EARLIEST ARTINSKIAN (EARLY PERMIAN) FUSULINIDS REWORKED IN THE TRIASSIC LERCARA FORMATION (NW SICILY)

The Permian limestone boulders reworked in the Triassic Lercara Formation (NW Sicily) contain carbonate microfossils consisting of algae, smaller foraminifers and fusulinids. The following fusulinids are described: Quasificsulina ultima Kanmera, Robustoschwagerina cf, R, schellwieni (Hanzawa), Chalaroschwagerina (?) globosa (Schellwien). The group of Chalaroschwagerina (?) vulgaris (Schellwien) is emended. Based on this fusulinid assemblage, the limestone boulders of Lercara are age-dated as early Yakhtashian; i.e,, earliest Artinskian (circa -280 to -275 Ma). Therefore at least two distinct olistostromes are present in Sicily: the post-Yakhtashian olistostrome studied here, and the second one post-Dorashamian in age. Similar assemblages do not occur in adjacent European areas (Camic Alps, Montenegro or Greece), but they have been recorded in Darvas (North Pamir) and Japan, revealing constant paleoecological conditions throughout the Paleotethys