Characteristics of peritidal facies and evidences for subaerial exposures in Dachstein-type cyclic platform carbonates in the Transdanubian Range,Hungary

In the Late Triassic, an extremely large carbonate platform system (Dachstein-type platforms) developed on the margin of the Neotethys. On the wide inner platform cyclic peritidal, lagoonal successions were deposited. In the Transdanubian Range (Hungary), the lower part of the 1.5–2-km-thick cyclic succession (Upper Tuvalian–mid-Norian) is pervasively dolomitised, the upper part (Upper Norian–Rhaetian) is non-dolomitised; there is a transitional interval between them made up of partially dolomitised cycles. The peritidal–lagoonal cycles are commonly bounded by well-developed disconformity surfaces reflecting subaerial erosion that punctuated the marine carbonate accumulation. Truncation of the cycles was preceded by pervasive cementation of the previously deposited cycle. In the early stage of the platform evolution, tidal flat dolomitisation under semi-arid conditions led to the consolidation of the previously deposited sediments. The truncation surfaces were commonly covered by dolocretes. During the more humid Late Norian–Rhaetian period, the early cementation was followed by karstification, accumulation of wind-blown dust and pedogenesis. Erosion during regularly recurring subaerial exposure that commonly reached the previously deposited subtidal beds suggests eustatic control of the cyclicity and supports the application of an allocyclic model, even if the Milankovitch signal is imperfect.     

Lofer cyclothems revisited (Late triassic, Northern Alps, Austria)

Summary Fischer's classic study (1964) of the Upper Triassic “Lofer” cyclothems in the Dachstein Limestone of the Northern Calcareous Alps was seminal to many studies of the Dachstein and to carbonate cycles globally.Fischer's idealized cycle is deepening upward, ABC in his terminology, where member A is a surface or interval of subaerial exposure, B is tidal deposits, and C is shallow subtidal. Studies of the Dachstein from the elsewhere in the northern Alps have substantiatedFischer's upward-deepening ABC cycle, butGoldhammer et al. (1990) andSatterley (1996a) reinterpreted the type Lofer cycles as shoaling upward. We measured 139 m of Dachstein Limestone incorporating 25 cycles at Steinernes Meer, Austria, nearFischer's most extensive section. In this section we identified no A members. The section is punctuated by slightly reddish horizons (‘pink partings’) that in some cases may reflect brief subaerial exposure, but generally appear to be pressure-solution zones that have concentrated iron oxides but lack a distinctive isotopic signature. B members are readily distinguished by fenestral porosity, stromatolitic lamination, partial dolomitization, intraclasts, or desciccation cracks. They are relatively thin (5 to 155 cm; median thickness is 38 cm.) and in some cases laterally variable or discontinuous. C members are characterized by molluscan wackestones and packstones with diverse biota. C intervals are 25 cm to 26 m thick (median 4.1 m) and comprise 91% of the interval measured. Pervasive bright-red internal sediment, which appears commonly within the B and C members, does not derive from any interval observed within the measured section, but from sources, possibly paleosols, much higher in the section. It is spatially associated with near-vertical, ENE-trending (62^o) fractures filled with the sediment, brachiopods, and cement. Such fractures cut stratigraphic intervals as thick as 70 m without an exposed top or base. If “pink partings” were accepted as indicative of subaerial exposure, three cyclothems (12%) would correspond toFischer's ideal upward-deepening cyclothem, seven cyclothems (29%) are shoaling-upward, four (17%) are symmetrical and the remaining 10 (42%) are incomplete with both deepening and shoaling components. If subaerial disconformities are absent, the intervals are better described as BCBC rhythms than as true cycles. Our study is intended to stimulate new discussion of patterns and origin of the Lofer cycles.     

Facies and biota of Anisian to Carnian carbonate platforms in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Tyrol and Bavaria)

Summary During the Middle and early Late Triassic carbonate ramps and rimmed platforms developed at the northwestern margin of the Tethys ocean. In the Northern Calcareous Alps, Anisian stacked homoclinal ramps evolved through a transitional stage with distally steepened ramps to huge rimmed platforms of Late Ladinian to Early Carnian age. Middle Triassic to early Late Triassic facies and biota of basin, slope and platform depositional systems are described. Special emphasis is given to foraminifers, sponges, microproblematic organisms and algae. The Ladinian to early Carnian reef associations are characterized by the abundance of segmented sponges, microproblematica, biogenic crusts and synsedimentary cements. Among the foraminifers, recifal forms likeHydrania dulloi andCucurbita infundibuliformis (Carnian in age) are reported from the Northern Calcareous Alps for the first time. Some sphinctozoid sponges likeParavesicocaulis concentricus were known until now only from the Hungarian and Russian Triassic.     

