Calcareous nannofossil dating of the San Martino formation from the Balagne ophiolite sequence (Alpine Corsica): Comparison with the Palombini shale of the Northern Apennine

In the Alpine Corsica, the ophiolitic sequences are regarded as remnants of the Ligure-Piemontese oceanic lithosphere. The best preserved ophiolitic s equences are represented by the succession from the Balagne nappe, northern Corsica. This succession consists of a Jurassic ophiolite sequence topped by a Jurassic - Late Cretaceous sedimentary cover. This sedimentary cover, affected by very-low grade metamorphism, consists of deep-sea deposits, rep resented by Chert, Calpionella Limestone, San Martino Fm., Lydienne Flysch and Novella Sandstone. The letters two formations are characterized by terr igenous turbidite deposits supplied by Europe/Iberia continental margin. In this paper the age of the San Martino Fm. and the lower part of the Lydi enne Flysch has been determined by the study of the calcareous nannofossil assemblages. The collected data indicate far the San Martino Fm. an age spa nning from Early Berriasian to Late Hauterivian - Early Barremian. Moreover , the lower part of the Lydienne Flysch is not older than Late Hauterivian and not younger than Early Barremian. By comparison with the data available from ophiolite sedimentary cover of N orthern Apennine, the San Martino Fm. can be correlated with the lower part of the Palombini Shale. This correlation suggests that the upper part of t he Palombini Shale can be considered as time equivalent to the Lydienne Fly sch.