Description:    The Villány area, as a central part of the Tisza microcontinent/terrane along the European margin of Tethys, was characterized by intense subsidence in the Early and Middle Triassic, followed by a long interruption of subsidence in the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic. During the Middle–Late Jurassic transition, marine sedimentation started with three distinct sedimentary episodes dated as Late Bathonian, Early Callovian, and Middle–Late Callovian, respectively. The succession is terminated by a thick limestone of Middle Oxfordian age. The sedimentary features, microfacies, and macroinvertebrate associations of these four stratigraphic units are documented and illustrated. The Middle to Late Jurassic sedimentary episodes of the Villány succession record an interplay of local and global factors and paleogeographical changes. At the beginning, local tectonic movements governed the main features of sedimentation, though the role of eustasy was also essential. From the mid-Callovian onwards, global climatic, biotic, and paleoceanographical changes controlled the nature and formation of the local carbonate sediments. The Callovian stromatolites are attributed to the activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria in a deep sublittoral, current-swept environment. Upwelling of eutrophic Tethyan waters is recorded by the prevalence of the Bositra filament microfacies in the Callovian. The long submarine hiatus at around the Callovian–Oxfordian transition mirrors a serious restriction of the carbonate budget, due to sudden cooling and a change in the oceanic current system (opening of a circumglobal Tethyan Passage), and to a higher amount of dissolved CO 2 . In the Middle Oxfordian, the carbonate production considerably increased in accordance with the sudden global warming. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-29 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0287-8 Authors A. Vörös, Research Group for Paleontology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences–Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, 1083 Hungary Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description: A bstract   Extensive bivalve borings are described in detail for the first time from basalt rockgrounds in the North Atlantic volcanic islands of Macaronesia. They occur on a Middle Miocene rocky shore of a small islet of Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago of Portugal), as well as on Plio-Pleistocene rocky shores on Santiago Island (Cape Verde). A basalt substrate is widely penetrated by clavate-shaped borings belonging to the ichnogenus Gastrochaenolites interpreted as dwelling structures of suspension-feeding bivalves. Some of these borings still retain evidence of the alleged trace-makers preserved as body fossils, while others are filled with their casts. The ichnofossil assemblage present on these bioeroded surfaces belongs to the Entobia ichnofacies. Recognition of Gastrochaenolites borings in volcanic rocks provides useful paleoenvironmental information regarding an expanded strategy for hard-substrate colonization. Preliminary results from fieldwork in the Cape Verde Archipelago indicate that such borings are more widespread through Macaronesia than previously thought. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0283-z Authors Ana Santos, Departamento de Geodinámica y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Campus de El Carmen, Universidad de Huelva, Avda. 3 de Marzo, s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain Eduardo Mayoral, Departamento de Geodinámica y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Campus de El Carmen, Universidad de Huelva, Avda. 3 de Marzo, s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain Markes E. Johnson, Department of Geosciences, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, USA B. Gudveig Baarli, Department of Geosciences, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, USA Mário Cachão, Departamento de Geologia and Centro de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal Carlos Marques da Silva, Departamento de Geologia and Centro de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal Jorge Ledesma-Vázquez, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, BC 22800, Mexico Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    The site of Cessaniti (Vibo Valentia, Italy) has been well known since the 19th century for the richness and good preservation of its Miocene fauna and flora. The sedimentary succession of the site represents a paralic system that evolved toward an open-marine environment recording the Tortonian transgression. The fossil assemblage contains rich invertebrate (corals, bivalves, gastropods, brachiopods, echinoids, benthic and planktonic foraminifers) and vertebrate faunas (proboscideans, rhinoceroses, giraffids, bovids, sirenids, marine turtles, and fish remains). The fossils recovered at the Cessaniti site have a relevant role in phylogenetic studies and paleogeographic reconstructions of Late Miocene environments of the southern Italy. This research is focused on the microstructure and preservation state of the fossil bones. Samples of Metaxytherium sp . bones have been analyzed to understand the diagenetic profile of the bone assemblages that characterizes the taphonomic history of the Cessaniti site. The analyses provided a comprehensive account of how bone mineral (bioapatite) has been altered and demonstrated that the post-burial processes did not significantly affect the micromorphological and biogeochemical features of the bones. The excellent preservation state of the bones strengthens the importance of the Cessaniti site for studies of the Mediterranean Miocene vertebrate fauna. