Paolo Monaco

... della Formazione Piedra Clavada (Cretaceo), Bacino Australe (Argentina) ANDREA CARLONI (*) & PAOLO MONACO (*) ... Questa facies si sarebbe potuta originare per la migrazione di megaripples tridimensio-nali forse in regimi di tempesta (SWIFT et alii, 1983; LECKIE 1988). ...

Abstract An integrated taphonomical, ichnological and sedimentological analysis has been carried out on the Albian deposits of the Sierra Helada section (Province of Alicante, southeastern Spain). This allowed recognition and detailed characterization of the shallowing- and coarsening-upward sequences present in these deposits. Twenty sequences were detected throughout the section. They contain the following, from bottom to top: (1) the bottom of the sequence characterized by very fine-grained marls rich in echinoid tests and echinoid trace fossils with very little evidence of physical reworking—it records a distal platform, low-energy environment; (2) marls interbedded with fine-grained calcarenites, rich in large Thalassinoides and slightly reworked echinoid tests, with common bioclast-armored tubes ( Ereipichnus geladensis ), recording low-energy background conditions but increasing energy of the sedimentary events, (3) coarse-grained calcarenites rich in different types of small to large Thalassinoides and E. geladensis horizons, showing the intense and frequent action of storms and directed currents on the seafloor, and (4) coarse-grained, cross-bedded calcarenites, rich in Ophiomorpha nodosa , deposited under high-energy background conditions in the shallowest part of the sequence, recording the presence of shifting dunes in the inner platform. Occasionally, also the record of a rapid transgression has been pointed out through the presence of condensed tapho- and sedimentary facies and mixed ichnocoenoses at the top of the sequence just after an erosive surface. The defined ichnoceonoses and their distribution throughout the sequence reflect the shifting from a distal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies to the shallower archetypal Cruziana Ichnofacies and finally to the high-energy, shallow-water Skolithos Ichnofacies. The distribution of taphofacies and ichnocoenoses and development of the sequences all through the section show a general transgression followed by a regressive phase, which fit with the third-order curves described for the area on the basis of pure sedimentological analysis in previous studies ( Castro et al., 2008 ).

The analysis of Bichordites ichnofabric has been performed in laminated calcarenites of Upper Pleistocene marine terraces of the Crotone Peninsula, Ionian Calabria, outcropping in the coast nearby the village of Le Castella (southern Italy). These calcarenitic deposits show an intense and pervasive bioturbation, preserved mainly as endichnia s.s., exposed endichnia (false epichnia with hyp- and epireliefs) and crossichnia, dominated by Bichordites monastiriensis . Other forms (more rare) are Cardioichnus isp., Ophiomorpha nodosa, Planolites beverleyensis and ? Macaronichnus -like trace fossils. This shallow-water ichnofabric, that is recurrent in many sandy shallow water marine terraces of Pleistocene, exhibits hundreds of Bichordites monastiriensis (meniscate burrows) that are studied in cross sections and plane views. A detailed taphonomic study shows many differences in the central core of Bichordites monastiriensis that varies in shape, length and dimension, from the outer menis...

Some fine-grained sediments from the Eocene in age Scaglia Toscana Formation in the Northern Apennines (Trasimeno area), previously interpreted as mud-silt turbidites, have been reinterpreted herein as bottom nepheloid layers (BNL). They contain a rich ichnocoenosis dominated by endichnial forms, that formed progressively in line with the slow accumulation rate of mud transported by the oceanic thermohaline bottom currents. In a BNL idealized sequence, a slight upward increasing density of trace fossils, suggests some differences with typical muddy turbidites. Together with sedimentary structures, trace fossils form an ichno-sedimentary sequence through the bed, which is explained by a step by step colonization that accompanies deposition of the bottom nepheloid layer by continuous currents. It is possible that these ichnological features are recurrent and helpful in recognition of similar deposits within other geological contexts. RIASSUNTO [Icnocenosi degli strati nefeloidi di fon...

A detailed analysis of the Upper Messinian-Lower Pliocene at the northern border of the Bajo Segura Basin (BSB) has been carried out. Trace fossils of firm- and rockground were collected, aiding in the recognition of three ichnofacies: Glossifungites (types A and B), Entobia and Gnathichnus. The ichnological data provide evidence that the Pliocene flooding of the BSB, after the Messinian Salinity Crisis, was developed in two pulses. In the first one, the ingression penetrated only along the paleovalleys and produced a coastal trasgressive lag (P0). In the second one, the ingression overflowed the margins of the paleovalleys and extended throughout the entire northern margin, also producing a coastal transgressive lag in the base of the P2 system. The record of the Entobia and Gnathichnus ichnofacies in the clasts of both lags evidences a relatively fast deepening-upward trend in both the transgression

A multidisciplinary approach is used to demonstrate the occurrence of oxygen-poor sediments in theTenuicostatum Zone (Early Toarcian) within the clayey-marly pelagic sediments of Marne del Monte Serrone Formation (Umbria-Marche basin). This approach involves ...

