Palaeoenvironmental implications of Palaeomicrocodium in Upper Devonian microbial mounds of the Chernyshev Swell,Timan-northern Ural Region

Nine major microfacies and eight transgressive-regressive cycles have been recognized in the middle Frasnian-Famennian microbial mound of the Shar'yu River section in the Chernyshev Swell, Timan-northern Ural region. Rocks including Palaeomicrocodium at the top of each cycle show signs of brecciation, freshwater leaching, and vadose cementation. Palaeomicrocodium, an enigmatic structure, being close in nature to Microcodium, is useful as a palaeoenvironmental indicator and can also be used in regional correlations. Seven levels of subaerial expose surfaces with Palaeomicrocodium correspond to seven breaks in growth of the microbial mound in the Upper Devonian reef-like formation. The high-amplitude sea-level changes recognized are in good correlation with those in the Moscow Syneclise and are also fixed on the global eustatic curve.