Saltrio Formation

Last updated
Saltrio Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Sinemurian
~199–196  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Cava Salnova.jpg
“Salnova” quarry, where most of the fossils come from
Type Geological formation
Unit ofCalcari Selciferi Lombardi Unit
Underlies Moltrasio Formation
Overlies Tremona Formation
Lithology
Primary Limestone
Location
Coordinates 45°54′N8°54′E / 45.9°N 8.9°E / 45.9; 8.9
Approximate paleocoordinates 33°06′N14°48′E / 33.1°N 14.8°E / 33.1; 14.8
Region Lombardy
CountryFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
Type section
Named for Saltrio
Named byAntonio Stoppani [1]
Italy relief location map.jpg
Blue pog.svg
Saltrio Formation (Italy)
Italy Lombardy location map.svg
Blue pog.svg
Saltrio Formation (Lombardy)

The Saltrio Formation is a geological formation in Italy. It dates back to the Early Sinemurian, and would have represented a pelagic or near-epicontinental environment, judging by the presence of marine fauna such as the nautiloid Cenoceras . [2] [3] The Fossils of the Formation were described on the late 1880s and revised on 1960s, finding first marine biota, such as Crinoids, Bivalves and other fauna related to Epicontinental basin deposits. [4]

Contents

Salnova Quarry

Machinery suitable for processing the stone extracted in the Salnova Quarry Cava Salnova - Macchinari.jpg
Machinery suitable for processing the stone extracted in the Salnova Quarry

The main outcrop of the formation, represents an active private extraction site. The first extraction activities of the famous Saltrio stone give back to the times of the ancient Romans, with modern reports of activity in this quarry since 1400. [5] In the Monte Oro area, on the southern slope of Monte Orsa, there were numerous trench quarries which were used to extract this precious rock, used both for structural constructions and for the production of artefacts and artistic works. In more recent times the mining activity has been transformed and we have moved from the extraction of stone for construction to the extraction for the production of stabilized and split crushed stone, useful for the production of motorway foundations and mixtures for the production of asphalt. To date it is the only active quarry where Saltrio stone is extracted. [5]

In today's quarry what is mainly known as the Saltrio Formation emerges, i.e., a group of stratified rocks dating back to the Lower Jurassic. The stratigraphy, however, is much more complex, even if so far no study has focused on this topic. Inside the quarry, Dolomia principale sediment emerges dating back to the Upper Triassic (Norian); yet the succession is dominated by the Saltrio Formation, here 15-20 meters thick. [6]

Above, the Moltrasio Formation emerges, a greyish-brown limestone composed of biocalcarenite and containing widespread nodules of spongolitic silica. This rock is rarely fossiliferous except in the contact areas between the Formations. At the roof of the Moltrasio Fm, a whitish yellow limestone emerges, again of marine-pelagic origin, where there is a lot of micro-diffused silica within the sediment. [6]

Since the early 1900s, fossil finds have been known in the Salnova Quarry and in the various quarry sites present in the surroundings of this site. The first written testimonies, and subsequent revisions, are reported starting from the sixties by Giulia Sacchi Vialli. The scholar describes the fossil faunas of Saltrio by listing and detailing various taxa belonging to ammonoids, nautiloids, gastropods, crinoids, brachiopods and bivalves. [4]

In that period, the great phase of extraction of ornamental stone using manual-mechanical methods had just ended in the quarry. Paleontologists could only recover fossils from the waste flakes near the quarry and therefore the possibility of seeing more specimens was limited to the length of manual operations. In those years, however, the quarry was acquired by Salnova SPA (1969): the purpose of the extracted material, and therefore the extraction method and processing, changed. From classic and manual extraction we move on to the use of heavy mechanical means and extraction with explosives: the moved rubble increases considerably, making it easier to observe other specimens, new lithologies and above all different faunas. [5]

The fauna present at the base of the Saltrio Formation is condensed and includes ammonoids of species attributed to the entire Upper Sinemurian. The taxa attributable to the Lower Sinemurian found in the Saltrio quarries probably come from the base of the formation or have been reworked. [4] According to Sacchi-Vialli, the Formation includes taxa indicative of all the biozones between the Bucklandi Zone (Lower Sinemurian) and the Obtusum Zone, and possibly also of the Oxynotum Zone of the Upper Sinemurian, present at the base of the Formation. [4] The contact between the Main Dolomite and the Saltrio Formation also contains selachian teeth, glauconite and phosphated internal models of ammonites. [7]