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0284-y Authors Adriano Guido, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Antonella Cinzia Marra, Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Università di Messina, Polo Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy Adelaide Mastandrea, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Fabio Tosti, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Franco Russo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    This paper presents a detailed facies analysis and paleo-depth reconstruction of a latest Early Carnian platform drowning-sequence from the Anatolian terrane (Turkey, Taurus Mountains). A total of eight sedimentary microfacies zones were recorded. An open platform margin passes through a deeper shelf margin setting into a basinal environment influenced by more open-marine conditions. The analysis demonstrates an unexpected, pure carbonate depositional system through the so-called Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE), which has previously been associated with dramatic climate changes throughout the Tethys region. One main finding, based on sedimentological and paleontological analyses, is a much later drowning of the carbonate platforms in Turkey than in other places. The termination of the Kartoz platform postdates the onset of the CPE in the western Tethys by one ammonite zone, corresponding to about 2 million years. The distinctly earlier demise of (north)western Tethyan carbonate platforms and reefs points to a diachrony of this event throughout the Tethys. The decline of carbonate productivity clearly occurs earlier at higher paleolatitudes and later in equatorial areas. Interpreting the CPE as the result of a global or at least Tethys-wide climatic event is therefore highly ambiguous. The described facies changes at Aşağiyaylabel probably mirror different coupling effects and, only minimally, the Tethyan-wide climate changes during the Carnian Pluvial Episode. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0279-8 Authors Susanne Lukeneder, Museum of Natural History Vienna, Vienna, Austria Alexander Lukeneder, Museum of Natural History Vienna, Vienna, Austria Mathias Harzhauser, Museum of Natural History Vienna, Vienna, Austria Yeşim İslamoğlu, MTA - Mine Research Department, Ankara, Turkey Leopold Krystyn, Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Richard Lein, Department of Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    A well-preserved Pennsylvanian (early Moscovian) succession including Donezella mounds, which accumulated in a highly subsiding foreland basin (Cantabrian Zone, NW of Spain), is described and discussed. This succession has been interpreted as one 3rd-order sequence reaching a thickness up to 815 m and recording ~2.3-My duration. It consists of four 4th-order transgressive–regressive (T-R) sequences (105–350 m thick and ~0.6-My duration), each subdivided into several 5th-order (~70-ky duration) meter-scale cycles (23-m average thickness). Nearly all the Donezella mounds are present in the second and third 4th-order sequences defined (Levinco Formation). They are up to ~90 m in thickness and several hundreds of meters wide, showing lenticular to domal morphologies with steep slopes up to 35–40°. Bioherms are composed of micritic boundstones with heterogeneous microfabrics and a diverse biotic community, including the microproblematic Donezella , calcitornellid foraminifers, bryozoans, agglutinated worm tubes, crinoids, and calcareous algae (red Komia/Ungdarella , beresellids, dasycladaceans and phylloids). According to the biotic assemblage and sedimentological features, these Donezella -rich bioherms thrived in a relatively shallow and low-energy environment (below fair-weather wave-base), and resulted from the baffling and binding ability of Donezella and associated biota, and the in situ-precipitation of microbial micrite. The upward evolution of the succession mainly resulted from the interplay between high tectonic subsidence rates and high-frequency moderate-amplitude glacioeustatic sea-level changes. The mounds growth mainly occurred during the transgressive phase of the 3rd-order sequence (Vereian), whereas during the regressive phase (Kashirian), deltaic siliciclastics prograding westward gradually buried and prevented the buildup development. