Chronostratigraphy of Campanian-Maastrichtian platform carbonates and rudist associations of Salento (Apulia, Italy)

Late Cretaceous platform carbonates from the Salento peninsula (south Italy) were studied by strontium-isotope stratigraphy to improve their chronostratigraphy. Forty-three samples from nine localities were collected and the numerical ages were derived from fifteen geochemically well-preserved samples of rudist shells that were analyzed for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values. Strontium isotope stratigraphy yielded new ages for the base of the Ciolo Limestone. The oldest successions studied in Salento are 85.9 Ma (+/- 0.6) and assigned to the Melissano Limestone. The youngest Cretaceous limestones observed at the Ciolo Limestone type locality (Ciolo cove) are 66.4 Ma (+/- 1.5), and the base of this formation is older than 72.8 Ma (+/- 0.4). Karstic cavities observed at the Cava Cocumola in the mid-Campanian S. Cesarea Limestone are tentatively interpreted to be linked to an intra-Campanian event which is related to a sea-level lowstand inferred also on the island of Brač (Adriatic coast of Croatia) and in the Boreal realm at 75-77 Ma. A new large recumbent rudist similar to Sabinia and Pseudosabinia is observed in the Ciolo and S. Cesarea Limestone and appears to be characteristic of the Apulian platform carbonates. Rudist associations from the S. Cesarea Limestone and the overlying Ciolo Limestone are remarkably similar, although they range over a time interval of more than 12 Ma.