Permian and Triassic exotic limestone blocks of the Crimea

Exotic limestone blocks of Permian and Triassic age occur in the Middle Triassic-Middle Jurassic Crimean olistostrome complex of the Maria and Aima River basins and in the Simferopol area. Rich assemblages of small foraminifers, fusulinids, brachiopods, rare ammonoids, and sphinctozoans occur in these blocks. Fossils from Permian blocks indicate the presence of zonal assemblages for the Bolorian, Kubergandian, Murgabian, Midian, Dzhulfian, anal Dorashamian stages. The Neoschwagerina simplex fusulinid zone is extended upward based on the presence in our material of Kubergandian ammonoids with Neoschwagerina simplex Ozawa. Comparison of the fauna from Triassic blocks to assemblages from other regions of the Tethys indicates that the age is Late Triassic Rhaetian corresponding to the Vandaites sturzenbaumi ammonoid zone.