The Calcare di Altamura (Italian for Altamura Limestone) is a Coniacian to early Campanian geologic formation in Italy.[1] The formation comprises limestones that are highly fractured, in places karstified and dolomitized. Fossil ankylosaur tracks have been reported from the formation.[2]

Calcare di Altamura
Stratigraphic range: Coniacian-early Campanian
~88–80 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsLoferitique, Stromatolique & Gorjanovicia Members
UnderliesCalcare di Caranna
OverliesCalcare di Bari
Lithology
PrimaryLimestone
OtherDolomite
Location
Coordinates40°48′N 16°36′E / 40.8°N 16.6°E / 40.8; 16.6
Approximate paleocoordinates25°00′N 15°54′E / 25.0°N 15.9°E / 25.0; 15.9
RegionApulia
Country Italy
ExtentApulian Platform
Type section
Named forAltamura
Calcare di Altamura is located in Italy
Calcare di Altamura
Calcare di Altamura (Italy)
Calcare di Altamura is located in Apulia
Calcare di Altamura
Calcare di Altamura (Apulia)

Description edit

The Calcare di Altamura overlies the Calcare di Bari, separated by an unconformity and is overlain by the Calcare di Caranna, separated by a transgressive angular unconformity.[3][4] The Calcare di Altamura is subdivided into the Loferitique, Stromatolique and Gorjanovicia Members.[5] The formation comprises limestones with some levels of dolomitization. The succession starts with a sequence of stromatolites and is heavily fractured and karstified.[6] The formation crops out south of the Bari–Taranto railway. The lower part of the formation is dated to the Coniacian based on the presence of the microfossils Aeolisaccus kotori, Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera, Accordiella conica and Moncharmontia appenninica.[7] The upper part is dated to the early Campanian.[5]

Fossil content edit

The formation has provided ichnofossils of:[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Calcare di Altamura
  2. ^ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607
  3. ^ APAT, 2001, p.33
  4. ^ Reina & Buttiglione, 2005, p.32
  5. ^ a b APAT, 2001, p.52
  6. ^ Reina & Buttiglione, 2005, p.33
  7. ^ Reina & Buttiglione, 2005, p.35
  8. ^ Nicosia et al., 1999
  9. ^ Dal Sasso, 2003

Bibliography edit

  • Reina, Alessandro, and Buttiglione Luigi. 2005. Tecniche geologiche tradizionali nella ricerca di nuovi giacimenti di pietre ornamentali in Puglia. Geologi e Territorio 1/2. 29–40. .
  • Weishampel, David B.; Peter Dodson, and Halszka (eds.) Osmólska. 2004. The Dinosauria, 2nd edition, 1–880. Berkeley: University of California Press. Accessed 2019-02-21. ISBN 0-520-24209-2
  • Dal Sasso, C. 2003. Dinosaurs of Italy. Comptes Rendus Palevol 2. 45–66. .
  • N., N. 2001. Carta Geologica d'Italia 1:50.000 - Catalogo delle Formazioni, 31–55. APAT - Dip. Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze - Commissione Italiana di Stratigrafia.
  • Nicosia, U.; M. Marino; N. Mariotti; C. Murano; S. Panigutti; F. M. Petti; 1999. The Late Cretaceous dinosaur tracksite near Altamura (Bari, southern Italy) I – geological framework. Geologica Romana 35. 231–236. .