Les bassins sédimentaires se développent souvent le long des zones internes d'anciennes chaînes orogéniques. Nous considérons dans ce projet la Péninsule Malaise (Marge Ouest de la Sonde) comme un haut crustal séparant deux régions de croûte continentale étirée ; les bassins d'Andaman/Malacca du côté occidental et les bassins thaïlandais/malais à l'est. Plusieurs stades de rifting ont été documentés grâce à une intense exploration géophysique régionale. Cependant, la corrélation entre les bassins riftés en mer et le noyau continental terrestre est mal connue. Dans ce mémoire, nous explorons par la cartographie, de missions de terrain et les données sismiques, comment ces structures réactivent des hétérogénéités mésozoïques crustales préexistantes. Le noyau continental semble être relativement peu déformé après l'orogénèse triasique Indosinienne. L’épais méga-horst crustal est bordé par des zones de cisaillement complexes (zones de failles de Ranong, Klong Marui et du Batholithe du Main Range) initiées au Crétacé Supérieur/Paléogène inférieur lors d’une déformation transpressive d’échelle crustale et plus tard réactivées à la fin du Paléogène. L'extension est localisée sur les bords de cette épine dorsale crustale le long d'une bande où la précédente déformation crétacée supérieure est bien exprimée. À l'ouest, le plateau continental est aminci en trois étapes principales qui correspondent à des blocs basculés d’échelle crustale bordés par de larges failles contre-régionales profondément enracinées (Bassin de Mergui). À l'est, des systèmes de rifts prononcés sont également présents, avec de grands blocs basculés (les bassins western Thai, de Songkhla et de Chumphon) qui pourraient représenter de grands boudins de croûte. Dans le domaine central, l'extension est limitée à de demi-grabens étroits isolés de direction N-S développés sur une croûte continentale épaisse, et contrôlés par failles normales pelliculaires, qui se développent souvent au contact entre les granitoïdes et l’encaissant. Les bords extérieurs des régions affectées par le boudinage crustal délimitent le bassin d'Andaman plus grand et profond à l'ouest et les bassins Malais et de Pattani à l'est. À une échelle régionale, les bassins riftés ressemblent à des structures en-échelon N-S le long de grandes bandes de cisaillement de NW-SE. Le rifting est accommodé par de larges failles normales à faible pendage (LANF : Low Angle Normal Faults) réactivant les morpho-structures de la croûte telles que de larges plis et batholithes mésozoïques. Les bassins profonds d'Andaman, Malais et de Pattani semblent situés sur une croûte à rhéologie plus faible qui pourrait être héritée des blocs continentaux dérivés du Gondwana (Birmanie, Sibumasu, et Indochine). L'ensemble des long bassins étroits au coeur de la région (bassins de Khien SA, de Krabi, et du Malacca) apparaissent avoir souffert de relativement peu d'extension. Ce travail montre que le cœur de l’orogène Crétacé supérieure est faiblement réactivé avec seulement quelques traces d’un étirement précoce par rapport aux bords qui sont sujets à un amincissement crustal en larges blocs basculés. A mesure que la déformation augmente, le rifting migre et se localise vers les zones externes et sa géométrie apparait plus « molle » suggérant un mécanisme influencé par la thermique. La coexistence de ces deux géométries au sein d’un même cycle de rifting fait de la marge Ouest de la sonde un cas d’étude édifiant. / Sedimentary basins often develop above internal zones of former orogenic belts. We hereafter consider the Malay Peninsula (Western Sunda) as a crustal high separating two regions of stretched continental crust; the Andaman/Malacca basins in the western side and the Thai/Malay basins in the east. Several stages of rifting have been documented thanks to extensive geophysical exploration. However, little is known on the correlation between offshore rifted basins and the onshore continental core. In this paper, we explore through mapping and seismic data, how these structures reactivate pre-existing Mesozoic basement heterogeneities. The continental core appears to be relatively undeformed after the Triassic Indosinian orogeny. The thick crustal mega-horst is bounded by complex shear zones (Ranong, Klong Marui and Main Range Batholith Fault Zones) inititiated during the Late Cretaceous/Early Paleogene during a thick-skin transpressional deformation and later reactivated in the Late Paleogene. The extension is localized on the sides of this crustal backbone along a strip where earlier Late Cretaceous deformation is well expressed. To the west, the continental shelf is underlain by three major crustal steps which correspond to wide crustal-scale tilted blocks bounded by deep rooted counter regional normal faults (Mergui Basin). To the east, some pronounced rift systems are also present, with large tilted blocks (Western Thai, Songkhla and