of the Zechstein first
cyclothem (PZ1 = Werra cyclothem), basinal areas
started to subside along deep-seated master faults
related to the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone (Znosko,
1981; Krzywiec, 2006a). This extensional subsidence
associated with fault activity in the sub-Zechstein
basement (Krzywiec et al., 2006) may have been a
trigger mechanism (Peryt, 1992) which produced the
toe-of-slope deposits. Therefore we assume, as was
also suggested by Depowska (2005), that the tectonic
activity which controlled subsequent subsidence
accommodated by major sub-Zechstein faults (see the
model of Withjack and Callaway, 2000, and Krzywiec,
2006b) may have caused instability of the Ca2 carbonate
and A1 evaporite platforms during their deposition.
CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of new sedimentological data, a new
depositional model and sequence stratigraphic
interpretation of the Main Dolomite carbonates in the
eastern part of the Notec Bay (Gorzw Block) have
been proposed. A number of sequence stratigraphic
surfaces were identified. Transgressive deposits (TST)
are recognised in the upper part of the Upper
Anhydrite, and mark the boundary between first and
second Polish Zechstein depositional sequences. The
deposits are mostly built of sulphate matrix-to-clastsupported breccias representing an abrasive platform
environment. Subaerial unconformity, maximum
regressive sruface and transgressive ravinement
surface were recognized within the transgressive
deposits. The subsequent highstand facies are mainly
composed of intraclast-oolitic dolograinstones and
packstones and floatstones deposited at the toe-ofslope of the Ca2 carbonate platform forming initial
grain flows and low-density turbidite facies generated
by highstand shedding.

Falling stage systems tract deposits are composed

of carbonate facies initiated during the sea-level
highstand and deposited at the toe-of-slope in the form
of submarine fans which developed mostly during a
forced regression. The submarine fans do not display
a progradational profile. A slope onlap surface (SOS)
which is the basal boundary of the FSST was also
identified.
Lowstand facies were identified in the uppermost
part of the Main Dolomite carbonates. The boundary
between lowstand and forced regressive deposits is
marked by an erosive surface interpreted as a subaerial
unconformity on the platform and its slope, and a
transgressive ravinement surface in the basinal part.
Hence, the boundary between the second and third
Polish Zechstein depositional sequences occurs in the
uppermost part of the Main Dolomite carbonates.
Transgressive deposits of the next depositional
sequence were found in the lower part of the Basal
Anhydrite sulphates and are characterized by the
upward transition from sabkha (LST) to salina (TST)
environments.
It is suggested that syndepositional tectonic activity
resulted in instability of the Ca2 carbonate and A1
sulphate platforms, and both resulted in highstand
shedding and controlled relative sea-level rises and
falls. However, evaporative drawdown was the main
factor causing significant sea-level fall in late Main
Dolomite times.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are very much indebted to Ashton Embry for his
valuable comments on an early version of the paper.
Graham Aplin (Task Geoscience) reviewed the
manuscript and is greatly acknowledged for
improvements and useful suggestions. POGC Pila and
Geofizyka Torun are thanked for providing materials.
REFERENCES
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