The neoichnology of the freshwater mussel Anodonta ( Sinanodonta ) woodiana (Lea, 1834) is examined herein in some continental environments of Umbria (central Italy), such as lake-margin and river dam-margin settings. This study, based on analysis of about 200 traces, reveals that this mussel burrows employing two types of behaviours: bulldozing which produces horizontal meanders to straight bilobate traces, often filled with peloidal faecal pellets (pseudofaeces and backfill), and resting (vertical stationary into substrate) while filter feeding. A new type of very soft substrate, the ‘cloudground’ is proposed. It is placed at the water-sediment interface, above the soupground. After four years of observation, the cloudground was buried with shells and traces, preserving through the fossilization barrier about 20% of the Anodonta traces. This bivalve activity is a useful tool to recognize preservation of mud in quiet environments and parallels ichnological evidence of unknown epich...

A detailed analysis of the Upper Messinian-Lower Pliocene at the northern border of the Bajo Segura Basin (BSB) has been carried out. Trace fossils of firm- and rockground were collected, aiding in the recognition of three ichnofacies: Glossifungites (types A and B), Entobia and Gnathichnus. The ichnological data provide evidence that the Pliocene flooding of the BSB, after the Messinian Salinity Crisis, was developed in two pulses. In the first one, the ingression penetrated only along the paleovalleys and produced a coastal trasgressive lag (P0). In the second one, the ingression overflowed the margins of the paleovalleys and extended throughout the entire northern margin, also producing a coastal transgressive lag in the base of the P2 system. The record of the Entobia and Gnathichnus ichnofacies in the clasts of both lags evidences a relatively fast deepening-upward trend in both the transgressions.

... PAOLO MONACO*, JESUS E. CARACUEL** ... Essi infatti si rinvengono anche in situazioni assai diverse tra loro, esempio in depositi di tempesta distali intercalati a facies di Ammonito Rosso del Giurassico in-feriore (Caracuel, et al., 2000). ...

Abstract This study analyzes in detail the beds bearing Rhizocorallium in the Upper Triassic Nayband Formation (Tabas Block, Central Iran) and shows their potential in interpreting depositional settings, ecological features and sequence stratigraphy. An integrated approach combining ichnological, sedimentological and stratigraphic methods has significantly enhanced our understanding of the changes in the spatial distribution style and morphological differences among the same ichnospecies of Rhizocorallium . The Upper Triassic Rhizocorallium assemblages from the Nayband Formation reveal significant spatial variations in the orientation and dimensions (i.e., length, width, limb diameter), the tiering pattern, and the colonization style throughout systems tracts and at erosional discontinuities or omission surfaces. Based on the wide variety of forms and orientation, numerous morphotypes of Rhizocorallium are grouped into two main types, i.e., those that are mostly facies controlled and those that appear abundantly in a confined stratigraphic interval and are facies independent. In this respect, three paleoichnocoenoses or habitats for the rhizocorallid producers could be differentiated according to the burrow morphology and the nature and consistency of the substrate: (1) stable habitat, represented by soft substrates including horizontal, long, straight or slightly sinuous, spreite-bearing, U-shaped protrusive burrows of Rhizocorallium irregulare (=  R. commune var. irregulare ). This habitat resulted from processes operating in settings that are characterized by soft substrates, reduced sedimentation rates, and abundant food supply, typical of low- to moderate-energy, fully marine conditions; (2) unstable, physically-controlled habitat, represented by a suite of shifting substrates with low- to high-energy settings, including short, U-shaped protrusive spreiten-burrows of R. jenense (Type 1) . In this habitat alternating and contrasting energy conditions did exist due to repeated storm events that were the main controlling factor in the distribution and preservation of Rhizocorallium ; (3) substrate-controlled habitat represented by a suite of stiff-to-firm substrates including oblique to vertical protrusive or retrusive spreiten U-shaped burrows of R. jenense (Type 2) . The erosional discontinuities or omission surfaces related to this habitat include parasequence-bounding transgressive surfaces of erosion (TSE) and parasequence-bounding flooding surfaces (FS) and are mainly associated with the Rhizocorallium -dominated Glossifungites ichnofacies. Complementary ichnological information indicates that the shift in the orientation and the morphological features of rhizocorallid burrows point to broad changes of environmental parameters, which are, in turn, controlled by the rate of sea-level changes.