Chumphon basins) which may reflect large crustal boudins. In the central domain, the extension is limited to isolated narrow N-S half grabens developed on a thick continental crust, controlled by shallow rooted normal faults, which develop often at the contact between granitoids and the host-rocks. The outer limits of the areas affected by the crustal boudinage mark the boundary toward the large and deeper Andaman basin in the west and the Malay and Pattani basins in the east. At a regional scale, the rifted basins resemble N-S en-echelon structures along large NW-SE shear bands. The rifting is accommodated by large low angle normal faults (LANF) running along crustal morphostructures such as broad folds and Mesozoic batholiths. The deep Andaman, Malay and Pattani basins seem to sit on weaker crust inherited from Gondwana-derived continental blocks (Burma, Sibumasu, and Indochina). The set of narrow elongated basins in the core of the Region (Khien Sa, Krabi, and Malacca basins) suffered from a relatively lesser extension. This work shows that the core of the late Cretaceous Orogeny is weakly reactivated during the subsequent rifting with only few evidences of stretching whereas its sides are thinned with large tilted blocks. The rifting migrates and localizes on the external regions and its geometry appears more ductile suggesting the influence of a thermal activity in the process. The coexistence of both geometries in a single rifting cycle makes the western margin of Sundaland an enlightening example.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A Bacia sedimentar do Araripe é uma das mais ricas localidades fossilíferas do mundo e representa algumas das principais fases da evolução tectônica ligadas ao processo de abertura do Atlântico Sul. Essa bacia se subdivide em dois pacotes estratigráficos distintos: o Grupo Cariri (constituído pelas formações Cariri, Missão Velha e Rio Batateiras) e o Grupo Araripe (constituído pelas formações Crato, Ipubi, Santana e Exu). No caso do Grupo Cariri, apenas a Formação Missão Velha (= Brejo Santo para alguns autores) apresenta restos de peixes fósseis. Essa fauna, típica da fase rift da separação da parte oeste do Gondwana, pode ser comparada à ictiofauna já descrita no Grupo Bahia e à fauna encontrada em diversas bacias interiores do Nordeste do Brasil. O presente trabalho constou da realização de coletas na Formação Missão Velha, identificação, preparação e descrição dos espécimes coletados; comparação da paleoictiofauna dessa formação com a de outras bacias de mesma idade; análise da distribuição paleobiogeográfica dos grupos ali presentes. Apesar de desarticulados, foram identificados seis táxons de peixes, assim como fragmentos de teleósteos não identificados. Os táxons identificados a partir do material coletado são: dentes, espinhos cefálicos e espinhos de nadadeira dorsal de Hybodontiformes; escamas, dentes e ossos desarticulados de Lepidotes sp.; escamas de Pleuropholidae; diversos ossos desarticulados de Mawsonia cf. gigas; placa dentária e outros ossos isolados de Ceratodus sp. Essa fauna é muito importante, pois representa uma biota lacustrina do Neocomiano do Brasil, depositada durante os estágios pré-rift/rift da separação do oeste do Gondwana. Durante a fase pré-rift e rift pode ser observada uma correlação estratigráfica entre a Formação Missão Velha e as bacias marginais da África ocidental. Portanto, a biota presente na Formação Missão Velha auxilia a compreensão da diversidade faunística presente nos estágios pré-rift e rift do Brasil e da África. / The Araripe Basin is one of the richest fossiliferous localities in the world and represents some of the main stages of tectonic evolution related to the process of the opening of the South Atlantic. This basin is subdivided into two distinct stratigraphic packages: the Cariri Group (constituted by Cariri, Missão Velha and Rio Batateiras formations) and the Araripe Group (composed by the Crato, Ipubi, Santana and Exú formations). The Missão Velha Formation is the only one in the Vale do Cariri Group that presents vertebrate fossil records as, for example, disarticulated remains of fossil fishes. The present work consists on the: identification, preparation and description of the specimens collected in the Missão Velha Formation; comparisons of the paleoichthyofauna of this formation with other basins of the same age; analysis of the paleobiogeographic distribution of the groups present on Missão Velha Formation. Although disarticulated, we can identify the presence of six fish taxa (including teeth, cephalic spines and finspines of Hybodontiformes; scales, teeth and fragmented bones of Lepidotes; scales of Pleuropholidae, several disarticulated bones of Mawsonia cf. gigas; tooth plates and other disarticulated bones of Ceratodus) as well as fragments of at least three more teleost taxa. This fauna is very important because it represents a continental and lacustrine biota, tipical to the Neocomian of Brazil, deposited during the pre-rift/rift stages of the breakup of western Gondwana. During these stages we can observe a stratigraphic correlation between the Missão Velha Formation and the marginal basins of Western Africa. Therefore, the biota present in Missão Velha Formation contributes to understand the diversity present in pre-rift and rift stages in Brazil and Africa.