Revue de Paléobiologie, Genève (juin 2010) 29 (1) : 197-216
ISSN 0253-6730
Biostratigraphic remarks on the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene)
cropping out at Portella Colla (Madonie Mts., Sicily)
Andrea BENEDETTI1
Abstract
An outcrop of the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene) in the Madonie Mts. (Northern Sicily) has been micropaleontologically
investigated. Two stratigraphic sections were sampled and studied in rock thin sections.
The formation consists of marly clays and several 2-30 cm thick breccia layers, rich in larger foraminifers, and is affected by prominent
silicification and bioturbation. The clayey layers are dominated by deep-water agglutinated foraminifera (DWAF) in isolated forms,
with rare epibathyal and bathyal hyaline taxa, which disappears at the top of the succession. The collected samples are barren of
planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton.
Selected larger benthic foraminifers species in the displaced layers register a vertical variation and were analysed to have a
biostratigraphical control according to shallow benthic zones (SBZ).
Heterostegina reticulata italiaca, Borelis vonderschmitti, Halkyardia minima, Dyscocyclina dispansa dispansa, Orbitoclypeus varians
and Nummulites ex. gr. incrassatus mark the upper Eocene assemblages. Nummulites vascus dominates the Early Rupelian assemblages
in association with N. fichteli, Halkyardia maxima, Operculina complanata and Heterostegina sp., whereas the FO of Nephrolepidina
praemarginata marks the Late Rupelian.
Imbrication of resedimented larger foraminiferal tests indicates a N-S paleodirection of the flows.
Keywords
Larger foraminifera, systematics, biostratigraphy, SBZ, Eocene, Oligocene, Sicily.
I. INTRODUCTION
Micropaleontological investigations on the Caltavuturo
Formation, belonging to Imerese domain and cropping
out at Portella Colla (Madonie Mts., Northern Sicily),
provide new evidence on Late Eocene-Oligocene
foraminiferal assemblages (Benedetti & Pignatti,
2008). The autochtonous assemblages are dominated by
deep water agglutinated foraminifera (DWAF) studied in
isolated forms, whereas allochtonous and coeval larger
foraminifera assemblages occur in resedimented breccias
layers.
The investigated sections belong to the Caltavuturo
Formation (Schmidt di Friedberg et al., 1960),
cropping out 20 km south of Cefalù, between Monte dei
Cervi and Monte Mùfara (37° 52’ 02”N-14° 00’ 19”E)
(Fig. 1).
At Portella Colla the Caltavuturo Fm. does not exceed
30 m thick (Grasso et al., 1978) and dip 25° S-E, it is
conformably overlain by the Portella Colla Clay (Wezel,
1966), considered the lower member of the Numidian
Flysch. Micropaleontological data on the Caltavuturo
Fm. are scarce and fragmentary (Wezel, 1966).
The aim of this work is to present the results of
biostratigraphic studies on thin sections and dry residue
II. THE PORTELLA COLLA OUTCROP AND THE
INVESTIGATED SECTIONS
Two sections were sampled to investigate the Portella
Colla outcrop (Figs. 1, 2). The first one was identified by
the abbreviation PC and is about 24 m thick including the
top of the Crisanti Fm. The second section, abbreviated
MM, was sampled along a gully erosion and measures
about 10 m.
At the base of the investigated succession a detritic
limestone crops out, assigned to the Crisanti Formation
(Schmidt di Friedberg et al., 1960). The contact
between the Crisanti Fm. and the Caltavuturo Fm., not
directly visible in the analysed sections, is described as
transgressive in the literature (Schmidt di Friedberg et
al., 1960 ; Ogniben, 1960, 1963 ; Grasso et al., 1978).
Department of Earth Sciences, “Sapienza” University, Piazzale A. Moro, 5 I-00185 Roma, Italy.
Email : [email protected]
1
samples of displaced larger foraminifera assemblages of
two investigated stratigraphic sections cropping out in
the above mentioned places ; this formation in fact was
never sufficiently investigated in the past and it is one
of the richest in Eocene to Oligocene larger foraminifera
in the north-western Sicily containing some undescribed
forms.
198
A. BENEDETTI
Fig. 1 : Outcrop location and schematic geological map of the investigated area.
Fig. 2 : The investigated outcrop ; 1. location of the two sampled stratigraphic sections ; 2. Nummulites vascus dominated layer PC8 ; 3.
Nephrolepdina bearing layer.
Biostratigraphic remarks on the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene)
The Caltavuturo Fm. consists of marly clays and several
2-30 cm thick breccia layers rich in larger foraminifers and
is affected by prominent silicification and bioturbation.
Clay colour changes upsection : it is wine red at the
bottom and becomes gray from the middle towards the
upper part of the outcropping sections.
The clay layers contain poor foraminiferal assemblages
studied in isolated forms, essentially composed by
DWAF, hyaline benthic or planktonic foraminifera are
being rare and badly preserved (Benedetti & Pignatti,
2008). Some samples are completely barren of hyaline
taxa, rare epibathyal and bathyal hyaline taxa such as
Cibicidoides occurs in the uppermost Eocene and lower
Rupelian samples and disappears in upper Rupelian
sediments (Benedetti & Pignatti, 2008). This suggests
a deposition of the clay layers close or below the CCD.
