The Paleocene Middle Eocene deposits of Sardinia (Italy) and their paleoclimatic significance

The Palaeocene of southern Sardinia includes a continental ferruginous sedimentation, with a high content of Al and Fe, indicative of a subhumid tropical climate. The subsequent microcodium carbonated detrital microcodium levels, containing an abundant quartzose fraction, rather suggest semiarid conditions. In SW Sardinia, the marine deposits, referred to Late Thanetian–Lower Ypresian (= Ilerdian) times, are limestones including larger foraminifers and contain significant amounts of quartz. A lower content of detrital kaolinite points a sediment source from the surrounding areas with a semiarid climate. The occurrence, at the top of this unit, of small trochospiral rotaliids and larger amount of detrital kaolinite suggests a transition to a rainy tropical climate in the adjacent areas. These limestones pass gradually to carbonate sediments characterized by large amounts of detrital kaolinite and intercalated coal layers, with pollen of tropical palms, attributed to the Late Ypresian (= Cuisian)–Early Lutetian and referred to a humid-subhumid tropical climate.