Palynostratigraphy of the late Ladinian and Carnian in the Southeastern Dolomites

Abstract

In the Late Ladinian and Carnian Cassian Formation, Cassian Dolomite and Raibl Group a qualitative and quantitative palynological investigation of 50 productive samples was carried out. Sixty taxa of pollen and spores were identified, one species is described as new. Comparisons with palynofloral associations of other Middle and Late Triassic sections of Europe allow the recognition of five palynological phases of the Early Langobardian to the ?Tuvalian in the study area. Chronostratigraphic classifications enable the re-interpretation of time-stratigraphic relationships, which indicate a clear diachronism of lithologic boundaries. According to these results, both the Cassian Formation and the Raibl Group extend from the Langobardian to the ?Tuvalian and thus comprise a longer period of deposition than previously thought. These lithofacies units should be considered as migrating facies zones, which show a rapid progradation to the north.