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-09-21T15:45:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo do Monte Guerra_.pdf: 12842392 bytes, checksum: b6db9de51a65dd59c144edac22f16cab (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-21T15:45:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo do Monte Guerra_.pdf: 12842392 bytes, checksum: b6db9de51a65dd59c144edac22f16cab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-19 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Milton Valente / O final do período Cretáceo é caracterizado por uma gradual transição climática de escala global, fator que modificou a composição das assembleias de nanofósseis calcários e por conta disso vem causando problemas nas interpretações bioestratigráficas entre diferentes faixas latitudinais. Apesar de possuir alguns estudos realizados principalmente entre as décadas de 1980 e 1990, existe uma carência na avaliação do Atlântico Sul como um todo. Desta forma, este estudo objetiva descrever as assembleias de nanofósseis calcários comuns em cada faixa latitudinal e testar o sincronismo dos principais bioeventos. Foram analisadas 649 amostras provenientes de doze seções testemunhadas pelos projetos Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) e Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) nas proximidades da margem brasileira e africana, além de um afloramento na Península Antártica. O estudo taxonômico possibilitou a identificação de 197 espécies de nanofósseis calcários do Campaniano e Maastrichtiano. Através do uso conjunto da bioestratigrafia e magnetoestratigrafia, foram reconhecidos diacronismos em eventos de primeira e última ocorrência de espécies do Campaniano superior e Maastrichtiano superior. Este diacronismo está relacionado a migrações de espécies entre baixas e médias latitudes, decorrentes de mudanças na circulação oceânica e temperatura das águas superficiais. Com base na variação latitudinal das assembleias de nanofósseis calcários, um detalhado estudo bioestratigráfico possibilitou a divisão de três zoneamentos para o Atlântico Sul (baixas, médias e altas latitudes). Além disso, foram definidos os padrões de distribuição de diversas espécies, mostrando uma clara divisão paleobiogeográfica entre espécies que ocorrem somente em latitudes altas e outras limitadas a latitudes médias a baixas. Este padrão possivelmente foi controlado por variações na temperatura das massas de água superficiais. Outras espécies possuem sua distribuição variada em todas as faixas latitudinais, tendo sua distribuição relacionada provavelmente à disponibilidade de nutrientes. / The Late Cretaceous period is characterized by global climatic transition that influenced calcareous nannofossil assemblages posing a challenge for biostratigraphic interpretation between different latitudinal degrees. There are a few studies on South Atlantic calcareous nannofossils from 1980 and 1990 decades, but none of them evaluate the South Atlantic as a whole. Therefore, this study aims to describe the calcareous nannofossils assemblages in each latitudinal zone and test the bioevents synchroneity. It were selected 649 samples from twelve cored sections coming from DSDP (Deep Sea Drilling Project) e ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) close to the Brazilian and African margins, in addition to an outcrop in the Antarctic Peninsula. The taxonomic study allowed the identification of 197 calcareous nannofossils species from the Campanian and Maastrichtian. Using the correlation between the biostratigraphical data and magnetostratigraphy, it was possible to identify diachronism in some bioevents of first and last occurrences during the late Campanian and late Maastrichtian. This diachronism is related to species migration between low and mid-latitudes, due to changes in the ocean circulation and surface water temperature. Based on the latitudinal variation in the calcareous nannofossils assemblages, a detailed biostratigraphic study enabled the South Atlantic division in three zonations (low, medium and high-latitudes). We also defined the distribution pattern of some species, indicating a clear paleobiogeographical division between high latitude species and some species limited to low and mid-latitudes. This pattern was possibly controlled by surface water temperature variation. Other species have a wide distribution across the latitudes probably related to nutrient availability.

