Subterraniphyllum and free-living Neogoniolithon (coralline algae)from the Oligocene reef facies of Costa d’Ovada (Tertiary Piedmont Basin, Alessandria, NW Italy)

Vannucci, Grazia and Testa, Massimiliano and Piazza, Michele and Pastorino, Paolo (2010) Subterraniphyllum and free-living Neogoniolithon (coralline algae)from the Oligocene reef facies of Costa d’Ovada (Tertiary Piedmont Basin, Alessandria, NW Italy). Italian journal of geosciences, 129 (1). pp. 4-14. ISSN 2038-1727

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Abstract

The present study examines the siliciclastic sediments and reef limestone of the Oligocene transgressive event of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin outcropping in the area of Costa d’Ovada (Alessandria, Southern Piedmont, NW Italy). Seven lithostratigraphic sections have been studied. On the basis of the lithostratigraphic evidence, sedimentary architectures and structures, and paleontological data a paleoenvironmental reconstruction is suggested. The reef of Costa d’Ovada rests on siliciclastic marine sediments and was buried by siliciclastic sandy and/or gravely shallow marine deposits. This reef was built in warm tropical or subtropical, clear and very shallow waters, on sandy gravely, moderately exposed bottoms. It might be interpreted as a patch reef developed close to the coastline. In the depicted paleoenvironmental frame, an unusual, for the Tertiary Piedmont Basin, Neogoniolithon-dominated coralline algae association is described and interpreted. This association is characterised by the common occurrence of freeliving thalli of Neogoniolithon raripunctatum and intergenicula of Subterraniphyllum thomasii. Finally, the paleoecological meaning of these species is discussed.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Coralline algae, Neogoniolithon, Subterraniphyllum, Reef facies, Palaeoecology, Lithostratigraphy, Tertiary Piedmont Basin, Oligocene
Subjects: 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 550 Scienze della Terra > 551 Geologia, Idrologia, Meteorologia
500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 550 Scienze della Terra > 551 Geologia, Idrologia, Meteorologia > 551.7 Geologia storica (Classificare qui la Paleogeografia, la Stratigrafia)
500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 560 Paleontologia; Paleozoologia
Depositing User: Users 66 not found.
Date Deposited: 23 Dec 2011 08:56
Last Modified: 23 Dec 2011 08:56
URI: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/3534

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