DANIELA GERMANI

Abstract. New bed-by-bed data on ammonoids and their stratigraphic position within three sections from the Lower and Middle Triassic Han-Bulog Limestone of Kçira (Northern Albania) are presented. Two of the sections studied are most likely from the classical localities described by Nopcsa in 1929. They have provided the only two ammonoid collections known from the Albanian Lower Trias, which are known as Arthaber's and Nopcsa's collections, now stored in Wien and London, respectively. The ammonoids from the two collections, although sampled discontinuously (not bed-by-bed), supplied the base of a substantial part of the Spathian taxonomy in the Western Tethys. The new sampling of the basal portion of the Han-Bulog Limestone of Kçira provided the layers with the richest and most diversified faunas. Two marker levels recognized within the lowest 2.5 m of the succession are characterized by the acme of the genus Subcolumbites, that is practically absent in the middle-higher part of the formation. These basal faunas were assigned to the Subcolumbites-Prohungarites Oppel zone, whose local revision is suggested with the introduction of the taxon range zone "Subcolumbites beds". The middle portion of the Han-Bulog Limestone provided only small long-ranging ammonoids belonging to the genera Procarnites, Leiophyllites and Eophyllites. Scant faunas with long-ranging Anisian forms (Procladiscites, Sturia, Proarcestes, Monophyllites) were found at the top of the succession within isolated blocks.

Baba Senowbari-Daryan, Kazem Seyed-Emami & Ali Aghanabati

Abstract. Some small-scaled Norian-Rhaetian reefs and reef mounds are imbedded within the shales, siltstones and siliciclastic-carbonate deposits of the Nayband Formation in central Iran. These deposits belong to the central Iranian plate as part of the Cimmerian Continent. Most of the biogenic rocks have a biostromal geometry, biohermal constructions are rare. Inozoid, sphinctozoid, and chaetetid sponges are, beside of corals and other reef builders, the most important reef organisms within these bioconstructions. In some reefs a variety of hexactinellid sponges also occur.

The following inozoid sponges are described in this paper: Radiofibra norica n. sp., Permocorynella maxima n. sp., ?Sestrostomella robusta, Marawandia iranica, n. gen., n. sp. and Enaulofungia? triassica n. sp. The first four taxa are among the most abundant sponges within the Nayband Formation where it is exposed in several localities in central Iran. Enaulofungia? triassica, however, is not an abundant sponge there. These inozoid sponges have never been reported from the Triassic deposits of this region. Radiofibra, until now known only from the Upper Permian of Djebel Tebaga (Tunisia), is reported here for the first time from Triassic rocks. The stratigraphic as well as the paleogeographic distribution of all the genera are discussed.

FABRIZIO CECCA

Abstract. The ammonites collected during an expedition to Mangyshlak in September, 1995,, are described. Three ammonitiferous levels were sampled in an arenaceous formation characterised by ferruginous, phosphatic metric concretions. The six species recognised in the two older levels belong to the genus Semenoviceras Wright, 1996 (pro Semenovites Glazunova, non Tarbinskii, 1932), which was widespread in Central Asia mainly during the Late Albian. The third level yielded only a specimen of the mid-Cenomanian genus Cunningtoniceras, which will not be described. The second Semenoviceras -bearing level contained an extremely rich fauna of the S. litschkovi zone, S. pseudocoelonodum subzone, defined in the former Soviet Union and correlated with the Diploceras cristatum zone of western Europe. The present study allowed the intraspecific variability of Semenoviceras pseudocoelonodum (Semenov) to be defined, since the holotype was originally established on the basis of a single fragment. Furthermore, the subdivision in the subgenera Semenoviceras s. str. and Planihoplites is maintained.

ALESSANDRO BOSSIO LUCA MARIA FORESI, ROBERTO MAZZEI, VINCENZO PASCUCCI, GIANFRANCO SALVATORINI & FABIO SANDRELLI

Abstract. The objective of this work is to analyze the Miocene depositional units of the southern side of the Volterra Basin (Tuscany, Italy) utilizing outcrop and seismic data and to establish the major events that led to their formation.

Four depositional units have been recognized: Unit 1 is characterized by marine sediments of late Serravallian-early Tortonian age; Unit 2 is characterized by fluvio-lacustrine and brackish deposits of late Tortonian-early Messinian age; Unit 3 is characterized by marine deposits of early Messinian age; Unit 4 is characterized by the lacustrine deposits ("Lago-mare" facies) of late Messinian age. The deposition of these four units is associated with an extensional tectonic regime that has been active in Tuscany since the late Tortonian. This regime generated half graben type structures in which deposition occurred. The recognized unconformities between the units are mainly related to uplift as a consequence of the extensional tectonic regime.

