Calcareous nannofossil, ostracode and foraminifera biostratigraphy of Plio-Pleistocene deposits, Rhodes (Greece), with a correlation to the Vrica section (Italy)

Abstract

The Kalithea Bay section is situated on the southeastern coast of the island of Rhodes. The section comprises a sedimentary sequence ranging from brackish water gravel and nearshore sand to deep-water clay. The brackish water and nearshore deposits are assigned to the Kritika Formation, while the deep-water deposits are assigned to the Lindos Bay clay. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy shows that the age of the marine sequence is Early Pleistocene. The brackish water sediments cannot be dated with any degree of certainty. The marine deposits are rich in ostracodes and foraminifera and several species have been recognized, which previously have been used as biostratigraphic markers in the Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Rhodes. Biostratigraphic correlation between the Kalithea Bay section and the Plio-Pleistocene boundary stratotype at Vrica, southern Italy, shows that the ostracodes and foraminifera events generally are diachronous relative to the calcareous nannofossil events. The only exception is the first occurrence of the benthic foraminifera Hyalinea balthica. As calcareous nannofossil events are thought to be virtually synchronous within the Mediterranean region, it is concluded that the diachroneity is due to a relative delay in the appearance of ostracodes and foraminifera at Kalithea, caused by differences in the palaeobathymetric settings between the two sites.

Tectonic and climatic controls on coastal sedimentation: The Late Pliocene–Middle Pleistocene of northeastern Rhodes, Greece

“…Some authors have assumed that the top of the Kritika Formation was eroded before deposition of the Rhodes Formation (Hanken et al, 1996;Hansen, 1999); however, this was not documented by Thomsen et al (2001) in the Faliraki section that we also studied.…”

“…It has been considered as Late Pliocene on the basis of ostracode (Sissingh, 1972) and sporomorph associations (Benda et al, 1977); however, Drivaliari (1993) established that these have no reliable chronological significance. On the basis of calcareous nannofossils, foraminifers and ostracods, Thomsen et al (2001) established an Early Pleistocene age for its marine strata.…”

“…The calibration of the palaeomagnetic interpretation of Løvlie et al (1989) was based on: (1) the presence in the lowermost part of the clays of a thin reddish bed interpreted as a volcanic ash, which was correlated with the Pliocene volcanism of central Aegean; and (2) the first occurrence of the Pleistocene benthic foraminifer H. balthica found at 5.38 m above the ash bed. Thomsen et al (2001) proposed an Early Pleistocene age (from 1.6 to 1.0 Ma) for the Lindos Bay clay in the Faliraki section. (4) St. PaulTs Bay limestone.…”

“…The Faliraki section is exposed along the road adjacent to Faliraki Beach (Ferry et al, 2001;Thomsen et al, 2001;Lavoyer, 2004). At the base are brackish clay and sand beds typical of the Kritika Member ( Fig.…”

Pliocene Brachiopods From Rhodes Island (Cape Vagia Section)

“…The Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary was positioned within the Lindos Bay clay (Keraudren 1970, Sissingh 1972, Benda et al 1977, Lovlie et al 1989, Hanken et al 1996. Thomsen et al (2001) assigned an Early Pleistocene age to the whole marine sequence. Cornée et al (2006a-b) established that these three formations range from Late Pliocene (Kritika to base of the Lindos Bay clay) to Middle Pleistocene in age.…”