Kirchbach Formation

The Kirchbach Formation consists of shale with lenses of carbonate nodules and argillaceous limestone composed of 3 to 10 cm thick layers of carbonate nodules (mudstone to wackestone) separated by thin argillaceous seams. The nodules reach a maximum size of 30-40 cm diameter. Some nodules can be classified as polymict breccia ranging from fine-grained packstone and wackestone to float- and rudstone, including bioclasts, normal ooids, peloids and carbonate intra- and extraclasts. The organic remains are dominated by fragments of crinoids and echinoids, cephalopods, bryozoans, small foraminifers, calcareous algae and microproblematica. In addition brachiopods, heterocorals, molluscs and trilobites occur. Conodonts are fairly abundant mainly in biomicrite and micritic intraclasts

Hochwipfel Formation

The Hochwipfel Formation can be subdivided into 4 lithofacies: a \u2013 Quartz-arenite to lithic sandstone, siltstone and shale in beds with thickness from few to 30 cm with turbiditic features. The lithology division A, B, C and D of the Bouma sequence (Bouma turbidite facies model, according to the classification of Walker & Mutti (1973), are frequently recognized within lithofacies a. Locally the lithic sandstone yield fossil plant remains. b \u2013 Silicatic rudite, breccia and conglomerate made mainly by radiolarian chert clasts, and rare clasts of sandstone and siltstone, very rare basic volcanics and quartz clasts are also present. The siliciclastic rudite may reach thickness of 30-40 m. c \u2013 Limestone rudite mainly constitutes by clasts derived from the Upper Devonian limestone, and subordinate radiolarian chert, sandstone and siltstone. The limestone rudite are sporadically interbedded within the lower part of the formation, their thickness varies from few dm to 3 m. At places limestone clasts rich in crinoid debris (encrinites) of late Visean age are present. d \u2013 Acid volcanic and sub-volcanic (tuffs) products (Keratophyres: Gortani, 1906; Gentili & Pellizzer, 1964; Vai in Braga et al., 1971)

Zollner Formation

The Zollner Formation consists mainly of radiolarian chert with interbedded rare limestone and black siliceous shale. The limestones are represented by centimetric/decimetric lenses and rare layers of wackestone/mudstone; present along the whole unit. The black shales are more abundant in the lower part of the formation

Pal Grande Formation

The Pal Grande Formation consists mainly of gray mudstone and wackestone rich in fossils. The original bedding is often concealed by pressure solution and/or burrowing giving to the limestone a characteristic pseudo-nodular look. The reddish colour, when present, is usually limited to the lower part of the formation. At places, in the basal part of the formation, interlayered cm to dm calciruditic and calcarenitic (grainstone) intervals are present, as well as ruditic (intraclast breccia) levels. The ruditic beds can reach thickness of 1-2 m. Black shale, intepreted as equivalent to the Hangenberg Shale (Hangenberg Event) are present only at two localities (Kronhof Graben and Plan di Zermula) (Perri & Spalletta, 2001)

Kellergrat Formation

Massive gray limestone with abundant bioclasts and biogenes or reef-building organisms. Largest biogenes are stromatoporoid colonies and tabulate and colonial rugose corals. Amphipora and Stachyodes are common accessory reef builders

Rauchkofel Formation

The Rauchkofel Formation mainly consists of dark gray to black laminated and well-bedded, partly platy limestones intercalated with black shales and marls of various thickness. Lateral variations are common. Thickness of beds varies from very thin to medium for limestones. Black graptolitic shales with graptolites are more abundant in the lower part of the unit, where they may constitute levels up to 15 cm thick. In the proximal parts of the basin thick to very thick calcarenitic beds and breccias occur more frequently in the upper part of the unit, but in places they may occur also in the lowermost part. A distinct horizon with loboliths is present in the lowermost part of the formation

The Pre-Variscan sequence of the Carnic Alps \u2013 an introduction

An updated stratigraphic scheme of the Pre-Variscan sequence of the Carnic Alps is herein proposed. Subdivisions of the lithostratigraphic succession have been carefully revised and homogenized in each investigated time slice. Recognized units have been accordingly formalized. Timelines have been improved as well. The succession spans the Middle Ordovician-early Late Carboniferous interval and has been formally divided in 36 Formations, providing a sound reference for future geological studies in this part of the Carnic Alps and enabling a more global correlation with other palaeogeographical domains

Spinotti Formation

The Spinotti Formation can be subdivided into three units: Unit 1, a lower massive stromatoporoid and crinoid-rich bioclastic limestone (from the onset of massive limestone below the ladder at 1880 m to elevation 1970 m at Sentiero Spinotti; elevation 1840-1860 m at Seekopf base), followed by Unit 2, a thick-bedded to massive light gray grainstone to rudstone. Beds are two to three meters thick with thin (25-30 cm) dolomitic interbeds. Higher up section the bed thickness decreases to 0.5-1 m and dolomite beds become more prevalent. Components are largely peloids and intraclasts comparable to the Eiskar Limestone described by Kreutzer (1990, 1992a). Unit 3 is characterized by bedded limestone with well-developed birdseye structures from elevation 2020 m to 2200 m. Dark limestones with Amphipora become more common in this upper part. Above the trail at 2120 m are bedded limestones with Stringocephalus exposed. This unit also contains many gastropods and amphipores. Bandel (1972: 30) observed stringocephalids in the area called \u201cdolines\u201d beyond Costone Stella at elevation 2180 m. These cannot be correlated with the ones at 2120 m and must belong to a higher stratigraphic unit, suggesting that the Eifelian-Givetian boundary is located approximately in the middle of the section

Findenig Formation

The Findenig Formation consists of red to pink nodular centimetric thick beds of mudstone/wackestone, with interlayered millimetric to centimetric red marls, and, at places, some centimetric to decimetric calcarenitic (grainstone) intervals (allodapic layers) and breccia (calcirudite) beds in the upper part of the unit