Journal of the Geological Society, London, Vol. 160, 2003, pp. 271–284. Printed in Great Britain. Mid-Triassic integrated U–Pb geochronology and ammonoid biochronology from the Balaton Highland (Hungary) JO´ ZSEF PA´ LFY1, RANDALL R. PARRISH2,3, KARINE DAVID2,4 &ATTILAVO¨ RO¨ S 1 1Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, POB 137, Budapest, H-1431 Hungary (e-mail:
[email protected]) 2NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth NG12 5GG, UK 3Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, Leicester, UK 4Present address: Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, CNRS UMR 6524, 5, rue Kessler 63038, Clermont-Ferrand, France Abstract: Ladinian (Middle Triassic) strata of the Balaton Highland (west–central Hungary) comprise interbedded marine carbonate and volcaniclastic rocks. The sediments are noted for their rich ammonoid faunas, which allow detailed biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation. For the first time, isotopic dating of the tuff layers was carried out to calibrate the age of ammonoid zones and subzones. Four successive horizons were dated from the Felso˝o¨rs section, a candidate stratotype for the base of the Ladinian stage. Within the Reitzi Zone, which is interpreted here as the basal Ladinian unit, the following biostratigraphically tightly constrained U–Pb zircon ages were obtained: Felsoeoersensis Subzone 241.1 Æ 0.5 Ma; Liepoldti Subzone 241.2 Æ 0.4 Ma; Reitzi Subzone 240.5 Æ 0.5 and 240.4 Æ 0.4 Ma. A redeposited tuff from the Gredleri Zone at Lite´r yielded an additional U–Pb age of 238.7 Æ 0.6 Ma. The new isotopic ages are in agreement with published U–Pb dates from the Southern Alps.