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Facies dynamics in Eocene to Oligocene circumalpine carbonates

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Abstract

A new concept, termed ‘Facies Dynamics’ (defined as changes of specific carbonate facies types in time and space, which are controlled by phylogenetic, ecological and geological parameters), is introduced. This concept aims to define and interpret spatial and temporal changes of carbonate facies patterns. It is based on Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene shallow-water carbonate facies types from the circumalpine area (north-eastern Italy, northern Slovenia, Austria and southern Bavaria), which are compared with respect to dominating biogenic components and their distributions along a shelf gradient. This comparison has lead to the distinction and definition of 14 Major Facies Types (MFTs), which are dominated by coralline algae, larger and smaller foraminifera, corals and bryozoans. The presence and distribution of these MFTs from three different time slices (Middle Eocene, Late Eocene and Early Oligocene) is compared. Nine aspects of facies dynamics are distinguished: origination, extinction, immigration, emigration, expansion, reduction, stasis, shift, and replacement of MFTs. These changes are controlled by regional changes in ecological parameters, but also by global events, especially extinction patterns at the Middle/Late Eocene boundary and at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary.

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Acknowledgements

Much of the primary work for this study was supported by grants to J.N. from the German Science Foundation and to D.B. from the University of Ferrara local research funds. We wish to thank the reviewers, A.M. Smith (Dunedin) and T. Brachert (Mainz) who helped to increase the quality of this paper

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Geowissenschaften, Sigwartstrasse 10, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany

    James H. Nebelsick

  2. Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Rosenstein 1, D-70191, Stuttgart, Germany

    Michael W. Rasser

  3. Dipartimento delle Risorse Naturali e Culturali, Universita’ degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy

    Davide Bassi

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  1. James H. Nebelsick
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  2. Michael W. Rasser
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  3. Davide Bassi
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Correspondence to James H. Nebelsick.

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Nebelsick, J.H., Rasser, M.W. & Bassi, D. Facies dynamics in Eocene to Oligocene circumalpine carbonates. Facies 51, 197–217 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-005-0069-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-005-0069-2

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