Lower Toarcian organic-rich sediments from the Tuscan Succession (Northern Apennines, Italy): preliminary results

For the first time is here documented the presence of Lower Toarcian black shales in the lower portion of the Calcari e marne a Posidonia (Posidonia Marls auctt.) belonging to the Tuscan Nappe. It consists of alternations of 30 cm to 5 m thick black laminated marlstone and marly claystone, with TOC values ranging from 0.43% to 2.49%. Based on calcareous nannofossils, the basal portion of the Calcari e marne a Posidonia spans the Lotharingius hauffii to Carinolithus superbus zones, and the organic-rich interval lies within the Carinolithus superbus Zone.