III. BIOSTRATIGRAPHICAL DATA
The top of the Crisanti Fm. can be referred to the Aptian
according to the presence of assemblages essentially
composed by Palorbitolina sp. and Trocholina aff.
alpina (Leupold) sensu Arnaud-Vanneau, Boisseau
& Darsac, 1988.
As previously described, the clayey layers of the
Caltavuturo Fm. are devoid of planktonic foraminifera
with the exception of some badly preserved specimens
of “Globoquadrina” ex. gr. tapuriensis-tripartita isolated
from the gray clays. The DWAF assemblages and the
rare benthic hyaline taxa are composed by cosmopolitan
taxa with a prolonged stratigraphical range. For example
Cibicidoides grimsdalei (Nuttall, 1930) and C.
havanensis (Cushman & Bermudez, 1937) occurring in
the red clay of the PC section and in the early gray clay
of both sections, range from early Eocene to Miocene.
In the resedimented layers several displaced larger
foraminiferal taxa occur : the assemblages are
allochthonous and reworking seems to be extremely
limited, except for rare Cretaceous forms such as
orbitoidids. Therefore it was attempted to use larger
foraminifera for dating the succession using the standard
biozones of Serra-Kiel et al. (1998) for the Eocene and
Cahuzac & Poignant (1997) for the Oligocene.
In the lowermost part of the Caltavuturo Fm. the displaced
larger foraminifera dominated layers are absent, and the
first occurrence of these taxa is in the sample PC2 for
the section PC (Fig. 3). Heterostegina reticulata italica
Herb, 1978, Borelis vonderschmitti (Schweighauser,
1951), Discocyclina dispansa dispansa (Sowerby,
1840), Orbitoclypeus varians (Kaufmann, 1867) and
Halkyardia minima (Liebus, 1911) indicate SBZ 19
(Serra-Kiel et al., 1998) ; no markers strictly referred
to SBZ 20 (Late Priabonian) were found.
In the section MM (Fig. 4) this stratigraphic interval is
absent, no Late Eocene markers was found. The first occurrence of Nummulites vascus Joly & Leymerie, 1848
199
marks the Early Rupelian in both the investigated sections. This species was found associated with other nummulitids such as N. fichteli Michelotti, 1841, Operculina complanata (Defrance, 1822), Heterostegina sp.
(maybe a new species), borelids such as Borelis pygmaea
Hanzawa, 1930 and B. inflata Adams, 1965 and others foraminifers : Victoriella conoidea (Rutten, 1914),
Halkyardia maxima Cimerman, 1969 and Praearchaias
sp. These assemblages characterize SBZ 21 of Cahuzac
& Poignant (1997).
The FO of Nephrolepidina marks the upper Rupelian
(SBZ 22A). Specimens referred to this orbitoidiform
taxon was even found displaced in some clay layer.
Six populations were isolated and megalosphaeric
embryo were biometrically investigated (Benedetti
& Pignatti, in prep.) and, according to the parameters
and factors proposed by De Mulder (1975), all the
sampled population can be referred to N. praemarginata
(Douvillé, 1908) and so the whole top of the Caltavuturo
Fm. can be referred to the Late Rupelian. These
assemblages are characterized by the dominance of N.
praemarginata with subordinate presence of Eulepidina
formosoides Douvillé, 1924 and Halkyardia maxima.
Specimens of Sphaerogypsina globulus (Reuss, 1848)
and Planorbulina sp. are common from the Late Eocene
to the top of the Caltavuturo Fm.
IV. ON THE FLOWS ORIGIN
In the past, several hypothesis were developed about the
direction and the origin of the flows which originated
the Caltavuturo Fm. and the Numidian Flysch in general
(Broquet, 1968a, b, 1972 ; Broquet & Duée, 1967 ;
Ogniben, 1963 ; Wezel, 1966, 1970). The prevailing
opinion suggests an African origin, whereas for the
French school the material comes from the north.
Imbrication of resedimented larger foraminiferal tests
shows a direction of the flows parallel to the dip of the
strata. According to Chanell et al. (1990), Oldow et
al. (1990) and Speranza et al. (2003) the rotation in the
Madonie Mts. is approximatively 93-98° clockwise, so it
is preliminarily possible to assume a N-S paleodirection
of the flows.
V. SYSTEMATIC
The suprageneric classification of Loeblich & Tappan
(1987, 1992) is followed in this work. For each species
has been drawn up a synonymic list, the most complete
possible. The synonymic list of the taxa assigned to
a species by an exclusive biometrical investigation,
is necessarily incomplete, because of the necessity to
compare other populations with the same methods.
200
A. BENEDETTI
Fig. 3 : Distribution of the main larger foraminifera in the section PC. The presence of SBZ 18 at the base of Paleogene succession is
uncertain ; no SBZ 20 (Late Priabonian) markers were found.
Fig. 4 : Distribution of the main larger foraminifera in the
section MM. The lack of the upper Eocene markers at
the base of the Caltavuturo Fm. is noteworthy.
Biostratigraphic remarks on the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene)
Superfamily Orbitolinacea Martin, 1890
Family Orbitolinidae Martin, 1890
Subfamily Orbitolininae Martin, 1890
Genus Palorbitolina Schroeder, 1963
Type species : Madreporites lenticularis Blumenbach,
1805
Palorbitolina sp.
