THE PALYNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF EASTERN GEORGIA SARMATIAN DEPOSITS.pdf

The Upper Miocene in the Eastern Paratethys is marked by the Sarmatian stage, divided into the Volhynian, Bessarabian, and Khersonian substages, each characterized by distinct lithological and biofacial features. In Eastern Georgia, Sarmatian deposits are widespread and divided into these three substages, with varying thicknesses and compositions indicating different environmental conditions. Palynological studies have significantly expanded knowledge of Sarmatian flora, identifying 170 taxa and revealing five stages of vegetation development. The transition between Middle and Upper Sarmatian was a critical point for both marine fauna and terrestrial flora, influenced by climatic fluctuations and tectonic movements that reshaped the region's paleogeography. This division is further evidenced by differences in vegetation dynamics between Eastern and Western Georgia, with the latter maintaining a more stable, humid subtropical climate. The findings allow for detailed stratigraphical division of Eastern Georgian Sarmatian deposits into palynozones, enhancing the understanding of past climates and ecosystems.