Rudist biostratigraphy in the Campanian-Maastrichtian of the south-central Pyrenees, Spain

Abstract

The Campanian-Maastrichtian shallow-marine strata of the south-central Pyrenees include eight calcarenite horizons, interstratified within thick siliciclastic deposits, that contain characteristic rudist associations. From older to younger, they are listed below. 1 - Hippurites lamarcki horizon 2 - Rudist-free horizon 3 - Hippurites radiosus horizon 4 - Radiolitella pulchella horizon 5 - Hippuritella castroi lower horizon 6 - Hippuritella castroi sensu stricto horizon 7 - Biradiolites moroi horizon 8 - Biradiolites chaperi horizon The recognition of these horizons within the basin has proven to be useful to resolve classical problems of correlation, and has provided a local rudist biostratigraphic scale, which has been calibrated by means of planktonic foraminifera, that are present in equivalent basinal rocks. In this work, we provide a detailed description of the rudist-bearing horizons and their rudist faunas.