Pl. I, fig. 1
Material : 5 specimens from 2 samples.
Description : low conical test, relatively small. No
megalosphaeric specimens are found in the thin sections
analysed.
Family Involutinidae Bütschli, 1880
Subfamily Involutininae Bütschli, 1880
Genus Trocholina Paalzow, 1922
Type species : Involutina conica Schlumberger, 1898
Trocholina aff. alpina (Leupold) sensu ArnaudVanneau, Boisseau & Darsac, 1988
Pl. I, fig. 2
aff. 1988. Trocholina alpina (Leupold). – Arnaud-Vanneau
et al., p. 359, pl. 4, figs. 1-12.
Material : 9 specimens from 2 samples.
Description : test large, conical consisting of a
sphaeroidal proloculus and a tubular second chamber
trochospiraly coiled around the axis.
Remarks : T. alpina is smaller than Portella Colla
specimens, whereas T. cf. alpina Arnaud-Vanneau et
al., 1988 has a closer apical angle (Fig. 5).
201
Superfamily Alveolinacea Ehrenberg, 1839
Family Borelidae Schmarda, 1871
Genus Borelis de Montfort, 1808
Type species : Borelis melonoides de Montfort, 1808 =
Nautilus melo Fichtel & Moll, 1798
Borelis vonderschmitti (Schweighauser, 1951)
Pl. I, figs. 3-4
1951. Neoalveolina vonderschmitti Schweighauser, p. 468,
text fig. 1-4.
1974. Borelis vonderschmitti (Schweighauser). – Hottinger, p. 67, pl. 98, figs. 1-7.
Material : 2 specimens from 2 sample.
Description : small sphaeric form, with a diameter
ranging from 0.43 to 0.54 mm, initially streptospirally
coiled. Septula are continuous and not alternated.
Distribution : latest Bartonian-Priabonian, SBZ 18-20 of
Serra-Kiel et al. (1998).
Borelis inflata Adams, 1965
Pl. I, fig. 6
1947. Neoalveolina haueri (d’Orbigny). – Bursch, p. 26, pl.
1, fig. 20, pl. 2, figs. 8, 11, text fig. 7, 8.
1965. Borelis inflata Adams, p. 325, pl. 25 d-j.
1974. Borelis inflata Adams. – Hottinger, p. 68, tav. 101,
figs. 1-6.
2003. Borelis inflata Adams. – Sirel, p. 299, pl. 11, figs.
10-13.
Material : rare specimens from the samples PC8, PC9,
PC14 and MM5 ; one isolated specimen from MM3.
Description : small subsphaeric form, stricly coiled and
with a diameter ranging from 0.6-0.9 mm. The index of
elongation is low and varies between 1.13 and 1.27.
Distribution : Oligocene (Hottinger, 1974), SBZ 2122 of Cahuzac & Poignant (1997) ; at Portella Colla
B. inflata occurs in the SBZ 21 assemblages.
Borelis pygmaea Hanzawa, 1930
Pl. I, fig. 5
1930. Borelis (Fasciolites) pygmaea Hanzawa, p. 94, pl. 26,
figs. 14, 15.
1947. Neoalveolina pygmaea (Hanzawa). – Bursch, p. 28, pl.
1, figs. 11, 15, 19.
1965. Neoalveolina pygmaea (Hanzawa). – Adams, pl. 25
a-c.
1974. Borelis pygmaea Hanzawa. – Hottinger, p. 68, pl.
101, figs. 7, 8 (cum syn.).
2003. Borelis pygmaea (Hanzawa). – Sirel, p. 298, pl. 11,
figs. 1-7.
Fig. 5 : Height vs width scatter diagram with biometrical
comparison beetween conical and low-conical
trocholines (modified after Arnaud-Vanneau et al.,
1988).
Material : 2 megalosphaeric specimens from PC8 e
PC12 ; 1 specimens from MM3.
Description : test small and fusiform with an axial lenght
reaching 1.57 mm and equatorial diameter of 0.58 mm
at the 7th whorl. The index of elongation ranges from
202
A. BENEDETTI
2.3 to 2.7. The maximum measured diameter of the
megalosphaeric embryo is about 64 μm. The whorls are
tightly coiled in the equatorial region, whereas they are
loosely arranged in axial region.
Distribution : in SBZ 21 in the Caltavuturo Fm.
Superfamily Soritacea Ehrenberg, 1839
Family Soritidae Ehrenberg, 1839
Subfamily Archaiasinae Cushman, 1927
Genus Praearchaias Sirel, 1996
Type species : Praearchaias diyarbakirensis Sirel, 1996
Praearchaias sp.
Pl. I, figs. 7-8
Material : some transversal and tangential sectioned
specimens from the samples PC9 and PC12.
Description : lenticular test, peneropline-type coiled.
The megalosphaeric specimens consist of a small
sphaerical proloculus (68-117 μm) followed by an early
stage of few undivided chambers that become arcuate
and subdivided in chamberlets by intraseptal pillars in
the adult stage with a peneropline-like coiling.
