189-8 Microfacies Analysis of a Late Triassic Sponge Reef: Insights from the Mufara Formation, Sicily

Session: Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy (Posters)

Presenting Author:

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Abstract:

This research aims to present the first detailed microfacies analysis of the late Triassic patch sponge reef in the Mufara Formation, Palermo, Sicily, Italy. By conducting point counts of thin-section samples, we seek to provide an accurate ecological characterization of this unique reef system and evaluate how fluctuating environmental factors influenced the organisms that composed it. This reef is particularly significant as a "comeback reef," representing a resurgence of reef ecosystems following the mass extinction event at the end of the Permian period. Our analysis will identify and describe trends in the point count data, including shifts in community composition, variations in skeletal and non-skeletal components, and changes in sedimentary textures. By understanding these reactions, we aim to shed light on the adaptive strategies and resilience of reef systems during periods of ecological recovery. This study contributes to our knowledge of the Mufara Formation and offers broader implications for understanding reef ecosystem responses to environmental perturbations in Earth's history.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-11164

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