Towards a better definition of the Middle Triassic magnetostratigraphy andbiostratigraphy in the Tethyan realm

Magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data for the Middle Triassic (Ani sian) were obtained from the Han-Bulog facies in the Nderlysaj section from the Albanian Alps and the Dent and Bivera formations in the Dont-Monte Rit e composite section from the Dolomites region of northern Italy. The Nderly saj section is biochronologically bracketed between the late Bithynian and early Illyrian substages (i.e., late-early and early-late Anisian), whereas the Dont-Monte Rite section comprises the late Pelsonian and the early Ill yrian substages. The data from Nderlysaj and Dont-Monte Rite, in conjunctio n with already published data, allow us to construct a nearly complete comp osite geomagnetic polarity sequence tied to Tethyan ammonoid and conodont b iostratigraphy from the late Olenekian (late-Early Triassic) to the late La dinian (late-Middle Triassic). New conodont data require revision of the pu blished age of the Vlichos section (Greece). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.