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-20 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0282-0 Authors Diego Corrochano, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Caídos s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain Pedro Barba, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Caídos s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain Juan R. Colmenero, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Caídos s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    The Middle Bathonian to Middle Oxfordian interval in the Eastern External Subbetic (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain) is characterized by Ammonitico Rosso facies including various stratigraphic breaks. Five hardground-bounded units are recognized in relation to hiatuses in the ammonite record at the following stratigraphic boundaries: Hg1 (Lower–Middle Bathonian), Hg2 (Middle–Upper Bathonian), Hg3 (Lower–Middle Callovian), Hg4 (Middle–Upper Callovian), and Hg5 (Callovian–Oxfordian). Interesting features of these hardgrounds include their microfacies, ferruginous crusts and macro-oncoids, taphonomy of macroinvertebrates, trace fossils, neptunian dykes, and the hiatuses associated with each of them. The main hardgrounds (Hg1, Hg2, and Hg5) contain trace fossils of the Cruziana and Trypanites ichnofacies as well as abundant fossil macroinvertebrates with taphonomic features evidencing corrasion, early diagenesis, and reworking, indicating substrate evolution from softground to hardground. Neptunian dykes affected the trace fossils and ammonoid moulds, and their walls and the hardground surfaces were colonized by ferruginous microbial crusts. These features are characteristic of the External Subbetic pelagic swells, where the absence of sedimentation, sediment bypassing and erosion, and early diagenesis during relative sea-level falls produced hardgrounds. The neptunian dykes are indicative of tectonic activity in the areas of pelagic swells. Ferruginous crusts and macro-oncoids developed only on hardground surfaces and neptunian dykes walls prior to deposition of condensed bioclastic beds, which are interpreted as the first deposits after hardground development and are related to the onset of transgression. The varying ranges of the gaps as well as lateral facies changes are related to different local paleobathymetry controlled by the activity of listric faults. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-26 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0281-1 Authors Luis M. Nieto, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Matías Reolid, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain José M. Molina, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Pedro A. Ruiz-Ortiz, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Juan Jiménez-Millán, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Javier Rey, Departamento de Geología, EPS Linares, Universidad de Jaén, 23700 Linares, Spain Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    The Cenomanian–Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) Galala and Maghra el Hadida formations of the Southern Galala Plateau in Wadi Araba (northern Eastern Desert, Egypt) represent marine depositional systems developing in response to the early Late Cretaceous transgression at the southern margin of the Neotethyan Ocean in tropical paleolatitudes. A facies analysis (litho-, bio- and microfacies) of these successions shows the presence of 22 facies types (FTs, six are related to the Galala Formation, while the Maghra el Hadida Formation is represented by 16 FTs). The Galala Formation was deposited in a fully marine lagoonal environment developing in response to a latest Middle to early Late Cenomanian transgression. The rich suspension- and deposit-feeding macrobenthos of the Galala Formation indicate meso- to eutrophic (i.e., green water) conditions. The facies types of the uppermost Cenomanian–Turonian Maghra el Hadida Formation suggest deposition on a homoclinal carbonate ramp with sub-environments ranging from deep-subtidal basin to intertidal back-ramp. Major and rapid shifts in depositional environments, related to (relative) sea-level changes, occurred in the mid-Late Cenomanian, the Early–Middle Turonian boundary interval, the middle part of the Middle Turonian and the Middle–Late Turonian boundary interval. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-19 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0280-2 Authors Markus Wilmsen, Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden, Museum für Mineralogie und Geologie, Sektion Paläozoologie, Königsbrücker Landstr. 