The Cretaceous Mowry Shale is an organic-rich, siliceous marine shale, and as such is a known source rock in the Western United States. Studies have documented that total organic carbon (TOC) in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming increases to the southeast. These studies cover large areas with limited sample sets. In this study, over 250 samples were collected near Lander, Wyoming to address spatial heterogeneity of TOC within the Mowry Shale at a much finer scale than previously examined. Samples were collected along five vertical sections at three localities, and following correlation of the vertical sections, which was strongly aided by the presence of regional bentonite horizons, samples were collected laterally from the same unit at regular 25-foot intervals. These samples were analyzed using pyrolysis and x-ray diffraction techniques. Average TOC values are fairly consistent within the study area (1.65%, with a range of 2.10% to 1.15%). Average Tmax values for vertical and lateral samples is 433 °C with a standard deviation of 7.25 °C suggesting immature to very early oil window thermal maturity. Kerogen types are determined to be dominantly type III, suggesting a dominance of terrestrial input, becoming slightly more mixed type II/III to the southeast. Redox-sensitive trace metals such as uranium, thorium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, and molybdenum values all suggest a slightly oxygenated sediment water interface during time of deposition. These pyrolysis and trace metal data suggest that the study area was in a prograding proximal marine/prodeltaic depositional environment during Upper Mowry time with influences from higher energy bottom flows. Lateral homogeneity of strata and the low variability in geochemical character across the study area suggest that the local basin in the study area was not segmented by structural or oceanographic conditions. While efforts were made to collect unaltered outcrop samples (digging back into what appeared to be unfractured, unaltered rock), alteration or weathering of organic material is a concern for source rock evaluation of near-surface outcrops. In order to address this concern, a 5-foot-deep trench was dug back into the outcrop at the target horizon in one locality. Samples were taken at regular three-inch intervals from this trench as it was excavated to determine the effect of weathering on TOC in the study area. Based on pyrolysis results, TOC was affected by weathering only along fracture sets (several samples intersected fractures in the shallow subsurface) and did not appreciably increase from the surface to a depth of five feet. Due to the impermeable nature of shale rock, decreases of TOC due to weathering appear to be limited to the immediate surface of samples and along fracture sets.

Orientador: Marcello Guimarães Simões / Resumo: A Formação Crato, Aptiano, é uma das principais unidades litoestratigráficas da sucessão sedimentar mesozoica da Bacia do Araripe, NE do Brasil. A unidade é reconhecida por conter um dos mais importantes depósitos do tipo Konservat-Lagerstätte do Gondwana. Tais depósitos são representados por calcários laminados contendo fósseis excepcionalmente bem preservados. Investigações estratigráficas e paleontológicas, combinadas com mapeamento detalhado da unidade na borda Leste da Bacia do Araripe, tornaram possível o reconhecimento de um importante intervalo contendo siltitos e argilitos ricos em fósseis de moluscos (gastrópodes, bivalves e restos vegetais incarbonizados), com ampla distribuição lateral. O intervalo, com 0,3-2,25 m de espessura, é representado por camadas tabulares de lamitos acinzentados, intensamente bioturbados e intercalados em folhelhos, arenitos finos e fácies heterolíticas. No presente estudo são descritas, pela primeira vez, as espécies de moluscos bivalves encontradas nesta camada e discutidas as suas implicações paleoambientais e paleobiogegráficas. Espécimes foram coletados em quatro localidades distintas (i.e., Três Irmãos, Batateira, Caldas e Estiva), e foram posteriormente submetidos à minuciosa análise de caracteres-chave (e.g., cicatrizes musculares, charneira e ornamentação). São descritos dois novos gêneros (Cratonaia gen. nov. e Araripenaia gen. nov.), pertencentes a Silesunionoidea Skawina e Dzik, 2011 e Trigonioidoidea Cox, 1952, respectivament... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Aptian Crato Formation is one of the main litostratigraphic units of the Mesozoic sedimentary succession of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. This unit is widely known for containing one of the main Konservat-Lagerstätte deposits of the Gondwana. Such deposits are represented by laminated limestones enclosing exceptionally well-preserved fossils. Stratigraphic and paleontological investigations, combined with detailed mapping of the unit in the eastern border of the Araripe Basin, enabled the recognizing of a key interval encompassing shell-rich siltstones and claystones, with wide lateral distribution. The 0.3–2.25-m-thick interval is represented by tabular layers of intensely bioturbated grayish mudstones, intercalated in shales, fine sandstones and heterolithic facies. In this study, for the very first time, bivalve molluscs found within this layer are described, and their paleoenvironmental and paleobiogeographic implications are discussed. Specimens have been collected in four different locations (i.e., Três Irmãos, Batateira, Caldas and Estiva), and then submitted to careful analyses of key morphological characters (e.g., muscle scars, hinge and ornamentation). Two new genera are herein described (Cratonaia gen. nov. and Araripenaia gen. nov.), each one of them belonging to the superfamilies Silesunionoidea Skawina and Dzik, 2011 and Trigonioidoidea Cox, 1952, respectively. Both genera are monospecific and represented by the new species Cratonaia novaolindensi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Aquesta tesi té com a objectiu fonamental la caracterització taxonòmica, biostratigràfica i paleoecològica de les associacions de caròfits de les fàcies lacustres i transicionals del Garumnià basal (Cretaci superior) de les Conques de Vallcebre, Coll de Nargó, Tremp i Àger. L’altre objectiu d’aquesta tesi és la caracterització tafonòmica i paleoecològica de les restes fòssils de plantes vasculars productores dels lignits garumnians. La flora de caròfits del Garumnià basal està constituïda per girogonits de Feistiella malladae, Peckichara cancellata, P. sertulata, Microchara cristata, M. parazensis, Platychara caudata, P. turbinata i Dughiella obtusa, i utricles de Clavator brachycerus. Pel que fa als òrgans vegetatius les calcàries garumnianes son molt riques en tal•lus de grans dimensions de Charaxis sp. associats a Peckichara sp., i de tal•lus més gràcils de Clavatoraxis microcharophorus Villalba-Breva et Martín-Closas 2011, portadors de Microchara sp. També és freqüent la presència de Munieria grambastii associada a vegades a Clavator brachycerus. Des del punt de vista biostratigràfic, les associacions de caròfits de les conques d’Àger i Vallcebre pertanyen a la biozona de caròfits Peckichara cancellata (Campanià superior - Maastrichtià inferior basal), mentre que les associacions de caròfits de les conques de Coll de Nargó i Tremp pertanyen a la biozona Septorella ultima (Maastrichtià inferior). En base a l’estudi estratigràfic i sedimentològic i l’anàlisi de microfàcies s’ha determinat que la sedimentació a la Conca d’Àger està formada majoritàriament per calcàries lacustres organitzades en centenars de seqüències de somització, que van des de fàcies lacustres profundes, passant per ambients marginals, ben il•luminats dominats per herbeis de caràcies, fins a fàcies de vora de llac dominades per herbeis de clavatoràcies. A les conques de Vallcebre, Coll de Nargó i Tremp, la sedimentació del Garumnià basal està organitzada en diversos cicles, els quals comencen amb dipòsits salabrosos formats per margues amb mol•luscs eurihalins a la base, seguits per lignits i calcàries d’ambients salabrosos dominades per porocaràcies, i calcàries d’aigua dolça amb caràcies i clavatoràcies. Les diferències en el registre sedimentari i la flora de caròfits mostren que les conques sud pirinenques presentaven una polaritat de fàcies sud-nord durant l’inici de la sedimentació continental del Cretaci superior, i que aquesta continentalització va començar al sud i desprès va continuar al nord, d’est a oest. L’estudi de la macroflora del Garumnià basal de les conques de Vallcebre, Coll de Nargó i Tremp indica que la comunitat vegetal dels aiguamolls del Maastrichtià inferior estava dominada per la conífera queirolepidiàcia Frenelopsis, que va ser la planta productora de la matèria orgànica precursora del lignit. Associada a aquestes coníferes hi havia la palmera Sabalites longirhachis, i en alguns casos altres angiospermes d’aiguamoll, representades per les seves llavors, especialment