Geo.Alp, Vol. 8, S. 76–118, 2011 A 4-DAY GEOLOGICAL FIELD TRIP IN THE WESTERN DOLOMITES Rainer Brandner1 & Lorenz Keim2 With 28 Figures 1 Institut für Geologie & Paläontologie, Universität Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck; E-mail address:
[email protected] 2 Amt für Geologie & Baustoffprüfung/Ufficio Geologia e prove materiali, Autonome Provinz Bozen – Südtirol/Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano-Alto Adige, Eggentalerstr./Via Val d’Ega 48, I-39053 Kardaun/Cardano; E-mail address:
[email protected] Introduction and geological setting of the Dolomites The Dolomite Mountains are known for their spectacular seismic scale outcrops showing Triassic carbonate platforms and build-ups preserved with their clinoforms and slope facies in primary transition to adjacent basi- nal areas. The juxtaposition of Middle and Upper Triassic reefs and basins are preserved due to the lack of strong tectonic deformation and is strengthened by erosion to form the extraordinary landscape as seen today. Since the outstanding studies of Richthofen (1860) and Mojsisovics (1879), who correctly recognized the primary geometries of the build-ups (“Überguss-Schichtung”) in transition to the basins, the Dolomites are the type area for heteropic facies developments. Bosellini (1984) presented the first modern synthesis of depositional geometries of the build-ups. Regional sequence stratigraphy was firmly established with the revision of the chronostratigraphic framework by Brack & Rieber (1993), De Zanche et al. (1993) and Mietto & Manfrin (1995). In addition, a better understanding was developed of progradation and retrogradation geometries of carbonate platform development in context with sea level changes (Gianolla et al., 1998, with further references).