91447 - APPLICAZIONI MICROPALEONTOLOGICHE ALLA STRATIGRAFIA E PALEOCLIMATOLOGIA

Learning outcomes

This course provides the basis to understand 1) the distribution of organisms at a geologic time scale; 2) the evolutionary trends of selected taxa useful for dating sedimentary successions; 3) the integrated biostratigraphy and its applications; 4) the suitable group of fossils for biostratigraphic studies in relation with the Chronostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of a sedimentary succession. With the field work, the student will be able to measure and sample a sedimentary succession for biostratigraphic analysis. With laboratory work, the students will be able to provide biostratigraphic analysis (foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils) of Neogene and Quaternary units, with details on paleoclimate, and with a lower resolution, also within Cretaceous and Paleogene successions.

Course contents

Microfossils in stratigraphic analysis and biostratigraphic methods. Sampling and laboratory methods for biostratigraphic studies. Biostratigraphic resolution, integrated biostratigraphy, quantitative biostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy. Neogene and Quaternary foraminiferal and nannofossil biostratigraphy. Overview on Cretaceous and Paleogene biostratigraphy. Biostratigraphy in geological mapping and relationships with other stratigraphic units. Latitudinal range of planktonic foraminifera species. Paleoclimatic reconstruction of a sedimentary succession and relationships with oxygen isotope stratigraphy. Micropaleontologic proxies for paleoclimate, sea-level change and paleoenvironment with details on Quaternary sedimentary successions.

Module 2: Theoretical contents: Nannoplankton and calcareous nannofossils: taxonomy and biostratigraphy. Calcareous nannoplankton and nannofossils as tools for palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Deep marine sediments and calcareous nannofossils in the study of climatic variations.

Practical contents: Preparation of smear-slides for the analysis of calcareous nannoplankton and nannofossils. Preparation from ooze. Observations and recognition using the optical microscope. Sample preparation for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Observations and recognition using SEM and microanalysis (SEM-EDX).

Readings/Bibliography

Pdf files and printed plates provided by the teacher

Teaching methods

Theory lessons, microscope laboratory and possibly field laboratory

Assessment methods

 

Module 1: The final test includes both laboratory and theory examinations

The laboratory test consists in the foraminiferal analyses of a sample from a sedimentary succession and includes the picking of biostratigraphic markers, the recognition of the biostratigraphic zone and paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental details.

The theory examination consists in an oral test in order to evaluate the learning of the main topics explained during the lessons.

Module 2: The exam will consist of a written test. Eligibility for module 2 is a pre-requsite for taking the final exam.

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations and microscopes

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Claudio Vaiani

See the website of Barbara Cavalazzi