Workshop
Ferrara, June 16th-17th, 2003
The theme of this international workshop focuses on Oligo-Miocene carbonate successions and includes aspects of marine benthic communities, facies analysis, palaeoecological interpretations, carbonate platform architecture, palaeogeography and palaeoclimatologic settings. The workshop is aimed at encouraging the scientific exchange of ideas and to generate new research initiatives. We aim towards an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to all aspects of carbonates and their components. There is no taxonomic or geographic restriction to potential contributions. All levels of approach are to be considered ranging from the detailed analyses of component morphology, the diversity of assemblages and organism interaction to the evolution of benthic communities.
The Oligo-Miocene is characterised by a number of important changes influencing carbonate-producing biota and the architecture of carbonate platforms. These include (a) the continuing evolution and extinction of specific biota which contribute to carbonate sediments; (b) dramatic changes in palaeogeography related to plate tectonic movements and sea level changes; and (c) a complex climatic history with a stepwise transition toward cooler climates following the onset of glaciation in the Southern Hemisphere. Oligo-Miocene carbonate facies are dominated by a wide range of different biogenic components including calcareous algae, larger foraminifera, corals, molluscs and bryozoans. Recent interpretations of corresponding facies patterns have discussed various aspects of component interactions, depositional environments, shelf and ramp geometries, nutrient regimes and climate control.
Different aspects of Oligo-Miocene carbonates are presented in five keynote lectures.
Juan C. Braga (University of Granada, Spain)
Lukas Hottinger (Natural History Museum, Basle, Switzerland)
James H. Nebelsick (University of Tübingen, Germany)
Werner E. Piller (University of Graz, Austria)
Lucia Simone (University of Neaples Federico II, Italy)
The Abstract book has been published in the Annali dell'Università. Reference:
D. Bassi (Ed.) (2003), Oligo-Miocene shallow water carbonates: biogenic components and facies. Annali dell'Università di Ferrara, sezione Scienze della Terra, vol. 10 supplement., pp. 1-24.