The reefal margin and slope of a Middle Triassic carbonate platform:: the Latemar (Dolomites, Italy)

The Latemar is a mainly aggrading platform, but shows repeated backstepping during its entire development. The behaviour of the slope does not reflect accommodation changes and lateral consistencies of the lagoonal interior; the Latemar contemporaneously reveals different, even contrasting depositional characteristics. The slope of the late stage platform evolution corresponds at least partially to the "base-of-slope apron" model. Controlling factors on slope evolution are of tectonic (proximity of the Stava Line) and autocyclic (repeated oversteepening) nature. Other factors are insignificant and/or overprinted. The reef-facies at Latemar reveals a complex facies pattern; it varies along and across the margin and is rich in encrusting sponges, corals, biogenic crusts and "Microproblematica". Some biota or fossil assemblages-e.g. foraminifers (Abriolina mediterranea, Turriglomina scandonei) or "Tubiphytes" multisiphonatus thrombolites-have not been described in the Dolomites before. Biostratigraphic evidence from the uppermost reef-facies confirms a mainly Anisian age of the outcropping platform interior.