Tectonically controlled late cretaceous terrestrial to neritic deposition (Northern Calcareous Alps, Tyrol, Austria)

Summary The Turonian to Santonian terrestrial to neritic succession (Lower Gosau Subgroup) in the Northern Calcareous Alps of the eastern part of the Tyrol, Austria, provides an example for deposition on a compartmentalized, narrow, microtidal to low-mesotidal, wave-dominated, mixed siliciclastic-carbonate shelf. The shelf was situated in front of a mainland with a relatively high, articulated relief, and underwent distinct changes in facies architecture mainly as a result of tectonism. The investigated succession was deposited above a deeply incised, articulated truncation surface that formed when the Eo-Alpine orogen, including the area of the future Northern Calcareous Alps, was uplifted and subaerially eroded. Distinct facies associations were deposited from (1) alluvial fans and fan deltas, (2) rivers, (3) siliciclastic lagoonal to freshwater marsh environments, (4) areally/temporally limited carbonate lagoons, (5) transgressive shores, (6) siliciclastic shelf environments, and (7) an aggrading carbonate shelf. During the Turonian to Coniacian, the combination of high rates of both subsidence and sediment accumulation, and a narrow shelf that was compartmentalized with respect to (a) morphology of the substratum, (b) fluviatile input of siliciclastics and contemporaneous input of carbonate clasts from fan deltas, (c) deposition of shallow-water carbonates, and (d) water energy and-depth gave rise to an exceptionally wide spectrum of facies as a distinguishing feature of the succession. With the exception of facies association 7, which formed only once, depositional sequences in the Turonian to Coniacian interval contain all of the facies associations 1 to 6. During Turonian to Coniacian times, the shelf was microtidal to low-mesotidal, and was dominated by waves, storm waves and storm-induced currents. In vegetated marshes, schizohaline to freshwater marl lakes existed. Transgressions occurred onto fan deltas and in association with estuaries, or in association with gravelly to rocky shores. The transgressive successions, including successions deposited from transgressive rocky carbonate shores, are overlain by regressive successions of shelf carbonates or shelf siliciclastics. Deposition of shallow-water carbonates generally occurred within lagoons and over short intervals of time. A „catch-up” succession of shelf carbonates about 100 m thick accumulated only in an area protected from siliciclastic input. In its preserved parts, the Turonian to Coniacian succession does not record deposition adjacent to major active faults. Lateral changes in thickness result mainly from onlap onto the articulated basal truncation surface. Subsidence most probably was controlled by major detachment faults outside the outcrop area, and/or was distributed over a wide area in association with secondary faults above the major detachments. During Coniacian to Early Santonian times, both the older substratum and the overlying Turonian-Coniacian succession were subaerially exposed, faulted and deeply eroded. The following Early Santonian transgression ensued with rocky carbonate shores ahead of a sandy, narrow shoreface-inner shelf environment and a deeper shelf with intermittentlydysaerobic mud. The transgression was associated with the influx of cooler and/or nutrient-rich waters, and heralds an overall deepening. Still during the Early Santonian, the deepening was interrupted by another phase of subaerial exposure. Subsequently, a short phase of shelf deposition was terminated by deepening into bathyal depths.     

Coral-rudist bioconstructions in the Upper Cretaceous Haidach section (Gosau Group; Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria)

