Research program
The evolution of Ionian and Atlantic rift systems through the events recorded in the sedimentary sequences.
University Co-ordinator
Università degli Studi di NAPOLI "Federico II" -
SCIENZE DELLA TERRA - NAPOLI(NA)
Research Unit Leader
Filippo BARATTOLO
Description
The Upper Triassic-Jurassic terrains widely occur in the whole national territory, firstly in shelf, but also in transitional facies. This widespread occurrence does not compensate however, the numerous biostratigraphic problems due to the dramatic Hettangian impoverishment of the benthic communities as result of Upper Triassic biological crisis. Further biological crisis events, even though of minor degree, seem to occur within the Jurassic (e.g. at Toarcian-Aalenian boundary). The research program of the Unity of Naples intends to detect, through a systematic study, the main bioevents concerning benthic foraminifers, dasycladaleans and ostracods. They are a useful tool for a better definition of the micropaleontological associations under the biotratigraphic, cronostratigraphic and paleoecological point of view.To such purpose the Unity of Naples intends to undertake the study of Upper Triassic -Jurassic transitional series and to continue the study of the shelf facies, but extended to the Toarcian-Oxfordian terms. Transitional succession of Bulgheria Mt.The study on transitional successions will be obtained by:- a detailed samplings of some stratigraphical series in the Bulgheria Mt. (Salerno) compared to similar successions already known in the scientific literature (e.g. Isle of Capri: Barattolo & Pugliese, 1987). The Bulgheria Mt. constitutes one of most impressive carbonate relief of the Cilento area. Together with Alburni and Cervati Mts., it belongs to the upper units of the trusting system of the Campano-Lucania Apennines (Patacca et al., 1990). Its thick carbonate succession is referable to Bulgheria-Verbicaro-Capri tectonic Unit which belongs to the wide carbonate platform domain (Campania-Lucania Carbonate Platform sensu D'Argenio et al., 1973; Apenninic Platform sensu Mostardini & Merlini, 1988). It consists of sediments in transitional facies. This succession is known from a long time (Cestari, 1963; Scandone et al., 1964; Torre, 1969; Sgrosso & Torre, 1967) and shows ammonitic levels (Barbera, 1963), useful for a chronostratigraphic calibration of the carbonate succession, within the Middle Jurassic terms.- biostratigraphy: the Unity of Naples will focus on biostratigraphy of dasycladaleans and benthic foraminifer of Bulgheria Mt. This study will be integrated with that on Nannofossils and Radiolarians obtained through the scientific collaboration with the Unity of Perugia (Proff. Leonsevero Passeri and Gloria Ciarapica) and Florence (prof. Marta Marcucci);- stratigraphy: the succession will be also investigated under facies analysis (prof. Mario Torre) and sequential stratigraphy (prof. Giuseppe Nardi). - more extended comparison (e.g. Cairo Mt., Frosinone area) will be carried out trough well collaudated collaborations with researchers of other Units (e.g. Prof. Anna Mancinelli, University of Camerino and Proff. Leonsevero Passeri and Gloria Ciarapica, University of Perugia); The aim of this research is to obtain:- a sequence stratigraphy lay of the Bulgheria Mt. succession; - an integrated range chart of foraminifers, dasycladaleans, nannofossils and radiolarians;- evidences of stratigraphic gaps.The purpose is to define the depositional trends of the carbonate bodies and to relate them to a sequence stratigraphy scheme.Shallow water carbonate facies of Southern Tethys.It represents the prosecution of former researches, but devoted to younger terms. Such researches have already shown how the Triassic-Jurassic boundary influenced the benthic foraminifer and dasycladalean community in the Liassic and have also outlined the recovery steps of this community (Barattolo & Romano, 2003).This new research program will be focused on the Toarcian-Oxfordian shallow water successions outcropping in Southern Italy (Lattari Mts: De Castro, 1962) and in Greece (Parnassus: Carras, 1995), in collaboration with dott. Nicola Carras (IGME, Athens).Thanks to the collaboration, already active, with colleagues of the Ibn Tofail University of Kenitra (Morocco) a sampling of Toarcian-Oxfordian series in the High Atlas is planned.This latter study will allow to make a comparisons among coeval deposits of Southern Apennine and Greece with those of Morocco containing ammonites.Moreover in the Moroccan successions clay levels often occur. These levels contain small foraminifers and ostracods. Ostracods will be studied by dott. Diana Barra and prof. Mohammed Mehdi of the present Unit. The Lower-Middle Jurassic ostracofaunes, sufficiently recorded in previous studies by different Authors (Boutakiout et al.; Boomer et al.; Arias et al.) in other sectors of the Tethys, have not exhaustively been studied up to now in the Moroccan successions. However their occurrence is attested in the Toarcian clay levels (Mehdi, pers. comm.), therefore their study is expected to supply useful data for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.The purposes of the study of the carbonate platform intend: - to define dasycladalean and foraminifer bioevents in the Toarcian-Aalenian interval; - to integrate the biostratigraphy of Moroccan clay successions through the analysis of the ostracods and small foraminifers and to correlate them to coeval Italian and Greek carbonate successions; - to distinguish the biostratigraphic signal from those facial and paleogeographic through the integrated study with the other Unities and the comparison of assemblages from different environments (lagoon and margin);- to get a tentative correlation between shallow water and deep water successions. The Unity of Naples will also undertaken to cooperate to other Unities.Collaboration with Padova Unit: our Unit will be involved to study dasycladalean microfloras of the Carnian Alps. This study is of particular meaning to understand the evolutionary trend of Lower Mesozoic dasycladaleans. Actually Carnian is a stage which represents a time of crisis for dasycladaleans: it is placed after a time of moderate luxuriance (Middle Triassic) with characteristically Permo-Triassic forms and before another (Norian-Retian) with forms that somewhat anticipate those Liassic.Collaboration with Perugia Unit: our Unit will be involved in the paleontological analysis (dasycladaleans) of Monte Facito Formation (Middle Triassic) and (dasycladaleans and benthic foraminifers) of turbiditic horizons within transitional and basinal Gran Sasso successions.
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