Remarks : The wall of the investigated specimens is
decalcified and recristallized with glauconite, so the bad
preservation of the test prevents detailed observation
on the internal structures, such as septula or intraseptal
pillars and the determination at specific level.
Distribution : Praearchaias was founded by Sirel
(1996) on material from Priabonian and Early Oligocene.
At Portella Colla Praearchaias is restricted to the
assemblages of the Early Rupelian.
Superfamily Planorbulinacea Schwager, 1877
Family Planorbulinidae Schwager, 1877
Subfamily Planorbulininae Schwager, 1877
Genus Planorbulina d’Orbigny, 1826
Type species : Planorbulina mediterranensis d’Orbigny,
1826
Planorbulina sp.
Pl. II, figs. 1-2 ; Text-fig. 6, figs. 1-5.
Material : 29 equatorially sectioned megalosphaeric
specimens from 10 samples.
Description : test discoidal, flattened, early chambers
arranged in a low trochoid spiral consisting of 7-9
chambers ; later chambers have two apertures producing
numerous spirals. The lenght of the embryonic chambers
(d1-2) varies from 70 to 130 μm.
Distribution : Planorbulina sp. occurs from the upper
Eocene to the upper Rupelian of the Caltavuturo Fm.
Family Cymbaloporidae Cushman, 1927
Subfamily Halkyardiinae Kudo, 1931
Genus Halkyardia Heron-Allen & Earland, 1918
Type species : Cymbalopora radiata Hagenow var.
minima Liebus, 1911
Halkyardia maxima Cimerman, 1969
Pl. II, figs. 3-4 ; Text-fig. 6, figs. 7-8
1969. Halkyardia maxima Cimerman, p. 296, pl. 57, figs. 1-11
(cum syn.).
2002. Halkyardia maxima Cimerman. – Cahuzac &
Poignant, pl. 2, fig. 14.
Material : 44 specimens from 10 samples.
Description : lenticular, concave-convex, more rarely
planoconvex or biconvex (D=0.32-0.81 mm ; H=0.140.41 mm). The dorsal side is always convex with the
quadrilocular embryo on the apex side formed by a
sphaerical protoconch (d=35-78 μm), a deuteroconch
(d=37-107 μm) and two primary auxiliary chambers, later
chambers are arranged in numerous cycles. A perforate
plug fills the umbilical region. In the investigated axial
sections the umbilical angle varies from 78° to 87° and
8-12 chambers are visible for each side.
Distribution : originally described from the Oligocene
of Poland (Cimerman, 1969). The FO of H. maxima
marks the lowermost Oligocene.
Halkyardia minima (Liebus, 1911)
Pl. II, fig. 5 ; Text-fig. 6, fig. 6
1911. Cymbalopora radiata Hagenow var. minima Liebus, p.
952, pl. 3, fig. 7.
1969. Halkyardia minima (Liebus). – Cimerman, p. 298, pl.
58, figs. 1-6. (cum syn.)
Material : 1 specimen in subaxial section from the
sample PC4.
Description : test small biconvex. The dorsal side is
usually more convex and without ornamentation and
granulation. In the marginal region of the ventral side
ring-arranged tubular chambers radially distributed
occur. In the central part of the ventral side an umbilical
spine is visible.
Distribution : Late Eocene-Early Oligocene (Cahuzac
& Poignant, 1997) ; at Portella Colla H. minima is rare
and restricted to the uppermost Eocene sediments.
Family Victoriellidae Chapman & Crespin, 1930
Subfamily Carpenteriinae Saidova, 1981
Genus Gyroidinella Le Calvez, 1949
Type species : Gyroidinella magna Le Calvez, 1949
Gyroidinella magna Le Calvez, 1949
Pl. III, fig. 1
Biostratigraphic remarks on the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene)
203
Fig. 6 : Drawing of some foraminifera : 1. Planorbulina sp. from sample PC9 ; 2. Planorbulina sp., PC2 ; 3. Planorbulina sp.,
PC060616 ; 4. Planorbulina sp., PC10 ; 5. Planorbulina sp., PC10 ; 6. Halkyardia minima from an Eocene reworked clast ; 7.
H. maxima, PC12 ; 8. H. maxima, PC10. Scale bar=0.5 mm.
1949. Gyroidinella magna Le Calvez, p. 27, pl. 6, figs.
103-105.
1979. Eorupertia magna (Le Calvez). – Drobne et al., pl. 4,
fig. 9.
Material : rare fragmented specimens from the samples
PC2 and PC4.
Description : Test large (d=1.8-2.5 mm), planoconvex
and trochospirally coiled, with a flat spiral side. The
umbilical side is subconical with partially fused pillars in
umbilical position. Numerous chambers in the last whorl
with thick septa. Rounded periphery ; wall calcareous,
thick and optically radial.
Distribution : middle-late Eocene (Le Calvez, 1949).
Subfamily Victoriellinae Chapman & Crespin, 1930
Genus Victoriella Chapman & Crespin, 1930
Type species : Carpenteria proteiformis Goës var. Plecte
Chapman, 1921= Carpenteria conoidea Rutten, 1914
Victoriella conoidea (Rutten, 1914)
Pl. II, fig. 6
1914. Carpenteria conoidea Rutten, p. pl. 7, figs. 6-9.
1921. Carpenteria proteiformis Goës var. Plecte Chapman, p.
320.
