Reworked foraminifera in the Triassic Monte Facito Formation Auctt., Lagonegro Basin (southern Apennines, Italy)

Abstract

Two Upper Permian fusulina subzones are reworked in the lower part of the Triassic Monte Facito Formation, Lagonegro Basin, southern Apennines: the Neoschwagerina craticulifera subzone of Middle Murghabian age and the younger Neoschwagerina margaritae subzone of Upper Murghabian age. Above the margaritae subzone, large fusulinas are absent and, in our interpretation, replaced by smaller foraminifera of Upper Permian age (Djulfian s.I.). We have also retained the hypothesis, that at the end of the Permian (Dorashamian) there existed, for a time, conditions of emergence. The discovery of Meandrospira pusilla, in the turbiditic lower part of the Monte Facito Formation, shows that also Lower Triassic microfaunas have been reworked. The occurrence of Lower Triassic palynomorphs in the shaley beds of the same turbiditic sequence seems to confirm this age determination. The Permian foraminifera encountered in the lower part of the Monte Facito Formation have been compared with other Permian microfaunas of the western Tethys (Valley of the Sosio, Sicily; Djebel Tebaga, southern Tunisia; the Julian and Carnian Alps; the Dinarides)