<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><article article-type="normal" xml:lang="en">
   <front>
      <journal-meta>
         <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">PALEVO</journal-id>
         <issn>1631-0683</issn>
         <publisher>
            <publisher-name>Elsevier</publisher-name>
         </publisher>
      </journal-meta>
      <article-meta>
         <article-id pub-id-type="pii">S1631-0683(04)00089-2</article-id>
         <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1016/j.crpv.2004.04.003</article-id>
         <article-categories>
            <subj-group subj-group-type="type">
               <subject>Research article</subject>
            </subj-group>
            <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
               <subject>Systematic Palaeontology</subject>
            </subj-group>
         </article-categories>
         <title-group>
            <article-title>Reworking of fusulinids and calcisphaerids in the Lercara Formation (Sicily, Italy); geological implications</article-title>
         </title-group>
         <contrib-group content-type="authors">
            <contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
               <name>
                  <surname>Carcione</surname>
                  <given-names>Lucia</given-names>
               </name>
               <email>Lucia.carcione@terre.unige.ch</email>
               <xref rid="AFF1" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>a</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <contrib contrib-type="author">
               <name>
                  <surname>Vachard</surname>
                  <given-names>Daniel</given-names>
               </name>
               <xref rid="AFF2" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>b</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <contrib contrib-type="author">
               <name>
                  <surname>Martini</surname>
                  <given-names>Rossana</given-names>
               </name>
               <xref rid="AFF1" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>a</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <contrib contrib-type="author">
               <name>
                  <surname>Zaninetti</surname>
                  <given-names>Louisette</given-names>
               </name>
               <xref rid="AFF1" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>a</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <contrib contrib-type="author">
               <name>
                  <surname>Abate</surname>
                  <given-names>Benedetto</given-names>
               </name>
               <xref rid="AFF3" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>c</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <contrib contrib-type="author">
               <name>
                  <surname>Lo Cicero</surname>
                  <given-names>Giovanna</given-names>
               </name>
               <xref rid="AFF3" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>c</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <contrib contrib-type="author">
               <name>
                  <surname>Montanari</surname>
                  <given-names>Loris</given-names>
               </name>
               <xref rid="AFF3" ref-type="aff">
                  <sup>c</sup>
               </xref>
            </contrib>
            <aff-alternatives id="AFF1">
               <aff>
                  <label>a</label> Département de géologie et paléontologie, université de Genève, 13, rue des Maraîchers, 1205 Genève, Suisse</aff>
            </aff-alternatives>
            <aff-alternatives id="AFF2">
               <aff>
                  <label>b</label> UMR 8014, UFR des sciences de la terre, université des sciences et technologies de Lille, Laboratoire LP 3, Bât. SN5, 59655 Villeneuve-d’Ascq cedex, France</aff>
            </aff-alternatives>
            <aff-alternatives id="AFF3">
               <aff>
                  <label>c</label> Dipartimento di Geologia e Geodesia, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 26, 90100 Palermo, Italy</aff>
            </aff-alternatives>
         </contrib-group>
         <pub-date-not-available/>
         <volume>3</volume>
         <issue seq="2">5</issue>
         <issue-id pub-id-type="pii">S1631-0683(00)X0022-X</issue-id>
         <fpage seq="0" content-type="normal">361</fpage>
         <lpage content-type="normal">368</lpage>
         <history>
            <date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="2004-01-05"/>
            <date date-type="accepted" iso-8601-date="2004-04-19"/>
         </history>
         <permissions>
            <copyright-statement>© 2004 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</copyright-statement>
            <copyright-year>2004</copyright-year>
            <copyright-holder>Académie des sciences</copyright-holder>
         </permissions>
         <self-uri xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" content-type="application/pdf" xlink:href="main.pdf">
                        Full (PDF)
                    </self-uri>
         <abstract abstract-type="author">
            <p>Different fusulinids have been identified in the Lercara Formation (Sicily). They are: <italic>Reichelina</italic> sp., <italic>Schubertella paramelonica, Toriyamaia</italic> (?) sp., <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi, Yangchienia compressa, Rauserella staffi, Darvasites contractus, Chalaroschwagerina</italic> (<italic>Taiyuanella</italic>?) aff. <italic>davalensis, Levenella</italic> aff. <italic>evoluta, Pamirina darvasica</italic>, and <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic>. Small Permian foraminifers, as well as the calcispherid <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> also exist. The microfossils indicate reworking of different Permian stages, at different periods of time, and possibly also of the Mississippian (Early Carboniferous). All these resediments have been deposited within the Lercara Formation, a series definitely belonging to the Triassic period. Therefore, due to this reworking, Sicily appears as a controversial area for establishing biostratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic correlations in the Permian period. </p>
         </abstract>
         <trans-abstract abstract-type="author" xml:lang="fr">
            <p>
