Abstract

In Romania Devonian deposits, dated on paleontological evidence, are known in the foreland units of the Carpathian Mts.: 1. the Moesian Platform, 2. the Predobrogean Depression, and 3. North Dobrogea.

In the area of the Moesian Platform unfolded Devonian rocks extend over the Romanian Plain and South Dobrogea. The Devonian overlies the Silurian in uninterrupted sequence, disconformably and, in some places, unconformably. It is overlain without sedimentary break or facies change by Lower Carboniferous carbonates; on swells by unconformable Upper Carboniferous or Permo-Triassic detrital sediments, and in places even by Upper Jurassic carbonates.

The Devonian sequence includes an argillaceous facies at the base, a gritty one in the middle part, and a carbonate-evaporite facies in the upper part.

According to the faunal assemblage of trilobites, tentaculites, brachiopods, bivalves, etc. in the Moesian Platform, north of the Danube River, all the series of the Devonian are represented; Gedinnian-Siegenian, Siegenian-Emsian, Eifelian, Givetian, Frasnian, Famennian.

In North Dobrogea Devonian rocks are exposed in the Macin and Tulcea zones. Slightly metamorphosed Silurian shales are overlain by crinoidal limestones, possibly of Gedinnian age. The Coblenzian consists of a rhythmical sequence of quartzitic sandstones, argillaceous slaty shales and limestones with a rich brachiopod assemblage. The Middle-Upper Devonian is present, as shown by conodonts.

In the Predobrogean Depression Devonian rocks are attested on the basis of microfauna.

In the Romanian Carpathians part of the outcropping pre-Carboniferous crystalline schists might also belong to the Devonian. Some palynological assemblages are present.