Calcare di Altamura explained

Calcare di Altamura
Type:Geological formation
Age:Coniacian-early Campanian
~
Period:Santonian
Prilithology:Limestone
Otherlithology:Dolomite
Namedfor:Altamura
Region:Apulia
Coordinates:40.8°N 16.6°W
Paleocoordinates:25°N 15.9°W
Subunits:Loferitique, Stromatolique & Gorjanovicia Members
Underlies:Calcare di Caranna
Overlies:Calcare di Bari
Extent:Apulian Platform

The Calcare di Altamura (Italian for Altamura Limestone) is a Coniacian to early Campanian geologic formation in Italy.[1] The formation comprises limestones that are highly fractured, in places karstified and dolomitized. Fossil ankylosaur tracks have been reported from the formation.[2]

Description

The Calcare di Altamura overlies the Calcare di Bari, separated by an unconformity and is overlain by the Calcare di Caranna, separated by a transgressive angular unconformity.[3] [4] The Calcare di Altamura is subdivided into the Loferitique, Stromatolique and Gorjanovicia Members.[5] The formation comprises limestones with some levels of dolomitization. The succession starts with a sequence of stromatolites and is heavily fractured and karstified.[6] The formation crops out south of the Bari–Taranto railway. The lower part of the formation is dated to the Coniacian based on the presence of the microfossils Aeolisaccus kotori, Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera, Accordiella conica and Moncharmontia appenninica.[7] The upper part is dated to the early Campanian.[8]

Fossil content

The formation has provided ichnofossils of:[1]

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=displayStrata&geological_group=&formation=Calcare%20de%20Altamura&group_formation_member=Calcare%20de%20Altamura Calcare di Altamura
  2. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607
  3. APAT, 2001, p.33
  4. Reina & Buttiglione, 2005, p.32
  5. APAT, 2001, p.52
  6. Reina & Buttiglione, 2005, p.33
  7. Reina & Buttiglione, 2005, p.35
  8. APAT, 2001, p.52
  9. Nicosia et al., 1999
  10. Dal Sasso, 2003