               <bold>Remaniements de fusulines et calcisphères dans la formation Lercara (Sicile, Italie) ; conséquences géologiques.</bold> Dans la formation Lercara, en Sicile (Italie), différents genres et espèces de fusulines ont été identifiés : <italic>Reichelina</italic> sp., <italic>Schubertella paramelonica, Toriyamaia</italic> (?) sp., <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi, Yangchienia compressa, Rauserella staffi, Darvasites contractus, Chalaroschwagerina</italic> (<italic>Taiyuanella</italic>?) aff. <italic>davalensis, Levenella</italic> aff. <italic>evoluta, Pamirina darvasica, Neoschwagerina</italic> ex. gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic>. De petits foraminifères permiens, ainsi que des calcisphères dont <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic>, font également partie de l'association. Tous ces microfossiles indiquent des remaniements de différents étages du Permien, et probablement également du Mississippien (Carbonifère inférieur), dans la formation Lercara datée, avec certitude, du Trias. En raison de ces multiples remaniements, la Sicile apparaît donc comme une région controversée pour établir des corrélations biostratigraphiques et paléobiogéographiques, en ce qui concerne le Permien. </p>
         </trans-abstract>
         <kwd-group>
            <unstructured-kwd-group>Permian, Triassic, Sicily, Fusulinids, Foraminifera, Reworks, Palaeobiogeography</unstructured-kwd-group>
         </kwd-group>
         <kwd-group xml:lang="fr">
            <unstructured-kwd-group>Permien, Trias, Sicile, Fusulines, Foraminifères, Remaniements, Paléobiogéographie</unstructured-kwd-group>
         </kwd-group>
         <custom-meta-group>
            <custom-meta>
               <meta-name>presented</meta-name>
               <meta-value>Presented by Jean Dercourt</meta-value>
            </custom-meta>
         </custom-meta-group>
      </article-meta>
   </front>
   <body>
      <sec xml:lang="fr">
         <title>Version française abrégée</title>
         <p>La formation Lercara [26], dont l'âge triasique a été déterminé par nos résultats palynologiques préliminaires, affleure en Sicile occidentale (Fig. 1). Elle débute par environ 80 m de grès argileux, suivis par une épaisseur minimale de 12 m d'argiles marno-gréseuses feuilletées (Fig. 2). L'épaisseur maximale n'a pas pu être encore estimée.</p>
         <p>Les argiles marno-gréseuses contiennent deux types de sédiments remaniés. Le premier est constitué de rudites, d'arénites de taille moyenne à grossière et d'arénites fines. Ces sédiments remaniés sont caractérisés par la présence d'éléments à foraminifères permiens, auxquels s'ajoutent des éléments qui contiennent les microfossiles <italic>Endotriadella wirzi</italic> (Kœhn-Zaninetti) (Fig. 3.13) et <italic>Cucurbita infundibuliformis</italic> Jablonsky (Fig. 3.12), d'âge triasique. Ces foraminifères sont ici mentionnés pour la première fois dans la formation Lercara.</p>
         <p>Le deuxième type de sédiments remaniés, est représenté par des blocs de calcaires plurimétriques qui contiennent exclusivement des éléments à faune permienne.</p>
         <p>Dans la formation Lercara, différents genres et espèces de fusulines ont été identifiés au cours de cette étude (Fig. 3). Il s'agit de : <italic>Reichelina</italic> sp. (Fig. 3.4), <italic>Schubertella paramelonica</italic> Suleimanov, <italic>Toriyamaia</italic> (?) sp. (Fig. 3.8), <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi</italic> Deprat (Fig. 3.6), <italic>Yangchienia compressa</italic> Ozawa (Fig. 3.7), <italic>Rauserella staffi</italic> Skinner et Wilde (Fig. 3.9), <italic>Darvasites contractus</italic> (Schellwien) (Fig. 3.1), <italic>Chalaroschwagerina</italic> (<italic>Taiyuanella</italic>?) aff. <italic>davalensis</italic> Leven (Fig. 3.2), <italic>Levenella</italic> aff. <italic>evoluta</italic> (Ueno) (Fig. 3.3), <italic>Pamirina darvasica</italic> Leven (Fig. 3.11), <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic> (Schwager) (Fig. 3.5). Font également partie de l'association de petits foraminifères permiens ainsi que des calcisphères ; parmi ces dernières, <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> Reitlinger (Fig. 3.10) est la plus importante du point de vue biostratigraphique (voir ci-dessous).</p>
         <p>Le tableau de répartition des fusulines (Fig. 4), basé sur les distributions stratigraphiques indiquées dans la littérature [10,11,17–20,24,27–29], fait clairement apparaître un remaniement et un mélange de différents genres de fusulines, allant du Permien inférieur au Permien supérieur.</p>
         <p>Un remaniement plus difficile à expliquer est celui de la calcisphère <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> Reitlinger, qui n'était connue, jusqu'à présent, que dans le Mississippien (Carbonifère inférieur) [30]. Dans la formation Lercara, cette calcisphère pourrait avoir été remaniée avec des roches d'âge Carbonifère mais, vu sa faible productivité initiale, il pourrait aussi s'agir d'un taxon Lazare qui aurait survécu depuis le Viséen et, par conséquent, serait contemporain des fusulines permiennes. La calcisphère et les fusulines auraient été, par la suite, remaniées ensemble au cours du Trias.</p>
         <p>D'un point de vue paléobiogéographique, les fusulines citées ci-dessus sont principalement connues en Mésogée (Paléotéthys) centrale et orientale. La région la plus proche où l'association a été signalée dans sa presque totalité est la Transcaucasie [20]. Toutefois, certaines espèces font partie de la faune permienne européenne comme <italic>Darvasites contractus</italic> (Schellwien) [1,9,13], <italic>Pamirina darvasica</italic> Leven [9], <italic>Yangchienia compressa</italic> Ozawa, décrite comme <italic>Y. antiqua</italic> Kochansky [12], <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi</italic> Deprat [8,21], <italic>Rauserella staffi</italic> Skinner and Wilde [26], et <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic> (Schwager) [23,26,33]. Le genre <italic>Levenella</italic> est ici signalé pour la première fois en Europe.</p>
         <p>Les remaniements et le mélange de fusulinidae, petits foraminifères et autres micro-organismes carbonatés étaient déjà connus en Italie méridionale ; ils sont très fréquents dans les régions du Sosio, de Lercara et du Monte Facito. Ils correspondent au démantèlement, au Trias, d'une plate-forme carbonatée, dont l'élaboration s'était étendue sur une longue période du Permien. Selon notre étude, les principaux étages remaniés, en tout cas les plus productifs, sont le Yakhtashien-Bolorien d'une part et le Murgabien-Midien d'autre part. Toutefois, l'ensemble des étages permiens pourrait avoir été érodé.</p>