Bergacarpon viladricii Marmi, Gomez, Villalba-Breva et Martín-Closas 2012. Altres plantes vasculars significatives encara que menys abundants eren les falgueres, cicadals i pandanals. / This thesis aims to characterize the taxonomy, biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of charophyte assemblages of lacustrine and transitional facies from the basal Garumnian (Late Cretaceous) of the Vallcebre, Coll de Nargó, Tremp and Àger basins. The other objective of this study is the taphonomic and palaeoecological characterization of the precursory vascular plants of the Garumnian lignite. The charophyte flora of the basal Garumnian consists of gyrogonites of Feistiella malladae, Peckichara cancellata, P. sertulata, Microchara cristata, M. parazensis, Platychara caudata, P. turbinata and Dughiella obtusa, and utricles of Clavator brachycerus. Regarding the vegetative organs, Garumnian limestones are rich in large thalli of Charaxis sp. associated to Peckichara sp., and smaller thalli of Clavatoraxis microcharophorus Villalba-Breva et Martín-Closas 2011, with attached Microchara sp. Also Munieria grambastii thalli are abundant, associated sometimes with Clavator brachycerus. From a biostratigraphic point of view, charophyte assemblages of Vallcebre and Àger basins belong to the Peckichara cancellata biozone (Late Campanian – Earliest Maastrichtian), while charophyte assemblages of Coll de Nargó and Tremp basins belong to the Septorella ultima biozone (Early Maastrichtian). Based on the sedimentological and stratigraphic studies and microfacies analyses, the sedimentation in the Àger Basin is organised into hundreds of small order sedimentary cycles corresponding to lacustrine infilling sequences, ranging from deep lacustrine facies, through marginal environments dominated by characean meadows, to lakeshore facies dominated by clavatorecean meadows. In the Vallcebre, Coll de Nargó and Tremp basins, the deposits of the basal Garumnian are organized into small number of cycles that show a transition from brackish deposits formed by marls with euryhaline molluscs, lignites and limestones with porocharaceans, to lacustrine limestones with characeans and clavatoraceans. The differences in the sedimentary record and in the charophyte flora show that the Southern Pyrenean Basin displayed a south to north shift of facies during the onset of the Upper Cretaceous continental sedimentation and that this continentalisation began in the south and then continued to north, from east to west. The study of megafossil plant remains from the basal Garumnian of the Vallcebre, Coll de Nargó and Tremp basins indicates that the cheirolepidiacean conifer Frenelopsis was the main component of the wetlands vegetation associated with Sabalites longirhachis palms, and in some cases with other angiosperms, such as the plant bearing Bergacarpon viladricii Marmi, Gomez, Villalba-Breva et Martín-Closas 2012, probably a commelinid.

Macroscopical and microscopical observations on extant and fossil plants have been made. Observations on extant plants led to study the effects of volcanic gases on the cuticle ultrastructure of Pinus halepensis and Erica arborea sampled in the volcanic area of Phlegrean Italy. TEM observations on P. halepensis cuticles fumigated or not by volcanic gases revealed: 1) insignificant thickness variations of the cell wall plus cuticle among current- and first-year-old needles of both fumigated and not fumigated trees; 2) a calcium oxalate accumulation in fumigated leaves; 3) moreover, in respect to the cell surface, fibrils are disposed parallel to the surface of the cuticle. In specimens of E. arborea fumigated or not by volcanic gases, 1) the total thickness of cuticles varies significantly; 2) in plants experiencing chronic fumigation the A2 layer increases its thickness. As for fossil plants, the cuticles of Cretaceous Fossil-Lagertätten of Cusano Mutri and Pietraroja have been studied. In the former: 1) numerous taxa belonging to conifers have been identified; 2) the new species Frenelopsis cusanensis has been described; 3) Montsechia vidalii has been found outside of Spain. Taxonomical studies allowed the description of typical Euro-Sinian fossil plants. Sedimentological and taxonomical studies suggest semi-arid or arid conditions in a subtropical or tropical climate. It is worth noting as for Cusano Mutri locality, evidence of wildfire (fusain) suggests a periodic combination of arid periods, high temperatures and lightning strikes.