1955. Victoriella aquitanica Debourle & Delmas, p. 47, pl.
Ia, figs. 1-4.
1959. Victoriella conoidea (Rutten). – Glaessner & Wade,
p. 199, pl. 1, figs. 1-5, pl. 2, figs. 1-5, 7-10, pl. 3, fig. 3.
Material : 3 specimens from the sample PC8.
Description : conical test, trochospirally coiled. The
juvenile stage is low trochospirally coiled, in the adult
stage 3-4 globose chambers per whorl increasing rapidly
in size. Thick perforated wall, characterized by pustules
covering the adult stage.
Remarks : according to Glaessner & Wade (1959)
Victoriella plecte (Chapman) and V. aquitanica
Debourle & Delmas are fully synonymous of
V. conoidea (Fig. 7).
204
A. BENEDETTI
1905. Chapmania gassinensis Silvestri, p. 129-131.
2003. Chapmanina gassinensis (Silvestri, 1931). – Sirel, p.
305, pl. 8, fig. 17.
Fig. 7 : Lenght vs width scatter diagram of Victoriella species
(redrawn after Glaessner & Wade, 1959). Glaessner
& Wade (1959) suggest that V. “plecte” and V.
aquitanica are synonym of V. conoidea, whereas V.
abnormis has smaller bosses and pustules. Biometrical
data of two PC8 specimens fit very well with those of a
paratype of V. conoidea.
Superfamily Acervulinacea Schultze, 1854
Family Acervulinidae Schultze, 1854
Genus Sphaerogypsina Galloway, 1933
Type species : Ceriopora globulus Reuss, 1848
Sphaerogypsina globulus (Reuss, 1848)
Pl. II, fig. 8
1848. Ceriopora globulus Reuss, p. 33, pl. 5, fig. 7.
1945. Gypsina globula (Reuss). – Cushman & Todd, p. 105,
pl. 16, fig. 25.
1991. Sphaerogypsina globula (Reuss). – Cimerman & Langer, p. 72, pl. 80, figs. 6-9.
Material : many specimens from 8 samples in the section
PC.
Description : sessile form with a subspherical test with
hyaline, smooth and finely perforated wall.
Quadrangular flattened chamberlets arranged in
concentric regular layers ; the chamberlets of the last
whorls are alternated in radial direction.
Distribution : known from the Paleocene to Recent.
Superfamily Rotaliacea Ehrenberg, 1839
Family Chapmaninidae Thalmann, 1938
Genus Chapmanina Silvestri, 1931
Type species : Chapmania gassinensis Silvestri, 1905
Chapmanina gassinensis (Silvestri, 1905)
Pl. II, fig. 7
Material : some specimens and fragments from the
samples PC2 and PC4.
Description : conical test with weakly convexed base,
the maximum measured diameter is 1.56 mm and
the maximum height is about 1 mm. The proloculus
measures about 80 μm in diameter and the first chambers
are arranged in a very short and not visible trochoidal
initial coiling, followed by uniseral series of discoidal
chambers. For each chamber a peripheral row of
chamberlets occur. Wall test calcareous.
Distribution : Late Eocene to earliest Oligocene
(Cahuzac & Poignant, 1997). At Portella Colla C.
gassinensis occurs only in the upper Eocene and it was’nt
found associated with Nummulites vascus in the SBZ 21
assemblages.
Family Nummulitidae de Blainville, 1827
Genus Heterostegina d’Orbigny, 1826
Type species : Heterostegina depressa d’Orbigny, 1826
Heterostegina reticulata italica Herb, 1978
Pl. III, fig. 3 ; Text-fig. 8, fig. 1
1978. Heterostegina reticulata italica Herb, p. 759, figs. 27,30, 36, 38.
2008. Heterostegina reticulata italica Herb. – Less et al., p.
338, fig. 15D-K.
Material : 2 specimens from the sample PC2.
Description : thin test, planispiral involute coiling.
Relatively big embryo (d=0.18 mm) followed by one
single operculinid (undivided) chamber. Later chambers
are subdivided by septa generating subrectangular
chamberlets. Nine chamberlets occur in the 14th chamber
and the diameter of the first whorl reaches 1.13 mm.
Distribution : Priabonian (SBZ19-20) of Mossano,
Possagno (Italy) and Hungary (Herb, 1978 ; Less et al.,
2008).
Heterostegina sp.
Pl. III, fig. 4 ; Text-fig. 8, figs. 2-7
Material : 51 specimens isolated from the sample PC8
and rare specimens from other samples.
Description : thin and flattened test, planispirally coiled.
Small embryo (mean proloculus diameter=0.11 mm),
followed by 0-4 undivided (operculinid) chambers. In the
14th chamber 3-11 chamberlets are present (M=7.74).
Distribution : in association with N. vascus and N.
fichteli in the early Rupelian.
Biostratigraphic remarks on the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene)
Genus Nummulites Lamarck, 1801
Type species : Camerina laevigata Bruguière, 1792
Nummulites fichteli Michelotti, 1841
Pl. III, fig. 6, Text-fig. 8, figs. 15-16
1841. Nummulites fichteli Michelotti, p. 44, pl. 3, fig. 7.
1848. Nummulites garanciana Joly & Leymerie, p. 38, 66,
67, 70, pl. 1, figs. 9-12, pl. 2, fig. 8.