Abstract The siliciclastic Gadvan Formation from Abadan Plain, southwestern Iran, is highly bioturbated and allows relationships between changes in ichnocoenoses within a depositional system to be documented and placed in a high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework. Relying on the sedimentary and ichnological characteristics, the siliciclastic succession is divided into two facies associations: a wave-dominated offshore-shoreface complex and a tide-river influenced delta. The first includes facies that have been deposited in shelf-offshore, upper offshore, lower shoreface and upper/middle shoreface environments, the latter includes facies that have been deposited in prodelta and delta front. Integrated ichnologic and sedimentologic studies of the Gadvan Formation, allow distinction between prodelta and delta front and open marine deposits. With the identification of maximum flooding and ravinement surfaces as bounding surfaces of the stratal units, detailed analysis on systematic changes in the stacking pattern (cycle thickness, cycle type, and facies proportion) are made. Eight ichnocoenoses could be differentiated in the studied sections. The positions of the ichnocoenoses within genetically related stratal units (genetically related ichnocoenoses), indicate three large-scale cycles (DS1 to DS3, from oldest to youngest). The cyclical nature of the Gadvan Formation is attributed to low-amplitude eustasy in greenhouse conditions formed under interaction of eustatic high-frequency cycles and longer term tectonically driven sea-level variations during the long-term transgressive sea-level trend of the early Cretaceous. Stratigraphic architectural style of sequences DS1 to DS3 (which includes scarce evidence of lowstand deposits, partial or total truncation of the HST, and predominance of thick transgressive deposits), is remarkably similar to long-term transgressive sea-level trend of the Early Cretaceous across the Arabian Plate. This study suggests a more relatively seaward position of the siliciclastic successions of the Gadvan Formation of Abadan Plain than the Mesopotamian Basin (upper Zubair Formation equivalent in western Iraq and Kuwait), which would be concordant with the prevailing view of an easterly prograding coastline across the Arabian Plate. This study reveals important sedimentological and ichnological features and permits the development of predictive models for the paleoenvironmental and sequence stratigraphical significance of trace fossil assemblages that can be readily compared or translated to analogous depositional systems worldwide. The ichnological analysis is based on cores and can be especially applied to evaluate the applicability of current ichnological models to the study of Cretaceous reservoirs of western Iraq, Kuwait and western Saudi Arabia.

The Tournaisian–Visean carbonate successions of the Esfahan–Sirjan Basin (ESB) from Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone, Iran, have been used to generate a sequence stratigraphic model that enhances facies characterization and improves paleoenvironmental interpretation of shallow marine successions deposited along the southern margin of the Paleotethys. Detailed facies analysis allowed to differentiate seven facies, which, in order of decreasing abundance, are: (1) shaly and marly, F1; (2) peloidal mudstones/wackestones, F2; (3) peloidal/bioclastic packstones, F3; (4) intraclastic/bioclastic packstones/grainstones, F4; (5) oolitic/bioclastic packstone/grainstone, F5; (6) sandy intraclastic/bioclastic grainstones, F6; (7) sandy oolitic/bioclastic grainstones, F7. The different facies can be grouped into three facies associations that correspond to different environments of a carbonate platform with ramp geometry (homoclinal), from outer ramp (F1 and F2), mid-ramp (F3, F4 and F6) to inner ramp areas (F5 and F7). Meter-scale cycles are the basic building blocks of shallow marine carbonate successions of the Tournaisian–Viséan ramp of the ESB. Small-scale cycles are stacked into medium-scale cycles that in turn are building blocks of large-scale cycles. According to the recognized facies and the stacking pattern of high-frequency cycles across the ramp, five large-scale cycles in the southeastern outcrops (Tournaisian–Viséan) and three large-scale cycles in the northwest outcrops (Viséan) related to eustatic sea-level changes can be recognized. The overall retrogradational nature of the carbonate ramp, illustrated by both vertical facies relationships and the stacking patterns of high-frequency cycles within the third-order cycles, implies that the deposition of the Tournaisian–Viséan successions mainly took place under a long-term transgressive sea-level trend. The stratigraphic architectural style of the sequences, characterized by the lack of lowstand deposits and exposure surfaces, associated with the evidence of progressive increase in the proportion of backstepping of facies belts across bounding surfaces and predominant subtidal characteristics, is in accordance with the long-term transgressive sea-level trend and greenhouse conditions during the Tournaisian–Viséan. The continued transgression on this broad shelfal platform could lead to the shutdown of the shallow water carbonate factory, reduction in sediment supply or sediment transport towards the offshore setting and the development of give-up sequences. The association of transgressive events with the deposition of thick open-marine marls/shales is a common feature in Tournaisian to Viséan times of the southern margin of the Paleotethys.