Environment

Nautiloid found in situ on the Salnova Quarry Nautiloide appena estratto dalla Cava Salnova.jpg
Nautiloid found in situ on the Salnova Quarry

Since the beginning of the jurassic, from Hettangian to earliest Sinemurian on the western Lombardy Basin there was a notorious continental area that was found to be wider than previously thought, where a warm humid paleoclimate developed. [8] The Dinosaur Fossils found on the Saltrio formation can have been translated from this area, or alternatively, the Arbostora swell (that was located at the north of the Saltrio formation, on Switzerland). [9] This was an emerged structural high close to the Saltrio Formation, that caused a division between two near subsiding basins located at Mt. Nudo (East) and Mt. Generoso (West). [9] It settled over a carbonate platform linked with other wider areas that appear along the west to the southeast, developing a large shallow water gulf to the north, where the strata deposited was controlled by a horst and tectonic gaben. [9] Several outcrops of the so-called “terra rossa” paleosoils were also found, including at Castello Cabiaglio-Orino, a dozen of kilometers West of Saltrio. [10] [11] This outcrops show that the emerged areas that on the Hettangian-Sinemurian, the current location of the modern Maggiore Lake were covered with forests, what was proven by the presence of large plant fragments on the Moltrasio Formation. [8] The plants have been recovered between the locations of Cellina and Arolo (eastern side of Lake Maggiore), from rocks that have been found to be coeval in age to the Saltrio Formation. [12] The Flora includes genera such as Bennettitales ( Ptilophyllum ), terrestrial Araucariaceae ( Pagiophyllum ), and Cheirolepidiaceae ( Brachyphyllum ), that developed on inland areas with dry-warm conditions. [12]

The ammonites from the Saltrio Formation allow the formation to be dated to the Early Sinemurian. Animals probably lived in emerged parts of carbonated platform or an area to the northwest, whose presence had never been established. In the early Sinemurian, the Arbostora swell became again a shallow open sea (ramp-slope), still surrounded South and South-West by emerged land. The dinosaur bones where washed on this period, flowed into a gulf of the Mt. Nudo basin, where they became fossilized. The latter possibility was suggested by Lualdi (1999), in which he analyzed the local geology based on the presence of terrestrial plants and terrigenous content (sands from igneous or metamorphic rocks exposed to sub-aerial erosion) in the limestones. [12] Terrestrial plants are essentially represented by leaves and small branches of Araucariaceans and Bennettitales, the typical flora of the early Mesozoic. However, plants and sand (which are not abundantly referred) can be carried by wind and ocean currents. Also, according to the most current paleogeographic maps, truly continental land located closer these Jurassic times lower were the Mountains of Sardinia, Corsica, distanced many tens of kilometers WNW. [13] Coeval and slightly younger in age, large dinosaurs, carnivorous and herbivorous, were present as shown in various footprints of the lower Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian) in the province of Trento, around 160 kilometres (99 mi) east of Saltrio, which changed the traditional view of the palaeoenvironments and paleogeography of the region, considered a tropical sea with small islands of the atoll type. [14] Fossil footprints and tracks are preserved in tidal carbonates deposited in a relatively narrow carbonated platform in Trento, flanked to the east and west by relatively deep marine basins. Large theropods could not live in an atoll, since large areas had to be emersed to provide food and fresh water, and their herbivorous prey needed land with vegetation. The presence of vulcanodontids, cetiosaurs, primitive sauropods, heterodontosaurids, and scelidosaurs have been reported from the Calcari Grigi Group. [15]

"It is more likely that the Peri-Adriatic Platforms worked with temporary continental bridges that connected with Laurasia Gondwana in central Tethis, allowing migration between the two hemispheres and colonization of local coastal habitats." "During the marine transgressions, some of these lands were isolated, implicating genetic Mutations in their terrestrial faunas, with typical biological consequences, as endemism and possible dwarfism". [16]

Invertebrate fauna

Brachiopoda

Rhynchonellata
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Cirpa [17] [18] [4]

C. variabilis

  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Rhynchonellatan, member of the family Wellerellidae inside Rhynchonellida. Identified originally as "Rhynchonella variabilis".

Liospiriferina [4] [17] [18]

L. rostrata

  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Rhynchonellatan, member of the family Spiriferinidae inside Spiriferinida. Was identified originally as "Spiriferina haasi".

Lobothyris [4] [17] [18]

L. punctata

  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Rhynchonellatan, member of the family Lobothyrididae inside Terebratulida. Was identified originally as "Terebratula punctata".

