Upper Triassic amber from the dolomites (northern Italy). A paleoclimatic indicator?

Amber in Triassic deposits in the Dolomites is demonstrated for the first t ime. The amber-bearing deposits belong to the middle part of the Durrenstei n Formation, referred to uppermost Julian (Lower Carnian, about 225 My). Ch emico-physical features of amber, which occurs as small yellow to reddish d roplets, have been determined. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy shows typical ban ds of fossil resins; the "fingerprint" region of the spectrum presents a un ique pattern that cannot be referred to any other known fossil resin. Palyn ological investigation of amber-bearing layers shows a large prevalence of bisaccates and circumpolles. Particularly, the taeniate bisaccates are freq uent: (41%) and suggest a correlation with the amber-producing species. Amb er production and preservation is possibly related to a humid climatic even t.