Biostratigraphy of the lower red shale interval in the Rhenodanubian Flysch Zone of Austria

Author(s)

Michael Wagreich

Abstract

In the Rhenodanubian Flysch Zone of Austria, between the AptianeAlbian ¿¿Gault Flysch¿¿ and the CenomanianeTuronian Reiselsberg

Formation, an interval with predominant red shales (¿¿Untere Bunte Schiefer¿¿) occurs. In the Oberaschau section near Attersee (Upper Austria)

a ca. 18-m-thick interval of alternating red and grey shales and marlstones with minor sandstones is present. Thin sandstone intercalations are

interpreted as distal turbidites. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages indicate the Litosphaeridium siphoniphorum Zone. The concurrent presence of

Litosphaeridium siphoniphorum and Ovoidinium verrucosum in all samples allows a correlation to the lower part of this zone, thus defining

a Late AlbianeEarly Cenomanian age. Based on foraminifera, the red beds can be assigned to the topmost Rotalipora appenninica Zone

and the Rotalipora globotruncanoides Zone due to the presence of small morphotypes of the index taxa. Nannofossils indicate standard zones

CC9/UC0 throughout the red interval, defined by the first occurrence of Eiffellithus turriseiffelii, and UC1 above the red shales. Based on these

multistratigraphic data, a latest AlbianeEarly Cenomanian age can be inferred.

Organisation(s)

Department of Geology

Journal

Cretaceous Research

Volume

27

Pages

743-753

No. of pages

11

ISSN

0195-6671

Publication date

2006

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

1051 Geology, Mineralogy

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