1850. Nummulites intermedia d’Archiac, p. 416, pl. 9, figs.
23, 24.
1853. Nummulites fichteli Michelotti. – d’Archiac & Haime,
p. 99, pl. 3, figs. 5a.
1853. Nummulites garancianus Joly & Leymerie. –
d’Archiac & Haime, p. 101, pl. 3, figs. 6a, 7a-g.
1909. Bruguieria intermedia A. [Bruguieria fichteli
(Michelotti)]. – Silvestri, p. 643-650, pl. 21, fig. 9,
13, 14, 15, 16.
1911. Nummulites fichteli Michelotti. – Checchia-Rispoli,
p. 295-296, pl. 1, fig. 5-9. (A) (cum syn., partim) (B)
1911. Nummulites intermedia d’Archiac. – ChecchiaRispoli, p. 296-297, pl. 1, fig. 5-9.
1970. Nummulites fichteli Michelotti. – Roveda, p. 245,
figs. 1-19, pl. 22, figs. 1, 2.
1981. Nummulites fichteli Michelotti. – Schaub, p. 128, pl.
50, figs. 5-18 ; tb. 15, k, l.
2003. Nummulites fichteli Michelotti. – Sirel, p. 291-292,
pl. II, figs. 12-19.
Material : two megalospheric specimens in equatorial
section from the sample PC8 ; some others subaxial
specimens from thin sectioned samples.
Description : small and lenticular test, circular in outline.
Smooth surface with a slight bulge in the periphery,
in proximity of the marginal cord (“lama trasversa” of
Roveda, 1970).
N. fichteli is a reticulate form, characterized by superficial
grid formed by the intersection of primary septal
filaments.
A circular protoconch embraced by a deuteroconch
halfmoon shaped. Septa are straight or weakly bent,
bending few degree respect to the vertical. The chambers
are larger than high. The chamber wall is thinner than the
test wall.
Distribution : SBZ 21-SBZ 22B (Cahuzac &
Poignant, 1997 ; Sirel, 2003).
Nummulites ex gr. incrassatus de la Harpe, 1883
Pl. III, fig. 5 ; Text-fig. 8, fig. 8
1883. Nummulites vasca var. incrassatus de la Harpe, p. 140,
pl. 7, figs. 27, 28.
1995. Nummulites incrassatus de la Harpe. – Papazzoni &
Sirotti, pl. 2, figs. 2-3.
2003. Nummulites incrassatus de la Harpe. – Sirel, p. 290,
pl. 1, figs. 20-22.
Material : rare megalosphaeric specimens from the
sample PC4.
205
Description : small bulged test, with acute margin. The
thickness/diameter ratio is about 1/3. The subsphaeric
embryo of the form A is followed by subrectangular
chambers formed by thin septa.
Distribution : Late Eocene, SBZ18-20 of Serra-Kiel et
al. (1998).
Nummulites vascus Joly & Leymerie, 1848
Pl. III, fig. 7 ; Text-fig. 8, figs. 9-10
1848. Nummulites Vasca nobis, Joly & Leymerie, p. 171,
186, 215, 217 ; pl. 1, fig. 15-17 ; pl. 2, fig. 7.
1853. Nummulites vascus Joly et Leym. – d’Archiac &
Haime, p. 145 ; pl. 11, fig. 11 a-d, 12.
1879. Nummulites vascus J. & L. – de la Harpe, p. 9 ; pl. 1,
fig. 3 : 1-3. (B)
1879. Nummulites Boucheri de la Harpe, p. 10 ; pl. 1, fig. 4 :
1-10.(A)
1883. Nummulites Boucheri de la Harpe. – de la Harpe, p.
179 ; pl. 7, fig. 33-46 non fig. 47-59. (A)
1888. Nummulites variabilis Tellini, p. 183 ; pl. 7, fig. 7a-c.
(A)
1907. Paronaea Boucheri de la Harpe var. variabilis (Tellini). – Parisch, p. 81, pl. 1, fig. 36-40. (A)
1909. Paronaea vasca (Joly & Leymerie). – Silvestri, p.
613-630 ; pl. 21, fig. 1-7. (B) (cum syn., partim).
1911. Nummulites vasca Joly et Leymerie. – Checchia Rispoli, p. 291, pl. I, fig. 3-4. (B) (cum syn., partim).
1911. Nummulites Boucheri de la Harpe. – Checchia Rispoli, p. 292- 293, pl. I, fig. 11-19 (A e B).
1981. Nummulites vascus Joly & Leymerie. – Schaub, p.
123- 124 ; pl. 53, fig. 1-6 ; tabl. 15, fig. e. (cum syn.)
2003. Nummulites vascus Joly & Leymerie. – Sirel, p. 292,
pl. II, figs. 4, 5. (cum syn.)
Material : some megalosphaeric free tests from the
samples PC8 and MM3. Several subequatorial and
subaxial sections from 9 samples. A and B forms from
the sample PC8.
Description : Form A : lenticular, biconvex test with
acute periphery ; the diameter of the test ranges from
1.9 to 3.2 mm, the thickness varies from 0.9 to 1.1. The
septal filaments, where visible, are weakly sinusoidal.