Summary In the area of Haidach (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria), coral-rudist mounds, rudist biostromes, and bioclastic limestones and marls constitute an Upper Cretaceous shelf succession approximately 100 meters thick. The succession is part of the mixed siliciclasticcarbonate Gosau Group that was deposited at the northern margin of the Austroalpine microplate. In its lower part, the carbonate succession at Haidach comprises two stratal packages that each consists, from bottom to top, of a coral-rudist mound capped by a rudist biostrome which, in turn, is overlain by bioclastic limestones and, locally, marls. The coral-rudist mounds consist mainly of floatstones. The coral assemblage is dominated by Fungiina, Astreoina, Heterocoeniina andAgathelia asperella (stylinina). From the rudists, elevators (Vaccinites spp., radiolitids) and recumbents (Plagioptychus) are present. Calcareous sponges, sclerosponges, and octocorals are subordinate. The elevator rudists commonly are small; they settled on branched corals, coral heads, on rudists, and on biolastic debris. The rudists, in turn, provided settlement sites for corals. Predominantly plocoid and thamnasteroid coral growth forms indicate soft substrata and high sedimentation rates. The mounds were episodically smothered by carbonate mud. Many corals and rudists are coated by thick and diverse encrustations that indicate high nutrient level and/or turbid waters. The coral-rudist mounds are capped byVaccinites biostromes up to 5 m thick. The establishment of these biostromes may result from unfavourable environmental conditions for corals, coupled with the potential of the elevator rudists for effective substrate colonization. TheVaccinites biostromes are locally topped by a thin radiolitid biostrome. The biostromes, in turn, are overlain by bioclastic limestones; these are arranged in stratal packages that were deposited from carbonate sand bodies. Approximately midsection, an interval of marls with abundantPhelopteria is present. These marls were deposited in a quiet lagoonal area where meadows of sea grass or algae, coupled with an elevated nutrient level, triggered the mass occurrence ofPhelopteria. The upper part of the Haidach section consists of stratal packages that each is composed of a rudist biostrome overlain by bioclastic wackestones to packstones with diverse smaller benthic foraminifera and calcareous green algae. The biostromes are either built by radiolitids,Vaccinites, andPleurocora, or consist exclusively of radiolitids (mainlyRadiolites). Both the biostromes and the bioclastic limestones were deposited in a low-energy lagoonal environment that was punctuated by high-energy events.In situ-rudist fabrics typically have a matrix of mudstone to rudistclastic wackestone; other biogens (incl. smaller benthic foraminifera) are absent or very rare. The matrix of rudist fabrics that indicate episodic destruction by high-energy events contain a fossil assemblage similar to the vertically associated bioclastic limestones. Substrata colonized by rudists thus were unfavourable at least for smaller benthic foraminifera. The described succession was deposited on a gently inclined shelf segment, where coral-rudist mounds and hippuritid biostromes were separated by a belt of bioclastic sand bodies from a lagoon with radiolitid biostromes. The mounds document that corals and Late Cretaceous elevator rudists may co-occur in close association. On the scale of the entire succession, however, mainly as a result of the wide ecologic range of the rudists relative to corals, the coral-dominated mounds and the rudist biostromes are vertically separated.     

Analysis of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous algal debris-facies of the Plassen carbonate platform in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Germany,Austria) and in the Kurbnesh area of the Mirdita zone (Albania): a tool to reconstruct tectonics and palaeogeography of eroded platforms

A characteristic microfacies of the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous allodapic Barmstein Limestone of the Northern Calcareous Alps are clasts of wackestones with numerous fragments of calcareous algae (“algal debris-facies”). According to dasycladale palaeocoenoses, several subtypes comprising different associations can be distinguished. One association is characterized by the debris of an unknown large dasycladalean alga reported as dasycladalean alga indet. sp. 1 from different localities in the Northern Calcareous Alps, typically forming a monospecific assemblage. Another microfacies type contains star-like calcitic bodies tentatively referred to the morphospecies Coptocampylodon pantici Ljubović-Obradović and Radoičić, originally described as being from the Turonian of NW-Serbia. Other Coptocampylodon-like bodies represent the calcified tufts of the laterals of Selliporella neocomiensis (Radoičić). The occurrence of Coptocampylodon pantici-like microfossils in the Late Tithonian to Early Berriasian, shows that obviously different species of dasycladaleans display identical to similar shaped tufts of laterals in transverse sections when becoming fragmented. Coptocampylodon pantici Ljubović-Obradović and Radoičić was observed only from different occurrences of Barmstein Limestone, but not from the autochthonous platform carbonates of the Plassen carbonate platform. The Coptocampylodon algal debris-facies is also reported from the Late Jurassic of Albania, Mirdita zone. Occurrences of different types of algal debris-facies in components of mass-flow deposits can be used as a tool to reconstruct eroded carbonate platforms and tectonics, as demonstrated in the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Albanides. Finally, the general occurrences of algal debris-facies in both settings—intra-Tethyan mostly isolated platforms (Alps, Albanides) vs. extended epeiric platforms (Middle East)—are compared and discussed.     

