Multielement taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and paleoecology of late Triassic conodonts from the Mamonia Complex, southwestern Cyprus

Ryley, C. Christopher (Charles Christopher) (1987) Multielement taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and paleoecology of late Triassic conodonts from the Mamonia Complex, southwestern Cyprus. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The Mamonia Complex, situated in the southwest of Cyprus, is an allochthonous assemblage composed of Triassic to Cretaceous sediments, Triassic mafics, and subordinate metamorphics, which have been juxtaposed against the Troodos Complex (an ophiolite suite). The Complex has been subdivided into two groups: the Ayios Photios Group, a wholly sedimentary assemblage recording continental margin sedimentation, and the Dhiarizos Group, a predominantly igneous assemblage recording continental margin volcanism and associated sedimentation. -- The Triassic strata of the Ayios Photios Group has been further subdivided into the following formations: the Vlambouros Formation, representing a transition from shallow- to deep-water flysch sedimentation within a subsiding basin, and the Marona Formation, characterized by pelagic limestones deposited along portions of the margin not receiving clastic sediments. Likewise, the Dhiarizos Group contains the following Triassic sedimentary units: the Petra ton Romiou Formation, representing reef and shelf sedimentation, and the "Kholetria Member", characterized by limestones occupying interstitial regions within associated submarine volcanics. The sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Mamonia Complex record the Early Mesozoic construction, and subsequent Late Cretaceous destruction, of a passive continental margin. -- All four of the Triassic sedimentary units of the Mamonia Complex yielded conodonts. Forty-seven of the ninety-eight processed samples yielded in excess of 4700 conodonts. Multielement taxonomic study of these specimens has allowed the recognition of thirty species. Five multielement genera (Chirodella, Cornudina, Cypridodella, Misikella, and Neogondolella) are revised on the basis of their multielement nature. The genus Misikella contains only one recognized species, Misikella longidentata; all other species previously referred to Misikella are now assigned to the new (unnamed) multielement genus New Genus A. Two other new unnamed genera are described. -- Four Late Triassic conodont zones are recognized: the Neogondolella communisti morphotype A Zone (tentatively), and the Epigondolella abneptis. Epigondolella spatulata, and Upper Bidentata assemblage zones; suggestive of latest Carnian to late Norian age. The distribution of conodonts in the three recognized depositional environments suggests that at least some Late Triassic conodonts were nektic in habit. -- (KEY WORDS: Conodonta; Triassic; Norian; Cyprus; Mamonia Complex; Multielement Taxonomy; Biostratigraphy; Paleoecology)

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