         <p>La découverte, dans les mêmes niveaux, d'organismes d'âge Permien, associés à des foraminifères d'âge triasique, comme <italic>Endotriadella wirzi</italic> (Koehn-Zaninetti) (forme de plate-forme carbonatée) et <italic>Cucurbita infundibuliformis</italic> Jablonsky (caractéristique de faciès récifaux), permet la reconstitution paléobiogéographique de la terminaison la plus occidentale de la Téthys, au moment du dépôt de la formation Lercara.</p>
         <p>Durant le Trias moyen et la partie inférieure du Trias supérieur, les marges de l'océan téthysien étaient constituées de roches calcaires, vestiges d'anciennes plates-formes récifales permiennes. Le produit de l'érosion de ces séries permiennes se déposait dans le bassin téthysien caractérisé, en même temps, par une déposition carbonatée et terrigène triasique.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec>
         <label>1</label>
         <title>Introduction</title>
         <sec>
            <p>The Lercara Formation <xref rid="BIB25" ref-type="bibr">[25]</xref> crops out in western Sicily (Italy), in Cerda, Roccapalumba, Lercara, Palazzo Adriano and Burgio areas, respectively (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1</xref>). Nevertheless, the attribution of Cerda (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1. 1a</xref>) and Cozzo Intronata (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1.2d</xref>) outcrops to the Lercara Formation is still uncertain.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>Preliminary palynological results, obtained from the analysis of the clay beds, show the melange of Permian and Early Triassic palynomorphs, together with Middle to Late Triassic palynomorphs. No exclusively Permian or exclusively Early Triassic palynological assemblages have been found so far.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>The outcrops of the Lercara Formation are chaotic and scattered between Cerda and Burgio areas, because of the strong tectonics of western Sicily, and of the high plasticity of the rocks in this region. Nevertheless, due to preliminary biostratigraphic correlations, a composite succession of the Lercara Formation has been reconstructed (<xref rid="FIG2" ref-type="fig">Fig. 2</xref>).</p>
         </sec>
      </sec>
      <sec>
         <label>2</label>
         <title>Geological setting</title>
         <sec>
            <p>The Lercara succession begins with approximately 80 m of clay sandstones that crop out only at the bottom of Cozzo San Filippo (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1.2b</xref>). In the other outcrops (Roccapalumba Nuovo Mercato, (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1. 2a</xref>); upper part of Cozzo San Filippo, (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1.2c</xref>); Roccapalumba Ferrovia, (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1. 2e</xref>); Pietra di Salomone, (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1. 3a</xref>); and Portella Rossa, (<xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1.4a,b</xref>)) the series continues with about 12 m of red, or grey–green, laminate marly-sandy claystones.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>Two distinct types of reworked sediments are present within the laminate marly-sandy claystone. The first type consists of rudites (Roccapalumba Nuovo Mercato and upper part of Cozzo San Filippo), coarse to medium size-arenites (Roccapalumba Ferrovia) and fine arenites (Pietra di Salomone and Portella Rossa). On the field, they appear as discontinuous, laterally reduced layers. These reworked sediments always contain lithoclasts with Permian foraminifera, together with Triassic rocks containing Triassic foraminifers <italic>Endotriadella wirzi</italic> (Koehn-Zaninetti) (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.13</xref>) and <italic>Cucurbita infundibuliformis</italic> Jablonsky (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.12</xref>). This is the first time that there has been clear mention of these foraminifera in the Lercara Formation.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>By contrast, the second type of reworked sediments is represented by plurimetric limestone cobbles (Pietra di Salomone, Pietra del Passo di Burgio, and Pietra dei Saraceni), which yield an exclusively Permian microfauna.</p>
         </sec>
      </sec>
      <sec>
         <label>3</label>
         <title>The reworking of the Lercara Formation</title>
         <sec>
            <p>Different genera and species of fusulinids have been identified in the Lercara Formation (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3</xref>): <italic>Reichelina</italic> sp. (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.4</xref>), <italic>Schubertella paramelonica</italic> Suleimanov, <italic>Toriyamaia</italic> (?) sp. (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.8</xref>), <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi</italic> Deprat (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.6</xref>), <italic>Yangchienia compressa</italic> Ozawa (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.7</xref>), <italic>Rauserella staffi</italic> Skinner and Wilde (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.9</xref>), <italic>Darvasites contractus</italic> (Schellwien) (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.1</xref>), <italic>Chalaroschwagerina</italic> (<italic>Taiyuanella</italic>?) aff. <italic>davalensis</italic> Leven (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.2</xref>), <italic>Levenella</italic> aff. <italic>evoluta</italic> (Ueno) (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.3</xref>), <italic>Pamirina darvasica</italic> Leven (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.11</xref>) and <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic> (Schwager) (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.5</xref>). Small Permian foraminifers as well as the calcispherid <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> Reitlinger (<xref rid="FIG3" ref-type="fig">Fig. 3.10</xref>) are also present.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>In Sicily, the reworking and the melange of Early to Upper Permian fusulinids genera clearly appear on the summary table (<xref rid="FIG4" ref-type="fig">Fig. 4</xref>). It has been established on the basis of the biostratigraphic fusulinid distributions mentioned in the literature <xref rid="BIB10" ref-type="bibr">[10]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB11" ref-type="bibr">[11]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB17" ref-type="bibr">[17]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB18" ref-type="bibr">[18]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB19" ref-type="bibr">[19]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB20" ref-type="bibr">[20]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB24" ref-type="bibr">[24]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB27" ref-type="bibr">[27]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB28" ref-type="bibr">[28]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB29" ref-type="bibr">[29]</xref>.