The age of the radiolarian cherts associated with the ophiolites in the Apennines (Italy) and Corsica (France): A revision

The most recent biozonation for Jurassic radiolarians permits to establish more exactly the ages of their assemblages. Here we consider the assemblage s coming from the lowest part of the cherts on top of ophiolites in the Nor thern Apennines, Southern Apennines and Corsica. In the Northern Apennines the oldest age, in Liguria, is latest Bajocian-early Bathonian: whereas in Tuscany it is middle Callovian-early Oxfordian to middle-late Oxfordian; th e youngest age, in Liguria, is middle Bathonian to late Bathonian-early Cal lovian, and in Tuscany latest Oxfordian-early Kimmeridgian. In the Southern Apennines the age is middle Callovian-early Oxfordian, in Corsica it is la te Bathonian-early Callovian. These datings give new indications to reconst ruct the late phases of the ocean spreading that produced the Western Tethy s ophiolites.