Within Big Bend National Park, the unconformable contact between the Buda Limestone and the overlying Boquillas Formation represents the Commanchean-Gulfian boundary. Previous studies of the geochronology of this interval have relied primarily on provincial ammonite faunas rather than foraminifera, and place the Buda and basal Boquillas in the Lower Cenomanian. Because of its indurated nature, a comprehensive foraminiferal biozonation has not been acquired for the Buda Limestone. Recent revisions to Cretaceous foraminiferal biozonations and taxonomies necessitates a new biostratigraphic study of the Buda - Boquillas interval. The overlapping ranges of F. washitensis, G. bentonensis, G. caseyi, P. appenninica, P. delrioensis, P. stephani, and R. montsalvensis place the Buda within the upper portion of the Early to Middle Cenomanian Th. globotruncanoides Zone. Microkarst found on the surface of the Buda Limestone has been interpreted as representing a subaerial exposure and sequence boundary. However, microkarst-like features can result from subaqueous or intrastratal processes. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis of the lower and middle Buda has indicated a mean δ13C value of 1.73‰ VPDB, which is in line with other values reported from the Lower Cenomanian. The top 2.6m of Buda contains a 0.62‰ negative δ13C shift from 1.88‰ VPDB to 1.26‰ VDPB in a 40 cm interval, expected if subaerial exposure occurred. Higher variation in measured carbon isotope values beneath the contact also lend evidence for meteoric alteration. The standard deviation in δ13C values from the top 2.8 m of the Buda is 0.207, which is 2.16 times larger than the rest of the studied section at 0.096. The Buda contains a shallow pelagic-dominated fauna of heterohelicids (45-90%), globigerinellids (3-37%), and hedbergellids (4-22%). Intermediate-depth globigerinellids display an initial increase followed by a marked decrease in abundance upsection, interpreted as sea level transgression and regression, respectively. The lower contact of the Buda with the Del Rio Clay has been previously interpreted as a subaerial exposure, and a P:B break from ~0% planktonics in the upper Del Rio to ~80% in the Buda supports this claim. This study therefore interprets both the upper and lower contacts of the Buda as sequence boundaries. The overlying 1.2 m Boquillas is nearly devoid of benthics and represents a deeper assemblage including the double-keeled Dicarinella sp., as well as several Upper Cenomanian (D. algeriana Subzone) species. Based on foraminiferal data, the duration of the Buda - Boquillas unconformity is roughly equivalent to the missing Th. reicheli and Th. greenhornensis Biozones, or a sizable portion of the Middle Cenomanian. / Systematic paleontology -- Biostratigraphy of the Buda Limestone -- Biostratigraphy of the lowermost Boquillas Formation -- Stable isotope geochemistry. / Department of Geological Sciences

For 130 years dinosaurs have been divided into two distinct clades – Ornithischia and Saurischia. This dissertation looks at the earliest evolution of the clade Dinosauria by focusing upon the interrelationships of the major subsidiary clades within it. It does this following examination, comparison and description of early dinosaur material, and by utilising modern phylogenetic analysis techniques, to rigorously and objectively test the fundamental groupings within the clade Dinosauria using a newly compiled dataset of early dinosaurs and other dinosauromorphs (= close dinosaur relatives). The current consensus on how the principal clades within Dinosauria (Theropoda, Sauropodomorpha and Ornithischia) are related to one another is challenged by the results of these analyses. This study finds, for the first time, a sister-group relationship between Ornithischia and Theropoda, here termed Ornithoscelida. Consequently, a new definition for Dinosauria is presented, as the historic definition would exclude all members of Sauropodomorpha from the clade. As well as this, I propose revisions to the definitions of each of the principal dinosaurian sub-divisions and propose a new timeframe and geographic setting for the origin of Dinosauria. These new hypotheses force re-evaluations of early dinosaur cladogenesis and character evolution, suggest the independent acquisition of hypercarnivory in multiple dinosaur groups and offers an explanation for many of the anatomical features previously regarded as striking convergences between theropods and early ornithischians. As well as presenting new anatomical data on many early dinosaurs and dinosauromorphs, including a comprehensive re-description of the postcranial anatomy of Lesothosaurus diagnosticus (Chapter 2), and a new anatomical dataset of early dinosaurs (the largest ever compiled), this thesis goes on to implement the new dataset to investigate a number of important outstanding questions about early dinosaur evolution and provides new lines of enquiry for future workers to pursue. The results of this thesis reveal the oldest known members of the dinosaurian clades Theropoda and Sauropodomorpha (Chapter 6), as well as a new clade within Ornithischia; a taxon previously thought to represent a derived theropod has been recovered as a potential ‘missing link’ between theropods and ornithischians using the new dataset. This work now provides a unique tool for the assessment of the phylogenetic affinities of early dinosaurs and dinosauromorphs and, once published, will hopefully become the benchmark dataset for palaeontologists working in this area.