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>This reworking has been shown by the presence of the fusulinids of Pietra di Salomone, in the Sosio valley <xref rid="BIB26" ref-type="bibr">[26]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB32" ref-type="bibr">[32]</xref>. In this area, the Early Permian <italic>Rugochusenella anachrona</italic> (Skinner and Wilde) is found in association with the Middle Permian <italic>Skinnerella dainellii</italic>, as well as with the classical Murgabian/Midian microfauna, represented by <italic>Neoschwagerina, Verbeekina, Kahlerina, Rauserella, Sosioella</italic>, and <italic>Rugososchwagerina</italic>.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>In addition, the presence of rare <italic>Colaniella</italic> in the Sosio series also indicates the reworking of the Upper Permian (Dorashamian = Changhsingian) stage <xref rid="BIB7" ref-type="bibr">[7]</xref>.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>Finally, the presence of rare <italic>Schubertella silvestrii</italic> Skinner and Wilde, and of <italic>Endoteba</italic> sp., previously identified in the Lercara series <xref rid="BIB31" ref-type="bibr">[31]</xref>, has also suggested the reworking of some Middle Permian elements.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>A peculiar reworking, difficult to explain, concerns the calcispherid <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> Reitlinger, only known until now in the Mississippian (Early Carboniferous) <xref rid="BIB30" ref-type="bibr">[30]</xref>. This calcispherid that has been found in association with the reworked fusulinids, should probably be considered as a Lazarus taxon; since it survived the Visean time and developed along with the fusulinids during the Permian period.</p>
         </sec>
      </sec>
      <sec>
         <label>4</label>
         <title>Palaeogeographic and geodynamic consequences</title>
         <sec>
            <p>Palaeobiogeographically, the above-described species of fusulinids are principally known in central and eastern Mesogea (= Palaeotethys). The closest affinities exist with the Transcaucasia <xref rid="BIB20" ref-type="bibr">[20]</xref>, where nearly the same fusulinid association as in Sicily has been known. Some species, such as <italic>Darvasites contractus</italic> (Schellwien) <xref rid="BIB1" ref-type="bibr">[1]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB9" ref-type="bibr">[9]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB13" ref-type="bibr">[13]</xref>, <italic>Pamirina darvasica</italic> Leven <xref rid="BIB9" ref-type="bibr">[9]</xref>, <italic>Yangchienia compressa</italic> Ozawa described as <italic>Y. antiqua</italic> Kochansky <xref rid="BIB12" ref-type="bibr">[12]</xref>, <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi</italic> Deprat <xref rid="BIB8" ref-type="bibr">[8]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB21" ref-type="bibr">[21]</xref>, <italic>Rauserella staffi</italic> Skinner and Wilde <xref rid="BIB26" ref-type="bibr">[26]</xref> and <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic> (Schwager) <xref rid="BIB23" ref-type="bibr">[23]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB26" ref-type="bibr">[26]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB33" ref-type="bibr">[33]</xref>, also belong to the European permian fauna. This is the first time that the genus <italic>Levenella</italic> has been found in Europe.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>The reworking and melange of fusulinids, smaller foraminifera and other Permian calcareous microrganisms are already known in Italy; they are numerous in the Sosio and Lercara areas (Sicily) as well in the Monte Facito region (southern Italy). These deposits result from the erosion, during the Triassic time, of a Permian carbonate platform. Our investigations have shown that the most productive intervals to have been eroded and reworked are Yakhtashian–Bolorian (= Artinskian–Kubergandian; = upper part of the Early Permian period) and Murgabian-Midian (= Wordian–Capitanian; = upper part of the Middle Permian) periods, respectively. Nevertheless, the entire Permian stage could have been reworked.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>As previously supposed by Montanari <xref rid="BIB22" ref-type="bibr">[22]</xref> and Cirilli et al. <xref rid="BIB4" ref-type="bibr">[4]</xref>, this study confirms that the Lercara Formation belongs to the Triassic age, and not to the Permian <xref rid="BIB2" ref-type="bibr">[2]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB3" ref-type="bibr">[3]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB5" ref-type="bibr">[5]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB25" ref-type="bibr">[25]</xref>. We point out the discovery of Triassic foraminifers <italic>Endotriadella wirzi</italic> (Koehn-Zaninetti) and <italic>Cucurbita infundibuliformis</italic> Jablonsky with Permian microfossils in the same samples. These two Triassic taxa are characteristic of a carbonate platform and reefal environments, respectively. Their presence allows us to reconstruct the palaeobiogeography of the westernmost ending of the Tethyan Ocean during the deposition of the Lercara Formation.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>Throughout the Middle to the lower Upper Triassic, the margins of the Tethyan Ocean were formed by calcareous rocks, remnants of an older Permian reefal platform. The material produced by their erosion was deposited in the Tethyan basin in which, at the same time, carbonates and terrigenous sediments took place.</p>
         </sec>
         <sec>
            <p>Since the deposition of the Lercara Formation took place during the Triassic time, its study does not allow us to confirm either the existence of a Permian ocean in Sicily or to establish precise correlations between Wordian and Midian stages <xref rid="BIB6" ref-type="bibr">[6]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB14" ref-type="bibr">[14]</xref>, <xref rid="BIB15" ref-type="bibr">[15]</xref> and <xref rid="BIB16" ref-type="bibr">[16]</xref>.</p>
         </sec>
      </sec>
   </body>
   <back>
      <ack>
         <title>Acknowledgements</title>
         <p>This study has been supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (LZ Grants 20-50577.97 and 2000-067850.02).</p>