Spiriferina [17] [18] [4]

S. expansa

  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Rhynchonellatan, type member of the family Spiriferinidae inside Spiriferinida. It is a rather a complex series of specimens, whose classification is controversial.

Rhynchonella [4] [17] [18]

R. acanthica

  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Rhynchonellatan, member of the family Wellerellidae inside Rhynchonellida. Another series of Specimens of uncertain placement.

La terre avant le deluge, 1863 "Rhynchonella sulcata". (4513809761).jpg

Bivalves

Bivalvia
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Astarte [4] [18] [19]

  • A. praeobliqua
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, type member of the family Astartidae inside Carditida. Some shells identified as Cardium probably belong to this genus.

Avicula [4] [18] [19]

  • A. sinemuriensis
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Pearl Oyster, member of the family Pteriidae inside Ostreida. Abundant and rather easy to identify.

Calvaentolium [4] [18] [19]

  • C. hehlii
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Scallop, member of the family Pectinoidae inside Pectinida. It was identified originally as "Pecten (Pseudamusium) hehlii".

Cardinia [4] [18] [19]

  • C. hybrida
  • C. similis
  • C. rugosa
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, type member of the family Cardiniidae inside Carditida. Epicontinental deposits genus, rather abundant locally. Cardinia rugosa was first discovered on this formation.

Cardium [4] [18] [19]

  • C. cf. multicostatum
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, member of the family Cardiniidae inside Carditida. Rare locally, with some specimens considered dubious.

Chlamys [4] [18] [19]

  • C. textoria
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Scallop, member of the family Pectinoidae inside Pectinida. It was identified as "Pecten (Chlamys) textorius".

Fimbria [4] [18] [19]

  • F. semireticulata
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, member of the family Lucinidae inside Lucinida. Was first identified on the Formation.

Goniomya [4] [18] [19]

  • G. verbana
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, member of the family Lucinidae inside Lucinida. First identified on the formation.

Gryphaea [4] [18] [19]

  • G. arcuata
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

An Oyster, type member of the family Gryphaeidae inside Ostreida. Related with specimens of the Blue Lias Formation.

Gryphaea arcuata fossil oyster (Blue Lias, Lower Jurassic; coastal cliffs near Lyme Regis, far-western Dorset County, southwestern England) 1 (15206675956).jpg

Lima [4] [18] [19]

  • L. (Plagiostoma) stabilei
  • L. (Radula) succincta
  • L. (Radula) valmariannae
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A File Clam, member of the family Limidae inside Pectinida. Included on the Genus Plagiostoma, the status of the species is rather dubious.

Lucina [4] [18] [19]

  • L. ? liasina
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, type member of the family Lucinidae inside Lucinida. Uncertain classification due to be based on fragmentary shell remains.

Modiolus [4] [18] [19]

  • M. vomer
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Mussel, member of the family Mytilidae inside Mytilida. Identified as the genus "Modiola", now junior synonym of Modiolus.

Myoconcha [4] [18] [19]

  • M. scabra
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, member of the family Pleuromyidae inside Pholadida. Rather rare and controversial genus.

Ostrea [4] [18] [19]

  • O. cf. chillyensis
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

An Oyster, type member of the family Ostreidae inside Ostreida. Rather Abundant genus, but lacks specimens enough complete for a formal identification.

Pecten [4] [18] [19]

  • P. (Pseudamusium) diblasii
  • P. (Chlamys) subalpinus
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Scallop, type member of the family Pectinoidae inside Pectinida. Mistake for other related genera on the deposit, it is among the most abundant local Scallops, although the affinities with the genus Pecten haven't been proved.

Pecten fossil.jpg

Pholadomya [4] [18] [19]

  • P. sp.
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, type member of the family Pholadomyidae inside Pholadomyida. Mostly incomplete specimens, what makes nearly impossible to assigante a concrete species.

Plagiostoma [4] [18] [19]

  • P. giganteum
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A File Clam, member of the family Limidae inside Pectinida. Identified originally as "Lima (Plagiostoma) gigantea".

Plagiostoma gigantea.JPG

Pleuromya [4] [18] [19]

  • P. cf. angusta
  • P. saltriensis
  • P. galathea
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, type member of the family Pleuromyidae inside Pholadida. Present on most of the deposits of the formation, with P. saltriensis being first discovered on the location.

Sphaeriola [4] [18] [19]

  • S. sp.
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, member of the family Lucinidae inside Lucinida. Identified originally as "Fimbria (Sphaeriola) sp.".

