Limestone layers settled on altered pillow lava and hyaloclastite at the tiny iron ore-mine near Zengővárkony (Mecsek Mts., southern Hungary) yielded remarkably large and rich brachiopod-dominated fauna representing Lacunosella hoheneggeri (SUESS), Moutonithyris sp. aff. moutoniana (D'ORBIGNY), Karadagithyris sp., Nucleata veronica NEKVASILOVÁ and Zittelina pinguicula (ZITTEL) taxa. Re-sampling of the Neocomian outcrop of Kisújbánya also yielded a rich fauna representing Lacunosella hoheneggeri (SUESS), Lacunosella ?spoliata (SUESS), Lamellaerhynchia multiformis (ROEMER), Pygites diphyoides (D'ORBIGNY), and Nucleata veronica NEKVASILOVÁ. Taxonomic description and internal morphology based on serial sectioning are reported for the first time from the Early Cretaceous beds of Mecsek Mts. Age of the sequences is Early Valanginian (Thurmanniceras pertransiens Zone), which is in fine correlation with parastratigraphic results on tintinnids (Calpionellites darderi Zone). Size distribution of brachiopod specimens refers to nutrient environment, which would have been in connection and related to the Early Cretaceous volcanism, and the iron-ore formation. Palaeobiogeographically, the fauna strongly indicates a Tethyan origin of Mediterranean character being supported for the first time by brachiopod data and being in fine correlation with earlier palaeobiogeographic analysis on ammonites. This fauna shows strong connection to the brachiopod faunas of the Western Carpathians. Zusammenfassung: Fossilreiche Kalke über hyaloklastischen Vulkaniten bei einer kleinen Eisenerzgrube nahe Zengővárkony (Mecsekgebirge, südliches Ungarn) enthalten eine artenreiche Brachiopodenfauna mit folgenden Arten: Lacunosella hoheneggeri (SUESS), Moutonithyris sp. aff. moutoniana (D'ORBIGNY), Karadagithyris sp., Nucleata veronica NEKVASILOVÁ und Zittelina pinguicula (ZITTEL).

The spatially restricted Early Valanginian iron ore (limonite) and manganese deposit at Zengõvárkony (Mecsek Mts, southern Hungary) contains a rich, strongly limonitized, remarkably large-sized (specimens are 30-70% larger than those at their type localities) brachiopod-dominated (mainly Lacunosella and Nucleata) megafauna and a diverse crustacean microfauna, which indicates a shallow, nutrient-rich environment possibly linked to an uplifted block, and/or a hydrothermal vent.

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A rich and diverse crustacean microcoprolite ichnofauna is reported from the Valanginian of the Mecsek Mts., Hungary. Localities from the Bolondút and Dezsö Rezsö valleys near Zengövárkony (Eastern Mecsek Mts.) provided Favreina aV. dispentochetarius, Palaxius darjaensis, P. triochetarius, P. salataensis, P. tetraochetarius, and P. decaochetarius. They occur in limonitic and partly metasomatized limestones, limestone olistoliths, and ammonite body-chambers. The remarkable richness of this ichnofauna plus the previous records from the same environment (altogether 11 ichnospecies of four ichnogenera from a single stratigraphic level) make it the most diverse crustacean ichnofauna of the Mesozoic. The former ecosystem of the ichnofauna is considered a deeper shallowmarine (water depth <300 m) hydrothermal vent on which the producers of the microcoprolites lived. The related brachiopod fauna shows a remarkable size and is dominated by Lacunosella. This fauna is not similar to typical fossil deepsea vent faunas; however, it oVers a thorough understanding of other fossil shallow-marine hydrothermal vent faunas and the role of crustaceans in these ecosystems. This is the Wrst record of crustacean coprolites from such a fossil site and documents that crustaceans were diverse and played an important role in shallow-marine, non photosynthesisbased ecosystems in the geological past.

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The Late Valanginian-Early Hauterivian iron ore deposit and related formations at Zengővárkony (Mecsek Mts., South Hungary) provided a relatively rich microfauna of foraminifera, crustacean microcoprolites, and sponge spicules. Benthic foraminifera are recognized in decreasing abundance: Glomospira cf. gordialis (Jones and Parker 1860), Lenticulina sp., Spirillina sp., Nodosaria sp., Epistomina sp., and Trocholina sp. A Hedbergella sp. indicates the presence of planktonic foraminifera around the ore deposit. Besides this microfauna, sponge spicules (diactine-type criccorhabds and anactine-type rhax forms) are first recorded from this environment. Rock-forming quantities of various ichnospecies of crustacean microcoprolites are recorded. Favreina hexaochetarius, Palaxius tetraochetarius, and Palaxius decaochetarius isp. provided statistically evaluated quantities in thin sections, which point to a complete crustacean ichnofauna from juveniles to adults. Four different microfossil assemblages are recognized from the Apátvarasd Limestone Fm: (a) Glomospira-dominated foraminifer assemblage, (b) diverse crustacean microcoprolite assemblage dominated by Palaxius, (c) monotypic Favreina assemblage, and (d) diverse sponge-dominated assemblage. These assemblages are similar to that of the Recent Aegean Sea hydrothermal field communities. The remains of an undetermined crinoid from dissolved rock sample may indicate a vivid sea-bottom environment.

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