      </ack>
      <ref-list>
         <ref id="BIB1">
            <label>[1]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Bérczi-Makk</surname>
                  <given-names>A.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Kochansky-Devidé</surname>
                  <given-names>V.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Marine Lower and Middle Permian in the oil explanatory well Újfalu-I (SW-Hungary)</article-title>
               <source>Acta Geol. Acad. Sci. Hung</source>
               <volume>24</volume>
               <year>1981</year>
               <page-range>117–128</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB2">
            <label>[2]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Catalano</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Di Stefano</surname>
                  <given-names>P.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Kozur</surname>
                  <given-names>H.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>New results in the Permian and Triassic stratigraphy of western Sicily with special reference to the section at Torrente San Calogero SW of Pietra di Salomone (Sosio Valley)</article-title>
               <source>Atti 74<sup>o</sup> Congr. Soc. Geol. It. A</source>
               <year>1988</year>
               <page-range>126–132</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB3">
            <label>[3]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Catalano</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Di Stefano</surname>
                  <given-names>P.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Kozur</surname>
                  <given-names>H.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Permian circumpacific deep-water faunas from the western Tethys (Sicily, Italy) – new evidences for the position of the Permian Tethys</article-title>
               <source>Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol</source>
               <volume>87</volume>
               <year>1991</year>
               <page-range>75–108</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB4">
            <label>[4]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Cirilli</surname>
                  <given-names>S.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Montanari</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Panzanelli-Fratoni</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Palynomorphs from the Lercara Formation (Sicily): new biostratigraphic data</article-title>
               <source>Boll. Soc. Geol. It</source>
               <volume>109</volume>
               <year>1990</year>
               <page-range>123–133</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB5">
            <label>[5]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Fabiani</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Trevisan</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Di alcune novità geologiche del territorio di Termini Imerese (Palermo)</article-title>
               <source>Boll. Soc. Sci. Nat. Econ</source>
               <volume>19</volume>
               <year>1937</year>
               <page-range>8</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB6">
            <label>[6]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Henderson</surname>
                  <given-names>C.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Short reply to Kozur</surname>
               </name>
               <article-title>The Guadalupian smooth Mesogondolella faunas and their possible correlations with the International Permian scale</article-title>
               <source>Permophiles</source>
               <volume>38</volume>
               <year>2001</year>
               <page-range>21–22</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB7">
            <label>[7]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Jenny-Deshusses</surname>
                  <given-names>C.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Martini</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Zaninetti</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Découverte du foraminifère <italic>Colaniella</italic> Likharev dans le Permien supérieur de la vallée du Sosio (Sicile)</article-title>
               <source>C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. IIa</source>
               <volume>330</volume>
               <year>2000</year>
               <page-range>799–804</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB8">
            <label>[8]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kahler</surname>
                  <given-names>F.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Beobachtungen über Lebensweise, Schalenbau und Einbettung jungpaläozoischer Grossforaminiferen (Fusuliniden) [Remarks on Life Habit, Shell Morphology and Fossilization of Late Paleozoic Larger Foraminifera (Fusulinida)]</article-title>
               <source>Facies</source>
               <volume>19</volume>
               <year>1988</year>
               <page-range>129–170</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB9">
            <label>[9]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="book">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kahler</surname>
                  <given-names>F.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Kahler</surname>
                  <given-names>G.</given-names>
               </name>
               <source>Fusuliniden aus den Kalken der Trogkofel-Schichten der Karnischen Alpen</source>
               <name>
                  <surname>Flügel</surname>
                  <given-names>E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <source>Die Trogkofel-Stufe im Unterperm der Karnischen Alpen, Carinthia II</source>
               <volume>36</volume>
               <year>1980</year>
               <page-range>183–254</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB10">
            <label>[10]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kobayashi</surname>
                  <given-names>F.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Some considerations on the ancestor of the family Verbeekinidae (Fusulinacea)</article-title>
               <source>Trans. Proc. Paleontol. Soc. Jpn</source>
               <volume>105</volume>
               <year>1977</year>
               <page-range>1–16</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB11">
            <label>[11]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kobayashi</surname>
                  <given-names>F.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Ishii</surname>
