Palynology (dinoflagellate cysts, spore-pollen) and stratigraphy of the Lower Carnian Raibl Group in the Eastern Swiss Alps

Within the almost purely dolomitic units of the Triassic of the Austroalpin e realm (Ladinian to Norian), the Cluozza Member is characterized as a cons picuously siliciclastic interval in the upper part of the Raibl Group. It r epresents a well-defined correlateable event in the Austroalpine Upper Tria ssic of Graubunden. Based on the present palynological evidence it can be a ssigned to the Early Carnian (Julian). The composition of the palynological assemblages is closely comparable to those of the upper Lunzer beds in the Alpine realm and to the Schilfsandstein in the Germanic basin. The palynol ogical and lithological evidence indicates that these sediments have been d eposited under humid conditions. The data also suggest that that Cluozza Me mber corresponds to the transgressive phase of an Early Carnian sequence (C ar1 or Car2). The dinoflagellate cysts observed in the studied assemblages are not only t he oldest found in the Northern Hemisphere but represent worldwide the olde st dinoflagellate records from low latitude sites.