Anthracoporella mounds in the Late Carboniferous Auernig Group,Carnic Alps (Austria)

Summary A heretofore undocumented example of skeletal mounds formed by the dasycladacean algaAnthracoporella spectabilis is described from mixed carbonate-clastic cycles (Auernig cyclothems) of the Late Carboniferous (Gzhelian) Auernig Group of the central Carnic Alps in southern Austria. The massive mound facies forms biostromal reef mounds that are up to several m thick and extend laterally over more than 100 m. The mound facies is developed in the middle of bedded limestones, which are up to 16 m thick. These limestones formed during relative sea-level highstands when clastic influx was near zero. The mound facies is characterized by well developed baffler and binder guilds and does not show any horizontal or vertical zonation. Within the massive mound faciesAnthracoporella is frequently found in growth position forming bafflestones and wackestones composed of abundantAnthracoporella skeletons which toppled in situ or drifted slightly.Anthracoporella grew in such profusion that it dominated the available sea bottom living space, forming ‘algal meadows’ which acted as efficient sediment producers and bafflers. BecauseAnthracoporella could not provide a substantial reef framework, and could not withstand high water turbulence, the biostromal skeletal mounds accumulated in shallow, quiet water below the active wave base in water depths less than 30 m. The massive mound facies is under- and overlain by, and laterally grades into bedded, fossiliferous limestones of the intermound facies, composed mainly of different types of wackestones and packstones. Individual beds containAnthracoporella andArchaeolithophyllum missouriense in growth position, forming “micromounds’. Two stages of mound formation are recognized: (1) the stabilization stage when bioclastic wackestones accumulated, and (2) the skeletal mound stage when the sea-bottom was colonized byAnthracoporella and other members of the baffler and binder guilds, formingAnthracoporella bafflestones and wackestones of the mound facies. A slight drop in sea-level led to the termination of the mound growth and accumulation of organic debris, particularly calcareous algae, fusulinids, crinoids and bryozoans, forming well bedded limestones, which overlie the mound facies     

Bioerosional structures and pseudoborings from Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous-Paleocene shallow-water carbonates (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria and SE France) with special reference to cryptobiotic foraminifera

Examples of bioerosional processes (boring patterns) are described from shallow-water limestones of the Late Jurassic Plassen Carbonate Platform (PCP) and the Late Cretaceous to Paleocene Gosau Group of the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria. Some micro-/macro-borings can be related to distinct ichnotaxa, others are classified in open nomenclature. In the Alpine Late Jurassic, bioerosional structures recorded from clasts in mass-flows allow palaeogeographical conclusions concerning the source areas. In particular, these are borings of the Trypanites-ichnofacies detected from clasts (Barmstein limestones) of the PCP or special type of bored ooids of unknown source areas or restricted autochthonous occurrences. In the Lower Gosau Subgroup, Gastrochaenolites macroborings occur in mobile carbonate clast substrates of shore zone deposits (“Untersberg Marmor”). Different types of borings are recorded from rudist shells and coral skeleton, some of which are referable to the ichnotaxon Entobia produced by endolithic sponges. In the present study, special attention is paid to the occurrences of the cryptobiotic foraminifera Troglotella incrustans Wernli and Fookes in the Late Jurassic and Tauchella endolithica Cherchi and Schroeder in the Late Cretaceous. The latter is so far only known to be from the Early Cenomanian of France and is reported here for the first time from the Late Turonian-Early Coniacian stratigraphic interval where it was found in turbulent carbonate deposits within borings penetrating bivalve shells or coralline algae. The records of cryptobiotic foraminifera from the Northern Calcareous Alps are supplemented by a single finding from the Middle Cenomanian of SE France. A palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the occurrences of the cryptobiotic foraminifera is provided.     