Large embryo, protoconch (d=0.18-0.27 mm) and
deuteroconch have a similar size. Spiral growth regular ;
thin septa are backwards-curved forming subrectangular
chambers.
Form B : large lenticular, biconvex test (thickness=1.43
mm ; d=3.72 mm). The internal and external features are
similar to those of the megalospheric generation.
Distribution : known in literature for the whole
Oligocene (Cahuzac & Poignant, 1997) ; at Portella Colla
the FO of N. vascus marks the early Rupelian and is not
present in the Nephrolepidina assemblages.
Genus Operculina d’Orbigny, 1826
Type species : Lenticulites complanatus Defrance,
1822
206
A. BENEDETTI
Fig. 8 : 1. Heterostegina reticulata italica, PC02_He01 ; 2-7. Heterostegina sp. (2. PC08_He28 ; 3. PC08_He18 ; 4. PC08_He55 ; 5.
PC08_He24 ; 6. PC08_He57 ; 7. PC08_He53) ; 8. Nummulites ex. gr. incrassatus, PC4 ; 9-10. Nummulites vascus, PC8 ; 11-14.
Operculina complanata (11. PC08_Op04 ; 12. PC08_H43 ; 13. PC08_H39 ; 14. PC08_Op03) ; 15-16. Nummulites fichteli, PC8.
Scale bar=0.5 mm.
Biostratigraphic remarks on the Caltavuturo Formation (Eocene-Oligocene)
Operculina complanata (Defrance, 1822)
Pl. III, fig. 2 ; Text-fig. 8, figs. 11-14
1822. Lenticulites complanatus Defrance, p. 453
1826. Operculina complanata d’Orbigny, p. 281, pl. 14, figs.
7-10.
1977. Planoperculina complanata (Defrance). – Hottinger,
p. 101, tavv. 39-40, no fig. 41. (cum syn., partim)
2003. Operculina complanata Defrance. – Sirel, pl. 3, figs.
1-9.
Material : 9 isolated specimens from the sample PC8,
some specimens from the samples PC9, PC10, PC14,
MM3 and MM4.
Description : test flattened with planispiral evolute
coiling, oval in outline, with a bulged umbo in
correspondance of the embryo in excentric position. The
protoconch diameter ranges from 54 to 132 μm (M=82),
the diameter of the first whorl from 0.33 to 0.69 mm
(M=0.49 mm). The chambers are undivided and are 7-9
in the first whorl, 19-27 in the second whorl. At the base
of the latest chambers the septal flaps create some folds
generating protosepta.
Distribution : from SBZ 21 to SBZ 26 according to
Cahuzac & Poignant (1997) ; at Portella Colla rarely
occurs in the Early Rupelian assemblages.
Family Discocyclinidae Galloway, 1928
Genus Discocyclina Gümbel, 1870
Type species : Orbitolites prattii Michelin, 1846
Discocyclina dispansa dispansa (Sowerby, 1840)
Pl. IV, fig. 1
1840. Lycophris dispansus Sowerby, p. 327, pl. 24, fig.
16a-b.
1987. Discocyclina dispansa dispansa (Sowerby). – Less, p.
163, pl. 13, figs. 9, 12, pl. 14, figs. 3, 6.
Material : one megalosphaeric specimens from the
sample PC4.
Description : semi-nephrolepidine to trybliolepidine
type embryo (d=499 µm), with rectangular and elongated
“archiaci” type equatorial chamberlets sensu Less
(1987).
Distribution : SBZ 19 (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998).
Family Orbitoclypeidae Brönnimann, 1945
Genus Orbitoclypeus Silvestri, 1907
Type species : Orbitoclypeus himerensis Silvestri, 1907
Orbitoclypeus varians (Kaufmann, 1867)
Pl. IV, fig. 3
1867. Orbitoides varians Kaufmann, p. 158, pl. 10, figs. 1-10.
2007. Orbitoclypeus varians Kaufmann. – Özcan et al., p.
207
504, pl. 2, figs. 12, 14, 19 ; pl. 3, fig. 15, pl. 5, figs. 7-8,
text-fig. 15.
Material : one specimen from sample PC4.
Description : small size eulepidine-like embryo ;
“varians” type equatorial chamberlets sensu Less (1987),
“marthae” type rosette (Less, 1987).
Distribution : Late Eocene (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998).
Family Lepidocyclinidae Scheffen, 1932
Genus Nephrolepidina Douvillé, 1911
Type species : Nummulites marginata Michelotti, 1841
Nephrolepidina praemarginata (Douvillé, 1908)
Pl. IV, figs. 5-6 ; Text-fig. 9, figs. 1-4
1908. Lepidocyclina praemarginata Douvillé, p. 91-92, figs.
1, 2, 4a.
Material : 176 equatorially sectioned megalospheric
specimens from 8 samples and several others specimens
axially and subaxially sectioned.
Description : test lenticular with a diameter ranging
from 0.2 to 0.5 mm and thickness from 0.05 to 0.2 mm.
