Givetian and Frasnian stromatoporoid-coral limestone of the Kowala Formation In the southern Holy Cross Mts Is subdivided stratigraphically. and correlated with strata elsewhere on the basis of Identified sea-level cyclicity. with support from conodonts and other selected benthic fossils. After the Eifelian hypersaline sabkha phase. an extensive two-step regional colonization of the Kielce Region carbonate platform took place durtng the Eifelian/Givetian passage Interval and the Middle Givetian. At least four deepening pulses resulted In intermittent drowning of the vast carbonate platform and sequential replacement of the undifferentiated Stringocephalus biostromal bank by the Sitkówka bank complex and. subsequently. by the Dyminy reef complex. The reef developed In the central Dyminy belt as result of the early Frasnian accelerated sea-level rise after some period of biotic stagnation near the Givetian-Frasnian boundary. Final demise of the reef resulted from combined eustatic and tectonic movements during the late Frasnian major crisis Interval.

Key words: Reefs, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, stromatoporoid, corals, cyclicity, benthic assemblages, eustasy, Devonian, Poland.