An upper Tuvalian (Triassic) platform-basin system in the Julian Alps: the start-up of the Dolomia Principale (Southern Alps,Italy)

Summary East of Cave del Predil (formerly Raibl), a platform-basin transition of the Dolomia Principale (Hauptdolomit) is spectacularly exposed at a seismic scale. Therefore, the eastern margin of the vast domain of the Dolomia Principale, facing the Slovenian Basin, is documented. Despite of strong dolomitization of the massive margin, some sedimentary structures and fossils have been recognized. Corals seem to be very rare and sponges to be absent, whereas serpulids and marine phreatic cements seem to have been the main components of the framework. Interior platform bedded dolomites lap off the massive margin. Clinoforms interfinger with upper Tuvalian basinal deposits (Carnitza Formation). This setting documents the start-up of the Dolomia Principale during late Tuvalian time. Moreover, this margin of the Dolomia Principale is the more ancient so far pointed out. It testifies to the recovery of a rimmed platform after the late Julian-early Tuvalian crisis.     

Note on Sestrosphaera liasina (Pia, 1920) from the Lowermost Jurassic of Malga Mandrielle (type-locality, Southern Alps - Italy)

New paleontological data on Sestrosphaera liasina (Pia) based on material collected in the type-locality, Malga Mandrielle (Italian Southern Alps) are supplied. All the features of the alga are reexamined; the occurrence in the stalk region of an unusual primary lateral inner swelling is confirmed. The structure formed by the inner enlarged portion of the laterals is here indicated as inner pseudocortex. A new diagnosis of S. liasina is proposed and a lectotype is chosen from Pia's material. Finally, a paleontological reconstruction is supplied taking into account all the main biometrical values.     

Taphonomy of Early Permian benthic assemblages (Carnic Alps, Austria): carbonate dissolution versus biogenic carbonate precipitation

During the Early Permian, in the area of the Carnic Alps, a quartz-gravelly beach fringed a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate lagoon with fleshy algal meadows and oncoids; seaward, an ooid shoal belt graded down dip to a low-energy carbonate inner shelf with phylloid algal meadows. In limestones, foraminiferal biomurae and bioclast preservation record tapholoss by rotting of non-calcified organisms (interpreted as fleshy algae) and by dissolution of aragonitic fossils. Carbonate loss by dissolution was counteracted and, locally, perhaps exceeded by carbonate precipitation of encrusting foraminifera and as oncoids. Sites of abrasion and carbonate dissolution (beach), sites with tapholoss by rotting and dissolution, but with microbialite/foraminiferal carbonate precipitation (lagoon, inner shelf), and sites only of carbonate precipitation (ooid shoals) co-existed on discrete shelf compartments. Compartmentalized, contemporaneous carbonate dissolution and precipitation, to total amounts yet difficult to quantify, impede straightforward estimates of ancient carbonate sediment budget.     

Biochronostratigraphy of the Reingraben Turnover (Hallstatt Facies Belt): Local black shale events controlled by regional tectonics, climatic change and plate tectonics

For the first time, two outcrops near Bad Dürrnberg (2 km SSW Hallein, Austria) allowed for a continuous multistratigraphical investigation of the Reingraben Turnover in the Hallstatt facies belt. After a phase of reefal sedimentation during the Julian 1 (Early Carnian), a sudden increase in terrigenous input (Reingraben Turnover) caused the breakdown of the carbonate factory at the beginning of the Julian 2 (late Early Carnian). In starved basins produced by syndepositional tectonism, black shales locally accumulated. Stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon do not suggest a change in seawater chemistry during the turnover. Shallow-water carbonate production resumed slowly during the Tuvalian (Late Carnian), and complete recovery was finished near the Carnian-Norian transition. Because similar events are recorded globally, climatic changes (monsoonal circulation) controlled by plate tectonics are favoured as triggers of the event.Based on lithology and microfacies, detailed sampling, and analysis of conodont faunas and the resulting detailed conodont zonation enabled us to establish the duration of the Reingraben Turnover (Julian 1/IIc to Julian 2/II).     