                  <given-names>K.-I.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Paleobiogeographic analysis of Yahtashian to Midian fusulinacean faunas of the Surmaq Formation in the Abadeh region, central Iran</article-title>
               <source>J. Foram. Res</source>
               <volume>33</volume>
               <year>2003</year>
               <page-range>155–165</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB12">
            <label>[12]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kochansky-Devidé</surname>
                  <given-names>V.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Nalozista neosvagerinskih fauna juzne Crne gore. [Die Neoschwagerinenfaunen der südlichen Crna Gora (Jugoslawien)]</article-title>
               <source>Geol. Vjesn</source>
               <volume>11</volume>
               <year>1958</year>
               <page-range>45–76</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB13">
            <label>[13]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kochansky-Devidé</surname>
                  <given-names>V.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Permski mikrofosili zahodnih Karavank</article-title>
               <source>Geol. Razp. Poro</source>
               <volume>13</volume>
               <year>1970</year>
               <page-range>175–256</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB14">
            <label>[14]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kozur</surname>
                  <given-names>H.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Permian deep-water ostracods from Sicily (Italy) part 1: taxonomy</article-title>
               <source>Geol. Paläontol. Mitt. Innsbruck</source>
               <volume>3</volume>
               <year>1991</year>
               <page-range>1–24</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB15">
            <label>[15]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kozur</surname>
                  <given-names>H.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>The Guadalupian smooth <italic>Mesogondolella</italic> faunas and their possible correlations with the International Permian scale</article-title>
               <source>Permophiles</source>
               <volume>42</volume>
               <year>2003</year>
               <page-range>24–33</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB16">
            <label>[16]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Kozur</surname>
                  <given-names>H.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Wardlaw</surname>
                  <given-names>B.R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Baud</surname>
                  <given-names>A.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Leven</surname>
                  <given-names>E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Kotlyar</surname>
                  <given-names>G.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Cheng-yuan Wang, Zhi-hao Wang, The Guadalupian smooth <italic>Mesogondolella</italic> faunas and their possible correlations with the International Permian scale</article-title>
               <source>Permophiles</source>
               <volume>38</volume>
               <year>2001</year>
               <page-range>15–21</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB17">
            <label>[17]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ya. Leven</surname>
                  <given-names>E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Stratigrafiya i fuzulinidy permskikh otlozheniy Pamira (Stratigraphy and fusulinids from the Permian deposits of Pamir)</article-title>
               <source>Akad. Nauk SSSR Geol. Inst. Izdat</source>
               <volume>167</volume>
               <year>1967</year>
               <page-range>1–224</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB18">
            <label>[18]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ya. Leven</surname>
                  <given-names>E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Problems of Tethyan Permian stratigraphy</article-title>
               <source>Int. Geol. Rev</source>
               <volume>34</volume>
               <issue>10</issue>
               <year>1992</year>
               <page-range>976–985</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB19">
            <label>[19]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ya. Leven</surname>
                  <given-names>E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Main events in Permian history of the Tethys and fusulinids</article-title>
               <source>Stratigr. Geol. Correl</source>
               <volume>1</volume>
               <year>1998</year>
               <page-range>59–75</page-range>
               <comment>(English translation from Stratigrafiya, Geologicheskaya Korrelyatsiya)</comment>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB20">
            <label>[20]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ya. Leven</surname>
                  <given-names>E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Permian fusulinid assemblages and stratigraphy of the Transcaucasia</article-title>
               <source>Riv. It. Paleont. Stratigr</source>
               <volume>104</volume>
               <issue>3</issue>
               <year>1998</year>
               <page-range>299–328</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB21">
            <label>[21]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Miklukho-Maklay</surname>
                  <given-names>A.D.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Rauzer-Chernousova</surname>
                  <given-names>D.M.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Rozovskaya</surname>
                  <given-names>S.E.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Otryad Fusulinida (Order Fusulinida)</article-title>
               <source>Osnovy Paleontologii (Bases of Paleontology)</source>
               <volume>1</volume>
               <year>1959</year>
               <page-range>201–215</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB22">
            <label>[22]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Montanari</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Materiale per la geologia dell’Alto-Lercarese (Sicilia)</article-title>
               <source>Bol. Soc. Geol. It</source>
               <volume>87</volume>
               <year>1968</year>
               <page-range>133–142</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB23">
