Long-term event stratigraphy of the Apulia Platform margin (Upper Jurassicto Eocene, Gargano, southern Italy)

The Upper Jurassic to Eocene Apulia platform margin and the eastward transi tion to the adjacent basinal deposits are well exposed in the Gargano Promo ntory (southern Italy), a carbonate block that is part of the slightly defo rmed foreland of the southern Apennine thrust belt. The long-term stratigra phy of this margin and slope transect is punctuated by five major dynamic p henomena that subdivide the succession into six second order sequences. The se events include (1) a Valanginian drowning unconformity, (2) an early Apt ian-Albian drowning and demise of the platform, (3) late Albian-Cenomanian platform-margin failures, (4) a Santonian-Campanian retreat of the platform margin, and (5) Eocene uplift and platform-margin collapse. The first even t is documented worldwide and is probably eustatic in origin. The second is concomitant with some oceanic anoxic events (OAE). The last three processe s are probably related to foreland reaction to subduction and collision in the Dinarides and Hellenides thrust belts. The ultimate cause of the Albian -Cenomanian failures is more problematic. A worldwide eustatic regression i s documented at this time, but regional geology seems to favor tectonic upl ift.