159, 01109 Dresden, Germany Emad Nagm, Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    During the Late Miocene, the marginal areas of the Mediterranean Basin were characterized by the development of mixed siliciclastic-carbonate ramps. This paper deals with a temperate siliciclastic-carbonate ramp (late Tortonian–early Messinian in age) which crops out in the Capo Vaticano area, Southern Apennines (Italy). Carbonate components are mainly represented by calcitic skeletal fragments of coralline red algae, bryozoans, bivalves, and larger foraminifera, whereas corals, brachiopods, echinoderms, and planktonic foraminifera are subordinate. In the studied ramp, the depositional geometries of the main unit, the ‘Sabbie gialle ad Heterostegina ’, show a gradual steepening from low/middle (dip about 2–5°) to steep slope settings (up to 25°). The microfacies observations, the quantitative analyses of the main biogenic components as well as the rhodolith shapes and growth forms allowed the differentiation between the middle and the outer ramp depositional setting and the refining of the stratigraphic framework. The middle ramp is characterized by coralline red algal debris packstone facies often associated with larger foraminiferal floatstone/packstone facies, while the outer ramp is characterized by rhodolith floatstone/rudstone facies. These facies pass basinward into typical open-marine deposits (planktonic foraminiferal facies). The taxonomic composition of the coralline red algal assemblage points to a temperate paleoclimate and emphasizes the Miocene Mediterranean phytogeographic patterns. The absence of non-skeletal grains (ooids and green algae), the paucity of Porites patch reefs, the rare occurrence of primary marine cementation, all confirm that the studied ramp was poorly lithified within a warm–temperate setting. The flat depositional profile of the ramp can be related to the absence or paucity of primary marine carbonate cements. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-25 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0276-y Authors Pierparide Gramigna, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 15b, 87100 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy Davide Bassi, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy Franco Russo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 15b, 87100 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Stable isotope analyses of 61 diagenetically unaltered belemnite rostra from the Middle to Late Jurassic of the Kachchh Basin of western India suggest stable paleotemperatures across the Callovian-Oxfordian boundary (~14°C). Only at the end of the Middle Oxfordian water temperatures drop for more than 3°C before reaching again higher values during the Kimmeridgian (~12.3°C). The data do not support polar glaciations proposed for the Middle to Late Jurassic transition, which necessarily would have led to a global temperature and sea-level minimum at the boundary. Callovian to Oxfordian rocks in the Kachchh Basin point to a gradual shallowing corresponding to a slight fall in relative sea level. However, the magnitude of this regression is comparatively small, and the sea-level minimum is reached in the late Early Oxfordian and not close to the boundary. Results from the Kachchh Basin therefore, imply almost stable climatic conditions during the Middle to Late Jurassic transition and do not show any evidence for polar glaciations. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0278-9 Authors Matthias Alberti, GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe PaläoUmwelt, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstraße 28, 91054 Erlangen, Germany Franz T. Fürsich, GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe PaläoUmwelt, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstraße 28, 91054 Erlangen, Germany Dhirendra K. Pandey, Department of Geology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 302004, India Mu. Ramkumar, Department of Geology, Periyar University, Salem, 636011 India Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Coastal sedimentary deposits including beach and dunes within the south-central region of the Gulf of California show a high percentage of biogenic components, up to 84%, derived from the fragmentation of organisms that, among other oceanographic factors, reflect wave energy and effect of seasonal winds. Our report shows that due to high-energy waves, coastal deposits on points or islands with a northern exposure contain massive biocalcarenite deposits derived from mollusk shells, while areas of lower water energy located on coastal areas facing east or west commonly accumulate the crushed debris of coralline red algae, both as beach and dune deposits. Sheltered areas along any point or island oriented to the south will most likely attract colonization by coral reefs. Isla del Carmen clearly displays all these different types of biogenic deposits, making it an ideal model for the development of coastal carbonates throughout the western Gulf of California. Equally important, the general model has been persistent since early Pliocene times for the whole region. In particular for Isla del Carmen, this scenario precludes any tectonic block rotation, postulated in previous reports. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0277-x Authors Jorge Ledesma-Vázquez, Facultad de Ciencias Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, 22800 Baja California, Mexico Ana Luisa Carreño, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Autónoma de México, México, D.F., Mexico Rigoberto Guardado-France, Facultad de Ciencias Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, 22800 Baja California, Mexico Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179