Biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of Uppermost Carboniferous/Lower Permian sediments in the Southern Alps: Fusulinoidean and condont faunas from the Carnic Alps (Austria/Italy), Karavanke Mountains (Slovenia), and Southern Urals (Russia)

In order to establish a refined biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of the Uppermost Carboniferous/Lower Permian deposits of the Southern Alps (Carnic Alps, Karavanke Mountains; Austria/Italy/Slovenia), two major microfossil groups (fusulinoideans, conodonts) were investigated within the same sample. The fusulinoidean species diversity (71 species, including five new species and three new subspecies) and generic composition were reviewed and complemented. Additionally, the data on fusulinoidean assemblages were supplemented by co-occurring conodont faunas (seven species). Accompanying studies on material from the type sections of the Southern Urals (Russia) were made to improve the biostratigraphic correlation with the Russian standard zonation and to discuss paleobiogeographical aspects of the faunal associations. An integrated microfacies analysis of the sampled material in the Southern Alps serves to evaluate the relationships between certain genera and specific microfacies types. The fusulinoidean fauna of the Lower "Pseudoschwagerina" Limestone is of late Gzhelian age. The Carboniferous/Permian boundary is close to the base of the Grenzland Formation, which covers the entire Asselian and a part of the Sakmarian. The Upper "Pseudoschwagerina" Limestone and Trogkofel Limestone are Lake Sakmarian to Artinskian. The studies sequences in the Karavanke Mountains. formerly known as "carbonate and clastic Trogkofel beds", correlate to the Lower "Pseudoschwagerina" Limestone, respectively with parts of the Grenzland Formation. Due to the lithologic differences, new formation names (Dolzanova Soteska Fm., Born Fm.) were introduced for the so-called "Trogkofel" Limestone along the Dolzanova Soteska. Whereas late Gzhelian/Asselian fusulinoidean faunas of the Southern Alps correspond to the Southern Uralian faunas to a large extent, Sakmarian and Artinskian faunas reveal an increasing divergence in species and genus composition. Climatic as well as geographic barriers may have prevennted the dispersal of Paleotethyan taxa into the Southern Urals. Biostratigraphic correlation of Sakmarian to Artinskian deposits is therefore possible only on the basis of the sparse conodont faunas.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]