PAOLA de CAPOA, FRANCESCO GUERRERA, VINCENZO PERRONE

& FRANCISCO SERRANO

Abstract. New biostratigraphic data on the Frazzanò Flysch Formation are presented. This unit is the topmost formation of the stratigraphic succession characterizing the Longi-Taormina Unit, which in turn represents the lowest tectonic unit of the Peloritani Mountains and the only unit in the entire southern sector of the Calabria-Peloritani Arc in which cenozoic terrains have been recognized. The age of the Frazzanò Fm., which as yet has not been well defined, is essential to ascertain the time period during which the tectogenetic phase responsible for the stacking (superposition) of the nappes in the Peloritani Mountains occurred . Coltro (1967) reported foraminiferal assemblages of Late Eocene age, but subsequently ages ranging between the Middle Eocene and the Oligocene have been proposed, none of them supported by new biostratigraphic data.

The identification of some coccolithid taxa which appear in the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene allowed us to attribute an age not older than Upper Oligocene to the levels that mark the transition between the Frazzanò Fm.and the underlying Militello Formation, and an age not older than Early Aquitanian to the most recent beds of the Frazzanò Formation.

Therefore, the tectogenetic phase responsible for the superposition of the nappes in the Peloritani Mountains, very likely started during the Aquitanian.

While these data agree with the evolution of homologous units recognised in the Betic and Rifian sectors, they challenge the Late Oligocene age ascribed to the basal levels of the Stilo-Capo d'Orlando Formation, which lies unconformably over all the tectonic units of the Calabria-Peloritani Arc and provides a chronological upper limit to their overthrusting.

Italo Di Geronimo & Rafael La Perna

Abstract. Four Pleistocene bathyal molluscan assemblages from southern Italy (Calabria and Messina area) were studied. One hundred and thirty-six species were recorded. Twenty-four were classified and described in detail and thirty-five were illustrated.

The following new combinations are proposed: Solariella marginulata (Philippi, 1844), Iphitus tenuisculptus (Seguenza, 1876), Benthomangelia tenuicostata (Seguenza, 1879), Chrysallida microscalaria (Seguenza, 1876), Ennucula corbuloides (Seguenza, 1877), Ennucula rotundata (Seguenza, 1877), Thestyleda cuspidata (Philippi, 1844), Katadesmia confusa (Seguenza, 1877), Austrotindaria pusio (Philippi, 1844), Austrotindaria salicensis (Seguenza, 1877). Comments concerning the taxonomy of Fissurisepta Seguenza, 1862, Solariella Wood, 1842, Ennucula Iredale, 1931, Thestyleda Iredale, 1929, Ledella Verrill & Bush, 1897, Yoldiella Verrill & Bush, 1897, Bathyspinula Filatova, 1958, Katadesmia Dall, 1908, Austrotindaria Fleming, 1948 and Cadulus Philippi, 1844 are included.

The assemblages are dominated by nuculoids and fit the general compositional pattern of the deep-sea molluscan communities. A paleodepth of 500-600 m is inferred for two assemblages, whereas a greater depth, probably not exceeding 1,000 m, is suggested for the other two.

Taxonomic affinities with northeast Atlantic and more generally with World Ocean deep-sea molluscan faunas are remarkable. The Plio-Quaternary evolution of the deep Mediterranean benthos is discussed.

E. Gliozzi, L. Abbazzi, P. Argenti, A. Azzaroli, L. Caloi, L. Capasso Barbato, G. DI Stefano, D. ESU, G. Ficcarelli, O. Girotti, T. Kotsakis, F. Masini, P. Mazza, C. Mezzabotta, M. R. Palombo, C. Petronio, L. ROOK, B. SALA, R. Sardella, E. Zanalda & D. TORRE.

Abstract. The Authors have elaborated four range charts of mammalian (large and micro), molluscs and fresh-water and brackish ostracodes faunas, for the selected Plio-Pleistocene fossiliferous localities of the Italy. A new Mammal Age (Aurelian) correlatable to late Middle and Late Pleistocene has been defined. Inside this age two Faunal Units (Torre in Pietra and Vitinia) have been defined as characteristic for Early and Middle Aurelian, while no gisements have been chosen for the late Aurelian. Biochronological units are calibrated on magnetostratigraphic and isotopic scales and by radiometric datings.