Triassic deep-water sedimentation in the Bled Basin, eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia

Abstract

The Bled Basin was a Middle Triassic–Early Cretaceous basin whose remnants are preserved in the eastern Southern Alps in western Slovenia. The early evolution of the basin is recorded in the Upper Ladinian to Lower Jurassic Zatrnik cherty limestone formation, which in the Pokljuka Nappe overlies Middle Triassic volcanics, volcaniclastics and hemipelagic limestones. The Zatrnik Limestone is poorly documented and biostratigraphically not well constrained. The base of the Zatrnik Limestone was logged in four sections in the eastern part of the Pokljuka plateau. An Upper Ladinian Muelleritortis cochleata Radiolarian Zone was recognised in the lowermost part, whereas conodont data indicate Julian to latest Tuvalian/early Norian age for the rest of the logged sections. Microfacies analysis indicates hemipelagic deposition on a basin plain and/or distal slope, which is often interrupted by distal calciturbidites.