            <label>[23]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Panzanelli - Fratoni</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Limongi</surname>
                  <given-names>P.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Ciarapica</surname>
                  <given-names>G.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Cirilli</surname>
                  <given-names>S.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Martini</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Salvini-Bonnard</surname>
                  <given-names>G.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Zaninetti</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Les Foraminifères du Permien supérieur remaniés dans le « Complexe terrigène » de la formation triasique du Monte Facito, Apennin méridional</article-title>
               <source>Rev. Paléobiol</source>
               <volume>6</volume>
               <year>1987</year>
               <page-range>293–319</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB24">
            <label>[24]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="book">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ross</surname>
                  <given-names>C.A.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Ross</surname>
                  <given-names>J.R.P.</given-names>
               </name>
               <source>Permian sequence stratigraphy and fossil zonation</source>
               <name>
                  <surname>Embry</surname>
                  <given-names>A.F.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Beauchamp</surname>
                  <given-names>B.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Glass</surname>
                  <given-names>D.J.</given-names>
               </name>
               <source>Pangea, global environments and resources, Can. Soc. Pet. Geol. Mem</source>
               <volume>17</volume>
               <year>1994</year>
               <page-range>219–231</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB25">
            <label>[25]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Schmidt di Friedberg</surname>
                  <given-names>P.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Litostratigrafia petrolifera della Sicilia</article-title>
               <source>Riv. Min. Sic</source>
               <volume>43</volume>
               <year>1965</year>
               <page-range>88–93</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB26">
            <label>[26]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Skinner</surname>
                  <given-names>J.W.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Wilde</surname>
                  <given-names>G.L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Permian fusulinids from Sicily</article-title>
               <source>The University of Kansas Paleontol. Contrib. Pap. 8</source>
               <year>1966</year>
               <page-range>1–16</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB27">
            <label>[27]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ueno</surname>
                  <given-names>K.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>
                  <italic>Pamirina</italic> (Permian Fusulinacea) from the Akiyoshi Limestone Group, Southwest Japan</article-title>
               <source>Trans. Proc. Palaeontol. Soc. Jpn</source>
               <volume>161</volume>
               <year>1991</year>
               <page-range>739–750</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB28">
            <label>[28]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ueno</surname>
                  <given-names>K.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Early evolution of the families Verbeekinidae and Neoschwagerinidae (Permian fusulinacea) in the Akiyoshi Limestone Group, southwest Japan</article-title>
               <source>Trans. Proc. Palaeont. Soc. Japan</source>
               <volume>164</volume>
               <year>1991</year>
               <page-range>973–1002</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB29">
            <label>[29]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Ueno</surname>
                  <given-names>K.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>
                  <italic>Mesoschubertella</italic> (Permian Fusulinacea) from the Akiyoshi Limestone Group, southwest Japan</article-title>
               <source>Bull. Akiyoshi-dai Mus. Nat. Hist</source>
               <volume>31</volume>
               <year>1996</year>
               <page-range>21–31</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB30">
            <label>[30]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Vachard</surname>
                  <given-names>D.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Étude stratigraphique et micropaléontologique du Viséen de la Montagne noire (Hérault, France)</article-title>
               <source>Mém. Inst. Géol. Univ. Louvain</source>
               <volume>29</volume>
               <year>1977</year>
               <page-range>111–195</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB31">
            <label>[31]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Vachard</surname>
                  <given-names>D.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Martini</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Zaninetti</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Early Artinskian (Early Permian) fusulinid reworked in the Triassic Lercara Formation (NW Sicily)</article-title>
               <source>J. Foram. Res</source>
               <volume>31</volume>
               <year>2001</year>
               <page-range>33–47</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB32">
            <label>[32]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Vachard</surname>
                  <given-names>D.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Hauser</surname>
                  <given-names>M.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Martini</surname>
                  <given-names>R.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Zaninetti</surname>
                  <given-names>L.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Matter</surname>
                  <given-names>A.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Peters</surname>
                  <given-names>T.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Middle Permian (Midian / Capitanian) fusulinid assemblages from the Aseelah Unit (Batain Group) in the Batain Plain, East-Oman: their significance to Neotethys paleogeography</article-title>