Cenomanian rudist-dominated shelf-margin limestones from the panormide carbonate platform (Sicily, Italy): Facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy

Summary Sedimentological, paleontological and sequence analyses of Cenomanian limestones in Sicily reveal the facies architecture and dynamics of a Mid Cretaceous rudistdominated platform margin from Western Tethys. The studied deposits outcrop near Palermo, as part of a large structural unit of the Sicilian Maghrebids. They belong to the Panormide carbonate platform, a Mesocenozoic paleogeographic domain of the African margin. The lateral continuity of the beds along three nearly parallel E-W outcrop sections allowed the recording of cm/dm thick lithological and faunal variations. Nine main lithofacies associations have been recognised along about 200 m of subvertical strata. Their vertical and lateral organisation points to a transition from highenergy shelf-margin rudist patches and shoals to more internal lagoonal-tidal environments over a short distance. The lithofacies evolution and stacking pattern along the three sections made it possible to define elementary cycles, composite cycles and larger-scale sequences with a dominant shallowing-upward trend. Their hierarchical organisation implies that sea-level fluctuations were an important factor in their formation. The cycles are characterised by a great variation in facies as a result of transgressive-regressive events in different sectors of the inferred Cenomanian shelf. Subtidal cycles typical of the shelf margin (4–10 m-thick) are particularly well identifiable. They are made of large Caprinidae and Sauvagesiac rudstone-to-floatstone (about 2/3 of the total thickness), capped by rudist-conglomerates, often organised into 3–5 fining-upward amalgamated beds and showing, in places, effects of surface-related diagenesis. In more internal shelf areas the cycles consist of Caprinidae-Radiolitidae floastone grading up into amalgamated beds of angular bioclastic rudstone/grainstone. Alternations of foraminifer/ostracod mudstone/wackestone and bioclastic grainstone/fine-rudstone, capped by loferites and/or by other emersion-related overprintings, characterise the cycles formed in the peritidal zones. these cycles are stacked into three incomplete depositional sequences. The sequence boundaries have been identified by the abrupt interposition of peritidal cycles in subtidal rudist-rich cycles, with evidence of brief subaerial exposure.     

Norian serpulid and microbial bioconstructions: Implication for the platform evolution in the Lombardy Basin (Southern Alps,Italy)

Summary The development of peculiar margin facies and abundant talus breccias within the Dolomia Principale inner platform is commonly observed in the Lombardy Basin during the Norian. The organisms building these margins are mainly serpulids, benthic microbes, subordinate porostomata and other encrusting forms; typical margin organisms, as sponges or corals, are extremely rare or absent. The build-ups form narrow rims along the borders of tectonic-controlled intraplatform basins. Regional back-stepping and progradation of the margin facies on the talus breccias produced by the erosion of the reef is commonly observed in the uppermost Dolomia Principale depositional system. Widespread occurrence of serpulids and microbial margins in middle-late Norian times is indicative of stressed environmental conditions—fluctuation of salinity and temperature on the inner platform and in the intraplatform basins—controlled by palaeogeographic setting. Physical characteristics allowed the bloom of forms able to develop in a wide range of environmental conditions, such as serpulids. In the Late Norian, major input of fine-grained clastics is recorded; close to the Norian-Rhaetian boundary, carbonate ramps were regionally restored. Locally, small serpulid and microbial bioconstructions still persist in the lowermost part of the shaly succession, even if they are less abundant with respect to the Dolomia Principale. Patch-reefs generally do not build a platform margin, but represent isolated mounds within shaly deposits. These build-ups occur on the edge of former structural highs; the communities survived the environmental change responsible for the siliciclastic input and locally managed to produce mounds during the deposition of the lower part of the upper depositional system (Riva di Solto Shale).     

Dasycladalean green algae from the Upper Triassic of Mt. Rotonda (Verbicaro Unit, Calabria-Lucania Border, Southern Italy)

Summary A rich and diverse dasycladalean algae association is described from the Upper Triassic succession of Mt. Rotonda (Calabria-Lucania border, Southern Italy). This association consists of:Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp.,Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp.,Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp.,Spinaporella andalusica Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,S.? granadaensis Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,Chinianella? sp.,Gyroporella sp.,Griphoporella? sp. andPhysoporella aff.leptotheca. Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp. is characterised by an undulated calcareous skeleton with short acrophore primary laterals bearing a tuft of 4–6 elongate, segmented, trichophore secondary laterals. This species allows to extend back to the Upper Triassic the stratigraphic range of the genusNeoteutloporella, previously known only from Upper Jurassic levels. Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp. has a cylindrical calcareous skeleton and primary laterals only, consisting of a thin proximal part followed by a swollen portion that pinches out distally and finally opens outward with a cup-like swelling. Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp. is characterised by a calcareous skeleton made by partly welded thin individual sheaths enclosing the laterals. The laterals are piriferous, vertically compressed, roughly triangular both in vertical and in verticillar section. In some specimens they end with a spine-like thin apophysis. This species confirms that the typical Middle Triassic genusPhysoporella survived up into the Norian. The dasycladalean algal association of the Norian of Mt. Rotonda shows some similarities with the algal association found in the Upper Triassic of the Betic Cordillera whereas it is markedly different from the rich association occurring in the Upper Triassic of Sicily and of the Northern Calcareous Alps. This pattern is coupled with a different composition of the platform margin communities: microbial/serpulids bioconstructions in the Upper Triassic of the Calabria-Lucania border and of Alpujarridevs. Dachstein-type reefs in Sicily and the Northern Calcareous Alps. This indicates that the palaeoceanographic and palaeogeographic conditions controlled both the development of the different platform margin and of the different algal assemblages.     

