Carbonate platform facies reflected in carbonate basin facies (Triassic, northern Calcareous Alps, Austria)

A 95 m long section (Lacke section) located in the Norther Calcareous Alps of Austria was analyzed in detail. Detailed field measurements and point-counting of thin-sections revealed a distinct compositional variation of calciturbidites deposited in the Triassic Hallstatt Basin (Pedata-Pötschen Schichten). After a pilot study seven point-count groups were developed distinguishing input from different paleoenvironments. Statistical analysis of the point-count data using summary statistics, cluster-and correspondence analysis assisted in describing the compositional variation within the calcuturbidites. Alternated flooding and exposure of the platform as a result of sealevel fluctuations, creating and destroying shallow-water habitats on the flat platform top, produced the variations in turbidite composition