Summary:
The Ammonitico Rosso (AR) face, consisting of red nodular pelagic limestones,
is one of the most well known faces of the Tethys Ocean. This is because of its
peculiar lithological characteristics and mainly due to the containing fossils,
which allow precise biostratigraphical analysis.
Cephalopods of Ammonoidea Class and mainly their Mesozoic forms, commonly known
as ammonites, are the most famous and abundant fossils. Their beautifully
coiled shells, with the impressive decoration (ribs, knobs etc.) and complex
suture lines, have attracted the interest of collectors since a long a time.
Stratigraphers are also interested on Ammonites, because of their rapid
development, with a variety of forms, their great quantity and wide
distribution. All these characterized them as ideal zonal fossils for local and
universal comparisons. Their systematic classification is based on their shell
and suture lines study.
At this project the objective is to study Ammonitico Rosso face of the Ionian
Zone in Epirus Peninsula and Lefkada Island from a biostratigraphical and
sedimentological aspect. For that purpose we visited Epirus and Lefkada, in
order to collect fossils and rock samples.
Lefkada Island is located in western Greece, in Ionio Sea, and Epirus in
North-west Greece. Most of their territory is covered by Ionian Zone complexes.
Ionian Zone is extended from Albania, covering most part of Ionian Sea islands
(Corfu, Lefkada, Ithaca, East Cephalonia and East Zakinthos), Epirus,
Etoloakarnania and NW Peloponnesus. It continuous in a metamorphic form in
Peloponnesus and Crete (Bonneau 1973 & 1984, Karakitsios 1987 & 1995, Hall et
al. 1996).
In Epirus we collected samples from sections in Mavron Oros (EAN) and
Vathy-Tsampali (ΒΑΘ) (fig. i). At these two locations we proceeded to bed by
bed research for fossil collection and rock sampling.
Regarding Lefkada Island and according to the researches and field studies of
Bornova (1964) and Pettinelli et al (1997), we located all known appearances of
the face. Unfortunately, they were significantly destroyed by erosion and/or
tectonic processes. From these sections, despite our systematic and thorough
research we were not able to collect ammonites, not even detached from their
initial beds. Also because of the sections and beds bad condition it was not
possible to follow the bed sequence and to collect healthy rock samples. Due to
this, we used data from Pettinelli et al (1997). To be more precise we used
their data for the appearance in Anavrysada (AN) area, which, according to
them, is the richest in fossil concentration, comparing with the other sections
where ammonites are rare.
At this project, in Chapter 1, we analyze "Ammonitico Rosso
Stratigraphy-Biostratigraphy-Sedimentology" with reference to Ionian Zone, to
Jurassic stratigraphy and biostratigraphy, to biostratigraphy based in
ammonitic zonation, to sedimentolody of the face and its depositional
environments. We also make a special reference to some characteristic
appearances of the face in areas around the Mediterranean Sea. In Chapter 2, we
make an "Introduction to Ammonoidea" with general information regarding them,
their shell morphology and characteristics but also with data regarding shell
growth, the way of living and its living environment as well as its enemies and
breeding. In Chapter 3 we proceed with the study of the ammonitic fossils we
have collected and their "Classification". We also present Tables with photos
of our samples and diagrams. In Chapter 4 we continue with the
"biostratigraphically-stratigraphically-sedimentologically study of the
sections under research", accompanied with information from previous studies.
The bed to bed field investigation is presented and the fossiliferous content
of the sections. Thin sections were manufactured from the rock samples obtained
and sedimentological characteristics were examined. Based on previous mentioned
studies, results regarding stratigraphical-biostratigraphical and
sedimentological aspects are presented. We also conclude for the depositional
ages of the sections in Mavron Oros and Vathy-Tsampali. In Chapter 5 we apply
two different methodologies by Batt (1989) and Westermann (1988) for the study
of the "Ammonitico Rosso face appearances', under investigation in this
project, depositional environments", regarding palaeogeographic and depth
aspects.
Keywords:
Ammonitico Rosso, Ionian Zone, Biostratigraphy, Sedimentology, Palaeogeography
