REFINED AMMONOID BIOCHRONOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE BAGOLINO SECTION (LOMBARDIAN ALPS, ITALY), GSSP CANDIDATE FOR THE BASE OF THE LADINIAN STAGE

A refined ammonoid biostratigraphy is reported for a critical interrval of the Bagolino section (Giudicarie Area, Northern Iraly), a candidate for the Anisian/Ladinian stage boundary. The Avisianum Subzone has been documented, and its boundary with the Crassus Subzone has been redefined, on the basis of new findings of Reitziites reitzi, Aplococeras aff. smithi, Aplococeras avisianum, Halilucites rusticus, Parasturia sp. and other significant ammonoids. Six potential criteria for the definition of the Anisian/Ladinian boundary can now be considered in this single stratigraphic section, so that the FO of Eoprotrachyceras curionii is no longer the unescapable choice at Bagolino. Despite several drawbacks, including the absence of palynomorphs and daonellid bivalves, the thermal history preventing the recovery of magnetic and isotopic signals, and a lower sedimentation rate with respect to many other sections of the Southern Alps, the Bagolino section is here accepted as stratotype for the Anisian/Ladinian boundary, but further paleontological and sedimentological studies should be considered