Les calcaires du Crétacé inférieur de la "Falaise de BLANCHE" affleurent sur une grande partie du territoire libanais. Ils apparaissent dans le paysage sous forme d'escarpements linéaires saillants constituant autant de points d'ancrage remarquables pour tout recalage stratigraphique. Toutefois, jusqu'à très récemment, cette unité était piètrement caractérisée : il lui manquait notamment une définition rigoureuse. Nous introduisons ici l'Étage régional Jezzinien, dont la localité-type est sise à Jezzine. Il s'agit également d'une unité stratigraphique particulière, une « unconformity-bounded unit", une unité qui, par définition, est encadrée par deux discontinuités. Le nouvel étage régional couvre deux séquences. Le canevas lithostratigraphique étant clairement redéfini, nous avons pu étudier les associations micropaléontologiques, constituées essentiellement de foraminifères benthiques et d'algues calcaires, associations dorénavant relativement bien contraintes du point de vue de leur âge. Typiquement sud-téthysiennes, elles facilitent les corrélations holostratigraphiques à haute résolution avec la région du Golfe persique, sur le côté oriental de la Plaque arabique. L'intervalle Jezzinien correspond ainsi à la partie supérieure de l'Étage Régional Kharaïbien (aussi connu comme unité réservoir "Thamama II" dans l'industrie pétrolière). À son tour, le Jezzinien est indirectement corrélé avec les unités stratigraphiques urgoniennes nord-téthysiennes où il correspond à un intervalle relativement court comprenant la limite des étages standards (internationaux) Barrémien et Bédoulien. Les associations macropaléontologiques reconnues dans le Jezzinien (échinides) et au-dessus de cette unité (ammonites) viennent à l'appui de notre datation micropaléontologique ou tout au moins ne la contredisent pas. / The "Falaise de Blanche" is a prominent cliff consisting mostly of Lower Cretaceous limestones that extends as linear outcrops over most of the Lebanese territory and provides geologists a remarkable reference for stratigraphic studies. However, until now, this unit was lacking a clear definition. We introduce herein the Jezzinian Regional Stage, the type-locality of which is at Jezzine. It is an unconformity-bounded unit and, per definition, it is framed by two discontinuities. The new regional stage implicitly spans two sequences. The lithostratigraphic framework having been properly redefined, we were able to investigate time-constrained micropaleontological assemblages consisting mostly of benthic foraminifers and calcareous algae. Typically Southern Tethysian, these assemblages contribute to high-resolution, holostratigraphic correlations with the Persian Gulf area on the eastern part of the Arabian Plate. The Jezzinian interval correlates with the upper part of the Kharaibian Regional Stage (also known as the "Thamama II" reservoir unit in the oil industry). The Jezzinian is also indirectly correlated with the Northern Tethysian Urgonian stratigraphic units where it corresponds to a rather short interval encompassing the standard Barremian - Bedoulian stage boundary.Locally the upper discontinuity is associated with a significant intra-Bedoulian hiatus. The macrofossil assemblages found in the Jezzinian (echinids) and above it (ammonites) support, or at least do not contradict, our micropaleontological dating.