An example for black shale development on a carbonate platform (late Triassic, Seefeld, Austria)

Summary East of Seefeld/Tyrol the Hauptdolomit facies (Triassic, Norian) is accompanied by an organic-rich intercalation, the Seefeld facies. Three facies were distinguished, which developed within a separate basin within the Hauptdolomit carbonate platform. These facies have been investigated in an environmental and palaeoecological context applying microfacies analysis, palynology, organic petrology, organic geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry. As the controlling factors of sedimentation, sea level changes are suggested for large scale fluctuations, and climatic changes for variations on a smaller scale. Within the basin facies a μm-scaled rhythm can be observed, which was obviously seasonally controlled. Amajor amount of organic material of the deposit has been produced by microbial activity under anoxic conditions. Causes for the absence of pollen and spores in many black shale deposits are discussed.     

Bohunician technology and thermoluminescence dating of the type locality of Brno-Bohunice (Czech Republic)

Results of thermoluminescence (TL) dating of 11 heated flint artifacts from the 2002 excavation at Brno-Bohunice, Czech Republic, are presented. The samples are from the eponym locality for the Bohunician, an industrial type considered technologically transitional between Middle and Upper Paleolithic core reduction strategies. The Bohunician is the first early Upper Paleolithic technocomplex in the Middle Danube of Central Europe and, therefore, is implicated in several issues related to the origins of modern humans in Europe. The Bohunician provides an example of how one technological strategy combines crested blade initiation of a core with the surficial (almost Levalloisian) reduction of blanks as blades and points. As the Middle Danube lacks antecedents of the behavioral steps within this technology, several hypotheses of inter-regional cultural transmission, with and without hominin gene flow, could explain the appearance of the Bohunician. The elucidation of the temporal context of Bohunician assemblages is, therefore, a critical step in understanding the behavioral, and potentially biological, succession in this region. Radiocarbon age estimates from charcoal associated with Bohunician sites suggest a wide age range between 33 and 41 ka ¹⁴C BP, which is also observed for individual sites. TL dating of heated flint artifacts provides ages on the calendric time scale of an archeological event, the firing. The weighted mean of 48.2 ± 1.9 ka BP_TL for 11 heated flint samples from Brno-Bohunice provides the first non-radiocarbon data on archeological material from the Bohunician. The TL dating, in conjunction with the archeological and sedimentological analysis, allows the evaluation of the integrity of this new type-collection. The hypothetical possibility of the incorporation of Szeletian artifacts (i.e., leaf points) into the site formation processes can therefore be refuted.     

Late Triassic sedimentary evolution of Slovenian Basin (eastern Southern Alps): description and correlation of the Slatnik Formation

Successions of the Slovenian Basin structurally belong to the easternmost Southern Alps. During the Late Triassic, they were part of the Adriatic continental margin. Norian–Rhaetian successions of the Slovenian Basin are characterized mainly by dolomite of the Bača Dolomite Formation. However, in the northern part of the basin, Late Triassic limestone is preserved above Bača Dolomite Formation and is formalized as the Slatnik Formation. It is composed of hemipelagic limestone alternating with resedimented limestones. The succession documents an upward progradation of the slope environment composed of three high-frequency cycles. Most prominent progradation is referred to the second, i.e., Early Rhaetian cycle. The Slatnik Formation ends with thin-bedded hemipelagic limestone that records the end-Triassic productivity crisis, or rapid sea-level fall. The overlying resedimented limestones of the Early Jurassic Krikov Formation, document the recovery of production and shedding from the adjacent carbonate platform.