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Paleoenvironmental model for Eocene foraminiferal limestones of the Adriatic carbonate platform (Istrian Peninsula)

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Abstract

The foraminiferal limestones from the Middle Eocene Central Istrian region illustrate progressive deepening of depositional gradients. Shifting of Lower Cuisian to Upper Lutetian microfacies can be described in terms of a ramp model. The Orthophragminae-bearing parts of the foraminiferal limestones are interpreted in terms of larger foraminiferal faunal associations, planktonic foraminiferal relative abundance, limitations of algal endosymbionts, foraminiferal lamellar thickness and flattening of test shapes. Microfacies I contains the most diverse larger foraminiferal association with a predominance of large, thick nummulitids, assilinids, and asterocyclinids. Microfacies II is characterized by a gradual increase of Orthophragminae diversity and abundance. Nummulitids, equally abundant, are dominated by lenticular and subspherical specimens. The reduction in number of nummulitid specimens with characteristic biconical radiate morphologies, and relative abundance of flattened orthophragminids, characterizes Microfacies III. Scattered biodestructed orthophragminid tests and planktonic foraminifera constitute Microfacies IV, indicating the end of a long-lasting, shallow-marine Adriatic Carbonate Platform regime.

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Acknowledgement

This study was financed by Project 0119402 of Croatian Ministry of Science and Technology. This paper benefited from suggestions given by Lukas Hottinger, Vlasta Tari, Anna Fugagnoli and Davide Bassi and their insights are greatly appreciated. We wish to thank Josip Benić and Vlasta Premec Fuček for identification of nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera. We are very grateful to J. Kuss and M. Rasser for their critical reading of this paper. It was substantially improved by their suggestions. Thanks also go to the Editor-in-Chief, A. Freiwald, for valuable advices. We are also indebted to R. Košćal for making computer drawings. Carrie E. Schweitzer is gratefully acknowledged for English correction of the final text.

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  1. Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Science, Zvonimirova 8, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Vlasta Ćosović & Alan Moro

  2. I. Rakovec Paleontological Institute, ZRC SAZU, Novi Trg 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Katica Drobne

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  1. Vlasta Ćosović
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Correspondence to Vlasta Ćosović.

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Ćosović, V., Drobne, K. & Moro, A. Paleoenvironmental model for Eocene foraminiferal limestones of the Adriatic carbonate platform (Istrian Peninsula). Facies 50, 61–75 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-004-0006-9

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