The embryonic apparatus consists of a large circular
protoconch (d=181-586 μm) and a reniform deuteroconch
(d=211-789 μm) embracing the protoconch. Two
auxiliary chambers are directly on contact with the
two embryonic chambers. The number of adauxiliary
chambers on the deuteroconch varies from 1 to 4. The
grade of enclosure of the deuteroconch on the protoconch
(parameter A of Van der Vlerk, 1959) ranges from 27
to 41 % (mean=33-36 %). The equatorial chamberlets are
rhombic or ogival with a very short common wall length.
Distribution : the FO of N. praemarginata marks the
Late Rupelian (SBZ22 A of Cahuzac & Poignant,
1997).
Genus Eulepidina Douvillé, 1911
Type species : Orbitoides dilatata Michelotti, 1861
Eulepidina formosoides Douvillé, 1925
Pl. IV, figs. 7-8 ; Text-fig. 9, figs. 5-9
1925. Lepidocyclina (Eulepidina) formosoides Douvillé, p.
71, pl. 3, figs. 2-4.
Material : 8 megalosphaeric specimens from 8 samples.
Description : lenticular test with a bulged umbo in
correspondence of the large embryo consisting of a
subsphaeric protoconch (d=430-895 μm) and very large
deuteroconch (600-978 μm). The grade of enclosure
varies from 56 % to 72 %. The equatorial chamberlets are
arcuate in outline.
Distribution : SBZ22 A (Cahuzac & Poignant, 1997).
208
A. BENEDETTI
Fig. 9 : 1-4. Nephrolepidina praemarginata (1. Ps0_N13 ; 2. Ps0_N24 ; 3. PC060620_N11 ; 4. PC0_15) ; 5-9. Eulepidina formosoides
(5. PC16_eu02 ; 6. PC16_eu06 ; 7. PCs0_Eu01 ; 8. PCs0_Eu02 ; 9. PC17_eu01). Scale bar=0.5 mm.
Plate I
Fig. 1 :Palorbitolina sp., sample MM00 ;
Fig. 2 :Trocholina aff. alpina, PC060600 ;
Fig. 3 :Borelis vonderschmitti, PC2 ;
Fig. 4 :Borelis vonderschmitti, PC4 ;
Fig. 5 :Borelis pygmaea, PC8 ;
Fig. 6 :Borelis inflata, PC9 ;
Fig. 7 :Praearchaias sp., PC9 ;
Fig. 8 :Praearchaias sp., PC10.
Scale bar=0.5 mm.
Plate I
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
210
A. BENEDETTI
Remarks : Montanari (1980) reported E. formosoides
as a junior synonym of E. raulini Lemoine & Douvillé,
1904, differing only from the marked ornamentation of
E. formosoides.
Douvillé (1924) suggested that E. formosoides has an
evident smaller embryo in respect to E. raulini.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
The displaced larger foraminifera tests occurring in some
turbiditic layers into the clays of the Caltavuturo Fm,
provide the opportunity to furnish the biostratigraphical
pattern of an investigated outcrop at Portella Colla
(Madonie Mts., Sicily).
The occurrence of larger foraminifera is due to the
frequence of the turbiditic events and so the lack of
turbiditic layers at the base of the investigated sections
prevents a detailed biostratigraphic resolution of the Late
Eocene.
According to the zonation proposed by Cahuzac &
Poignant (1997) and Serra-Kiel et al. (1998) three
biozones were surely recognized in the Caltavuturo Fm.
clays : Borelis vonderschmitti, Discocyclina dispansa
dispansa, Orbitoclypeus varians, Halkyardia minima
and Heterostegina reticulata italica assemblage marks
the SBZ 19, no SBZ 20 markers were found for the
uppermost Priabonian. The lower Rupelian (SBZ 21)
assemblages are dominated by Nummulites vascus with
N. fichteli, Operculina complanata, Heterostegina sp.,
Halkyardia maxima, whereas the FO of Nephrolepidina
praemarginata marks the upper Rupelian (SBZ 22A).
A detailed biometrical investigation on Nephrolepidina
populations from the investigated sections is still in
progress with the aim to implement the biostratigraphic
resolution of the Late Rupelian sediments (Benedetti &
Pignatti, in prep).
The imbrication of the Nephrolepidina tests points out on
the N-S paleodirection of the flows, but it’s impossible
recognize the origin of these flows.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is an extract of the results reported in my
Ph.D. thesis at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”
on “Agglutinated foraminifera and larger foraminifera
from the Eocene-Oligocene of northern Sicily”. Thanks
are due to my supervisors Prof. Johannes Pignatti and
Prof. Ruggero Matteucci. The material was collected
under the support of Prof. Pietro Di Stefano (University
of Palermo) and the Regional Park of Madonie.
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Plate IV
Fig. 1 : Discocyclina dispansa dispansa, PC4 ;
Fig. 2 : Discocyclina sp., PC4 ;
Fig. 3 : Orbitoclypeus varians, PC4 ;
Fig. 4 : Orbitoclypeus sp., PC4 ;
Fig. 5 : Nephrolepidina praemarginata, PC17 ;
Fig. 6 : Twin embryos in N. praemarginata, MM13 ;
Fig. 7 : Eulepidina formosoides, MM9_eul06 ;
Fig. 8 : E. formosoides, MM9_eul04.
Scale bar=0.5 mm.
Plate IV
1
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3
4
5
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216
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Accepté avril 2010