               <source>J. Foram. Res</source>
               <volume>32</volume>
               <year>2002</year>
               <page-range>155–172</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
         <ref id="BIB33">
            <label>[33]</label>
            <element-citation publication-type="article">
               <name>
                  <surname>Vachard</surname>
                  <given-names>D.</given-names>
               </name>
               <name>
                  <surname>Miconnet</surname>
                  <given-names>P.</given-names>
               </name>
               <article-title>Une association à fusulinoïdes du Murghabien supérieur au Monte Facito (Appennin méridional, Italie)</article-title>
               <source>Rev. Micropaléontol</source>
               <volume>32</volume>
               <year>1990</year>
               <page-range>297–318</page-range>
            </element-citation>
         </ref>
      </ref-list>
   </back>
   <floats-group>
      <fig id="FIG1">
         <label>Fig. 1</label>
         <caption>
            <p>Location map of the sampling outcrops (<bold>a–e</bold>) with their position on the digital elevation models of the following maps: (<bold>1</bold>) ‘Cozzo Tabarani’ n<sup>o</sup> 609070; (<bold>2</bold>) ‘Manganaro’ n<sup>o</sup> 620040; (<bold>3</bold>) ‘Burgio’ No. 619160; (<bold>4</bold>) ‘Palazzo Adriano’ No. 620090. UTM coordinates.</p>
            <p>Fig. 1. Carte de localisation des affleurements échantillonnés (<bold>a–e</bold>), avec leur positionnement sur les modèles numériques des cartes suivantes : (<bold>1</bold>) « Cozzo Tabarani » n<sup>o</sup> 609070 ; (<bold>2</bold>)« Manganaro » n<sup>o</sup> 620040 ; (<bold>3</bold>) « Burgio » n<sup>o</sup> 619160 ; (<bold>4</bold>) « Palazzo Adriano » n<sup>o</sup> 620090. Coordonnées UTM.</p>
         </caption>
         <graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="main.assets/fx1.jpg"/>
      </fig>
      <fig id="FIG2">
         <label>Fig. 2</label>
         <caption>
            <p>Composite stratigraphic section of the Lercara Formation.</p>
            <p>Fig. 2. Coupe synthétique de la formation Lercara.</p>
         </caption>
         <graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="main.assets/fx2.jpg"/>
      </fig>
      <fig id="FIG3">
         <label>Fig. 3</label>
         <caption>
            <p>Foraminifers and calcispherids of the Lercara Formation (Sicily). (<bold>1</bold>) <italic>Darvasites contractus</italic> (Schellwien). Sample 2c.1; (<bold>2</bold>) <italic>Chalaroschwagerina</italic> (<italic>Taiyuanella</italic>?) aff. <italic>davalensis</italic> Leven. Sample 2c.2; (<bold>3</bold>) <italic>Levenella</italic> aff. <italic>evoluta</italic> (Ueno). Sample 4b.21; (<bold>4</bold>) <italic>Reichelina</italic> sp. Sample 4b.21; (<bold>5</bold>) <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic> (Schwager). Sample 3a.14; (<bold>6</bold>) <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi</italic> Deprat. Sample 2e.2; (<bold>7</bold>) <italic>Yangchienia compressa</italic> Ozawa. Sample 2a.27; (<bold>8</bold>) <italic>Toriyamaia</italic> (?) sp. Sample 2e.1; (<bold>9</bold>) <italic>Rauserella staffi</italic> Skinner and Wilde. Sample 2a.29; (<bold>10</bold>) <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> Reitlinger. Sample 2a.3; (<bold>11</bold>) <italic>Pamirina darvasica</italic> Leven. Sample 2e.2. (<bold>12</bold>) <italic>Cucurbita infundibuliformis</italic> Jablonsky. Sample 2a.27; (<bold>13</bold>) <italic>Endotriadella wirzi</italic> (Koehn-Zaninetti). Sample 2a.27. Samples 2a, 2c, 2e, and 4b, correspond to the studied outcrops (see <xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1</xref>).</p>
            <p>Fig. 3. Foraminifères et calcisphères de la formation Lercara (Sicile). (<bold>1</bold>) <italic>Darvasites contractus</italic> (Schellwien). Éch. 2c.1 ; (<bold>2</bold>) <italic>Chalaroschwagerina</italic> (<italic>Taiyuanella</italic>?) aff. <italic>davalensis</italic> Leven. Éch. 2c.2 ; (<bold>3</bold>) <italic>Levenella</italic> aff. <italic>evoluta</italic> (Ueno). Éch. 4b.21 ; (<bold>4</bold>) <italic>Reichelina</italic> sp. Éch. 4b.21 ; (<bold>5</bold>) <italic>Neoschwagerina</italic> ex gr. <italic>craticulifera</italic> (Schwager). Éch. 3a.14 ; (<bold>6</bold>) <italic>Neofusulinella lantenoisi</italic> Deprat. Éch. 2e.2 ; (<bold>7</bold>) <italic>Yangchienia compressa</italic> Ozawa. Éch. 2a.27 ; (<bold>8</bold>) <italic>Toriyamaia</italic> (?) sp. Éch. 2e.1 ; (<bold>9</bold>) <italic>Rauserella staffi</italic> Skinner et Wilde. Éch. 2a.29 ; (<bold>10</bold>) <italic>Asterosphaera pulchra</italic> Reitlinger. Éch. 2a.3 ; (<bold>11</bold>) <italic>Pamirina darvasica</italic> Leven. Éch. 2e.2 ; (<bold>12</bold>) <italic>Cucurbita infundibuliformis</italic> Jablonsky. Éch. 2a.27 ; (<bold>13</bold>) <italic>Endotriadella wirzi</italic> (Koehn-Zaninetti). Éch. 2a.27. Les échantillons 2a, 2c, 2e, et 4b correspondent aux affleurements étudiés (voir <xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1</xref>).</p>
         </caption>
         <graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="main.assets/fx3.jpg"/>
      </fig>
      <fig id="FIG4">
         <label>Fig. 4</label>
         <caption>
            <p>Summary table of the fusulinids of the Lercara Formation, showing the reworking and the melange of different genera. Samples 2a, 2c, 2e, 3a, 3b and 4b, correspond to the studied outcrops (see <xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1</xref>). <bold>P</bold>: Permian; <bold>Early Y</bold>: Early Yakhtashian/Artinskian; <bold>Late Y</bold>: Late Yakhtashian/Artinskian; <bold>BOLOR</bold>: Bolorian/Kungurian; <bold>KUB</bold>: Kubergandian/Roadian. <bold>MURG</bold>: Murgabian/Wordian; <bold>MID</bold>: Midian/Capitanian; <bold>LOPIN</bold>: Lopingian/Late Permian.</p>
            <p>Fig. 4. Tableau de répartition des fusulines de la formation Lercara, montrant le remaniement et le mélange de différents genres. Les échantillons 2a, 2c, 2e, 3a, 3b et 4b, correspondent aux affleurements étudiés (voir <xref rid="FIG1" ref-type="fig">Fig. 1</xref>) ; <bold>P</bold> : Permien ; <bold>Early Y</bold> : Yakhtashien/Artinskien inférieur ; <bold>Late Y</bold> : Yakhtashien/Artinskien supérieur ; <bold>BOLOR</bold> : Bolorien/Kungurien ; <bold>KUB</bold> : Kubergandien/Roadien ; <bold>MURG</bold> : Murgabien/Wordien ; <bold>MID</bold> : Midien/Capitanien ; <bold>LOPIN</bold> : Lopingien/Permien supérieur.</p>
         </caption>
         <graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="main.assets/fx4.jpg"/>
      </fig>
   </floats-group>
</article>