Terquemia [4] [18] [19]

  • T. heberti
  • Shells

“Salnova” quarry

A Clam, member of the family Prospondylidea inside Pterioida. Is based on a few specimens

Gastropods

Gastropoda
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Pleurotomaria [20]

  • P. sp.
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry.
  • Mount Campo dei Fiori

A Sea Snail, type member of the family Pleurotomariidae inside Pleurotomarioidea. Relatively abundant genus, found specially on deposits with terrestrial debris input.

Pleurotomaria expansa 01.JPG

Trochus [20]

  • T. sp
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry.
  • Mount Campo dei Fiori

A Sea Snail, type member of the family Trochidae inside Trochoidea. Rather common, found associated with Echinoderm debris.

Cephalopoda

Cephalopoda
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Agassiceras [21]

  • A. nodosaries
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry

An Ammonitidan, member of the family Arietitidae inside Psiloceratoidea.

Arietites [21]

  • A. bucklandi
  • A. raricostatus
  • A. ceratitoides
  • A. kridioides
  • A. dimorphus
  • A. arnoui
  • A. conybeari
  • A. sauzeanus
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry

An Ammonitidan, type member of the family Arietitidae inside Psiloceratoidea. The main Ammonite identified locally.

Cenoceras [4] [19] [18] [22]

  • C. amorettii
  • C. stoppanii
  • C. intermedium
  • C. arare
  • C. spreaficoi
  • C. breislacki
  • C. striatum
  • C. sturi
  • C. balsamocrivellii
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry

A Nautilidan, type member of the family Cenoceratidae inside Nautilidae. The most abundant local cefalophod, Cenoceras was identified as member of the genus Nutilus originally.

Cenoceras NT.jpg

Coroniceras [4] [21]

  • C. cf. gmuendense
  • C. rotiformis
  • C. bucklandi
  • C. orbiculatus
  • C. bisulcatus
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry

An Ammonitidan, member of the family Arietitidae inside Psiloceratoidea. One of the main ammonites identified along the local dinosaur remains.

Oxynoticeras [21]

  • O. oxynotum
  • Shells
  • “Salnova” quarry

An Ammonitidan, type member of the family Oxynoticeratidae inside Ammonitida. Not the most abundant, but rather common.

Echinoderms

Echinodermata
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Isocrinus [23]

  • I. tuberculatus

Multiple ossicles

M. Campo dei Fiori

An Crinoidean, member of the family Isocrininae inside Isocrinida.

Miocidaris [4] [19]

  • M. amalthei

Multiple ossicles

“Salnova” quarry

An Echinoidean, type member of the family Miocidaridae inside Cidaroida. Related to epicontinental to pelagic waters.

Millericrinus [4] [19]

  • M. cf. adneticus

Multiple ossicles

“Salnova” quarry

A Sea lily, type member of the family Millericrinida inside Crinoidea.The main Crinoid identified locally.

Millericrinus sp 567.jpg

Palaeocoma [24]

  • P. milleri
  • Specimen MSNVI 044/017, dorsally-ventrally oriented ophiuroid

Mount Campo dei Fiori

An Ophiuridan, member of the family Ophiodermatidae inside Ophiodermatina. Extant tropical species like Ophioderma are benthic predators and scavengers that show the same short spines seen in Palaeocoma. [24]

Palaeocoma milleri 34.jpg

Pentacrinites [4] [19]

  • P. tuberculatus
  • Fragments

“Salnova” quarry

A Sea lily, type member of the family Pentacrinitidae inside Isocrinida. A Pelagic crinoid that live attached to washed wood.

Pentacrinites NT.jpg

Vertebrate fauna

In 2016 new vertebrate remains were discovered in the Salnova quarry, the remains are being studied to understand if it is a new dinosaur or some other creature. [25] [26] Latter has been confirmed to be Marine Amniote material. [27]

Fish

Osteichthyes
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages
Notidanoides [7]
  • N. arzoensis
  • Teeth
“Salnova” quarryA Crassodontidanidae Hexanchiform

Osteichthyes [4] [3]

Indeterminate

  • Tooth and one jaw fragment

“Salnova” quarry

Outside Saltriovenator, initially, few vertebrate remains were found associated to this bone assemblage, except for one tooth and one jaw fragment pertaining to a bony fish. [3]

Sphenodus [7]
  • S. helveticus
  • S. cf. alpinus
  • S. stschurowskii
  • Teeth
“Salnova” quarryAn Orthacodontidae Synechodontiform

Icthyosaurs

Ichthyosaurians
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Ichthyosaurus [4] [27]

  • I. spp.
  • 3 Vertebrae Imprints

“Salnova” quarry

A Neoichthyosaurian of the family Ichthyosauridae.

