2018 | 71/1 | 41–43 | www.geologia-croatica.hr Journal of the Croatian Geological Survey and the Croatian Geological Society

In memoriam Professor Josip Benić (“doktor Jozo”, co-founder of the study of nannofosils in this region) (03.05.1939-26.07.2016) doi: 10.4154/gc.2018.03

group all over the world (by researchers including K. Perch- Nielsen, E. Martini, D. Burky, W.W. Hay, B.U. Haq). It was a time when standardized quantitative counting methods were “dis- covered”, and when unambiguous taxonomy and highly resolved data sets provided high-quality biostratigraphic data. The first papers on nannofossil physiology and ecology and the parameters that controlled their distribution appeared, illustrating their ap- plication in facies reconstruction and palaeoclimatology and pa­ laeoceanography reconstructions, for which they are still used today. However, the most time-consuming part of his research was gaining knowledge about nannofossil taxonomy. He overcame several major obstacles, the most important of which was that no local specialists were on hand to teach him and help with ambig- uous specimens as well as his limited access to literature. How- ever, it was worth the hard work. Years of field sampling and hours and days studying the nannofossils under a light micro- scope resulted in the broadly accepted nannofossil biozonation for the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene strata in the Dinarides. He A long time teacher of geology, Professor Josip Benić passed recognized and determined the age of two flysch belts in the Di- away on July 26, 2016. His colleagues, friends, and students will narides. Quite diverse sedimentation characterizes the northern remember a researcher with a profound knowledge of the Meso- flysch basin. In some areas sedimentation was continuous from zoic and Cenozoic geology of Croatia and its adjacent regions. the Upper Campanian to the middle Eocene, while in others During his professional career, Josip Benić proved to be a respon- emersion took place across the K/Pc boundary and the re-estab- sible and precise teacher who was always open to co-operation lishment of sedimentary environments suitable for flysch deposi- and constructive dialogue and who never hesitated to offer help tion varied from the Middle to Upper Palaeocene. In the southern and advice to his younger colleagues. belt, flysch deposition followed shallow-water platform sedimen- Josip Benić was born in Osijek on May 3rd, 1939. He gradu- tation, and corresponds to the Middle and Upper Eocene in one ated and received his PhD degree from the Faculty of Science, zone and to the Upper Eocene in another. Moreover, his conclu- University of Zagreb (title of PhD Thesis was “Calcareous nan- sions about the variable duration of tectonic changes in the stu­ noplankton and its application on biostratigraphy of Cretaceous died belts contrasted with the traditional view about the origin, and Palaeogene sediments of Croatia”). In 1969, Josip Benić age, and distribution of flysch. Not to mention that subsequent joined the Faculty of Science and, in 1976 became a full-time As- studies have proved that he was right. His last work published in sistant Professor at the Department of Geology (Institute of Ge- 2014 with another nannologist is homage to his work, in which ology and Palaeontology). He served (1985 – 1989) as head of the he discussed and concluded about the age of the Bosnian flysch, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and in 1996 he accepted an enigma which he began to study in his thesis and in this work the chairmanship in the Department of Mineral Resources at the was finally completed. Nowadays when quantitative studies pre- Croatian Geological Survey, where he remained until he retired sent a very important tool in scientific ranking, his thesis is one in 2004. Josip Benić remained a faculty member and part-time of the most cited works from this area of study. Associate Professor, teaching the geology of Croatia and adjacent After Josip Benić obtained his PhD degree, he continued to regions, and whenever it was necessary he joined a mapping investigate the calcareous nannofossils from different areas course (both theoretical and field based). within the Dinarides, and his results were published in several His studies of Cretaceous – Eocene calcareous nannofossils articles and chapters in books (see Appendix). What made him and their biostratigraphic and palaeoecological application began unusual is the fact that he generously shared his knowledge and following the advice of professors Vanda Kochansky-Devidé and therefore he is acknowledged in many studies and papers. His Milan Herak. Calcareous nannofossils are considered to be one palaeoecological interpretations of assemblages have yielded im- of the most powerful biostratigraphic tools for marine carbonate proved inter­pretation and reconstruction of the evolution of the sediments, especially in open ocean settings. The beginning of Dinaric foreland basin, when shallow-water carbonate environ- his research coincided with an intensive investigation into this ments temporarily were suspended and when they again emerged. Geologia Croatica BENIĆ, J. BENIĆ, POLŠAK, A., DEVIDÉ-NEDÊLA, D., TURNŠEK, D., GUŠIĆ, I. & JELASKA, V., BULIĆ, J., VELIMIROVIĆ, Z., BAUER, V. & J. BENIĆ, JOURNALS ORIGINAL SCIENTIFICPAPERS INCC AND OTHER MARINČIĆ, S., ŠPARICA, M., PAVELIĆ, D. & & I. BLAŠKOVIĆ, J., TIŠLJAR, I., DRAGIČEVIĆ, CHAPTERS INBOOKS greatly! professional. him We and miss sonal to going are per legacy, great a left has and world scientific the of out and family. his with being close one Zagreb) and to other (one the on ofsummerhouses care taking and at time spending in scene). war Heindulged the behind “secrets” of exposure the liked he leaders, and soldiers well-known the of some of lives the by World(especially War geology. applied role in their importantly, more and fossils these of understanding the advanced work His geology petroleum and an in expert the geology of the Dinarides. in knowledge academic applying in pioneer the was graphy.He biostrati to them applying and them classifying by Croatia in nannofossils calcareous of study the co-founded he that stress to for him. expression best the and help. share with and them, is mentor” his friendship “Caring to knew he humor the guidance, generous his for him to debted in are of for His students deposits. the age attribution necessary analysis with helping especially and advice, time, his sharing in ways, other reflected amongst was, generosity His friend. and colleague, professor, a as personality human very and earnest, honest, modest, a had generosity.He and humor, intellectuality, of great individual an of who was Josip Professor Benić essence Dinarides. the on studies for excellent future base an forming Paleo and nannofossils, careous in some places in more in detail, others less, Cretaceous the cal by work interpreted age his are In Dinarides the within sediments gene important. very are they but themselves, papers of number the counting when numerous not are They publications. his through seen is work pioneering His 42 BIBLIOGRAPHY If we want to summarize his professional work then we have have we then work professional his summarize to want we If But these facts do not come close the to wonderful capturing Croatian].– Geol. vjesnik, 36, 13–20. Croatian].– Geol.vjesnik, 36,13–20. Croatia Resa, Duga of west area the from NannoplanktonCalcareous and [ (Hrvatska) Resa Duga od zapadno noplankton Croatia) north Medvednica, (Mt. Orešje Donje at deposits basin forereefreef,and ceous [ Medvednica SI Orešja, Donjeg području u de Biostratigrafski odnosi grebenskih, prigrebenskih i bazenskih naslaga gornje kre – inCroatian].–Geol.vjesnik,29,389–395. Vučjakthe of stratigraphy the on observations Trebovacand area Bosnia) (north [ Bosna) (sjeverna i Trebovca stratigrafije Vučjaka poznavanju potpunijem Geol. vjesnik,28,19–23. Croatia Pag, of island the from on nannoplankton flysch Eocene nice. Institutzageološkaistraživanja;INA-Industrijanafted.d.,Zagreb,51–52. of the Vrapčak creek Vrapčakapotoka dolini [ u senona je tehničkihnauka1. 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- - - ­ - - 43 Nannoplankton and its Applica