ABSTRACT This work focuses on a Messinian shallow-marine terrigenous unit, termed the La Virgen Formation, which forms part of the sedimentary infill of the Bajo Segura Basin (Betic margin of the western Mediterranean). This formation was deposited during a high sea level phase prior to the onset of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Stratigraphically, it comprises a prograding stack of sandstone lithosomes alternating with marly intervals (1st-order cyclicity). These lithosomes are characterized by a homodinal geometry that tapers distally, and interfinger with pelagic sediments rich in planktonic and benthic microfauna (Torremendo Formation). An analysis of sedimentary facies of each lithosome reveals a repetitive succession of sandy storm beds (tempestites), which are separated by thin marly layers (2nd-order cyclicity). Each storm bed contains internal erosional surfaces (3rd-order cyclicity) that delimit sets of laminae. Two categories of storm beds have been differentiated. The first one includes layers formed below storm wave base (SWB), characterized by traction structures associated to unidirectional flows. The second category consists of layers deposited above the SWB, which display typical high regime oscillatory flow structures. The 1st-order cyclicity recorded in the La Virgen Formation corresponds to sapropel/homogeneous marl precessional cycles formed in a pelagic basin context (Torremendo Formation).

Sandstone petrography and mudstone mineralogy and geochemistry of the Late OligoceneeEarly Miocene terrigenous deposits of the Macigno Fm. of the Trasimeno Lake area (Central Italy) provide new information on provenance, paleoenvironment, palaeoclimate, and geodynamics during the early stages of the northern Apennines foreland basin setting. Sandstones are rich in trace fossils and are quartz-ofeldspatic with various crystalline phaneritic (mostly granitoids) and medium-low grade metamorphic rock fragments. Volcanic and sedimentary lithic fragments are rare. The mudstone mineralogy contains a large amount of phyllosilicates, quartz, and feldspars and small amount of calcite, which increases in the mid-part of succession. Palaeoweathering indices (Chemical Index of Alteration with and without CaO value; CIA and CIA' respectively) suggest a source area that experienced low to moderate weathering and low recycling processes (on average, CIA ¼ 66.4 and CIA' ¼ 69.7). Furthermore, very low and homogeneous values of Rb/K ratios (<0.006) suggest weak to moderate weathering conditions. The sandstone and mudstone composition reflects a provenance derived from uplifted crystalline rocks. The different amount in feldspars, the variety of lithic fragments, the occurrence of mafic and carbonate input, coupled with evidence of multi-directional flows, suggest a provenance from different source areas. The geochemical proxies indicate a provenance from both felsic and mafic sources, predominantly for the Maest a section that shows Cr/V values ranging from 1.15 to 3.36 typical of source areas composed of both felsic and mafic rocks. The Western-Central Alps are inferred to be the main source area of the Macigno foreland system, but significant signals from the Mesomediterranean Microplate are also testified. These new data suggest that the Macigno Fm. was probably located in a peculiar area which received either distal fine turbidite flows from the northernmost Alpine area and residual sandy debris flows coming from the westernmost Alps.

To cite this article: Monaco P., Famiani F. & la iacona F. (2016)-bulldozing and resting traces of freshwater mussel Anodonta woodiana and substrate characteristics in lake-margin and river settings of Umbria, italy. Riv. It. Paleont. Strat., 122(1): 53-62. Abstract. The neoichnology of the freshwater mussel Anodonta (Sinanodonta) woodiana (lea, 1834) is examined herein in some continental environments of Umbria (central italy), such as lake-margin and river dam-margin settings. This study, based on analysis of about 200 traces, reveals that this mussel burrows employing two types of behaviours: bulldozing which produces horizontal meanders to straight bilobate traces, often filled with peloidal faecal pellets (pseudofaeces and backfill), and resting (vertical stationary into substrate) while filter feeding. A new type of very soft substrate, the 'cloudground' is proposed. it is placed at the water-sediment interface, above the soupground. after four years of observation, the cloudground was buried with shells and traces, preserving through the fossili-zation barrier about 20% of the Anodonta traces. This bivalve activity is a useful tool to recognize preservation of mud in quiet environments and parallels ichnological evidence of unknown epichnial trace fossils in the continental realm. Cloudground with resting traces must be investigated also in modern marine basin floor environments where cloud of mud dominates and considered also in geological record.

... en evidence diff~rents degr~s d&#x27;~nergie et des p~riodes de non-sedimentation ou d&#x27;~rosiondans le Toarcien moyen et ... ses.Composition, texture, stability, and hardness ofthe substrate are critical factors influencing thetypes of organisms that inhabit the sea floor and301the types ...

... should provide a tool to reconstruct the changes in the sea-floor depth, evidencing ... Representation sch6matique de la stratigraphie des coupes ~tudides dans le Toar-cien du bassin Marches ... niveau marin sont reprgsentds d&#x27;apr~s la courbe eustatique du Toarcien selon Hallam ...