Ichthyosaurus anningae trio NT small.jpg

Temnodontosaurus [1] [27]

  • T. cf.platyodon
  • Isolated Tooth
  • Isolated Vertebrae

“Salnova” quarry

A Neoichthyosaurian of the family Temnodontosauridae. Quoted on the 1880s, specimen that apparently has never been described or figured and whose present repository is unknown

Temnodontosaurus plat1DB.jpg

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Pterosauria [1] [27]

"Pterodactylus" longirostris

  • Isolated Tooth

“Salnova” quarry

A Pterosaur. Quoted on the 1880s, specimen that apparently has never been fully described or figured and whose present repository is unknown

Dimorphodon, a coeval Pterosaur from UK Dimorphodon2DB.jpg
Dimorphodon, a coeval Pterosaur from UK

Dinosaurs

Theropods
GenusSpeciesMaterialLocationNotesImages

Saltriovenator [13] [3] [2]

S. zanellai [3] [2]

  • MSNM V3664, very fragmentary and disarticulated skeleton
  • MSNM V3659, one maxillary or dentary tooth (Referred material)

“Salnova” quarry. [13]

The oldest known Ceratosaur, falling outside Neoceratosauria, being sister taxa to the maroccan genus Berberosaurus . Saltriovenator is also the largest known Theropod of the Lower Jurassic. It probably was washed into the Sea. [3] Traces on the bones show that the dinosaur carcass remained exposed to the water-sediment interface for months or years, long enough to first be defleshed by mobile scavengers, then colonized by a microbial community that spanned the bone–water interface, which in turn attracted slow-moving grazers and epibionts. [3]

Saltriovenator on an ancient beach SaltriovantorRes 01.jpg
Saltriovenator on an ancient beach


See also

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The Aganane Formation is a Pliensbachian geologic formation in the Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir and Errachidia provinces, central Morocco, being the remnant of a local massive Carbonate platform, and known mostly for its rich tracksites including footprints of thyreophoran, sauropod and theropod dinosaurs. This formation has been dated to the Pliensbachian stage of the Lower Jurassic, thanks to the find of the ammonite Arieticeras cf. algovianum, indicator of Middle Domerian in the upper zone, and lower delimitation by the foraminifers Mayncina termieri and Orbitopsella praecursor. The dinosaur tracksites are all located a few metres below the Pliensbachian-Toarcian limit, being coeval and connected with the lowermost layers of the continental Azilal Formation. The Aganane Formation was also coeval with the Jbel Taguendouft Formation and the Tamadout 1 Formation, all developed along a local "platform-furrow" in the Middle Atlas Mountains, that act as a barrier controlling the western border of the Jurassic Atlas Gulf. The nearshore sections, including both carbonate platforms and close to sea terrestrial facies where located on an isolated internal domain thanks to the control of the barrier, allowing the Aganane Formation to develop on a hot and humid climate, where a local algal marsh had intermittent progradations, intercalated with a layer of terrigenous continental origin. The ichnosites were developed in tidal flats and coastal deposits suitable to sea flooding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcari Grigi di Noriglio Formation</span> Geological formation in Italy

The Calcari Grigi di Noriglio Formation is a geological formation in Italy, dating to roughly between 200 and 190 million years ago and covering the Hettangian to Sinemurian stages of the Jurassic Period in the Mesozoic Era. Fossil prosauropod tracks have been reported in the formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drzewica Formation</span> Geologic formation in Szydłowiec, Poland