Calcarous Vapnenački nanoplankton i njegova primjena u biostratigrafiji kred biostratigrafiji u primjena njegova i nanoplankton Vapnenački

Paleogene nannofosils of the Croatian Littoral (from Istria to Ravni Kotari) Ravni to Istria (from Littoral Croatian the of nannofosils Paleogene (1975): Paleogenski nanofosili Hrvatskog primorja (od Istre do Ravnih Ko Ravnih do Istre (od primorja Hrvatskog nanofosili Paleogenski (1975): (1983): (1992): Biostratigrafija tercijara Jadranskog podmorja na osnovi vapnenačkih osnovi na podmorja Jadranskog tercijara Biostratigrafija (1992): – in Croatian, with an English Abstract].– Unpubl. Master’s Thesis, Faculty of Sci of Faculty Thesis, Master’s Unpubl. Abstract].– English an with Croatian, in – of Zagreb, 82 p, 20 pls. ence, University nih i paleogenskih naslaga Hrvatske [ tion in the Biostratigraphy of and Cretaceous Paleogeneous Deposits of Croatia – in Croatian, with Abstract].– English Unpubl. Doctoral Thesis, Faculty of Sci 159 p. ence, University of Zagreb, nan calcarous on based Sea Adriatic the of Tertiary of [Biostratigraphy nanofosila nofosils – in Croatian].– Unpubl. report, INA-Naftaplin, Služba za istraživanje; Zagreb, 104 p, 14 pls. Hrvatski prirodoslovni muzej, tara) [ tara) THESIS AND THESIS AND REPORTS J. BENIĆ, J. BENIĆ, J. BENIĆ, - - , SREMAC, J., BERMANEC, V. , SREMAC, J., BERMANEC, V. BENIĆ, J. & DOKMANOVIĆ, J. (2008): of Taxonomy BENIĆ, J. 2003): Biostratigraphical, lithological and paleoecological aspects of aspects paleoecological and lithological Biostratigraphical, 2003): (2011): Campanian rudist-bearing shallow-water deposits of northern Croatia and Croatia northern of deposits shallow-water rudist-bearing Campanian (2011): The Ninth (ed.): International Congress on RudistSlovenia.– In: MITCHELL, S.F. Kingston Museum, Geology UWI Guides. Field and Articles Abstracts, : Bivalves (Jamaica), p. 25. (Palmyra region, Syria).– In: VLAHOVIĆ, I. (ed.): 22nd IAS Meeting of Sedi p. 79. Zagreb, of Geology, Abstracts Book. Institute mentology – Opatija: rudists from the Campanian transgressive sediments of Brašljevica, Orešje and Kalnik Mt., Northern Croatia. Eighth International Congress on Rudists: Ab p. 56. Izmir, stracts.– Dokuz Eylul University, BENIĆ, J. ( J. BENIĆ, the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) and Paleogene sediments in the Jihar-1 well MORO, A., HORVAT, A., ĆOSOVIĆ, V., A., ĆOSOVIĆ, V., A., MORO, HORVAT, MORO, A., ĆOSOVIĆ, V., A., MORO, ĆOSOVIĆ, V., Ćosovićand Panić: In memoriam Professor Josip Benić & I.A. MESIĆ, D., STANKOVIĆ, V., FUČEK, PREMEC M., KUČENJAK, HERNITZ