The Drzewica Formation is a geologic formation in Szydłowiec, Poland. It is Pliensbachian in age. Vertebrate fossils have been uncovered from this formation, including dinosaur tracks. The Drzewica Formation is part of the Depositional sequence IV-VII of the late lower Jurassic Polish Basin, with the IV showing the presence of local Alluvial deposits, with possible meandriform deposition origin, dominated in Jagodne and Szydłowiec, while delta system occurred through the zone of the modern Budki. The sequence V shows a reduction of the erosion in the Zychorzyn borehole of the Drzewica Formation, showing changes on the extension of the marine facies, where upper deposits change from Alluvial to Deltaic-Seashore depositional settings. VI-VII facies were recovered on the Brody-Lubienia borehole, with a lower part exposed on the village of Śmiłów that shows a small fall of the Sea level. The stathigraphic setting of the dinosaur tracks reported from the formation suggest a Seashore or Deltaic barrier. Body fossils reported include bivalves, palynology, fossil trunks, roots. Trunks of coniferous wood, especially Cheirolepidiaceae and Araucariaceae trees show the occurrence of vast coniferous forests around the tracksite. The association of forests and dinosaur megafauna on the Pliensbachian suggests also a colder and specially dry ecosystem. Drzewica deposits where in part to be a gigantic shore barrel, setting at the time where the Polish basin sea was at its lowest point. Other related units are Fjerritslev or Gassum Formation, Hasle & Sorthat Formation (Bornholm), upper Neringa Formation (Lithuania) and abandoned informal units in other regions of Poland: upper Sawêcin beds, Wieluñ series or Bronów series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotzo Formation</span> Jurassic geological formation in Italy

The Rotzo Formation is a geological formation in Italy, dating to roughly between 192 and 186 million years ago and covering the Pliensbachian stage of the Jurassic Period in the Mesozoic Era. Has been traditionally classified as a Sinemurian-Pliensbachian Formation, but a large and detailed dataset of isotopic 13C and 87Sr/86Sr data, estimated the Rotzo Formation to span only over the Early Pliensbachian, bracketed between the Jamesoni-Davoei biozones, marked in the Loppio Oolitic Limestone–Rotzo Fm contact by a carbon isotope excursion onset similar to the Sinemu-Pliens boundary event, while the other sequences fit with the a warm phase that lasts until the Davoei biozone. The Rotzo Formation represented the Carbonate Platform, being located over the Trento Platform and surrounded by the Massone Oolite, the Fanes Piccola Encrinite, the Lombadian Basin Medolo Group and Belluno Basin Soverzene Formation, and finally towards the south, deep water deposits of the Adriatic Basin. The also Pliensbachian Aganane Formation of Morocco represents a regional equivalent, both in deposition and faunal content.

The Calcare di Sogno is a geological formation in Italy, dated to roughly between 182-169 million years ago and covering the Lower Toarcian-Late Bajocian stagess of the Jurassic Period in the Mesozoic Era. Thallatosuchian remains are known from the formation, as well fishes and other taxa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marne di Monte Serrone</span> Geological formation in Italy

The Marne di Monte Serrone is a geological formation in Italy, dating to roughly between 181 and 178 million years ago, and covering the early and middle Toarcian stage of the Jurassic Period of central Italy. It is the regional equivalent to the Toarcian units of Spain such as the Turmiel Formation, units in Montenegro, such as the Budoš Limestone and units like the Tafraout Formation of Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moltrasio Formation</span> Geological formation in Italy and Switzerland

The Moltrasio Formation also known as the Lombardische Kieselkalk Formation is a geological formation in Italy and Switzerland. This Formation mostly developed in the Lower or Middle Sinemurian stage of the Lower Jurassic, where on the Lombardian basin tectonic activity modified the current marine and terrestrial habitats. Here it developed a series of marine-related depositional settings, represented by an outcrop of 550–600 m of grey Calcarenites and Calcilutites with chert lenses and marly interbeds, that recovers the Sedrina, Moltrasio and Domaro Formations. This was mostly due to the post-Triassic crisis, that was linked locally to tectonics. The Moltrasio Formation is considered a continuation of the Sedrina Limestone and the Hettangian Albenza Formation, and was probably a shallow water succession, developed on the passive margin of the westernmost Southern Alps. It is known due to the exquisite preservation observed on the Outcrop in Osteno, where several kinds of marine biota have been recovered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mizur Formation</span>

The Mizur Formation is a geological formation that outcrops in North Ossetia–Alania in the North Caucasus, representing a series of marginal marine to coastal layers with terrestrial influence. It is of Late Pliensbachian age. It is notable as the only major unit with preserved dinosaur footprints of various orders not yet ascribed to any concrete ichnogenus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coimbra Formation</span>

The Coimbra Formation is a geological formation of Sinemurian age in the Lusitanian Basin of Portugal. The unit represents a series of peritidal to intertidal facies of a Carbonate platform mostly of Obtusum–Oxynotum age, that gradually evolve to open marine/hemipelagic units Vale das Fontes Formation and Lemede formation. This unit is know for it's fossil content, including Invertertebrate and vertebrate ichnofossils and fossils.

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Further reading